Chapter 49:
As the smoke started to fade, I blinked a lot, trying to understand the destruction around me. The big boom had turned the fighting ground into a mess, and for a second, I felt sad. How could we fix this?
But I couldn’t feel sorry for myself. I was the leader, and my pack needed me. I got rid of the confusion and quickly looked at what was happening. To my shock, I saw that Ryder’s team had broken through our protection, rushing into our area like a dark wave.
I didn’t waste any time. I lifted my head and let out a strong howl, telling my pack to come back together and keep our line. The sound filled the fighting ground, and I saw people looking my way. Great. They needed someone to bring them together, and I would be that person.
From the side of my eye, I saw Xander getting ready to fight back. Relief flooded through me at the sight of him, alive and fighting. He was guiding a team to outmaneuver the enemy, his strategic thinking already shifting the battle’s momentum. I felt a rush of pride and affection for him, thankful for his power and guidance.
A quick movement grabbed my eye, and I looked to see Aiden’s protective spells flickering and breaking under the heavy attack of dark magic. My heart dropped as I understood how much the blast had damaged our shields. Aiden was trying his hardest, but he couldn’t keep it up indefinitely.
As I went to strengthen our shields, a sight froze me in place. Several of my pack members lay lifeless on the ground, their bodies quiet among the turmoil. Sadness and fury filled me, a strong mix that could cloud my judgment. These were my friends, my kin, and Ryder had ripped them away from us.
With a roar of anger, I leaped back into the fight. My claws ripped into tainted skin, my jaws clenching as I battled with a fierceness fueled by sorrow and resolve. I would make Ryder pay for every life he had taken, for every moment of pain he had caused.
Ryder’s laughter echoed. His words were sharp and hurtful, piercing my heart and making me angrier. However, I didn’t want him to know how much he was upsetting me. I continued to struggle, using all my strength.
While I fought through the disorder, I noticed my friends starting to weaken. We were greatly outnumbered, and Ryder had brought too many foes against us. For every corrupted creature we took down, two more seemed to take its place.
I caught sight of Xander successfully pushing back part of Ryder’s army, but the victory came at a heavy cost. Many of our pack members lay wounded or worse, and I could see the toll it was taking on Xander. His movements were slower, his attacks less precise. He was tiring, and quickly.
Determination flooded through me. I had to reach Ryder, had to end this before we lost everything. I made my way through the battlefield, keeping my eyes on my target. Ryder was surrounded by a storm of dark energy that seemed to have a life of its own.
I was so determined to achieve my objective that I didn’t see the threat coming until it was nearly too late. A once-lovely fae, now deformed by Ryder’s dark magic, caught me off guard. Its thorny vines wrapped around my leg, and I cried out in pain as they cut into my skin.
For a moment, I felt panic rising. I was trapped, exposed, and the battlefield was no place for doubt. But I refused to give up. With a burst of strength, I managed to escape, leaving deep cuts on my back leg as the thorns ripped through my fur.
As I limped forward, trying to ignore the pain, someone familiar appeared beside me. Aiden, looking tired but determined, used his magic to heal my wound. I nodded gratefully to him, knowing there was no time for words.
With renewed strength, I dove back into battle. But even as I fought, I could feel the tide turning against us once more. Ryder unleashed another wave of dark magic, and I watched in horror as more of my pack fell under the assault.
For the first time since the battle started, I started to feel unsure. Could we really win this fight? Did I bring my group into a battle we can’t win? Being the leader felt heavier than ever at that moment.
But when I looked at my group, I saw something that gave me hope. Even with the tough odds, pain, and fear, they were still fighting. They trusted me and our cause, and I couldn’t let them down.
With a new sense of purpose, I gathered my strength for another effort. We might be fewer, we might be hurt and bleeding, but we weren’t beaten. Not yet. Not as long as I was still alive.
I let out another howl, this one not just a call to fight but a strong shout against the darkness that wanted to swallow us. My pack answered, their voices joining mine in a song of determination and hope.
As our howls faded, I saw something change on the battlefield. My pack moved with new purpose, their attacks more coordinated, their defense more solid. We had become more than just a collection of people struggling to stay alive we were now a strong team, connected by trust and affection.
Ryder’s troops appeared to weaken as we launched a fresh attack. I noticed uncertainty and dread in their eyes, and I realized we had an opportunity. If we could maintain this energy, if we could exert a bit more effort, we might be able to change the situation.
I made my way toward Ryder again, filled with resolve. This time, I wouldn’t let anything stop me. This time, I will end this, once and for all.
As I neared Ryder, I saw his eyes widen with something that looked almost like fear. Good. Let him be afraid.
But right when I was ready to go all out, something unexpected occurred that altered everything. A noise pierced the noisy fight, a noise that made me shiver.
It was a howl, but not one of victory or challenge. This was a shout of hurt, of needing help, and I knew who it was right away. It was Xander.
My heart felt like it stopped. Xander was in big trouble and he needed me. But Ryder was right there, close enough to touch. If I went back now, I might miss my only shot to finish this.
What should I do?
In the midst of the fierce fight, I decided what to do. With a growl of annoyance, I left Ryder behind and sprinted toward the sound of Xander’s cry. I hoped I wasn’t too late and that my choice wouldn’t lead to our downfall.
The confusion of the fight surrounded me as I ran, but I didn’t notice any of it. All I cared about was reaching Xander and saving him from the danger he was in.
As I approached, my heart nearly stopped when I saw what was happening. Xander was surrounded by some of Ryder’s rogues, and they were all closing in on him from every side. He was fighting fiercely, but I could see he was outnumbered and quickly tiring.
Without hesitation, I charged into the fray. My sudden assault scattered Ryder’s guards, giving Xander a moment of respite. When I got to him, I felt a huge wave of relief that was almost too much to handle. He was still alive, still battling, and now we were side by side.
We fell into our familiar rhythm, fighting back-to-back. Our movements were perfectly synchronized, years of training and battling side by side evident in every attack, every defense. For a moment, even with the bad situation, I felt a little hope. Together, we were strong and could handle anything.
But our time together didn’t last long. I noticed Ryder looking at us from the side. He must have known we were a big problem for him, and he wasn’t going to let us change the fight.
I saw a burst of dark energy coming towards us, too fast for me to move out of the way. Time felt like it was going slower, as I knew I couldn’t get away or protect myself from this attack. I thought, “This is it. This is how it will end.”
But then, something that would scare me for a long time happened. Xander pushed me out of the way. I watched in fear as he got hit really hard by the attack, and his body flew backward from the force.
“No!” I screamed as I saw Xander’s body fall to the ground, not moving. Everything else faded away the battle, Ryder, my duties as Alpha. All that mattered was getting to Xander.
I hurried to his side, changing back to my human form to examine his injuries. The sight that met me was terrifying. He had a severe cut across his chest, and blood was flowing out quickly. His breaths were weak, and his skin looked very pale under his fur.
“Xander,” I said softly, my voice trembling as I desperately tried to stop the blood. “Xander, please. Hold on.”
My hands were trembling as I pressed on the cut, hoping it would stop bleeding. But the injury was too severe, too deep. I needed help. I needed Aiden.
“Aiden!” I screamed, not caring if my desperation was evident to our enemies. “Aiden, I need you!”
Ryder’s cruel laughter cut through my panic, reminding me of the dire situation we were in. “Poor little Aurora,” he taunted, his voice dripping with false sympathy. “So weak, so attached. That’s why you will always lose.”
“Your weakness, your attachments,” Ryder continued, his voice growing closer. “They make you vulnerable. Just like your parents.”
His words hit me like a physical blow. My parents. The wound of their loss, still raw after all these years, throbbed anew.
I was torn, glancing between Xander’s prone form and Ryder’s advancing figure. I knew I needed to stop Ryder, to end this once and for all. But how could I leave Xander? How could I risk losing him?
As I felt despair creeping in, Aiden showed up. He remained silent, simply crouching beside Xander and began to send healing energy to him.
I stood guard over both of them, growling at any foes that tried to get near. The fight continued around us, but all I could focus on was this small area, Xander’s heavy breathing, and Aiden’s quiet spells.
Ryder’s chanting got louder, and a dark power circled him, showing how dangerous he was becoming. I knew I needed to step in to stop a big disaster. But the idea of leaving Xander, even for a short time, made my heart hurt.
Aiden glanced up at me, his face tired but his eyes steady. “Go,” he said firmly. “I’ll protect him. You have to stop Ryder.”
I hesitated, torn between my duty as Alpha and my love for Xander. My gaze shifted between Xander’s pale face and Ryder’s growing power. The dark energy around Ryder intensified, the air crackling with malevolent force.
With a heavy heart, I knelt down next to Xander and gave him a kiss on the forehead. “I will be back,” I whispered “I promise.”
As I stood, I felt a surge of determination. I would end this, for Xander, for my pack, for everyone who had suffered under Ryder’s tyranny. I transformed back into my wolf shape, feeling my muscles tighten as I got ready for what was about to happen.
Aiden made a shield around himself and Xander, his magic glowing in the air. I gave him a nod, quietly appreciating his courage and faithfulness.
Taking a big breath, I braced myself for the last battle. Ryder’s rogues tried to stop me, but they couldn’t catch me now. I dodged past them with a speed and agility born of desperation and love.
My pack, seeing my charge, rallied to clear a path for me. Their loyalty, their trust in me, gave me strength. I pushed myself harder, desperation lending speed to my paws.
Ryder’s chants became louder and more intense, and the dark energy surrounding him felt dangerous. I was nearly there, just a few steps away, and I knew I could stop him at that moment.
But right when I was about to grab Ryder, he vanished into a cloud of dark smoke. I stopped quickly, desperately looking around to see where he might have gone. I felt both confused and annoyed. How could he just disappear like that?
Suddenly, a loud howl came from the side of the fighting area-someone had seen Ryder running away. I didn’t think twice and started chasing him. I couldn’t let him escape, not now, not when we were almost done with this.
As I chased after Ryder, I didn’t notice that I was leaving a trail of dangerous energy in my wake. The ground beneath my paws seemed to wither and darken, the corruption slowly spreading across the battlefield.
My main goal was to catch Ryder and end this battle for good. I worked really hard, feeling my muscles get tired from the effort. But I had to keep going, I couldn’t stop or slow down. Too much depended on this.
As I chased Ryder into the unknown, I sent up a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess. Give me strength, I pleaded. Let me end this. Let me save my pack, my love, my world.
With Ryder’s scent still fresh in my nose and a strong will in my heart, I continued to run into the growing darkness. Whatever challenges awaited me, I was prepared to confront them. For Xander, for my pack, and for the future we all rightfully deserve.