James didn’t get a chance to open his mouth as his father lunged, shoving him into a nearby alleyway to slam him into a wall. The air left James’s lungs but spotting a flash of steel he rammed his knee into the older male’s stomach. Carlos staggered back and James attempted to run, giving out a yelp as Carlos tackled him into the floor.
Rolling on the icy concrete James managed to dislodge himself from his father; while older Carlos was still physically stronger. He didn’t have many options. So James pushed out his beastial form; horns protruding from his head, fur coating his skin and tail curling from under his coat. Carlos saw what he was doing and didn’t hesitate, James would be able to run faster than him, so leaping onto James he slammed his weight onto one of his son’s legs, taking delight in the SNAP he heard and the howl of pain from the younger male.
Lashing out with his claws they tore through the skin on Carlos’s face, who roared in a mix of anger and agony. With the madman off of him James attempted to stand, to flee, but his leg wouldn’t take his weight and he toppled with a hiss and tears prickled his eyes. The older of the two grabbed his good leg, dragging James towards him as he clawed at the ground to get away. “You always were a pain in my ass boy,” He spat, holding what James now recognized as a blade, “I spent years working on you, teaching you to do as you were told, giving you a roof over your head and for what?! To throw your old man in prison like some dog! You RUINED me!”
James barely registered what was being said as he was tugged closer, instead lashing out to smack the knife from his father’s hand. Being distracted it flew free, clattering to the ground. Almost growling Carlos grabbed a fist full of James’s hair, slamming his head into the solid frozen ground until James saw stars. “You lost your respect... that whore you called a wife drained it out of you, but look where she is now! Six feet under and leaving you to look after some hellspawn! I never left you, you left me! You’re ungrateful!! A smear of dirt on our family name!! You’re nothing without me, I MADE you and you know it!!”
Dazed as Carlos got off of him he tried to drag himself away, able to hear his father pick the blade back up. His heart pounded in his ears, his whole life going by his eyes in seconds as he drew in short panicked breaths. He was going to die here, alone and afraid... to the man he knew would do him in. Hannah would grow up without him, without the love of either of her parents.
The world seemed to have slowed for him as he felt Carlos drawing closer. And James realised something.
He didn’t want to die yet.
As Carlos gripped him and spun him around the older male raised the knife high, ready to plunge it into his own flesh and blood... but he didn’t get the chance. Adrenaline pumping through his veins James gripped his father’s head and dug in his claws, pupils narrow slits as his crimson gaze locked on Carlos. As the knife came down James lunged, feeling the steel pierce his arm as his own jaws locked around the older male’s neck. Sharp teeth dug in and Carlos cried out in shock and pain, not giving him a chance to react James pulled back with all his strength... and tore out his throat.
Shoving James back Carlos staggered for a moment, gargling on his own blood as he leaned back, unable to breath, unable to speak. The light faded from his eyes and he fell cold and still. Carlos was dead... James had killed him.
James trembled as he leaned against a nearby wall, tasting his father’s blood from the chunk of flesh he spat out. Fumbling in his coat he took out his phone, dialing as as blood smeared the screen. It rang and was quickly answered.
“M-Mum? C-Can you please come get m-me?”