Chapter 140 OFF WITH YOUR HEAD
Elliott's POV
I go with our group of lycan warriors to the glowing river pack. Out of all of us leaders at the palace, my team is the best, most skilled warriors we have. I only took a fraction of them as that's all that was needed.
Brandi stayed behind at the palace. I didn't want her anywhere near this violence. I didn't want to have to worry about her safety. We are fully marked and mated. I proudly wear her mark as well. I'm waiting for her first heat as a freshly mated pair. All these new pregnancies happening has me thinking. I can't wait till she's round with my pup as well.
We are all here. We're all ready for tonight. The river is way too quiet. That should've been the our first red flag.
Moonlight slid across the water like oil, pale and slick. It reflected the dark tree line that marks black moon territory. That silence isn't peace. It's discipline. A pack that obviously knows how to wait.
"Positions" I murmur. Twenty Lycan warriors fan out behind me. They all move without sound. Torrence's men take the outer arc. They are lighter on their feet, already shifted, they are ready as well.
The plan is simple. Lycans will punch through while the wolves flood and contain. Sounded simple anyway.
I lift up my fist. Then everything freezes. A low whistle cuts through the trees.
"Contact" someone breathes through the link.
The ground erupts.
Black moon pack wolves explode from the brush. They are organized and fast. They are already coordinated. Damn, they are faster than we expected. Very much stronger than we expected as well. Fuck!!
They slam into our front line with a bone, jarring force. "Shields up." I roar.
Lycan bodies absorb the impact. Claws rake across our armored chests. Their teeth sinks into our forearms. One wolf goes flying. Another takes his place instantly.
"They are ready. They are prepared for this." I say through the link to all my warriors.
They are fucking good. We gave them no credit whatsoever.
"Western flank is pressing hard!" Torrence growls through the comm.
"Hold" I snap. "Second wave now!" I growl as my warriors shift. The sound of bones snapping is drowned out by screams.
Lycan forms rise, taller, broader. We're armored in muscle and rage. The momentum shifts instantly. Black moon wolves are thrown back. They are crushed under sheer mass, but they fucking adapt. They split. Smart fucking bastards.
"Archers in the trees." someone shouts. Silver-tipped arrows rain down. One of Torrence's man goes down, throat punched right through. Another takes an arrow to the chest and drops hard.
"Medic to the rear." Torrence roars, fury bleeding through his voice.
"No Lycan losses." I bark. "Keep them protected." I say to my team through mind link.
I crash into the fight. My claws tearing through fur and flesh. A wolf lunges at me. I grabbed him mid air and break his spine over my knee. Blood sprays hot across my face.
Another lashes their claws on my side. The pain flares through me. I don't slow down.
"Alpha sighted." a warrior yells. "Center ridge."
I look up and Alpha Newman stands above the chaos.
He is massive in his wolf form. His eyes glowing with confidence. The arrogant bastard grins.
"Push" I roar. "All forces collapse center!" we hit like a tidal wave.
The ridge turns into a slaughter house. Wolves die screaming. Lycan claws ripped through ranks. Black Moon fights like hell but they're bleeding leadership.
Newman shifts mid leap. His human form snapping into place as he charges me with a blade in his hand.
"You came for my crown." he snarls.
"No" I say calmly "I came for your head."
We collide together. His blade slices my arm. I punch him in the throat. He stumbles and quickly recovers. He's a very good fighter as well. Too bad for him that I'm better. He swings at me again. I catch his wrist and I twisted hard. I could feel his bone snap. He screams out loudly. I headbutt him, cracking his skull. I then kick him to his knees.
Around us the battle slows. Everyone can feel it. The shift in power.
I grab him by the hair, forcing his face up.
"Black Moon falls tonight." I spit out as anger and adrenaline flows through me.
He spits blood. "You'll burn for this."
I draw my blade. One clean swing. His head hits the dirt with a wet thud.
Silence crashes down.
"Howl it." Torrence commands.
Glowing River Pack wolves throw back their heads and howl victory into the night.
I Lift Newman's head by the hair, blood dripping down my arm.
"Black Moon is broken." I announced loudly. "Stand down or die!"
The remaining wolves drop.
Breathing hard, I turn to Torrence. His face is bloodied, his eyes are burning, but he's alive.
"Two losses." he says tightly. "No Lycans."
I nod once. "They fought better than expected." I said, as I shook my head.
"But not hard enough." he says, as he finally takes a deep breath.