I didn’t have an answer and I prayed I didn’t have to make the choice. Not only had everyone stopped moving but it had gone deathly silent. For a moment, everyone and everything froze. There wasn’t a whisper of wind in the air, the trees stood still, and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was the calm before the storm. It felt like someone had pushed the pause button and all at once the play button was pressed and all hell broke loose.
As if planned, the two of them ran toward each other. I looked past Ethan and my gaze landed on Shane’s chest. The sword had been taken out, a gaping hole was left in its place right next to his heart. Now that it was gone, I could see I had barely missed his heart. If I’d been one inch to the right, he would have died. How had I missed that? I didn’t kill him.
Was I not paying attention? Why hadn’t I looked at his heart? I had aimed, hadn’t I? Had I meant to miss it? No, I had meant it, or else I wouldn’t have stabbed him at all. I tried to remember if I had checked his breathing or his pulse. No, I hadn’t. I’d been so distraught, I’d been drowning in my pain and sadness that I hadn’t thought to check. I’d just assumed that he was dead. I didn’t know if I should be upset or happy that I’d missed his heart. Focusing back on the fight, I chewed on my bottom lip nervously. This was an Alpha’s battle and the winner would be victorious. Normally, when werewolves fight it’s to win, to kill, to own but this wasn’t just a fight between men. There was more at stake here than who would win or lose. This was a fight between Alphas. Their lives, their pack, and the future of their pack members would be decided here. The fate of Half Moon and Desert Moon was riding on the outcome of this battle. I can’t believe that despite everything I’d tried to do to prevent this we had still arrived at this moment.
They clashed and it sounded like a clap of thunder. I flinched back at the sound of two heavy bodies colliding together. I wanted to look okay but I couldn’t tear my gaze from them, I couldn’t help but watch. They were both glorious in their own right. Both gloriously covered in blood, one from torture and from killing his enemies, the other from betrayal. Both were extremely beautiful. Standing there on the battlefield, arms glistening under the sun, muscles flexing, they looked like a renaissance painting.
The sun was high in the sky and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. Ethan’s arms were on Shane’s shoulders and Shane’s on Ethan’s. Ethan headbutted Shane but Shane didn’t even flinch, there were no signs he felt it. Shane’s claws extended and pierced Ethan’s shoulders. I saw it before Ethan did, Shane’s knee came up and connected with Ethan’s abdomen. Ethan groaned as he crunched inward on himself. I gasped, my hand going to my mouth. I don’t know whose side I’m on and that’s what makes this situation worse. I should know who I was rooting for, yet here I was, standing and watching, unsure of who I wanted to walk away from this fight. What do you do when you’re standing helplessly by while the two men you love fight each other to the death? Is there anything I can do?
Odis was the closest to them, his attention was on the fight, he tracked every movement, every hit. Would he intervene if Ethan lost, or would he accept it? Did I want him to intervene? Fuck. I loved Ethan but I didn’t want- A pained sound filled the air. Looking back to the fight, my gaze landed on the two to find Shane above Ethan.
No. No.
Please.
Stop.
Shane’s eyes locked on mine and I saw the pain there as if he could read my mind. Tears filled my eyes. I saw the hurt, the pain in his gaze as he stared back at me. Despite the fact that Ethan was the one who brought this war to him, I still didn’t want to see Ethan hurt. Ethan saw Shane’s distraction and moved quickly. Ethan’s legs wrapped around Shane’s legs and he yanked. Shane fell to his side as Ethan dodged and jumped up.
No, no, no.
He couldn’t.
Instead of Shane having the upper hand as he had only a moment before, it was Ethan who was on top now. He straddled Shane and my eyes widened as Ethan cocked his bloodied fist back. Whistling through the air until it connected with Shane’s face, I cried out as Shane grunted.
Goddess.
Please.
Please stop.
Shane said something I couldn’t hear and Ethan growled. What did he say? I wanted to know, needed to know. I edged closer to them as Ethan continued to plow into Shane’s face. When I got closer, I realized that Shane wasn’t just taking it. He was socking Ethan in the abdomen over and over again. Shane didn’t let up or stop even as Ethan’s fist connected with his nose, successfully breaking it. I started to run but bumped into a hard shoulder. Looking up, I came eye to eye with Odis. His arms wrapped around me like a vice. He stared down at me, a clear look of disapproval etched into his features.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Odis said. “Whatever it is you are thinking, whatever it is you were just about to do, I would suggest staying still and keeping quiet Luna. You don’t know who is going to win this fight but I think you shouldn’t make your thoughts too obvious. The battle has not yet finished and you will only be a distraction. Fate will decide who wins today,” Odis murmured.