Chapter 51
I ran towards the fighting area, my new form letting me move faster than I ever imagined. My improved senses were filled with the smells of blood and fear, carried by the wind. The harsh smell of evil magic in the air made me feel sick.
“Hang on, Xander,” I whispered. “I’m on my way.”
As I got closer to the fighting area, the sounds of battle hit me. The noise of swords clashing, the growls of werewolves, and the painful cries of those hurt made a chaotic mix of sounds. My heart pounded and my fear for Xander and my pack gave me more determination to keep going.
I rushed out of the trees and stopped abruptly to look around. The quiet open space had turned into a battleground. Werewolves and evil creatures were fighting fiercely, with bodies scattered over the grass covered in blood. I quickly scanned the area, looking for Xander.
Before I could find him, some rogue werewolves noticed me. They were startled by my changed appearance, but they quickly got over their shock and ran at me with deadly purpose. I could feel the Moon Goddess’s strength flowing through me, my body still shining with her holy power.
As the first werewolf reached me, I reacted on instinct. With a single swipe of my clawed hand, I sent him flying backward, his body crumpling as it hit the ground. The others hesitated, clearly unprepared for my increased strength.
“Leave now,” I growled, my voice carrying a power I’d never possessed before. “Or share his fate.”
Two of the werewolves ran away, but the third one, a big male with a scar on his face, jumped at me. I quickly moved to the side, caught him by the back of his neck, and threw him away like he was a small toy. He cried out when he landed, then quickly got up and ran off.
When I looked back at the fight, I saw some of my pack members watching me with amazement. Their eyes were wide, showing both surprise and hope, and I could feel their spirits getting better because of me. I nodded at them, trying to show them that I was confident and strong.
“Stand strong!” I called out, my voice carrying across the battlefield. “We will not fall on this day!”
A group of howls responded to me, and it was clear that my arrival had lifted the spirits of the pack. Energized, they resumed their battle, resisting the evil forces that were endangering our home.
I quickly looked over the battlefield again, urgently trying to find Xander. At last, I saw him at the edge of the open area, encircled by several dark creatures. Seeing him so hurt his fur stained with blood made my heart ache, but he was still fighting with all his strength.
With a roar that seemed to shake the air, I rushed toward him. The dark creatures turned at the sound, their hollow eyes widening in fear as I approached. I tore through their ranks like a force of nature, my new powers allowing me to move with incredible speed and strength.
As I reached Xander’s side, I noticed Aiden lying unconscious nearby, a pool of blood spreading beneath him. I stood protectively over them both, my eyes meeting Xander’s for a brief, intense moment. The relief and love I saw there nearly overwhelmed me, but there was also surprise he was shocked by my transformation.
“Aurora?” Xander gasped, his voice weak. “How…?”
“Later,” I said, placing a gentle hand on his flank. “Let me heal you first.”
I focused on the newfound abilities granted to me by the Moon Goddess, channeling her healing energy through my hands. A gentle, pale light came from my hands as I moved them across Xander’s injuries. Right in front of me, the cuts started to heal, the blood flow decreasing until it completely stopped.
Xander’s eyes grew wide with surprise as he sensed his energy coming back. “Aurora, this is amazing,” he whispered.
“Save your strength.” Adien’s condition was worse, his breaths short and uneven. I put my hands on him, trying to send healing energy into his injured body.
While I worked on healing them, I noticed a change in the air around us. The rogues were getting back together, getting ready for another attack. I could feel their bad energy coming closer from all directions.
“Xander,” I said quickly, “can you get up?”
He nodded, trying to stand up. Even though he had recovered, he remained weak due to the recent events. Aiden remained unconscious, but his breaths were steadier, and his face had regained some color.
When I realized we were at risk, I quickly constructed a protective shield for the three of us. It appeared just in time as the first group of attackers hit it, their claws and teeth hitting the clear barrier without success.
“What is this?” Xander asked, awe in his voice as he watched our enemies futilely attack the barrier.
“A present from the Moon Goddess,” I said quickly, keeping my attention on the protective shield. “But I can’t hold it for long.”
It was like my words triggered it because a really strong attack made a crack spread like a spider web over the barrier. I gritted my teeth, pouring more energy into maintaining our protection, but I knew it wouldn’t last forever.
Just then, Aiden stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He looked up at me with a mix of confusion and surprise, realizing my changed appearance.
“Aurora?” he said softly, almost whispering. “Is that you?”
I nodded, managing a small smile despite the strain of holding the barrier. “Rest, Aiden. You’re safe for now.”
But I knew that safety was fleeting. The shield was getting weaker with every attack, and I could sense my power starting to fade. I needed to move quickly to defend Xander, Aiden, and the rest of our group.
Drawing on the wellspring of power within me, I channeled the Moon Goddess’s energy once more. This time, instead of healing or protection, I focused on creating a weapon against our enemies.
“Close your eyes!” I warned Xander and Aiden.
As they complied, I released a blinding flash of pure, white light. It burst from me in a radiant wave, temporarily stunning the rogues attacking our barrier. Their howls of pain and confusion filled the air as they stumbled back, shielding their eyes.
Seizing the opportunity, I dropped the barrier and turned to address our pack. My voice, imbued with the Moon Goddess’s power, carried across the entire battlefield.
“Warriors of the Pack!” I called out, my words ringing with authority. “Stand with me now! Together, we will drive back this darkness and reclaim our home!”
A chorus of howls answered me, filled with renewed determination and hope. I saw our pack members rally, throwing themselves back into the fight with vigor. The tide of battle began to turn in our favor as we pushed back against the stunned and disoriented rogues.
I led the charge, my new form striking fear into the hearts of our enemies. Those who didn’t flee at the sight of me fell quickly to my enhanced strength and speed. Xander fought at my side, his injuries healed but still conserving his strength. We worked as a team to push through the enemy lines, gradually forcing them to retreat.
It seemed for a brief time that we were going to be victorious. The bad guys were running away, and there were fewer of them left. I felt a little hopeful, thinking maybe this scary situation was ending.
But then, everything changed.
I got a cold feeling in my spine when I sensed an awful energy I’d never felt before. The air around us got darker, and a strange quiet came over the fight as everyone stopped, feeling something terrible was coming.
I looked up and saw a dark hole opening in the sky above us. From inside the hole came a figure I didn’t want to see again Ryder. But this wasn’t the Ryder I had faced in the stone circle. This Ryder was transformed, his body wreathed in tendrils of dark energy, his eyes glowing with an unholy light.
Panic spread through the pack and the rogues as Ryder’s presence registered. Even those who had been fighting alongside him appeared frightened by the person he had turned into.
Suddenly, Ryder released a surge of dark energy that spread quickly across the battlefield. I was filled with dread as I saw it swallow everything in its way, causing both allies and enemies to collapse as this harmful force passed over them.
“Aurora!” Xander yelled, pushing me behind him as the wave approached. But I knew his protection wouldn’t be enough against this level of power.
Stepping forward, I gathered my energy, creating a shield of pure light that stood against Ryder’s attack. The two forces collided in a dazzling show of brightness and darkness, the air around us buzzing with the strength of our abilities.
While I stood firm against Ryder’s fierce attack, I heard the Moon Goddess’s voice inside my head. Her voice was serious, carrying both strength and worry.
“My daughter,” she said, her words deeply affecting me. “The power I’ve given you is immense, but it has a cost. Using your full potential to fight this darkness could lead to unexpected problems. Think carefully because your choice will affect not only your destiny but also the destiny of all werewolves.”
I felt the importance of her message pressing down on me. The decision I had to make was huge either use all my new powers and possibly face serious problems, or hold back and risk losing everything and everyone I’ve worked so hard to defend.
Time appeared to drag on while I thought about what to do. I could sense the effort of stopping Ryder’s assault, the powerful dark energy pressing against my protective barrier with more strength. Behind me, I could hear my pack members breathing heavily; many of them were hurt and worn out from the long fight.
I remembered Xander, the love we had for each other, and the future we had imagined together. I thought about Aiden and the other wolves, their lives just starting, full of possibilities and hope. I thought about my parents, their self-sacrifice that had brought me to this point, and the heritage they had passed on to me.
The force of Ryder’s attack grew stronger, and I felt my shield starting to break. I knew I had to choose soon. The destiny of the pack, of Xander, and the whole werewolf community depended on my decision.
As another crack appeared in my shield, I made my decision. Taking a big breath, I got ready to use all my strength, no matter the results. I couldn’t let Ryder ruin everything I cared about.
“I’m sorry, Xander,” I said softly, looking at him for the final time. His eyes grew bigger as he seemed to understand what I was planning to do.
“Aurora, no!” he cried out, reaching for me.
But it was too late. I gave up my control, letting the Moon Goddess’s power flow through me without any limits. The energy grew inside me, reaching a peak that could tear me apart from within.
As I was about to unleash this huge power on Ryder, a bright light surrounded me. For a brief instant, I had a strange sensation of being both everywhere and nowhere, as if my consciousness had spread beyond my actual self.
During that clear moment, I caught sight of various potential futures some filled with brightness and optimism, while others were gloomy and frightening. I saw the effects of my choice spreading through time, affecting not just me, but many generations.
And then, as fast as it had appeared, the vision disappeared. I found myself back on the battlefield, with the full power of the Moon Goddess ready to be released.
Ryder looked at me from across the battlefield, and I saw a brief flash of fear in his eyes as he noticed the transformation in me. He intensified his efforts, channeling more dark energy into his assault.
This was the decisive moment that would determine everything. Carrying the burden of the world and the strength of the Moon Goddess within me, I readied myself to confront Ryder’s darkness with my light.
The atmosphere was charged with tension as two colossal forces were about to clash. In that frozen instant, poised on the cusp of fate, I made my ultimate decision and accepted whatever outcomes might follow.
With a fierce shout that rattled the ground beneath us, I released all my power against Ryder’s darkness. The burst of energy was so bright it illuminated the sky like another sun, momentarily blinding everyone on the battlefield.