Kol Mikaelson was bored.
The battle had lost its appeal several minutes ago.
The nobles advanced through the streets like an unstoppable tide, cutting down werewolves one after another. The difference in experience was overwhelming.
The warriors tried to use their numbers to surround the vampires, but their fangs couldn't even pierce the metallic layer created by vampiric transmutation. Their teeth scraped against steel skin, producing nothing but sparks.
Then came the response.
Black flames.
Spears of ice.
Explosions of wind.
Crimson lightning.
The wolves died before they could even understand what had happened.
"They're good," Kol commented, watching the massacre unfold.
"Of course they are," Elara replied without even looking at him. "Every one of them fought in the Alpha War."
There was unmistakable pride in her voice.
The streets were slowly turning into rivers of blood.
"So there's not going to be anything left for me?" Kol asked.
"No. These werewolves may have control over their transformations thanks to the Moon Rings, but they're still ordinary werewolves."
She watched one of the nobles impale three enemies with a single spear of ice.
"They were given the power of an Alpha. Not the mastery of one."
Kol let out a dramatic sigh.
"How disappointing."
That was when Elara raised her eyes.
Far away.
On top of a distant building.
A figure stood watching the battle.
Still.
Silent.
Even from that distance, she immediately recognized what it was.
An Alpha.
Not one of the ordinary werewolves.
A true Alpha.
Her eyes lingered on the figure for several seconds.
Kol noticed.
"Problem?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"He's just watching."
Kol followed her gaze.
He couldn't make out the figure clearly.
"And that doesn't concern you?"
"If he wanted to interfere, he would've done it already."
She turned her attention back to the battlefield.
"As long as he keeps watching, he's not worth my time."
The slaughter continued.
The werewolves were beginning to retreat.
Some tried to flee.
Others fought only out of desperation.
Then a different growl echoed through the avenue.
Deeper.
Heavier.
Several nobles turned toward the sound.
A massive creature emerged, smashing its way through the remains of a ruined building.
It was a wolf.
But far larger than the others.
Nearly twice their size.
Its muscles looked like they had been carved from stone.
Scars covered its entire body.
And its eyes were locked onto a single target.
Kol.
And Elara.
"Finally." Kol smiled. "Something mildly interesting."
The creature charged.
One of the nobles tried to intercept it.
He was hurled into a wall.
Another conjured chains of ice.
The wolf shattered them through sheer strength.
A third unleashed a blast of black fire.
The beast ran straight through the flames without slowing down.
"Oh." Kol raised an eyebrow. "That one's a little better."
The wolf leaped.
The asphalt exploded beneath its paws.
Its target was obvious.
The leaders.
Elara didn't move.
Not a single step.
Not a single muscle.
The creature appeared in front of her.
Its jaws snapped toward her throat.
And then...
The shadow beneath the wolf's feet moved.
Like a dark ocean awakening.
Hundreds of black tendrils erupted from the ground.
The wolf tried to change direction.
Too late.
The shadows wrapped around its legs.
Then its torso.
Then its neck.
The creature roared.
It struggled.
Its muscles swelled.
The street trembled.
Nothing happened.
Elara simply raised one hand.
The shadows answered immediately.
With a single motion.
The gigantic body was ripped from the ground.
The roar became a pained whine.
Then the shadows closed.
Like the jaws of a predator.
A sickening crack echoed across the avenue.
Silence.
When the darkness receded, the wolf was gone.
Only blood remained on the asphalt.
Kol blinked.
"Right."
He looked at the crimson stain on the street.
Then at Elara.
"That seemed excessively easy."
"It was."
"I didn't even get to have any fun."
"That wasn't the objective."
She brushed a drop of blood from her sleeve.
Then she lifted her gaze toward the distant rooftop once more.
The Alpha was still there.
Watching.
Motionless.
The shadows at Elara's feet stirred for a brief moment.
Like one predator sensing another.
But she simply looked away.
"Not yet."
High above the city, the Alpha remained silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
While below him, the last remaining werewolves were exterminated by the nobles without a shred of mercy.