I don't pay attention to the

world ending

it has ended for me

many times

and began again in the morning.

It's breaking.

My world.

Not even here and she is still able to break him.

And by breaking him.

She managed to shatter me.

"Atlas," Nov-nov's soothing voice enters my ears as I look up.

Her blue eyes that match my own stare into me. I know why she is calling my name.

I stand.

It's time.

Before I leave the house though, she hugs me.

"Be brave my Atlas."

I want to stay there forever in her arms. I want to keep within the folds of it. Taking in her scent. Her warmth.

I push away though.

It's time.

Without another glance, I walk out the house. Walk into the waiting eyes.

They have come for this. Gathered around to witness this moment.

It's time.

And then I see father.

Face haggard. Eyes sunken in. Frame slightly swaying as he smiles down at me.

It's time.

I stand off in front of him.

19, I think. It's still too young.

Father is still smiling.

Still smiling as I say the condemning words.

"I, Atlas of the Alba Rosa Pack, challenge you, Jay, for Alpha leadership."

It's time.

***

There are no cheers as I walk towards father.

He is still Alpha.

Even in his sick state, the dominating power overwhelms the others.

Leaving them to look at me with surprise and worry.

But they don't know.

Some question this decision.

Think me power hungry.

But they don't know.

Don't know that father wakes up disoriented in the night, screaming and crying.

Don't know that father can't keep any food down. Won't keep any food down.

Don't know that I find him in odd places, staring at odd things, long forgetting who or what he was as he takes in his surroundings. Long forgetting who I am. His son.

Don't know that I've lead this pack, took care of the paper work and made all the calls, for almost a year now.

To cover up for father.

But it's time.

He is still ready though. Still standing, eyes gleaming, waiting for this fight. He will not hand this over to me, as much as I wish it. I have to earn it, the same as how he did.

Before I can register, he's on me, snarling as his teeth descending down.

I know then that the fight will be long and hard.

His wolf rarely surfaces. It only does so now because it knows it's right for leadership is being threatened.

I snarl back, letting my own fangs gleam as I dodge him.

And then we move.

Back and forward, like a swift, deadly dance.

We have fought together many times, know each other and the moves we will make.

But father is at a disadvantage already.

He hasn't been training as much as me.

Stephen has been taking me away, pushing me to my limits to prepare for this day.

Father on the other hand, has been wilting away. Fading into nothing.

I swing out, my punch landing solidly in his rib cage.

I wince as I hear the crack.

See him go down.

Give up.

I plead it silently in my mind as he rises, eyes gleaming and claws out.

Give up.

I think, as I break his nose.

He returns the favor and breaks my fingers with the impact. I grit my teeth, but move on.

Give up.

I beg of it as he pants and haks, his eyes unfocused and feed unsteady as he stumbles forward.

I kick out under his legs, watching as he falls.

Give up.

It's the only thing that is registering within my mind as he resorts to his last option. He shifts.

His large wolf descends upon me, snarling and biting into my face, showing no mercy, even if I am his offspring, as saliva hits me. I'm barely able to push him back as my hand shoots out to grab around his neck.

His claws rake down my arms, causing me to scream out in pain at the blood. He doesn't hesitate though. His wolf is in full control of the situation now. He will not give up his leadership so easily.

I growl. A growl so low and deep, I see from the corner of my eyes a few people fall to their knees in submission.

I put all my strength into throwing him upon the ground, casting away all doubt as the sound of my hand choking him is heard.

I hear sobs.

Sobs from people who know.

Know that it's time.

I squeeze hard.

Give up.

Give up.

Give. up.

The wolf glares at me.

Glares until his eyes stutter and drop.

Until he goes limp within my hands.

I release him and step back.

I can't feel anything.

No emotion is going through me as Doctor Schulman rushes to the fallen wolf, faster than I thought the old man capable of, and checks for a pulse.

I let out a gasped, ragged breath when Schulman's shoulder's fall in relief.

Passed out.

He's passed out.

It takes a few moments for the reality to set in as I watch the pack slowly, one by one, raise their neck in submission to me.

As they slowly, cast their eyes away.

"Alpha Atlas," Stephen steps forward, rolling his shoulders, "Choose your Beta."

No one is making eye contact with me. All silently pleading for me to not chose them.

One set of eyes though, meet mine. Eager and waiting.

"Lilah."

Surprise fills everyone's features as she steps forward.

The fight is not over yet.

She mimiks her uncle, rolling her own shoulders and cracking her neck as her father's outraged voice is heard in the background, "You bastard! She's just a girl! Choose someone who will survive! Not my daughter!" He pushes through, eyes glaring at me, but it's Lilah's low growl that shuts him up. Grace slowly approaches to stand by his side, her eyes full of worry as Quinn emerges, part of her glaring, yet another part showing worry for her twin.

I look to Lilah and nod.

With my signal she jumps forward.

Stephen wastes no time in shifting.

Lilah quickly joins him and soon, two brown wolves are clashing, teeth shattering and claws raking together as they grab fur and skin.

Lilah is able to grab Stephens neck, enough to where she pulls a chunk away.

I can't take my eyes off her savage power.

What she lacks in strength, she makes up for in cruel bluntness.

She purposely lets Stephen grab her leg at one point, using the opportunity of his teeth being occupied to rip away an ear.

It makes Stephen pull back, startled by her blood lust and consumed by worry at his loss. She uses this moment to grab his nose. Biting down on the nuzzle of it.

It's cruel and most wolves would never think of doing such a move. Stephen cannot use his fangs to defend, and within his wolf form his claws have little help.

I smile as I watch him shift back. He knows after witnessing the loss of his ear, that she will show him no mercy.

He kicks out at her, trying to get her away.

She dodges, at an advantage now. He doesn't see it coming. Neither do I. Stephen is to use to battling males. To use to their way of thinking. He doesn't see what Lilah does.

She swipes out at his lower region, her claws landing upon the most sensitive part to any man.

And it's over.

Stephen cannot get up.

He is on the ground, screaming and crying, holding onto his wounded flesh as Lilah laughs down at him. The guzzled laugh of the animal sending chills to all as we take it in.

She shifts, a wicked smile to her face as she approaches me and leans her neck down in submission.

I bend down, smelling her neck and the scent of victory upon her.

"Alba Rosa pack." My voice booms out above all. I look down and see my father. Nov-nov is supporting him as Schulman tends to his wounds.

He nods weakly and smiles at me.

It's the assurance I need to continue, "I am your Alpha. I am your leader and provider now. You look to me to command you. And this-," I look to Lilah who stands upon my right, tall and proud, letting all take her in, "Is your Beta."

Shock is evident upon everyone's face.

I growl out a warning. A warning that has even the brave Lilah paling.

It's done.

I help father into the house, and up the stairs.

Help him into his room.

I sit with him for a few hours, before he finally wakes up again.

"Atlas."

His voice is rough. Hoarse.

"Father," I take his hand and bow my head in sorrow, "I'm so-,"

"No Atlas," he shakes his head, "I'm so proud of you."

I feel tears start to form.

I can't help them as they flow down.

Father's own face matches my own.

"Atlas," his voice sounds broken, "Atlas, I'm...I can't...,"

"I know," I say weakly.

He can't remember anymore.

He can't concentrate, or recognize the simplest things.

Because his mate bond slowly, was driving him to madness.

"I don't want you to ever forget that I love you. Don't ever forget how proud I am of you."

I nod. It's all I can do.

I look up and meet his dark eyes as they watch me.

"I may not remember. But I'm here," he points to his chest, "Somewhere, I'm still here. Please..." He looks down, lost for words himself as I grip his hand tighter.

"I'll never leave you father."

Father sobs then. Real heaving sobs that have me crawling upon the bed with him as we hold each other.

The new power of my earned position flows through me.

But I didn't want it like this.

Not like this.

The day father truly broke. The day he completely forgot the world and the surroundings within. That day. Whenever it came. I would be there.

I would always be there for him.

Be happy I love you, because I was going to originally split this chapter into two separate parts and make you chillins wait for tomorrow to read the next update of what happened. But then I was like, "man I make these people suffer enough. Let them have the full thing."

(OH and also, I hope several of you caught onto the connection of Lilah becoming Beta- maybe it wasn't suppose to be the males in the first place *wink*)

So here *toss* hope you liked it,

Until next time,

Loves,

/////WORLD_JOY_/////