Chapter 327: Last Breath, Last Hope

Maeve's POV

"Cyrus!" I screamed, the dark magic suspending me in mid-air. Juniper was nearby, struggling against the same shadowy forces that held me captive.

We were suspended just above the ground. Phoebe had prepared the ritual site in the forest clearing, with a roaring bonfire and various ritual items neatly arranged. The most prominent was a massive cauldron that seemed to absorb the light around it.

Alpha Joshua stood watching Juniper with anxious confusion, surrounded by a gathering of rogues.

"Father!" Juniper called out to Joshua.

Before she could say more, a tendril of darkness sealed her mouth, silencing her. She continued trying to speak, but to no avail.

"Why are you torturing my daughter like this?" Joshua demanded of Phoebe, anger flashing in his eyes.

"She's being rather stubborn," Phoebe responded with a cold smile. "If you want me to save her, don't interfere with my work."

More rogues emerged from the deep forest, positioning themselves to assist and protect. Phoebe raised her arms high and let out a piercing screech like an owl. I had never heard such a sound before, until I saw other figures emerge from the trees—witches, responding to her call.

I could tell they still possessed powerful magic from the magical aura surrounding them and their hands glowing above their heads. I couldn't understand how they maintained their power during this dark curse period, but I was certain it had something to do with Phoebe.

The witches' fingertips released an enormous milky white shield, completely surrounding Phoebe's area and trapping Alpha Joshua, some rogues, Juniper, and myself inside.

Cyrus howled in fury as he charged toward the witches, only to be violently repelled.

"Stop! Cyrus!" I cried out, tears streaming down my face. But the more I fought and called for help, the tighter the forces binding me became.

A distant wolf howl caught my attention—new packs were racing to our aid. My heart leaped with hope as I recognized the massive, fierce wolf form of my father.

Beside him were Uncle Kirk and Uncle Walter, Beta and Gamma of the Cassiopeia pack. Ravenna, Phoebe's sister, rode on my father's back as they charged toward Cyrus, my mother, and Professor Sebastian.

Alan had also arrived to join the battle, and soon more thundering paws approached from the distance.

Gamma Marcus swept across the clearing with his gamma warriors; I noticed gammas from the Cassiopeia pack among them, all battle-ready.

"Phoebe! Release these two children at once!" Ravenna commanded. "You absolutely cannot do this!"

Phoebe ignored her sister's words, signaling her rogue army to engage the gamma warriors in battle.

A fierce fight erupted before me, and I could only hang helplessly suspended, unable to participate.

Phoebe seemed oblivious to the battle around her, smiling up at the red moon. She raised her arms and began chanting ancient incantations to initiate the ritual.

With each spell uttered, the flames grew more intense, shifting into strange, unnatural colors.

I was suspended above the roaring fire as a burning sensation spread across the back of my neck, and I struggled again to break free, but the more I fought, the tighter the bindings became.

Alpha Joshua looked at his crying, struggling daughter Juniper, more bewildered than ever. "What's happening? Phoebe, you must tell me what you're doing!"

Cyrus was still fighting desperately to break through the shield. Thankfully, his companions protected him from attacks, keeping him safe.

To my surprise, Sidney suddenly appeared, joining Cyrus in attempting to breach the shield.

Seeing Sidney, Juniper began struggling more frantically, tears streaming down her pale face.

There must be a way to make these witches drop their shield. They stood shoulder to shoulder—if one of them faltered, would the shield collapse?

Alpha Joshua continued questioning Phoebe: "Explain what's going on! Why are you treating my daughter this way?" But Phoebe completely ignored him.

The dark forces dragged me toward the cauldron, suspending me directly above it.

I struggled again, screaming, "Cyrus! Help me!"

But the bindings sealed my mouth, silencing me. The darkness wrapped around me more tightly, cutting off my breath completely.

The lack of oxygen was making me lose consciousness; my head spun and my vision blurred as I fought to stay awake.

My father had joined Cyrus and Alan's efforts to break through the shield, but the witches were too powerful—the barrier remained impenetrable.

I realized Ravenna was also powerless; due to the curse, she had lost her magic. This made me even more confused about how these witches maintained their power.

"Our parents would never want to see this, Phoebe!" Ravenna cried out to her sister. "They would be deeply disappointed in you."

I felt my eyelids growing heavy, and despite the battle raging around me, I began losing consciousness.

Phoebe was going to succeed. She would drain my blood, force Juniper to drink it, and then kill Juniper. Just as the note I found had described.

My eyes suddenly snapped open.

The note! The one I'd found on Phoebe's desk detailing her plan: to extract my blood, have Juniper drink it, then kill Juniper. Because once Juniper consumed my blood, her body would become a vessel for Callisto.

If Joshua saw that note, he would never allow this plan to continue.

The note was still in my pocket.

I struggled to move my fingers, trying to reach into my pocket. With the dark forces squeezing the last breath from me, but I managed to touch the paper with my fingertips.

Using just my index and middle fingers, I pinched the corner of the paper and twisted until I pulled it from my pocket.

Alpha Joshua stood below, focused entirely on Juniper, completely unaware of me.

But this is my last chance; if he doesn't see me drop the note, then I have no other option, and Phoebe will win.

As darkness began to swallow my vision, I released my fingers, letting the note flutter to the ground.

With my last conscious thought, I prayed someone would find it.

Cyrus's POV

This shield was too strong. No matter what we said to these damn witches, they wouldn't remove it.

Dean was furious, thirsty for blood. He snarled and bared his fangs, and I didn't stop him. I shared his desire to tear into them with my claws, to make their blood spray.

Maeve hung suspended in mid-air, surrounded by swirling darkness, struggling desperately, but the bindings only tightened with her cries and resistance.

I wanted to send strength and comfort to Maeve through our mate bond, but it wasn't working.

The battle continued all around, and I watched in horror as Maeve's head drooped, her eyes closing, her body going limp. She was losing what little strength she had left.

"No!" I roared as I watched her body go slack.

Then I saw something float to the ground.

I noticed Rodolfo trying to speak with Alpha Joshua, trying to make him understand what was happening. Alan was still attempting to breach the shield with little success. Whatever Maeve had dropped was inside the shield.

"Alpha Rodolfo!" I called to him, drawing his attention. "I think Maeve just dropped something important."

Rodolfo followed my gaze, squinting to make out the writing on it, but the paper was folded and crumpled.

"Joshua," Rodolfo tried again to get the Alpha's attention. "That paper on the ground, I need you to pick it up."

Joshua finally tore his gaze from Juniper to look at Rodolfo, muttering, "I'm sorry about all this... I just wanted to help my daughter."

"I understand, but that paper... I need you to pick it up," Rodolfo responded.

Joshua's frown deepened. "What paper—?" he began to ask, but then his eyes fell on the paper on the ground.

He bent down to pick it up, unfolded it, and read its contents.

Deep furrows appeared on his forehead as he read it again. I could see the note had shocked him profoundly. His eyes widened as he carefully re-read the words. His face turned red, and for a moment, I thought he might explode.

"Joshua!" Rodolfo growled urgently. "What does it say??"

"Tell us!" I demanded through gritted teeth. If Maeve had carried it with her, it must be extremely important.

Joshua clutched the paper tightly in his fist, looking up at his daughter with a mixture of fear and rage.

"Alpha Joshua," Rodolfo roared.

Joshua finally turned to face Alpha Rodolfo, meeting his gaze.

"She plans to murder my daughter."