Chapter 177 Elara's POV
I woke up to chaos.
Screaming, gunshots, the sound of explosions in the distance.
My eyes opened slowly, my body heavy with medication and pain. I tried to sit up but couldn't, something was moving beneath me.
I realized I was on a hospital bed and someone was wheeling it very fast.
"She is awake!" Kara's voice came in a panicked, frightened tone.
I turned my head and saw her running beside my bed. One of Kaden's strongest warriors, Derek, was pushing me through the forest.
Behind us, another guard wheeled Adrian's cot. My son was crying, frightened by the noise and chaos.
"What is happening?" I tried to speak but my throat was dry, the words came out as a whisper.
"Erebus is here, in the camp he found us."
Kara's face was streaked with tears. "We are evacuating you and Adrian to a safer location."
"Kaden? Where is Kaden?"
Kara's expression crumbled. "He is fighting. He is holding Erebus back so we can get you out. But Elara, he is hurt, really badly hurt I saw-"
"How badly?"
"I don't know, I saw him go down, saw blood.
Then Derek grabbed me and told me to help get you and Adrian to safety." She was sobbing now. "I wanted to go back for him but they wouldn't let me."
No, not Kaden he couldn't be dying while I was being wheeled away like a helpless invalid.
"Stop, stop the bed."
"We can't stop, we have orders-"
"I said stop!"
Derek slowed but didn't stop completely. "Luna, we need to keep moving to put distance between you and the attack."
More guards ran beside us, forming a protective barrier. At least six of them, all armed, all watching for threats.
We moved deeper into the forest, away from the sounds of battle. Away from where Kaden was fighting.
Away from where my mate might be dying I felt so helpless. So useless, lying on this bed while everyone else fought and bled.
I looked over at Adrian's cot. My son was still crying, his tiny face red with distress.
Then I looked at the medical equipment still attached to me. IV lines. Monitoring equipment and surgical instruments on a tray beside the bed.
An idea formed, desperate, dangerous but possible.
"Kara," I said quietly. "I need you to help me. Help me move away from these guards."
"What? Why?"
"Just trust me, please."
Kara looked uncertain but nodded, she moved closer to Derek. "Luna needs privacy, female medical issues, can we have a moment?"
Derek looked uncomfortable. "We are supposed to stay close-"
"Just give us five minutes, stay within earshot. But give us some space."
He nodded reluctantly and signaled the other guards to hang back slightly.
Kara helped me sit up, pain shot through my torso where the bullet wounds and stab wounds were still healing.
"What are you doing?" Kara whispered.
"Something crazy, something that might get me killed. But I can't lie here doing nothing while Kaden dies fighting my battles."
I reached for Adrian's cot, pulling it closer, my son's cries intensified as I lifted him carefully.
"Elara, you shouldn't be moving-"
"I know, but I need to do this."
I held Adrian against my chest with one arm. With my other hand, I grabbed a syringe from the medical tray.
"What are you doing with that?"
"Adrian's blood cured Damian, breaking an ancient curse that healed him completely."
I looked at my son's tiny arm. "I'm going to inject myself with his blood. See if it can heal me too, make me strong enough to fight."
"That is insane! You don't know what it will do to you!"
"I know I can't fight like this, can't protect my family, can't help Kaden."
I prepared the syringe with shaking hands. "This is my only option."
I drew a small amount of blood from Adrian's arm. He cried out, the sound breaking my heart.
"I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry. Mama needs your help one more time."
The blood glowed faintly blue in the syringe. The lunar pulse is visible even in this small sample.
I injected it into my own vein near my heart, like we had done with Damian.
The effect was immediate.
Fire exploded through my veins, every nerve in my body screamed. I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out.
Adrian was still crying in my arms. Kara was crying, watching me in horror.
And I was crying too, from pain, from desperation. From the terrible knowledge that I was gambling everything on this working.
The blue glow spread through my body. I could see it beneath my skin, chasing away the damage. Healing the bullet wounds, sealing the stab wounds.
The pain intensified for a moment then suddenly stopped. I took a deep breath. The first breath without pain since waking up.
I looked down at my torso. The bandages were soaked with blood, but beneath them, I could feel the wounds closing, healing at an impossible rate.
"It worked," I whispered. "It actually worked."
I handed Adrian to Kara. "Keep him safe. I'm going back."
"You can't! You just had surgery!"
"I'm healed or healed enough to fight." I stood, testing my legs, they held strong, steady. "I'm not leaving Kaden to die alone."
Derek and the other guards noticed me standing and came rushing over.
"Luna! You shouldn't be out of bed!"
"Get me weapons now, guns, knives, whatever you have."
"But your injuries-"
"Are healed, don't ask how just get me armed and ready to fight."
They exchanged uncertain looks but obeyed. Started handing me weapons.
I was strapping on a gun belt when I heard voices approaching. More people are coming through the forest.
The guards raised their weapons. "Identify yourselves!"
"It's Alpha Helena! From Silver Creek Pack! We're allies!"
Helena emerged from the trees, her warriors surrounding her. And beside her walked an old woman. Blind, based on the milky white color of her eyes. She leaned heavily on a walking stick.
"Elara!" Helena rushed to me. "Thank God you are alive. We came as soon as we heard about the attack."
"How did you know-"
"Scouts, word travels fast when Erebus moves his forces."
She gestured to the blind woman. "This is Elder Sybil. She is a seer, she has information you need to hear."
The blind woman stepped forward, her sightless eyes somehow finding me unerringly.
"Elena Silvercrest," She said in a raspy voice.
"Daughter of the destroyed pack. Mother of the blessed child. You seek to destroy Erebus, yes?"
"Yes. He's in my camp right now, attacking my people. Hurting my mate."
"Then hear me, child, there is a way to destroy him permanently, not just his physical form. But his very essence is his soul." The old woman's grip tightened on her walking stick.
"But it requires a sacrifice. A terrible sacrifice. One that may cost you everything you hold dear."
My heart pounded. "What kind of sacrifice?"
"Come closer, and I will tell you, tell you the ancient secret that even Erebus has forgotten. The one weakness he cannot defend against."
I stepped forward, Kara still holding crying Adrian behind me.
Whatever this sacrifice was, whatever it cost, I would pay it.