Chapter 302

Chapter 302
Lira's POV

Just then, Linda suddenly appeared at the edge of the crowd, her face twisted with rage. "This changes NOTHING!" she roared. "Why are you all just standing there? Kill her! Take the magic stone! This is your chance!"

No one moved. All the supernatural creatures, enemies who had once looked at me with predatory intent, now stood silently, their eyes filled with fear and awe.

Is this what Sophie died for? I thought, my chest aching from the loss of my best friend. Her death changed everything, showed everyone the truth...

"You're all COWARDS!" Linda screamed. "The magic stone is inside her! Whoever rips out her heart first gets unlimited power!"

An elderly werewolf stepped forward. "We've fought long enough. We've seen what the goddess showed us, and we refuse to suffer such a fate."

"FOOLS!" Linda shouted in fury. "That was just a vision! A trick!"

But no one made a move. Linda paled, realizing the situation was irreversible. She turned to me, pure hatred burning in her eyes. "This isn't fair! The magic stone should have been MINE!"

"Fair?" A powerful anger ignited within me, and I shouted, "My mother died, Sophie died, so many people lost their lives because of your ambition, and you dare talk about FAIR?"

The next moment, dozens of supernatural beings stepped forward simultaneously, surrounding her.

"Your plot is over, Linda," a vampire said, baring his fangs. "We won't let you destroy the world."

Linda snarled, instantly transforming into a massive gray-white werewolf, sharp claws glinting. She lunged at the nearest supernatural beings, her claws tearing through a werewolf's shoulder.

"Get her!" Nathan commanded, quickly transforming into his werewolf form.

I stood frozen, watching this explosion of violence in shock. Linda's werewolf form was more ferocious than any I'd ever seen, her movements filled with desperate madness. She knows there's no escape, so she's planning to take as many down with her as possible.

The battle was incredibly intense. Linda moved like lightning through the circle of attackers, leaving a trail of injured. But no matter how fierce she was, our numerical advantage eventually prevailed.

Nathan and Cole attacked simultaneously, bringing Linda down. She struggled to stand, but her body was already covered in wounds, blood staining her gray-white fur.

Linda, pinned to the ground, gradually returned to human form. She looked battered, with a deep gash across her chest.

"You think you've won?" she gasped, her voice trembling with pain. "I will NEVER give you the satisfaction of victory."

That's when I saw her pull a silver dagger from her boot.

"Linda, STOP!" my father shouted across the barrier, desperation filling his voice. "Don't do this!"

Stella, seeing the urgent situation, quickly recited a spell to remove the barrier. The moment my father was free, he rushed toward Linda.

"Let him through!" I called out, signaling Nathan and the other werewolves to step aside. My heart was conflicted—part of me wanted Linda punished for all the pain she'd caused; but another part couldn't bear to see my father suffer another blow.

Linda raised the silver dagger, her expression suddenly softening as she looked toward my approaching father. "Alan..."

"Linda, please don't!" My father slowed his pace, cautiously moving closer. "Put down the knife. We can talk... there are other ways."

"It's too late," Linda smiled, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "I've done too many unforgivable things... I don't want to be locked up, treated like a monster..."

"Please! Don't do this..." my father choked out, reaching for the dagger.

But Linda was faster. She plunged the silver dagger into her own heart, letting out a pained gasp.

"Linda! NO!" Father fell to his knees beside her, gathering her collapsing body into his arms, blood immediately soaking through his shirt.

"I'm sorry, Alan," she whispered in my father's embrace. "I just wanted so badly to be special... to survive... I did love you, truly..."

My father held her tightly, tears streaming down his face. "I know, Linda... I know..."

Linda's eyes gradually lost focus, and she whispered one last time: "Please forgive me..." before taking her final breath in my father's arms.

I stood there, tears silently rolling down my cheeks. Not crying for Linda, but for my father, for Sophie, for everyone caught up in this madness. All of this could have been avoided, without greed, without the temptation of power...

The survivors on the battlefield knelt one by one, bowing their heads to me.

"We will never go against the goddess... You are a gift, a hope," the elderly werewolf from before said, his voice filled with reverence. "Please forgive our former ignorance."

I took a deep breath, struggling to remain strong through my grief. "The goddess's seer showed us the truth. I hope from now on, we can work together to prevent that terrible fate."

Stella stood beside me, announcing in a powerful voice: "The Moon Goddess's message has been transmitted to all supernatural beings worldwide. From today, we must end all wars and unite against Richel's threat!"

---

The Hawaiian breeze gently rustled the curtains, carrying the sweet scent of tropical flowers into the villa. I sat at the vanity, looking at myself in the mirror, my heart beating slightly faster. My God, I'm really getting married. After everything we've been through, we've finally made it to this day.

Zoey's fingers moved deftly through my hair, weaving vibrant tropical flowers into my updo. She caught my gaze in the mirror, her lips curving upward.

"This has got to be the longest engagement in history," she teased, her fingers skillfully securing another hibiscus flower.

I gave a wry smile and sighed deeply. After everything that happened three years ago, getting married immediately didn't feel right. I needed time to rebuild myself. Besides, I didn't want to walk down the aisle pregnant. And then with Sophie's tragedy...

My eyes involuntarily fell on the photo frame on the vanity. Sophie's radiant smile in the picture seemed frozen in that moment, forever young, forever vibrant. It's been three years, but it still hurts. A familiar wave of sadness washed over me, but I forced myself to pull it together. Today is my wedding day, and she would want me to be happy.

The door suddenly burst open as Erin rushed in, her makeup already slightly smudged by tears. The moment she saw me, she covered her mouth, her eyes instantly welling up.

"OH MY GOD! Look at you!" she exclaimed emotionally, her voice choked. "You look absolutely stunning!"