Chapter 175 Maverick Unleashed

Chapter 175 Maverick Unleashed

Smoke still curled in the sky from the last battle. It had been three days, and the city was a bit quiet now. However, with Maverick and Elara still on the loose, there was reluctance for anyone to return back to their normal lives. Not until the two threats were finally caught and dealt with.
Alex was at his company headquarters with Avery, surveying the minor damages the building had sustained. Melora and Jessica were out supporting relief efforts in the safe houses and shelters, while Rufus and Simon had joined Marlboro and his remaining men in patrolling the city in search of lingering threats and scattered rogues still roaming.
“Something does not feel right about this silence,” Avery said, coming up behind Alex and brushing away dust from his shoulder. “Most of the enemies have been wiped out, but I am having this feeling that Maverick and Elara are not quite done yet.”
“You are actually right,” Alex said without looking back. “I have been having the same feeling too.”
“You think they may be planning something worse?” she asked with concern written all over her face.
“He is desperate,” Alex replied calmly. “And that is something that could make them even more dangerous if we let our guard down because of this victory.”
Almost as if on cue, the air around the city suddenly trembled.
A deep and unnatural roar echoed through the air, rising like a wave of nightmares. The sky changed color immediately, even as it was in the middle of the day. The sun was hidden behind dark and monstrous clouds, and a terrible demonic energy could be felt by every supernatural creature for miles in all directions. Powerful magic could be felt–Ancient, cursed and carrying an aura of something completely corrupted by evil.
Alex's phone rang almost immediately, and it was Simon’s voice on the line. “Guys–we have got a serious situation.”
“Where?” Alex asked, already hurrying out of the company building.
“City square, and you are not gonna believe this-”
Another roar cut him off before he could finish, and the line went dead.
Alex shifted to his full wolf form immediately he stepped foot outside, with Avery also shifting immediately. Without another word, they both raced towards the city square.
When they arrived a few minutes later, a terrible sight was waiting for them. Simon, Rufus, Marlboro, and their men were huddled together in a defensive formation, while Jessica and Melora who had just also arrived at the scene quickly cast a protective shield over them.
Maverick was standing in front of them, taunting and mocking, but obviously not interested in them at the moment. He had a bigger target in mind–The one that had just arrived, Alex Ravenswood–his eternal rival.
Alex and Avery stared at the monstrosity that was now Maverick, standing over twelve feet tall, twice the size of a shifted Alpha werewolf. He was a hulking brute, dark as night with huge muscles pulsing with whatever dark power that had corrupted him. An evil aura emanated from his body like living destruction, and his bloodshot eyes burned with unrestrained bloodlust. When he spoke, it was like the voice of a thousand demons.
“I told you, Ravenswood” Maverick growled in a mocking voice like thunder. “I would burn this city before I accept defeat from you and your helpless minions.”
“What in the name of the moon has he done to himself?” Avery asked in despair.
“He has broken the sacred werewolf code and drank the blood of the forbidden rogues.” Alex replied quietly, making no effort to hide the fact that even he was worried about the monstrosity in front of them.
“Blood of the forbidden rogues?” Avery asked, seeing the worry all over Alex's face.
“During the great werewolf wars centuries ago, some desperate werewolves made a pact with a demon god, gaining his dark powers and using it to unleash carnage. The other packs were forced to unite in order to defeat them, but their corpses refused to decay after centuries. It was said that any werewolf who consumed their blood could still harness that power, so the High Council elders hid the bodies away. Maverick must have found it after they destroyed the Council.”
Avery listened with wide eyes, horrified by the tale Alex had just told her, and the fact that Maverick had gone that far.
“How do we stop him?” She asked, looking hopefully at him.
The tension in Alex's voice suddenly faded away, and he smiled at her. “Go and protect the others, I have the power of the Lunarium in me.”
“I am not leaving your side,” Avery said stubbornly. “I also have the powers of the moon goddess, and we stand a better chance together.”
“It is hard to control you is it not?” He asked with a chuckle.
“We did sign a contract if I remember correctly,” she replied with an amused smile.
“Enough!” Maverick yelled. “I have had it with your annoying history lessons and ramblings, it is time to meet your doom.”
He lifted his hands to the sky, and a dozen shadow beasts rose up around him. Twisted werewolf-like creatures, born from darkness and nightmares.
Alex bared his fangs and howled as the Lupine Dominion's power took hold of him, reveling in the absolute control he now had over the old and sacred power.
Avery also summoned her Lunar powers to merge with her wolf, her white fur glowing brilliantly despite the darkness around them.
Maverick’s laugh shook the sky.
“Alex Ravenswood and his little Luna wannabe. Ready to die?”
“We are actually more interested in taking your head,” Alex replied cockily.
On Maverick's command, the shadow beasts charged towards Simon and the others where they had been watching the drama silently, and chaos erupted in the square.
Maverick charged them, roaring savagely, and each step he took made the ground tremble. He swung his arm outward, and a shockwave of dark energy shot in their direction. Alex jumped in front of Avery to block the strike, but the force sent them both flying backwards into a nearby car.
Avery hit the ground with a grunt, but Alex quickly pulled her to her feet.
“Okay, that hurt,” she muttered.
“He is stronger than I expected.” Alex replied.
They turned as Maverick stalked towards them, smiling with too many teeth. “You should have killed me when you had the chance, Ravenswood.”
“We actually tried,” Avery shot back.
“Well,” he hissed, “try again.”
He moved even faster than before, with a speed that seemed impossible for something of his size. He smashed his fist into the ground, and huge spikes made out of shadow energy shot out of the ground.
Avery dodged left, and Alex to the right. One of the spikes caught Alex’s arm, cutting him deeply.
“Alex!” Avery screamed.
“I am fine!” he replied, pressing the wound close.
But Avery could see the pain in his eyes. She turned her fury on Maverick, and her lunar magic poured forward, forming a shield of light on her back as she launched herself toward him. She smashed into his chest before he could see her, knocking him back a few steps before he caught her by the throat mid-air.
“Nice try, little queen,” he sneered with a wicked grin.
But Avery was not done yet. Her hands burned with power, and she grabbed his wrist, channeling lunar energy straight into his corrupted veins. He screamed and dropped her, staggering into Alex who had taken advantage of the distraction to appear behind him. Before he realized what was happening, Alex had jumped onto his back and buried his fangs deep into Maverick's neck, while his claws sunk into his shoulders.
Maverick howled with the pain, angrily backhanding Alex across the square.
Avery landed in a crouch, panting heavily. She knew she was pushing her powers as she was not fully used to them, but she was not ready to back down yet.
Alex got up quickly, with his face covered in his and Maverick's blood. “He is tearing himself apart,” he muttered. “The tainted magic–it is reacting to the energy you forced into him, it is eating him alive.”
“Then let’s help it finish the job.” Avery said with a smile.
“Seems like you have a plan in mind,” Alex observed.
“Actually, I do,” Avery replied with confidence. “It is time to put the prophecies to the test.”
“What are you talking about?” Alex yelled as he avoided another charge from the furious Maverick, and landed beside her.
“We need to combine your Lunarium and my lunar powers.”
Alex hesitated. “But that could be dangerous for us.”
“We don’t have time for cost,” Avery said quickly, eyeing Maverick as he charged towards them again. “This is the endgame, and all you have to do is trust me.”
Alex looked at her with a softened expression. “I trust you always, Em, but we may not survive something of that magnitude.”
Avery touched his cheek, gently. “Then I will rather perish by your side than let this sick monster destroy everyone we love.”
Alex nodded, and together they dodged just in time as Maverick finally reached them, crashing instead into the wall behind them–stunned momentarily.
“Melora! Jessica!” Avery called out above the fighting.
Melora and Jessica, who had been fighting the shadow beasts with Simon and the others, turned to Avery.
“Go!” Simon said to them.
“We've got these minions covered,” Rufus added with an arrogant grin.
Marlboro nodded to them. “Good luck,” he muttered.