The three had been running through the trees for just over half an hour. Maddie was leading and was becoming more and more excited every second. She howled occasionally, so that Rhydian might hear her. Suddenly, she stopped. They all stopped. They could smell Alric nearby. They started looking around calmly, knowing that they would be fine three against one. The group began prowling around, slowly, deliberately; they had to show Alric that they knew he was there and that he didn't stand a chance.
Something rustled in a bush. They began to growl. He appeared. Maddy ran forward and pounced on the wolf, starting to lick his face. Ceri joined her, but Jana stood a bit behind them, waiting for her turn to greet Rhydian. He yelped in pain; Maddy was leaning heavily on his bad shoulder. She jumped back. Looking up, she saw the former alpha.
Rhydian leapt up and placed himself in front of the three females, growling ferociously at his enemy: the lone wolf who had faked forgiveness all that time ago and had threatened to kill the person he loved more than life itself.
The wounded wolf made a move towards Alric, but he was swiftly intercepted by Ceri, who knew better than to let her baby boy go into a fight with a serious injury! The three females took Rhydian's place opposite the opposition and for a minute no one moved.
In a flash, Alric flew into the air and landing heavily on Maddy, causing her to wince in pain. Rhydian, however, began to walk slowly towards the ex-alpha, his growl like the low rumble of an engine. Jana and Ceri followed him, with the same menacing growl reverberating in their throats. Alric loosened his grip allowing Maddy to slip out and fall into Rhydian's arms. He nudged her up though, and all four of them stood facing the lone wolf.
The defenceless wolf fell to the floor and in a second he was human again.
"Nothing I can do will ever allow you to feel the pain that you have caused me." He said to Rhydian, "You have cost me my daughter and my pack and look at what my efforts have done?! Made everyone happier! I have nothing to live for! Please, Rhydian! Put me out of my misery!"
Rhydian stepped forward, and transformed.
"You lost what you lost because you refused to be fair." He said, "Now you say 'kill me' and expect me to consider? Why would I do you the favour?"
With that, the four ran away into the woodland, Rhydian back in wolf form.