Chapter 185

Chapter 185
Freya's POV

Silver flashed as my arrow found its mark. Through the chaos of battle, I watched Maddox stumble backward, clutching his shoulder where my silver-tipped arrow had pierced him. The Bloodclaw warriors surrounding him faltered, their formation breaking as confusion rippled through their ranks.

"Now!" I shouted to our defenders. "Push them back while they're disorganized!"

My warriors surged forward with renewed vigor, silver-edged weapons gleaming in the morning light. We'd been holding the eastern perimeter for nearly an hour, and finally, we had an advantage. I nocked another arrow, scanning the battlefield for my next target.

Then it hit me—a searing pain that knifed through my chest so suddenly I gasped, nearly dropping my bow. The agony wasn't mine, but it flooded through our soul bond with such intensity that my knees buckled. Ethan. Something terrible had happened to my mate.

Through our connection, I felt his blood flowing, his strength ebbing. The pain was centered in his side—a deep, grave wound. My wolf Ember howled inside my mind, frantic and desperate.

"Alpha-mate injured! Must protect! Go now!"

I gripped my bow tighter, knuckles white as I fought against the primal instinct to abandon everything and run to him. The battlefield stretched before me, dozens of our pack members relying on my commands. If I left now, our eastern defense could collapse.

And Theo—our son was in the manor's basement. If the Bloodclaw forces broke through...

"Luna!" A young warrior called to me, her face streaked with dirt and blood. "They're regrouping. What are your orders?"

I forced myself to focus, even as Ethan's pain throbbed through our bond. I could feel him struggling to stay conscious, fighting against overwhelming odds. Was Kassak about to deliver a killing blow? The thought sent ice through my veins.

"Hold the line," I managed, my voice steadier than I felt. "Don't let them—"

The words died in my throat as I caught an unfamiliar scent on the wind. Not Bloodclaw. Different wolves were approaching from the west—at least twenty of them. My heart sank. We couldn't fight on two fronts.

But as they drew closer, I recognized the distinct pine-and-smoke scent of Pine Shadow Pack. Lewis led them, his amber eyes finding mine instantly across the distance.

"Elena delivered the message," He said as he reached me, his voice gruff but his expression sincere. "We've come to honor our alliance."

Relief flooded through me. This was part of the plan. "Thank you," I breathed, hardly believing our luck.

Lewis nodded toward the battlefield. "We'll take over here. The eastern perimeter will hold."

I hesitated only a moment, looking at the defensive line we'd established. "They're targeting the southern entrance to the manor grounds. Maddox is their field commander—I've wounded him, but he's dangerous."

"We know how Bloodclaw fights," Lewis assured me. "Go to your Alpha."

I didn't need to be told twice. Handing command to Lewis, I stepped back and stripped off my jacket. The change came faster than usual, desperation fueling the transformation. Bones cracked and reshaped, skin gave way to gray-white fur, and human consciousness merged with wolf instinct.

As Ember, my senses exploded with information. The coppery scent of blood hung thick in the air—some familiar, some strange. The distant sounds of fighting reached my ears with perfect clarity: the clash of weapons, the snarls of wolves, the shouts of warriors still in human form.

But one scent dominated all others—Ethan's blood.

I ran faster than I ever had before, weaving through battles, leaping over fallen bodies. Some Bloodclaw warriors tried to intercept me, but I was too quick, driven by something more powerful than fear. With each stride, the bond between us pulled tighter, guiding me through the chaos.

The blood trail grew stronger as I approached the northern ridge. Ethan's scent mingled with pain and determination—he was still fighting, still refusing to yield despite his injuries.

When I finally reached the clearing atop the ridge, the sight before me nearly stopped my heart.

Ethan's magnificent black wolf lay on his side, silver-streaked fur matted with blood. A massive wound tore through his flank, the ground beneath him dark and wet. Still, he struggled to rise, refusing to admit defeat even as his strength failed him.

Kassak's brown and gold wolf circled him slowly, preparing for the killing blow. His amber eyes gleamed with triumph and cruelty. Just beyond them stood Riley, her face a mask of strained neutrality, though her eyes flickered with something I instantly recognized—calculated anticipation.

I didn't hesitate. With a powerful howl that echoed across the ridge, I announced my presence. Kassak's head snapped toward me, surprise evident in his posture.

"I'm here," I sent through our bond to Ethan as I moved to his side. "We fight together."

Ethan's blue eyes found mine, relief and worry warring in them. "Too dangerous," he tried to warn, but I pressed my body against his, supporting his weight as he struggled to stand.

"The Luna comes to die alongside her Alpha," Kassak taunted, his mental voice reaching us both. "How touching."

I snarled in response, showing teeth. Through our bond, Ethan and I quickly formed a plan—I would distract, he would strike, using our connection to coordinate our movements in perfect synchrony.

But the reality of Ethan's condition became painfully clear as we faced Kassak together. Each movement cost him dearly, fresh blood seeping from his wound. My mate was dying on his feet, refusing to yield but weakening with every passing moment.

Kassak sensed it too. His attacks grew bolder, more vicious. He feinted toward me, then whirled with surprising speed to slash at Ethan's injured side. I barely managed to intercept him, taking a painful blow across my shoulder rather than letting him reach my mate.

"Stop!" Ethan commanded through our bond. "Don't sacrifice yourself."

I ignored him, positioning myself between him and Kassak again. "Either we both walk away from this, or neither of us does."

Kassak's next attack sent me tumbling across the blood-soaked ground. When I scrambled to my feet, I saw that Ethan had collapsed, his strength finally giving out. I stood alone between my fallen mate and the enemy Alpha.

"I'll take good care of her," Kassak promised, his mental voice slithering with dark intent as he stalked toward me. "A wild one like her will make a fine warrior for Bloodclaw once I've broken her spirit."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Riley step forward, her stance changing subtly. The mask of neutrality slipped, replaced by something I couldn't quite read. Was it determination? Conflict? I had no certainty of her true loyalties, only suspicions and desperate hope.

Perhaps her entire relationship with Kassak had been a calculated move to weaken him from within through their mate bond. It was a dangerous gamble, but in this life-or-death moment, I had no choice but to take it.

"Now, Riley!" I shouted, my voice returning to human form even as my body remained wolf.