Chapter 177 Fraction Of Truth
The battlefield did not slow for truth.
Steel clashed against steel while bodies moved in constant motion, the sound of struggle rising and falling without rhythm as both sides pressed forward with everything they had. The ground had already begun to darken beneath their feet, marked by the cost of the fight, yet no one stepped back.
Fernando moved through the front line with controlled aggression, his strikes clean and purposeful as he forced two attackers back before turning to block another coming from his side. His breathing remained steady, though the tension in his shoulders showed he was pushing harder with each passing moment.
“Do not break formation,” he called out, his voice carrying over the noise.
Lucia fought not far from him, her movements sharp as she twisted away from a strike before driving her elbow into her opponent and sending him stumbling.
“They are trying to split us,” she replied, her eyes scanning quickly.
Rowan stepped in to intercept another attacker, his jaw tight as he pushed forward.
“Then we do not let them.”
Gilat moved ahead of them all, his presence cutting through the enemies with a force that drew attention. His strikes carried weight, each movement deliberate, yet there was something different in him now, something restless beneath the surface.
He was searching.
Across the field, Darius stood near the edge of the advancing force, his gaze moving between the battle and the man who had just stepped forward.
Balad.
The moment he appeared, the movement around him shifted. Those fighting near him instinctively created space, as though they understood that what was about to happen required room.
Gilat saw him.
Everything else faded.
For a brief second, the battle around him blurred as his focus narrowed completely.
Balad walked forward without urgency, his posture relaxed in a way that did not match the chaos surrounding them.
“So we finally meet like this?”
Gilat did not move immediately. His chest rose once, slowly, before he stepped forward to close the distance.
“You betrayed me.”
Balad’s head tilted slightly, his expression calm.
“You still hold onto that?”
Gilat’s eyes darkened.
“There is nothing else to hold onto.”
A clash sounded near them as two fighters collided, but neither man looked away.
Balad’s gaze sharpened just slightly.
“You always chose the easier story.”
Gilat took another step forward, his voice tightening.
“What does that mean?”
Balad let out a quiet breath, as though the question bored him.
“It means you never wanted to see what was in front of you.”
Gilat’s jaw clenched.
“Speak clearly.”
Balad’s eyes held his.
“You knew Harold was not the rightful heir yet you gave him your full support eliminating everything on his part.”
The words landed heavily, though the battle did not pause to acknowledge them.
Gilat shook his head almost immediately.
“That is not true.”
Balad gave a faint, humorless smile.
“You knew.”
Gilat’s voice rose slightly despite himself.
“Why are you blaming me for the throne you gave to Harold?”
Balad’s expression shifted just enough to show something colder.
“You remember why that happened, do you not?”
Gilat’s eyes hardened.
“Because of your actions.”
Balad’s brow lifted faintly.
“My actions?”
Gilat did not hesitate.
“You broke the laws that bind us, you had a child with another wolf who was not your mate, and you expect me to forget that and still support you?”
Balad stared at him for a moment before shaking his head slowly.
“That is what you were told.”
Gilat’s breathing changed, though he forced his voice to remain steady.
“It is what happened.”
Balad stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly.
“No.”
Gilat’s eyes narrowed.
“Do not twist this now.”
Balad held his gaze.
“Harold asked me to take the fall for him and I was foolish enough to believe him.”
The words hit differently.
Gilat froze for a fraction of a second, just enough for it to show.
“What?”
Balad continued, his tone even despite the chaos around them.
“He told me it would be erased after.”
Gilat shook his head, disbelief clear in his face.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Balad’s lips curved faintly.
“You already chose not to.”
Gilat’s voice dropped.
“He told me you wanted to use me.”
Balad nodded slightly.
“And you believed him.”
Gilat did not answer.
The silence stretched just long enough.
Balad let out a quiet breath.
“You gave him everything.”
Gilat’s eyes flickered with something uncertain.
“He was my friend.”
Balad’s gaze sharpened.
“And I was not?”
Before Gilat could respond, a figure rushed between them, forcing them both to shift.
An enemy lunged toward Balad, but he moved without effort, striking him down and stepping back into place as though the interruption had not mattered.
Gilat watched him, his chest tightening.
“You destroyed my family.”
Balad’s voice remained calm.
“You allowed it.”
Gilat’s hands clenched.
“You took my son and killed him.”
Balad did not deny it.
“Yes.”
The word hit harder than anything else.
Gilat stepped forward, his voice breaking through his control.
“Why?”
Balad’s gaze did not waver.
“To punish you.”
Gilat’s head shook slowly, disbelief mixing with anger.
“You expect me to accept that?”
Balad continued.
“I gave him a new name.”
Gilat’s breathing turned uneven.
“What name?”
Balad answered without hesitation.
“Samael.”
For a brief moment, everything seemed to narrow.
Gilat’s eyes widened slightly.
“You are lying.”
Balad’s expression did not change.
“Am I?”
Gilat’s voice dropped into something sharper.
“My son died.”
Balad tilted his head.
“Did he?”
Gilat’s body tensed.
“No.”
Balad nodded once.
“Yes.”
Gilat’s chest rose sharply.
“You manipulated everything.”
Balad’s voice lowered.
“I showed you the truth you refused to see.”
Gilat’s control snapped.
“You turned my blood into a weapon.”
Balad’s eyes darkened.
“You chose Harold over me.”
Gilat did not answer.
He moved.
The attack came fast and without warning, forcing Balad to react immediately. Their clash rang out sharply, drawing attention even as the battle continued around them.
They moved in close quarters, each strike meeting resistance as neither gave ground easily.
“You fight with anger,” Balad said as he blocked another blow.
Gilat’s voice came through clenched teeth.
“I fight with what you took from me.”
Balad countered, forcing him back a step.
“You still do not understand.”
Gilat surged forward again, his movements sharper now, less restrained.
“Then make me understand.”
Balad shifted, his expression tightening for the first time.
“You were never meant to survive this.”
Gilat did not slow.
“Neither were you.”
Their movements grew faster, the rhythm of their fight matching the chaos around them.
A strike from Balad slipped through, catching Gilat across the side. He staggered slightly but did not fall, his grip tightening as he pushed forward again.
Blood marked the ground beneath them now.
Balad stepped in, aiming to finish it, but Gilat moved just enough to turn the motion aside and drive his own attack forward.
The impact landed.
Balad’s body stiffened.
For a brief moment, neither moved.
Then Gilat pushed forward, his strength carrying through as Balad’s resistance faltered.
Balad exhaled sharply, his gaze locking onto Gilat’s.
“You finally chose.”
Gilat’s voice was low.
“Yes.”
Balad’s body gave way.
He fell.
Gilat stood for a moment longer, his chest rising as the weight of the fight settled on him.
Then his knees weakened.
He staggered.
Not far from them, Alberto forced his way through the remaining enemies, his movements urgent as he pushed past one attacker and struck another aside.
“Move,” he growled, his eyes scanning until they found the figure he had been searching for.
“Father.”
He reached him just as Gilat’s body gave in fully, catching him before he hit the ground.
Alberto dropped to his knees, pulling him close, his hands gripping him tightly.
“I am here.”
Gilat’s eyes struggled to focus before settling on him.
“You came.”
Alberto shook his head quickly.
“I should have been here sooner.”
Gilat’s hand lifted weakly, pressing against Alberto’s arm.
“There is no time.”
Alberto leaned closer, his voice tight.
“You are not dying.”
Gilat’s lips moved faintly.
“Listen to me.”
Alberto’s grip tightened.
“I am listening.”
Gilat’s breathing grew shallow.
“Your brother.”
Alberto frowned, confusion cutting through the urgency.
“What brother?”
Gilat forced the words out.
“Rhett.”
Alberto’s eyes searched his face.
“I do not understand.”
Gilat’s grip tightened slightly despite his fading strength.
“He lives.”
Alberto’s chest tightened.
“Where?”
Gilat’s gaze held his with what little strength remained.
“Samael.”
The name hit hard.
Alberto shook his head.
“No, that's Fernando’s beta.”
Gilat’s voice weakened further.
“Find him.”
Alberto nodded quickly, his voice breaking despite himself.
“I will.”
Gilat’s eyes softened just slightly.
“Bring him back.”
Alberto swallowed hard.
“I will.”
Gilat’s hand slipped.
His body grew still.
Alberto held him tighter, his breath catching as the reality settled.
“Father?”