Chapter 40 BLOOD MOON BURNS

Chapter 40 BLOOD MOON BURNS
CHAPTER FORTY

The war began with fire. Anna saw the flames before she heard the screams. One moment she was racing across the territory toward the northern defenses, and the next, a brilliant orange glow erupted beyond the tree line.

The night sky lit up and smoke rose into the darkness.

Blood Moon's alarm horns screamed through the valley. Every wolf in the territory knew what that meant. The enemy had breached the outer perimeter.

"Move, move, move!" Chris's voice thundered across the battlefield.

The Alpha shifted mid-run, his massive black wolf exploding from his human form in a blur of muscle and fur.

His howl shook the mountains as a challenge to Draven and a promise that Blood Moon would not fall quietly.

The warriors answered immediately. Dozens of wolves shifted around him. Then hundreds.

The forest erupted with snarls and howls as Blood Moon surged toward the northern border.

Anna's heart pounded as fear clawed at her chest. Beneath the fear was determination.

This was her home now, her pack. Her family, and she would fight for them.

\~~~

The northern wall was already under attack when they arrived. Wolves crashed into one another in violent collisions. Blood stained the snow-covered ground.

Draven's army poured through the forest like a dark tide. They were larger than Anna had imagined. Pack after pack they trooped into the Blood Moon territory.

Packs of broken wolves forced into service. An army forged from fear and threat. At their center was a black banner bearing the symbol of a fractured moon. That was Draven's mark. The sight sent chills down Anna's spine.

Steve appeared beside her. His sword already drawn.

"Stay behind the second line." Anna gave him a look immediately.

He groaned, a smile played on his lips slowly. "Right, forgot who I was talking to."

Despite the battle raging around them, she almost smiled.

A wounded warrior stumbled past them. His shoulder soaked with blood. "They broke through the west side!"

Steve immediately turned. "Tyler!"

The younger wolf appeared seconds later next to Anna "Take fifteen warriors and reinforce the western flank."

Tyler nodded then sprinted away.

The battle continued escalating. More rogue wolves arrived and emerged from the darkness.

Everywhere Anna looked, fighting consumed the territory. Then she felt it, a familiar presence.

A cold and ancient sensation crawled down her spine.

Draven was there. He was close, very close.

\~~~

At the center of the battlefield, Chris tore through enemy wolves like a storm. His black wolf was enormously larger than almost every wolf he encountered.

A living nightmare wrapped in fur and muscle. Enemies scattered before him.

Those who didn't… fell.

Anna watched him fight, for a brief moment she understood why Blood Moon followed him so fiercely.

Chris wasn't just strong. He inspired people. His courage spread through the pack like wildfire.

Every time warriors saw him standing… they fought harder. Every time they heard his howl… they refused to retreat.

He was their hope and tonight, Blood Moon desperately needed hope.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the battlefield.

Anna turned towards the scream, a young wolf lay trapped beneath three attackers.

The warriors nearby were too occupied to help. Without thinking, Anna ran.

"Anna!" Steve's voice followed her.

The attackers looked up. They were three rogues. All larger than her and armed.

One grinned at Anna, "Well."

Another laughed. "Looks like we found the Luna."

Fear surged through her but she didn't stop moving. The young wolf beneath them was barely conscious.

If she hesitated, he would die.

The rogues lunged towards, something inside Anna snapped instantly.A sudden surge of ancient power, silver light exploded from her body. The battlefield froze.

Every wolf nearby stopped moving, including Anna.

She had no idea what she'd just done. The silver light spread outward like ripples across water, touching wounded wolves, Blood Moon warriors and the young wolf lying on the ground.

Instantly, their injuries began healing. Their ruises faded and strength returned.

The young wolf gasped and sat upright. Shock spread across everyone's face. Everyone stared at Anna. The power kept expanding stronger and brighter. The rogues stood terrified. Somewhere across the battlefield… someone laughed.

A deep, familiar laugh. It was Draven.

Anna's blood turned cold instantly. She turned slowly, her eyes locking with his.

\~~~~

He stood on a ridge overlooking the battlefield. Exactly as she had seen in her visions. He stood tall and powerful, extremely calm about the war that raged below. Long dark hair framed his face untouched by age. His golden eyes glowed beneath the moonlight.

Despite the distance separating them… Anna knew he was looking directly at her.

The smile on his face made her stomach twist as though he had finally found something he had spent centuries searching for.

"No," she whispered.

Draven raised one hand, almost like a greeting. Then the battle exploded again.

\~~~

Chris felt it immediately. The moment Anna's power erupted, every wolf did.

The energy surged through the bond. Chris tore through two attackers before looking up. His eyes widened as silver light illuminated the battlefield.

At its center stood Anna, and on the ridge beyond her was Draven.

The Alpha's blood turned to ice. He recognized the expression on Draven's face. It was pure obsession, one with victory and possession.

Draven had seen her and he looked delighted. A roar ripped from Chris's throat, the battlefield shook.

Then he charged straight toward the ridge where Draven stood.

\~~~

Wolves scattered as Chris tore across the battlefield. Enemy warriors tried stopping him but failed. The Alpha cut through them with terrifying force.

Nothing mattered except reaching Draven. Not the battle that was becoming more tensed.

Draven watched his approach calmly, lmost amused.

Then he stepped forward, for the first time, Alpha faced Alpha. Wolf against a monster. The battlefield seemed to hold its breath.

Chris shifted back into human form. His chest heaved, blood covered his skin.

Draven smiled. "Christopher Whitmore." His voice was smooth and cultured.

Chris hated it instantly. "You talk too much."

Draven laughed as though they were discussing the weather.

"Your father used to say the same thing."

Chris froze. The mention of his father hit like a punch.

Draven noticed and smiled wider. "Such a shame."

The mock sympathy made Chris see red. "You knew him?"

"Oh yes." Draven's eyes glittered. "We had history."

The casual response ignited fury inside him. Chris took a step forward. "You're not leaving here alive."

Draven looked genuinely entertained. Then his gaze shifted past Chris toward Anna.

The smile disappearedand was replaced by hunger. Obsession.

"She's finally awakened."

Chris immediately stepped between them. A growl vibrated from his chest.

Draven chuckled. "Protective I see..."

"Stay away from her."

The older Alpha tilted his head. "As if you could stop me."

The arrogance in his voice was infuriating. Beneath it was a dangerous confidence. The kind possessed by men who believed they had already won.
A horn sounded from the enemy ranks. Draven glanced toward the forest, annoyed. Then back at Chris.

"Our conversation will have to wait."

Chris tensed. "What?"

Draven's smile returned. "Enjoy your victory tonight."

Victory? The word made no sense, the battle wasn't over.

Then Draven said something that made Chris's blood run cold. "This was only a test."

The realization hit instantly. This wasn't his full force, not even close.

Draven had come to evaluate them. To see Anna. To measure Blood Moon and now he had.

The monster took a step backward. Then another.

His smile never faltered. "Soon, Christopher."

His eyes shifted toward Anna one final time. "When the moon turns red..." He paused. "She'll come to me."

Then he disappeared into the darkness, leaving Chris standing there. Furious and helpless.

For the first time since this war began… He understood something.

Draven wasn't afraid of Blood Moon, not even a little and that was far more dangerous than any army.

\~~~

As dawn broke over the territory, the fires finally began dying. The battle was over. Blood Moon had won. But nobody celebrated. There was too much destruction.

Anna stood among the survivors, watching healers tend the injured, one thought refused to leave her mind.

Draven hadn't come to conquer Blood Moon.

He had come to see her. That terrified her more than the war itself