Godiva PoV.
“Mother, I seek your protection for my children.”
After ensuring that Castor and Pollux were still holding their ground in battle, I returned to the cottage. I offered a prayer to my mother, the moon goddess, asking for the safety of my children, our pack, and all the werewolves. The weight of the world pressed heavily on my shoulders as I stood at the threshold of the room, watching the twins peacefully sleeping. My heart clenched, knowing that we would soon be separated.
They awoke with weary faces. Care and Mia rubbed their eyes, their identical expressions reflecting confusion. I had made a decision-a decision I hoped would guarantee their safety, even if it meant a temporary parting.
“Listen to me,” I began, keeping my voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside me. “Beta Alvise and the elite Moonstone warriors will take you to a safe place. You have to trust them.”
Mia’s lips trembled as she clutched her stuffed bear tightly, while Care, always the brave one, puffed out his chest. “But what about you, Mom?” Care’s voice cracked, his eyes brimming with tears.
I knelt down, cupping their faces in my hands. “I have to stay and fight. To protect you, to protect everyone. You know it’s my duty.”
Mia sobbed, wrapping her small arms tightly around my neck. “I don’t want to leave you!”
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I swallowed them back, gently stroking Mia’s hair. “This isn’t goodbye, my love. It’s the only way for you to see tomorrow.”
Care’s composure wavered as he embraced me fiercely. “Promise me you’ll come back. Promise, Mom.”
I gazed into his hopeful eyes and nodded, forcing a smile I didn’t truly feel. “I promise, Care. Now go with Beta Alvise and Trisha. They will keep you safe.”
Outside the room, Alvise stood at the cottage door, bowing his head respectfully. His formidable presence, along with the elite warriors accompanying him, offered me a small measure of reassurance. “We will protect them with our lives, Luna,” he vowed.
I kissed the twins on their foreheads, whispering prayers in my heart as Alvise led them away. My heart ached as their tiny hands slipped from mine, but I steeled myself. There was no room for doubt now.
As they disappeared into the dense forest, flanked by the warriors, I turned in the opposite direction-toward the battlefield where my two mates were locked in combat with the vampires. The air was tense, the scent of danger-and blood-lingering like a grim omen.
I didn’t have to wait long to see why. As I approached, the sounds of snarls and howls blended with the shrieks of vampires. The battle was in full swing.
A massive wolf lunged at a vampire, its claws tearing into the creature’s pale flesh. The vampire screeched, retaliating with sharp claws of its own. The chaos was both mesmerizing and terrifying, and my wolf surged within me, ready to join the fray.
Without hesitation, I shifted forms. My bones cracked and reshaped, the transformation swift and seamless. My wolf’s heightened senses took over as I leaped onto the battlefield, targeting the nearest vampire. My jaws clamped down on its neck, and with a swift twist, I ended its unholy existence.
The battlefield blurred with fur and fangs, claws and screams. The Moonstone warriors fought valiantly, their unity and strength evident in every coordinated strike. But the vampires were relentless, their speed and savagery testing even our best fighters.
I tore through another vampire, its cold blood staining my fur, when I spotted Pollux battling two vampires at once. His movements were precise, a testament to his skill, but he was outnumbered. I charged forward, bringing one of the vampires to the ground. Together, we swiftly dispatched them.
“Luna Godiva!” Castor called, his voice a mix of relief and urgency. “Behind you!”
I ducked, planting my snout close to my forepaws-a dodging technique I had learned from Pollux. I saw several warriors abandon their current fights, following Castor to the eastern side. From where I stood, the situation there was worse than I had imagined-bodies littered the ground, and the vampires were pressing their advantage.
I lunged at the nearest vampire, tearing through its defenses with savage precision. The fight became a blur of violence, my wolf and I are working in perfect harmony. The adrenaline coursing through my veins dulled the pain of minor injuries, but the toll of the battle was undeniable.
Then, a cold laugh echoed across the battlefield, halting everything, if only for a moment. My wolf’s ears perked up, and a growl rumbled deep in my chest. That laugh… it couldn’t be.
From the shadows, Kruglov emerged, his pale figure unmistakable. The leader of the vampire forces, whom we had killed minutes earlier, now stood before us, his eyes glowing with hatred.
“Miss me?” he sneered, his voice dripping with dark mockery.
“How is this possible?” I scrutinized every inch of him, searching for an answer.
“Vampires level up too, you know, not just you werewolves. Your poison no longer affects us,” he said, his chilling laugh grating against my thoughts.
Shock rippled through the ranks of the wolves, but I didn’t hesitate. With a growl, I leapt at him, aiming for his neck. But he moved faster than I anticipated, dodging my attack with ease.
“Ah, Godiva. I didn’t realize you had such a feral side,” Kruglov mocked. “Did you really think death could hold me back?”
He countered with incredible speed, his claws raking my side. Pain flared, but I refused to falter. I circled him, waiting for an opening, while the others watched in stunned silence.
“This ends now, Kruglov,” I snarled, my voice filled with resolve.
“Oh, this hasn’t even begun,” he replied, his grin widening to reveal fangs stained with fresh blood.
The battle raged on, but my focus remained on Kruglov. Every move of his was calculated, his strength and speed unmatched. It felt as if he had returned stronger, deadlier than ever. The marks from the wolves’ previous attacks lingered on his chest, dark and ominous. Yet he moved as if unscathed, as if those wounds meant nothing to him.
I knew this fight would push me to my limits, but failure wasn’t an option. The lives of my children, the Moonstone pack, and everyone I loved depended on me. With renewed determination, I lunged again, intent on ending this once and for all.