Chapter 46: The Light’s Aftermath
Melisa’s POV
I blinked against the sunlight coming through the trees as I gently opened my eyes. I felt like I had been dragged and stretched in ways I couldn’t understand, and my whole body hurt. Despite my best efforts, my limbs felt like lead. Where had I gone? What took place?
“Melissa!” The cloud was broken by Kane’s words. He was kneeling next to me when I turned my head in the direction of the sound. His face lit up with relief as he drew me into his arms and held me close.
“Kane,” I said in a raspy voice. “What happened?”
He gently stroked my hair and said quietly, “You did it.” “You ruined Damon. The force of the light was immense. It destroyed him.
I scowled as I tried to recall. My mind was flooded with visions of the goddess’s light clashing with Damon’s twisted, dark nature. Everything inside of me seemed to shatter and then rebuild itself the instant I allowed the power to flood through me. Now, though, something was lacking.
I put a hand to my chest and whispered, “I don’t feel the same.” “The power is no longer there, is it?”
I only needed Kane’s quiet as a response. With that revelation pressing down on me like a big stone, I closed my eyes. To save everyone, I had sacrificed the goddess’ gift, but now I was just me.
As though he could read my mind, Kane assertively stated, “Melissa, you’re still the Alpha.” “Whether or not you have divine power, you have always been a leader.”
Though questions chewed at the corners of my mind, I wanted to believe him. Would I be able to defend my pack without the goddess’s power?
The realization of what we had lost hit me like a kick to the stomach as I eventually got to my feet. My packmates were scattered around the clearing, some sitting quietly and staring blankly, others nursing wounds or quietly sobbing. We were all scarred by the war.
I forced my voice to remain steady as I said, “Report the losses.” With his palm grazing mine for wordless support, Kane stood behind me.
One of the younger scouts, Talia, came forward. As she talked, her hands shook. We’ve lost almost one-third of our warriors, Alpha. Some of the allied packs haven’t yet sent word, and more people are hurt.
I could sense the grief bearing down on everyone as her voice broke on the final word. I couldn’t show how much my heart ached for the lives we had lost. For them, I had to remain strong.
With a determined tone, I declared, “We’ll honour each and every one of them.” “We will never forget the sacrifices they made. But we must remain alert. Even though Damon’s army is dispersed, some wolves still support his cause. We must prevent them from regrouping.
I felt somewhat reassured by the crowd’s murmurs of agreement. I was aware of the brittleness of hope.
I sat by the fire that night and gazed into the flames. The chilly horror that was seeping through me was not much repelled by the warmth on my face.
Even though no one was there, I shouted out loud, “I can feel it.” “This isn’t over.”
“You’re right.” Kane’s voice startled me. He sat down beside me, his expression serious. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Damon might be gone, but his followers… they won’t just disappear.”
I nodded slowly. “And what if it’s more than that?” I asked. “What if we unleashed something worse? I can’t shake this feeling, Kane. It’s like… the struggle was merely a little fraction of a broader storm.”
He reached across, grasping my hand in his. “Melissa, you don’t have to carry this alone. We’ll face whatever comes next together.”
His words warmed me, but I couldn’t let myself relax. Not quite yet.
A startling disturbance at the edge of the camp pushed us both to our feet. Two sentries appeared from the shadows, pulling a wiry, unkempt guy between them. He looked afraid, his eyes darting around like he expected to be assaulted.
“Alpha,” one of the sentries said quietly, bowing slightly. “This man says he has urgent news for you.”
Narrowing my eyes at the stranger, I took a step forward. “Who are you?” I insisted. “What brings you here?”
Trembling, the man fell to his knees. “I’m Eryck,” he stumbled to say. “I served with Damon’s forces, but I left after realizing his true purpose.”
“What do you mean?” With my heart thumping, I asked harshly.
Eryck’s voice wavered as he declared, “Damon wasn’t the real enemy.” He served a much more hazardous and ancient purpose as a pawn. Something that has been awaiting its rise for centuries.
As Eryck spoke, the herd clustered around, their faces white with terror. Even though his statements made no sense, they made me shiver.
“What is this ‘ something’ that you are referring to?” Trying to speak steadily, I asked.
Eryck said, his hands clenched around his cloak, “I don’t know its name.” However, it is older and more potent than anything we have ever encountered. Damon was mistaken to believe he could control it. To get free, it used him. And it’s approaching now.
My packmates’ panicked whispers became more audible. Kane moved forward, his voice piercing the cacophony. His tone was stern as he questioned, “Why should we believe you?” “You could be putting us in danger; we have no idea.”
Eryck desperately shook his head. “I swear on my life that I’m being honest! I witnessed firsthand how it moved and how it consumed power. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.
I looked at Kane, who continued to have a doubtful expression. Even if I had my misgivings, Eryck’s worry seemed genuine to me. “We’ll look into this,” I responded at last. “However, if you are deceiving us,”
“I’m not,” Eryck cut in. “You’re running out of time. This thing has already woken up. And it’s on its way to you.
The audience became quiet. It was as though my heart had stopped beating. His remarks carried a nearly unbearable burden.
I lay in my tent that night, unable to sleep. Doubts, worries, and possibilities whirled through my head. Had I been wrong to spare Damon? Could I hope to defeat this new menace without the goddess’s help?
My spine tingled as a low, guttural growl reverberated across the jungle. It wasn’t a wolf’s sound. I sat up, gasping for air. It was already here, whatever it was.