Chapter 197: Exile Or Loyalty

Chapter 197: Exile Or Loyalty
Brenda’s POV

It was too quiet in the camp. There was still a heavy veil of war smoke hanging in the air. Wolves walked carefully, terror shining in their eyes. But I was furious as hell.

I rushed into the middle, clutching the Moonstone till my fingers hurt. I said, "Bring him to me."

Darius was pulled forward by two guards. His eyes were still burning with pride rather than humiliation, even though his arm was shackled from the altercation with Damian.

I got to my feet. "Why?" I was so angry that my voice broke. "What made you turn on us?"

He grinned. You refer to it as betrayal. I refer to it as survival.

"Survival?" With the Moonstone blazing between us, I took a step closer. "You nearly killed me." You nearly killed your pack.

"The group?" He gave a sour laugh. "You're referring to your pack. Everything that should have been mine was taken by you.

I said in a quiet voice that was as sharp as a blade, "I never took anything from you." "My brother in arms was you." I entrusted my life to you.

He hissed, "And that trust was your weakness."

The wolves around us let out gasps. I sensed their bewilderment and anxiety. Justice was what they wanted. They sought clarification.

The Moonstone was raised by me. "Listen to me now!" The clearing echoed with my voice. "The sacred law has been broken by Darius. He put darkness ahead of his family.

A few wolves snarled. Others bowed their heads.

I looked back at him. I responded icily, "I should end you where you stand." I'll give you one chance, though. Adhere to the pack's loyalty. Or permanently go from this land.

Darius looked at me for a long time without saying anything. He tightened his jaw. His eyes wavered between hatred and sorrow, perhaps.

At last, he chuckled. "You believe you can frighten me? You believe you are a queen because of your stone?

I clenched my fingers. "Darius, make a decision. Right now.

His grin dimmed. "All right," he responded slowly. "I go into exile."

The words struck me hard. I felt like screaming to insist on the reason. But I didn't back down.

I said, "Then go." "And hope we don't cross paths again."

His voice was a whisper that only I could hear as he leaned in close. "Brendan, you believe you've won. But I'm not going to be the target of the darkness. It is on its way to you.

He turned and left before I could respond, disappearing into the darkness of the forest.

In my hand, the Moonstone pulsed, alerting me. My heart heaving with fear, I looked at the trees where he vanished.

Then the earth shuddered. The darkness was broken by a deep, strange howl in the distance.

Lila came running over to me. "What is that, Brenda?"

Fear twisting in my gut, I tightened my grip on the stone. I said, "Something worse than betrayal."

As I stood motionless in the clearing, the vibrations intensified. Around me, wolves gathered, terror rising like smoke.

"Alpha!" a voice from the forest cried.

My heart stopped when I turned. Damian.

His eyes were burning with life, but his clothes were ripped and his face was streaked with blood as he staggered into the camp.

"Damian!" I rushed over to him and grabbed him before he could fall. "You're still here." My voice cracked. "I believed I had lost you."

His breathing was harsh as he held onto my arms. "Listen to me, Brenda. There isn't any time.

"What took place?" I mumbled, looking for answers in his face.

"The dark force," he remarked in a gravelly voice. "They're on their way. Not tomorrow. Not for a week. Right now.

The wolves let out a few gasps. My chest constricted. "How many?"

"Too many," he remarked somberly. However, they have something worse. Something strong. It is capable of killing the Moonstone.

I felt the blood in my veins freeze. "Destroy the Moonstone?"

He gave a nod. It is referred to as the Shadow Fang. Everything ends with a single blow.

With my fingers shaking around the brilliant stone, I took a deep breath. "After that, we fight. We fight with all of our might.

With his eyes blazing into mine, Damian shook his head. "You're not getting it. This is no longer just war. Extinction is what this is.

Before I could respond, a thunderous roar tore through the heavens. The clouds were parted by a flash of black light across the horizon.

Wolves let forth a terrified howl. I almost fell as the earth shook so violently.

With an earnest voice, Damian took hold of my hand. It's getting started, Brenda. The last conflict.

My heart was beating like a drum as I looked at the black light. "Then we're done," I said.

As though alive, the Moonstone pulsed frantically. And I was certain of one thing deep down:

This battle might either transform everything or end up destroying us all.