Chapter 65 — FAILED.

What he felt wasn’t supposed to happen. He felt the gem eating at the new found power. He could not gain control over it anymore. The very thing he feared had happened, this was either because the love Amara felt for him was forced and not real, or…

He turned only to see Amara smiling at him.

“How…”

Amara laughed, she pulled out a gun from the back of her belt and pointed it at him.

“The potion, that your sister had already given you some of it,” Nathan concluded.

“Part of it yes, but all of this had been an act. You’ve mentioned awakening something in me, so I played along. Now thanks to you I feel almost different with this new power flowing in my veins,” Amara said.

“What is this? How were you aware the whole time?” Nathan asked.

“I don’t know how exactly, but I think the love I have for Ethan is stronger than your love potion, and mostly that the potion didn’t work on me because of this power within me. The more you gave me that potion, the more I began to see things clearly. I asked questions and you answered not knowing I was manipulating you the time” Amara said, a smile evident on her face.

Nathan’s face grew dark. Perhaps he could see why Arcata decided to reincarnate in such a mortal. She was indeed curious and wasn’t someone to mess with. She was so powerful that the potion didn’t work on her. She even played it out through to the last point of the ritual. He didn’t know where she had gotten all her information from, or perhaps he had told her somethings but could not remember when he did.

“You are weak without me right? Meaning that I can kill you, man in the shadows?” she called, “perhaps I will bring in just the right someone to take the blame for the tragedies caused in Silverwood.”

Nathan only laughed. He knew that he had being the one fooled by this mortal. He might as well kill her then and there since he could in no way try to use her, but as he stepped forward, Amara fired the gun straight into his heart. Since this body was a mortals, it could not withstand this. Nathan staggered and fell to the ground.

“I will rip you apart,” he said as he struggled to his feet, energy channeling in his arms. Nathan’s desperate attempt to retaliate was abruptly halted as a mysterious force seized his outstretched hand. His eyes widened with a mixture of fear and astonishment, unable to comprehend who or what had intervened in this perilous moment.

Amara stood her ground, her determination unwavering, but she was as bewildered as Nathan by the unexpected turn of events. She had not anticipated this new twist in their confrontation.

Slowly, emerging from the shadows, a figure materialized before them. It was Ethan, his presence exuding a newfound strength and resolve. He had arrived in the nick of time to protect Amara.

Nathan recognized him instantly, and his fear deepened. “Ethan,” he whispered, his voice trembling with apprehension, “how?”

Amara’s relief was palpable as she saw Ethan’s familiar face. She had not fully comprehended the extent of the peril they faced, but now, with Ethan by her side, she felt a renewed sense of hope.

Ethan, his eyes blazing with determination, turned his attention to Nathan. “Your actions have endangered Silverwood and the woman I love,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of his responsibilities as an Alpha.

Nathan, though still weakened and unable to unleash his dark powers, sneered defiantly. “You cannot stop what has already been set in motion.”

With a swift and decisive movement, Ethan disarmed Nathan, rendering him powerless. He then turned to Amara, his gaze filled with a mixture of relief and affection. “Are you alright?” he asked.

Amara nodded, her gratitude for Ethan’s timely arrival evident in her eyes. The balance in the room had shifted, and it was now Nathan who knelt before the couple, defeated and vulnerable.

Ethan, ever the protector, helped Amara to her feet. Nathan’s treacherous plot had been foiled, but the ancient powers and mysteries of the realm still loomed large, casting a shadow over their world, but he wouldn’t give up that easily. With the power he had gained from Amara, he rose up and charged at Ethan.

“Ethan!” Amara yelled alerting Ethan immediately who quickly met with Nathan’s attack.

In the dimly lit room, tension hung in the air like a shroud as Nathan and Ethan faced off, their powers crackling and swirling around them. The clash between the two immortals was inevitable, a fierce battle that would decide the fate of Silverwood and the woman they both had interest in.

Nathan, though weakened from Amara’s unexpected resistance, the backlash from the gem of Destruction and the gunshot wound, summoned his remaining strength. His eyes glowed with malevolent energy as he unleashed a barrage of dark projectiles aimed at Ethan. The room erupted into chaos as each projectile struck the ground, sending sparks and flames in all directions.

Ethan, his determination unwavering, raised his arms to shield himself from the onslaught. His own powers surged to life, creating a protective barrier that absorbed the dark energy. With a mighty roar, he pushed back against Nathan’s assault, sending waves of pure, brilliant light crashing toward his adversary.

The two opposing forces collided, creating a blinding explosion that engulfed the room. The walls shook, and debris rained down as the battle raged on. It was a fight between light and darkness, good and evil, and the very essence of their immortal beings.

Nathan, with a sinister grin, teleported behind Ethan, attempting to strike him from behind. But Ethan’s heightened senses allowed him to anticipate the move. He spun around just in time, meeting Nathan’s attack head-on. Their fists collided with a thunderous impact, sending shockwaves through the room.

The battle raged on, the combatants evenly matched, neither willing to yield. The very walls of the room seemed to pulsate with the energy of their clash. Ethan’s determination to protect Amara and Silverwood fueled his every move, while Nathan’s desperation to regain control of the gem of Destruction gave him a sinister edge.

Amidst the chaos, the sounds of their battle filled the room – the crackling of energy, the clash of blows, and the occasional grunts of effort. Both men were battered and bloodied, but their resolve remained unshaken.

Amidst the delivery of harsh blows, a hand took Amara’s, it was one that was familiar. She turned around to see Alrond there.

“Let’s leave,” he said, but Amara shook her head not wanting to leave Ethan. It was clear that he would win the fight, but she wanted to be by his side.

As the battle reached its climax, Ethan unleashed his most potent attack, a blinding burst of pure light that enveloped Nathan. The room was bathed in brilliance as the energy surged, overwhelming Nathan’s dark powers.

Nathan screamed in agony as the searing light seeped into his very being, purging the darkness that had consumed him. His form flickered and wavered, his malevolent energy dissipating like smoke.

Ethan, breathing heavily, stood victorious amidst the dissipating light. Nathan, now weakened and defeated, knelt on the floor, his powers extinguished.

“Leave Silverwood,” Ethan commanded, his voice carrying the weight of his authority as Alpha.

Nathan, who didn’t want to accept defeat finally drew out the gem of Destruction and sent a powerful blast towards Ethan, one strong enough to get him kill.

Seeing this Amara shouted “No!” she freed herself from Alrond’s grip, ran and threw herself into front of Ethan, meeting the blast head on. She flew back with the impact. Seeing this made Ethan’s skin crawl, he screamed, but Nathan had already vanished from his sight, from the now scattered room.

Ethan’s world crumbled as he watched the woman he loved sacrifice herself to protect him. The room was in chaos, the remnants of their battle scattered around them. He screamed in despair, the sound echoing through the room, but it was too late to stop what had happened. Nathan had vanished, leaving behind devastation in his wake.

Ethan knelt beside Amara, his hands trembling as he desperately searched for any sign of life. He could barely detect a weak pulse, a flicker of hope amidst the darkness. But it was clear that Amara’s injuries were grave, and her life hung in the balance. It was clear that she wasn’t going to make it.

“What do we do?” Alrond asked concern in his voice.

“There is only one way to fix this. It was my fault she was put in such a position. I left her when she needed me.”

Alrond furrowed his eyebrows. He knew the one way he was talking about, making him worry for his brother. It involved giving half of ones life to the other. Half of ones heart. A practice that wolves did to save their dying mates, but Amara was a mortal and would require more than half of Ethan’s life and powers which would have great consequences, making him extremely weak, but there was nothing he could do to stop his brother. For him to do this, then it meant that he was deeply in love with Amara. Something he wasn’t expecting.

“Are you sure about this Ethan? You know the consequences,” he asked.

“She threw herself to save me, without her I would have been dead by now. This is the least I can do,” Ethan said.

Without saying another word, Alrond left the room, while Ethan gave his life away to the dying Amara. A painful process he didn’t want to experience his brother go through at all. Ethan’s love for Amara now undeniable.

As Ethan began the painful process of giving his life to save Amara, the room was filled with an eerie silence. The consequences of his actions were unknown, and the depth of his love for Amara was evident in his willingness to bear this burden.