Chapter 99

Vance

I stepped out of the infirmary. Kael had sent a mind message to all the men. There was another important meeting, or rather, an assembling. There seemed to be a lot of those lately.

He filled us in through the mind link. It was time for battle. I made a quick trip to the dormitory, changing into a black outfit and boots. My wounds still hurt. There was barely any time to recover.

Dr. Simon's warnings haunted me, but I pushed them aside, darting into the weaponry on my way out and grabbing a customized revolver, loaded with silver bullets, and two daggers.

Outside, the full army was gathered, armed to the teeth.

The Obsidian Spire, Nyxhowl, and Shadow Pack were mixed together. They stood in ranks, Leah commander of the Obsidian Spire unit.

Alpha Kael stood, addressing the men. Beside him was Markov Romanov, securing on a bulletproof vest, two seraph blades strapped to his back, and a silenced M19 peeking out from his belt.

"There have been reported sightings of Darian," Kael began. "The Mystic Pack is working with the Order and kidnapped Eria. Tonight, we invade them and bring her back."

Vance felt his blood rise in anticipation. Finally, I thought. We were going to be doing something.

It was high time we got Eria back.

"The mission is simple," Kael called out, his voice loud and firm, carrying through the cold night, but none of us felt the cold. After a day of staring up at the sky, knowing that Darian was back and the Order was going to attack at any moment, it felt refreshing to be the one making the first moves.

"We go in and tell Dominic to give up Eria and surrender."

"If they don't, we take them down," Markov said coldly. "Capture Dominic, bring him back alive."

The men around me shifted restlessly, hands moving to check weapons one final time. I could smell the metallic scent of loaded ammunition mixed with the familiar musk of wolves ready for battle.

"No mercy!" they chorused.

Leah barked orders to her unit, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. We moved with practiced precision, checking gear and forming tactical formations.

"Vance," Maya grinned, marching beside me. I returned the smile and glanced around for others of my friends. They were lost in the sea of men.

Kael's eyes swept across the assembled army, his alpha presence commanding absolute attention. "We move in three waves," he continued, stepping down to where the rest of us were gathered. "Stealth approach first. We surround them—Shadow Pack takes point. Obsidian Spire flanks from the east. Nyxhowl holds the perimeter. Don't harm the civilians. Our war is with Dominic and his men."

Markov stepped forward, his scarred face grim in the moonlight. "If we march on now, we reach the Mystic Pack by dawn. We're sending only half of us in. The rest stay here and guard the stronghold."

The men divided into ranks and marched on, the huge gates of the strongholds stretched open as we passed.

"Vance," Kael called out.

I stepped out of the formation to meet him. I could see him clearly now, a blade in his hand, but we all knew we fought better as wolves.

Let's hope it doesn't come down to that, I thought. But Dominic didn't look like the type to give in without a fierce fight.

And we were going to his domain. That put us at a disadvantage. We were more—a combined army, I reminded myself.

"Vance, you don't have to go." Kael placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You're kidding, right?" I chuckled. He had to be kidding. "I've been waiting for this moment since I collapsed at the gates before dawn."

"Your wounds. You should stay back and heal. This is only one of the battles we're going to fight."

I shook my head firmly. "This is Eria we're talking about. I want to be there when we rescue her."

Kael nodded, knowing that there would be no stopping me when I already put my mind to something. "Pull up at the rear. Circle the pack house with Thalion's men. I'm not taking chances."

I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off. "I want you to be alive for Eria, too. You're too injured to get into the heat of the battle."

He clapped me on the back and nodded.

"Come on," Markov said, marching past me.

Kael was staying back, I realized. Half of the army separated, stepping back with Kael. He began to bark out new orders to them to surround the stronghold.

"Kill anyone who stands in our way. No prisoners except Dominic Mallory, and we make it quick," Markov announced one more time.

War cries exploded through the crowd as we marched on in a quick formation.

Just as Markov predicted, we reached the Mystic Pack by dawn, the smallest rays of sunshine peeking through the clouds.

The streets were empty, just like I remembered it. We broke into rank, surrounding the pack house.

Then the men went in.

It turned into a battleground, guns ringing in the air that now reeked of blood. Metal clashed against metal. The guards of the Mystic Pack fell easily. We were right, they hadn't anticipated that.

"Surrender, Dominic Mallory. Give up the alpha's sister and spare yourself the bloodshed," Markov yelled, needing no amplifier to make his voice heard above the chaos.

The doors of the hall burst open, and werewolves poured out, snarling, fangs bared, they attacked. I aimed with my gun, knocking one of them down.

Of course, they weren't letting go without a fight. "I'm going in," I yelled at Markov and slipped inside. My hand moved instinctively, grabbing my dagger and flinging it in the air as one of the wolves lunged for me.

I turned around, darting down the corridor, the house outlining itself like a map in my head.

Eria, I thought, feeling her even closer.

"Stop there."

I skidded to a halt.

In front of the door stood Dominic, his eyes angry, a gun aimed at me. Behind him, the door pounded.

I clenched my fist. "Let her go, and we'll spare your people."

"You forget," Dominic snarled, his voice like ice, "that she was the one that came to me. And now she will be my Luna." "I didn't think you would be back to watch the show so soon," his lips twisted into a faint smirk.

I glared at him, drawing out my gun. "You bastard. I heard you stabbed your father over his heart when he wasn't looking."

I watched in satisfaction as his face twisted in anger. Anger made people act without thinking.

"How about you fight me like a man right now? Give me the satisfaction of actually killing you."

The pounding on the door grew louder behind him. He laughed. "You dare to speak about fairness when you sneak up on my men outside? You're actually more annoying than I thought. I've already sent a distress cry to the Order."

He gave me a sweet smile that never reached his eyes. "They'll be here any moment from now."

Before I could say anything, he lunged for me.

I ducked, rolling to the side just as he pulled the trigger, the wall where I was just standing in front of exploding.

I let out my fangs, glad that my wolf was finally responding, and sunk my teeth into his leg.

He let out a yell just as I grabbed him, slamming him against the door repeatedly.

"Where is the key?" I whispered fiercely.

I could hear the battle going on in the main hall. I was certain we were on the winning side.

Dominic threw back his head in laughter despite everything, his eyes blazing like a maniac's.

"Fools," he spat.

A sudden chill filled the air, making my breath visible in ghostly puffs. The temperature dropped so fast I could feel ice crystals forming on the walls.

"Fuck..."

Then I heard it—a sound that made my blood freeze. The ground itself vibrated in a low hum.

"Darian," Dominic whispered, his maniacal grin widening. My grip on him faltered.

The front wall of the pack house exploded inward with a thunderous crash. Through the gaping hole stepped a figure I recognized.

Darian moved with fluid grace in a red coat, the color of blood. I watched, transfixed. His hands wove patterns in the air. Dark energy crackled around his fingers like lightning.

Our men's screams echoed from the main hall. I watched through the doorway as wolves were lifted off their feet by invisible forces, their bodies contorting as if gripped by giant hands.

"Fall back! Fall back!" Markov yelled over the chaos.

I snapped into action, slamming Dominic's head against the door one final time. His body went limp. A crack appeared on the door. I tossed him aside and kicked the door, working on pure adrenaline.

It fell under my weight.

Eria stood inches from it, dressed up in a red wedding gown, her face white in fear.

"Eria! We need to get out now!"