The pack immediately fell silent. The fight stopped and everyone froze as Jemma stepped in. It dawned on them that a former Luna should not be involved in such chaos.
Jemma’s involvement, with her firm and combative attitude, drastically changed the dynamics of the situation. The guards, who had been aggressive at first, became hesitant, unsure of what to do.
Seconds passed with no movement from either side. However, Jemma refused to let her guard down. She continued to assess the situation, firmly believing she had no choice. The steps she was taking were not without consequences. On the contrary, they could lead to further conflict. But her instincts as a former Luna made her feel responsible to protect Ayla, even if it meant taking great risks.
“Why are you all silent?!” Mireya’s voice broke the silence. All eyes turned to her and Mireya glared at them.
“Do you not hear the orders of Alpha Usher? Alpha Usher orders you to capture Ayla! Capture her and eliminate anyone who tries to protect her!”
The guards, who had been silent before, acted again. They advanced, and Jemma did not remain idle. She growled, then lunged at those who tried to approach Ayla.
Jemma’s action brought a swift response from the guards. The confrontation between the pack and the guards became inevitable. Tensions escalated, and suddenly a wolf lunged at Jemma.
Jemma was thrown off, and as she stood up, she saw many wolves coming at her. They attacked Jemma simultaneously and she was overwhelmed.
The battle was out of control. The werewolves had turned and were attacking each other. Cora joined in to help Jemma protect Ayla, as did Berg, who eventually made a fatal decision. He defied Usher’s orders and thwarted every guard who tried to harm Ayla.
There was a loud crash as Jemma was thrown and hit the wall. Her body landed on the floor in a pitiful state. She tried to get up, but realized that one of her legs was broken.
Jemma’s steps faltered. Blood flowed from her injured back. Her breathing became labored, and a wolf attacked her fiercely.
Jemma was thrown back again, but this time she had no chance to get up. The wolf continued to beat her, biting mercilessly, inflicting pain that left Jemma helpless.
Jemma’s screams attracted Berg’s attention. He threw three wolves off her, then leapt and attacked the attacking wolf. Clawing and biting, Berg mercilessly killed the wolf in a matter of seconds.
A look of relief washed over Berg as he managed to save Jemma, but it didn’t last long. As he approached Jemma, he saw the severity of her wounds.
Jemma appeared to be suffering, with blood pooling around her body. Her breathing became shallow, and eventually she stopped breathing altogether. She felt no more pain.
Berg howled sadly. All the wolves stopped fighting and looked at Jemma’s body. Grief spread quickly, and they all howled in sorrow.
“Mama.”
For the second time, Usher took a moment to assess the situation. He watched Jemma’s lifeless body for a moment in silence. Then he was struck by a sudden pain in his chest. His heart felt squeezed, he couldn’t breathe, and his throat trembled as he spoke again.
“Mama.”
Warmth welled in his eyes. Usher’s feet moved. His heart urged him to go to Jemma. But Mireya stopped him.
Usher swallowed the bitterness that rose in his throat. “Mireya, Mama-”
“She is not your mother anymore, Usher. Since she disagreed with you, she ceased to be your mother,” Mireya incited Usher again. “Besides, she’s already dead, so there’s no point in mourning her. What matters now is that we get rid of Ayla. Once Ayla is dead, no one will dare oppose you.”
Usher fought inwardly as the throbbing returned to his head, making him grimace in pain. For a moment he struggled with the pain, but then he nodded repeatedly. “You are right. Now is the time to get rid of Ayla.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Mireya’s face. She enjoyed the renewed fight as the pack grew angrier over Jemma’s death. In her eyes, the bloody event was nothing more than pleasant entertainment.
Berg howled again as he sensed something was wrong. The longer the battle raged, the more unbalanced it seemed. His unease grew as he noticed more and more unknown wolves. Who were they?
It was then that Berg realized something crucial: he had never seen the wolf that killed Jemma before. His unease grew. Moreover, his natural instinct pointed to Mireya’s involvement.
Berg didn’t want to take any chances. If his fears proved true, the safety of the pack would be threatened, especially Ayla’s. So, he ordered the original guards to protect the pack and Ayla, while he and Cora were on the front lines.
As time passed, however, Berg and Cora’s defenses became increasingly overwhelmed. Their opponents multiplied, and they found themselves fighting. The climax came when Cora received a bite to the neck, causing her defense to falter.
Cora growled. She fiercely retaliated against the wolf’s attack. They wrestled and rolled, then Cora quickly clawed at the wolf’s belly. Then she didn’t hesitate to strike back at the neck where she had been bitten. Seconds later, the wolf lay motionless.
Cora’s departure from the defensive formation left Berg overwhelmed. Finally, a wolf managed to break through and corner Ayla.
Ayla took a deep breath. The urgency of the situation forced her to make a decision. Her resolve was firm; she couldn’t stand by while the pack tried to protect them. As Sacred Elder, her presence would indeed be a priority for the survival of the pack. But that didn’t mean she was willing to see many lives lost because of her.
The robe of justice slipped from Ayla’s body. Heat surged through her entire being. She prepared to transform into a wolf, but suddenly another wolf lunged at her.
Ayla stumbled and rolled to the ground. Berg, who witnessed the event, couldn’t rush to help as he was immediately attacked by six wolves at once.
Ayla tried to get to her feet, bearing the pain. She took a deep breath and prepared. But the wolf was knocked aside as it lunged at her.
Ayla’s eyes widened, as did those of everyone else nearby. All attention shifted to one figure, the same figure everyone was focused on: a man wearing a hooded jacket and a mask-the man.
*