Chapter 20 THE WAR STARTS
Amara’s POV
It appears the trees would be torn from the ground by the howling wind. The clearing was distorted by smoke and shadow, and the smell of burning wood and blood filled my nostrils.
My packmates were battling for their lives as wolves howled in all directions.
My heart felt like it was going to burst as I stood in the middle of the Obsidian courtyard. My hands were shaking. On my wrist, my mark glowed like molten silver.
In my mind, Mira's voice cried out: "Child, you have to make a decision! Fight or die!”
I took a deep breath and tightened my hands.
“Hey Selene,” I said to myself. “You are necessary to me.”
I heard my inner beast howling. I'm present.
My flesh erupted with silver light. A wave of anguish and heat shifted through my body. Bones reformed and cracked. As my eyesight improved, I was able to see every quivering leaf.
When I hit the ground, I was upright.
Amara, the feeble omega, was no more.
I was the reincarnated Moon Priestess, Selene.
My fur, speckled with whirling silver runes, was as white as new snow. My eyes glowed as brightly as two tiny moons.
With their bodies twisted and pouring black tar, shadow monsters charged at me. They jumped and snarled.
I yelled and opened my jaws.
They were burned to ash by the silver fire that shot out of my mouth.
As they burned, they shouted and clawed at the ground.
I continued.
My claws gleamed like white-hot blades as I sprang forward and slashed. With silver magic blazing in their wounds, I tore through them.
"REMOVE THEM FROM THE KIDS!" I let out a howl.
Obsidian fighters hurried to comply.
In the confusion, I noticed Kian battling. He had changed, his eyes blazing with anger, his black wolf huge and terrible.
He tore apart two shadow beasts as he ploughed into them.
He yelled, "AMARA!" "ON YOUR RIGHT!"
Just in time, I spun.
A black-eyed, snarling, cursed wolf sprang at me.
I snapped its throat while ducking.
My fur was splashed with blood.
My heart began to race.
The enchantment of the Hollow Witch was palpable in the air.
“She's present, inside me” Selene said. Or close enough.
I sensed that she was observing me.
My mind slithered with her voice. "Priestess."
To get her out, I growled and shook my head.
However, she chuckled.
"I recognise you. I can smell your anxiety.”
Two more animals were reduced to ashes by my defiant cry.
In a flash of silver fur, Rowan was by my side.
His teeth tore flesh as he slammed into three monsters at once.
He shouted, "Amara!"
I pivoted.
He fixed his wolf eyes on mine.
"Avoid being taken by them!" He yelled.
I returned the growl. "I won't!"
To protect me from another wave, he lunged to my side.
Bloodied but unbowed, Kian joined us.
He and Rowan stood shoulder to shoulder.
"Keep her safe!" Kian let out a shout.
“I know!” snapped Rowan.
Fighting as one, they ripped into the adversary.
The image made my heart twitch cruelly.
I was desired by two wolves. Both are ready to give their lives for me.
I had no time to reflect.
Out of the trees sprang a shadow beast twice as large as the rest.
It had many black teeth in its mouth.
It bellowed in a thunderous voice:
"BRING ME THE LIVING PRIESTESS!"
My blood froze.
For a half-second, Kian and Rowan froze.
Then they both gave a simultaneous snarl.
"Over my corpse," Kian snarled.
"Not as I'm breathing," Rowan yelled.
The creature sprang at me.
With a yell, I confronted it directly, my mouth exploding with fire.
Black skin burned away as it shrieked, but it continued to come.
Leaping onto its back, Rowan and Kian tore and bit the creature's flesh.
However, it didn't fall.
It seized me with a single, enormous claw and squeezed.
I felt a sharp pain in my ribcage.
I let out a yell.
My body burned as silver light streamed out of it, but its hold remained firm.
Panic broke in Kian's voice.
"AMARA!"
Rowan's voice sounded like a roar.
"Give her up!"
In my mind, I could hear the Hollow Witch laughing.
"Yeah, bring her over here."
My vision became hazy.
With a strained breath, I inhaled.
"NOT... YOURS!"
I called forth all my remaining might.
My mark shone brightly.
My fur erupted in a dazzling wave of silver fire.
With a cry, the beast dropped me.
I gasped as I hit the ground hard.
With their claws covered in silver fire, Rowan and Kian struck the beast simultaneously.
They ripped it to pieces.
I saw the black ash drift away on the breeze while I lay there trembling.
My entire body shuddered.
Kian's wolf hurried over to me and pressed its nose against my fur.
Rowan staggered next to me, panting and covered in blood.
He rasped, "Amara." "Are you—"
"Alive" I exclaimed.
They both loosened up a little.
However, screaming continued to fill the air.
From the trees came more shadow monsters.
There was a harsh, hollow voice in the wind.
"PRESENT THE PRIESTESS TO ME ALIVE!"
My blood became cold.
Kian growled.
Rowan's hair stood up.
With devil-like eyes, they stood on either side of me.
And I came to terms with the reality.
This was not the end of it.
Not even close.
One final time, the Hollow Witch's quiet, resolute voice slithered through my mind:
"I own you, Amara. Avoid resisting it.”
With silver fire blazing in my heart, I flashed my teeth.
"Over my corpse" I said.