Challenge info: This is for Angel for the Birthday gift exchange 2015.
Quote:
When two people meet sometimes they feed and push each other in ways that is a perfect storm that results in a love match or total ruin for both.
All werewolves know of their origin.
First they were men, blessed with the form of the wolf as a gift from the Moon Goddess. The change was painless and swift; it was controlled, and the moon didn't affect the first man-wolves. Then came a reckoning—the werewolves rebelled, and swore to never follow the Moon Goddess, deciding to follow their own because they believed that they were more powerful than her. Angry, she cursed the ones who rebelled to become a mindless beast every full moon—the time when she was strongest.
The ones who did not rebel were punished with the curse of a painful transformation, for not controlling their pack mates as they should have done. The moon would never affect the Lycans who didn't betray her, unless they were bitten by a werewolf in their first change.
The two packs split into two separate groups: the mindless Lycans, and the ones who could control their change. The mindless ones grew envious of the ones still blessed by the Moon Goddess. They could do nothing but stew in their bitterness, and the more aggressive ones shifted before threatening the human werewolves with death. The Lycans did their best to control their mindless brethren.
Then the werewolves bit other humans, and the curse spread rapidly. Lycan Lords are tasked with keeping the werewolves under control and they pass on that duty from father to son, mother to daughter. With fewer numbers, the Lords were forced to control wide groups of werewolves by culling the weaker and strongest of the groups.
The soil stained red with as blood was spilled every full moon until an uneasy alliance began. The werewolves would obey the Lycans, as long as they could control their transformations. This is what Remus was told, as he stared at Fenrir in the aftermath of his first transformation. Given willingly to his alpha by parents who refused to accept him, now that he was cursed.
He was taught the ways of the werewolf pack and groomed to one day take over. One of his future duties was to take a human mate and transform him or her when he was seventeen. The choice of mate wasn't his, as Fenrir picked up a small pack of humans before bringing them to the camp. They looked wide eyed and scared—except for the one in the middle, who looked unusually calm.
The humans were put into separate cages, and each werewolf of age stood in line. Each human was ordered to give their name, and then the fighting began. The first human was marched away after the fight, and the blue eyed devil just looked around, before trying to catch the gaze of the werewolves. None met his stare—except Remus.
One by one, the humans were led away by battered fighters to the mating caves, escorted by an adult pack member. A rock would cover the entrance to each cave, and then the human would be either converted or killed. His devil was among the last to be called, and the fight to own him was vicious. Finally, Remus was the only one standing, and he was escorted with the human to the caves.
"What's your name?" his human asked in the darkness of the cave after the rock was shoved against the entrance.
"Remus Greyback. Yours?" he asked.
"Sirius Black. So—are we going to wait for the full moon before we mate—or, you kill me?" Sirus asked.
"That's right. For what it's worth, I'm sorry for what is about to happen…" Remus began.
Sirius grinned, "Me too, Remus. I hope you know that I don't mean any harm once I change."
The words chilled Remus, "Change? What do you mean, change?"
Sirius smirked at him. The werewolf had no idea that he had fought over a Lycan. He had come to the backwards town kicking and screaming. The large werewolf population forced the human population to give human sacrifices to them. He had offered himself before his family could volunteer him for the duty. They had no idea he could already transform.
He clenched his fists tight enough to shake as he forced himself to transform. It was pain that hit first; His blood began to boil as he sweat profusely, his skin blistering and glowing an angry shade of red. Heat seemed to radiate from every vessel of his body, until it was like a white hot fire coursing through him instead of blood. His bones, muscles, and nerves broke and ripped apart agonizingly before fusing back together as they reformed. He remained silent, desperately not wanting to give in to the scream that ached at the back of this throat and his racing heart beat nearly covered the awful echo of bones cracking, grinding and being crushed so new bones could be formed.
Sirius hunched over unwillingly was his face began to change. He could feel every bone and muscle in his face morphing as it elongated into a wolf snout. He lifted his head up to swallow his human teeth as sharp canines were pushed through his gums. He shuddered and trembled, but refused to make a peep. He beat his half-claw-half-fist against the stone, unable to find relief or release to the pain. Finally, he pushed through the agony, and after one massive shot of pain, he stood up on his two feet.
Remus was pale as he stared at Sirius. Sirius remained still as he waited for the moon to rise and for Remus to transform. It didn't take long for the other man to get blood in his face again as he transformed. Sirius closed his eyes as screams echoed in the cave. He blocked out the awful noise, and heard the body beside him change shape. It seemed to go on forever, until finally the cave was silent, and he noticed the brown werewolf staring at him.
Sirius growled, and the two went at each other like the wild animals they now were. Claws tore into flesh and teeth caught limbs in a vice-like grip, as they rolled around in the cave, trying to get the advantage. Eventually Sirius caught the other werewolf by the throat, and Remusclawed at him, desperately trying to break his grip, but Sirius refused to let go until Remus whimpered and went limp. Sirius heard his heartbeat slow, so he let go of the other boy. He howled loudly before making sure Remus was unconscious the rest of the night. As morning came, Remus began to shrink, and Sirius changed back, silently holding back his cries. He checked that Remus was still alive, and dusted off his clothing. He shuddered and took some extra strong painkillers, swallowing two of the tablets in a single gulp.
He shoved the rock aside in a fit of anger, his body complaining about the exertion, and proceeded to carry his 'mate' into the werewolf village. The boy seemed decent for a werewolf, but he wasn't a match for a Lycan. He stared down the werewolves milling around, and after eventually getting directions to his mates hut, he set the other boy down. Remus moaned in his sleep and the door was shoved open by a grizzled older man.
"Who do you think you are?" snarled Fenrir.
"A pissed off Lycan that subdued your heir," Sirius smiled as he gave a harsh growl towards the pack alpha.
"Fuck you, you little bastard, how dare you come in and enter my territory?" Fenrir stepped towards Sirius.
"I come from the neighbouring village, werewolf. I was going to be sacrificed by my lovely family to this… ritual. If you think I wanted to be here, then you are wrong." Sirius stared at Fenrir, daring him to come closer.
"Then leave and don't come back. I'll have your family thrown out and you with it!" Fenrir walked towards Sirius and stood centimetres away from the teenager.
"I'm a Black Lycan. Do what you will, but I will always have the right to do what I want here—and I have the power to end you if you dare cross me." Black glared at Fenrir as the older man backed up a bit.
"Fine. What do you want with my son?" Fenrir asked.
"You mean my future mate? I haven't claimed him yet—and I will try wait until he asks me to—but I will court him, and he will become mine—regardless of willingness." Sirius gently stroked the sleeping werewolf's damp forehead.
"You won't have him—not if I have anything to do with it." Fenrir pushed him away from Remus.
"Try it and then you'll see." Sirius left the hut.
Remus woke up, feeling sore. He groggily tried to recall the last night. They chose their mates and were locked in. He tried to remember the rest but it was all blurred. He looked around his hut and his father looked at him, as he asked the alpha where his mate was.
"He's not your mate—he is a Lycan!" Fenrir snarled.
Remus sat up, "How did he get chosen? Aren't they supposed to be human?"
"I'll look into it. We should have known before but Lord Black hasn't been seen for ages and his heir hasn't been found or confirmed until now." Fenrir grumbled.
"I claimed the future Lord Black as my mate?" Remus gasped.
"You were defeated by him in the cave. He didn't do more than knock you out. He told me that he plans to court you." Fenrir sat beside his son's bed.
"You can stop that, right?" Remus asked.
"If you had defeated him, then I could say that he is an unfit suitor, but you lost. He was within his rights to mate you in that cave, and unless you beat him—then he can court you, if you don't accept, just take you then and there." Fenrir watched Remus hug himself as he brought his knees up then buried his face between them.
"I failed you." Remus' muffled voice made Fenrir wonder how Sirius Black managed to undo years of toughening up the smart, yet gentle werewolf, to the point that he believed Remus could take over his pack.
He ruffled the younger werewolf's hair, "No, I failed you by not being more aware of the situation. We'll find a way to solve this without you being mated to him." Fenrir reassured his heir.
For the next month, Sirius watched over Remus as he trained to become stronger. The boy had taken the loss personally, and he was getting more and skilled, beginning to demolish his werewolf peers.
"It is impossible for a single werewolf to defeat a Lycan," Sirius thought, "but the stronger he i—the better for when I take him home."
Sirius waited half a year to finally issue the challenge. He defeated the other man in the cave in private, and now he had to challenge him in a public arena. The fight scheduled for the next full moon. The large dome like structure was locked, and the spectators were scattered around the seats. The invisible barrier—thought to be put by the Moon Goddess—stood and separated them from the middle of the arena on the full moon.
The fight began as soon as they both changed. Remus charged first, but Sirius dodged before getting the first hit as he jumped on the smaller werewolf's back, sinking his claws deep into the fleshy chest area. Remus bled as he turned, and charged Sirius before getting a hit in himself.
They traded blows before Remus stood over Sirius as he was on his back. Remus, getting impatient, moved to strike him, but Sirius rolled over and caught his neck in a vice grip with his teeth. The pause gave Sirius time to move so that he could pin down Remus. He growled and the other werewolf gave up the fight.
Then Fenrir came down and carried Remus out of the arena before facing Sirius. He had proved that he could take on Remus, now all he had to do to be able to claim the other man, was take on the pack alpha. The older man didn't even wait to attack he came at Sirius, crossing distance between them instantly, and tried to get the younger werewolf in the first move. It was a mistake, but not a fatal one.
Sirius got in a free shot before they circled each other. Their eyes locked in a fierce fight, it was Sirius who looked away first and missed Fenrir's attack, but he only got scratched on the arm for the result. The fighting became more vicious, as ten minutes passed and there was still no one out. The fight lasted over an hour, each passing minute escalating the violence.
Finally Fenrir came crashing down, and Sirius was on his knees panting. The barrier fell and both father and son were carried out as the helpers avoided the gaze of Sirius. Sirius shuddered and tended to his wounds. He had no friends in the Greyback pack, and taking their heir and beating their leader was not a good way to make friends.
Upon arriving back at 'his' hut, he dragged every piece of furniture across every door and window, and slept leaning against the door. Morning came and he left his hut. In the centre was Remus and Fenrir with the pack fighting human Aurors.
The human Aurors were wielding staffs and firing bolts at the werewolves. Many lay dead, their broken sticks lying beside them on the ground. One of them crumpled as she used all her power, but she was quickly replaced by another Auror. He led the attack from the outside and together they thinned the layer of attacks before stepping back and attacking the inner ring. After an hour the attack stopped, and all was silent.
Sirius helped bring the wounded to the makeshift hospital while the others cleared the dead. He stared at the injured Remus on the bed. His mate was scarcely breathing but alive. He looked around for Fenrir and didn't see the man. He whispered to the nearest person, "Fenrir?"
"Fatally wounded and didn't make it here alive." The older werewolf said.
"Remus?" Sirius asked.
"He's your mate—you haven't claimed him yet though, but he's not in the line of inheriting anymore." The older werewolf told him.
"What if he fights off anyone who can claim him and I don't do it until there's a good leader for the Greyback pack?" Sirius asked.
"Then he could lead until he gets a heir or you claim him. Only alphas can run the pack," the older man said.
"He is an alpha. He's just submissive to a Lycan Lord. Even the greatest alpha can't deny a Lycan." Sirius whispered.
"Then let him lead the pack and just go." The older man advised and left him to his thoughts.
Remus woke up five minutes after and Sirius went to him. Sirius held his hand and gulping hard he clung to Sirius. "Don't leave me…" Remus whispered.
"If I stay you won't be able to lead the pack." Sirius pet Remus' head.
"Promise me you'll come back when you can." Remus' muffled voice was soft.
"As long as you need me, Remus." Sirius whispered.
Eventually they parted ways as Sirius went back to London. It was years until Remus saw Sirius officially and there were many people between them. The two stared at each other like strangers but Remus curled up against Sirius once in privacy. They had each sneaked around to meet each other. Everyone pretended they couldn't smell that they were near mating or mentioned the two days they went missing. Remus was walking weirdly and both were glowing.