Chapter 80 80
CHAPTER EIGHTY
AURORA'S P.O.V
The atmosphere was thick with tension as we stood outside the pack house. Alpha Samuel had assembled all eligible men and warriors in lines, all armed and ready while we had led all the women, children and old people into the pack house for safety. I raised my head to the sky, the morning sky was a bit gray with blue and white flecks, looking heavy. Lucian stood near me, his jaw tight as he scanned the horizon. I clenched my hands tight to work out the tension I was feeling.
"I feel so useless." I suddenly told Lucian.
With a slow turn, he faced me, his blue eyes piercing, his long hair being played with by the wind. We stared at each other for a while, then he took my hand in his, the warmth of his hand spread to mine, settling a layer of comfort in my stomach.
"You're not useless."
I shook my head, letting out a shuddering breath.
"I feel useless.", I repeated and stared him in the eyes, feeling my eyes getting watery. "If only...this is all because of me. I wish I can confidently tell you that I can use my so called powers to help....I'm sorry." He made to hug me but I pushed him back gently. His face was hard as he watched me.
"I'm fine. I just...wanted to let someone know how I felt. Thanks for listening."
He nodded, his jaw working. "Stay alive for me Aurora....please."
I let out a strained smile. Everyone had a purpose a role in the battle to come. And I, despite the power that stirred within me, was still figuring out how to use it.
As silence filled the atmosphere, Eli, Jake, Shawn and Mirabel came to stand beside us. The warriors at the forefront began to move. Energy moved through as ripples of growls and howls echoed as they shifted into their various wolf forms. Lucian stayed in his human form beside me, his arm brushing mine.
"Ready?" He asked, his gaze towards Eli and the rest.
Eli gave him a curt nod.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
"Let him come, I'm ready for him." Jake growled.
Mirabel bounced on her feet and growled.
"Whew! I'm so pumped up! Is it strange that I'm so excited to fight. I am ready to kick some ass."
Shawn placed his hands around her to calm her down.
"Calm down sweet cake..." He paused, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Please be careful." She stared into his eyes, and nodded, a serene expression on her face as she crossed his face.
"I promise."
I felt moisture pricking my eyes so I turned away. Lucian cleared his throat and nodded to Alpha Samuel who was now in his wolf form. A huge, black wolf.
"Let's go."
We started moving and crossed the forest line, heading towards the pack's boundary line. The trees became thinner as we approached the field, the golden and green grass swaying in the field, not knowing that soon it would be stained with blood.
And then we saw him.
Lucian and I growled at the same time, our expressions feral.
"Desmond."
He stood at the center of the field cloaked in black, his crowd of men stood fanning behind him. I couldn't help but blink in shock at the multitude of his men.
"How did he get so many of them?" I gasped.
"He's Desmond, that's your answer." Lucian gritted.
Desmond suddenly sneered, his red eyes gleamed and his fangs extended. He looked like death to me.
"Well, well," he chuckled, "Have you brought your puppies out to play?"
Lucian stiffened and growled, his voice rough with power.
"We'll see who laughs last after we are done with you. This ends today."
Desmond threw back his head and laughed, then he focused his gaze on Alpha Samuel.
"You should have listened to me when I warned you. You would saved yourself this unnecessary battle.
A ferocious snarl ripped from his snout
as he barred his fangs to him.
"You should have killed me when you had the chance. But oh well...you'll never get it, because I intend to kill you today. Son."
Then he finally stared at me, a wide smirk grace his lip, a red tongue peeped out to lick his lips.
"And you will be mine...your powers...all mine."
Desmond only laughed some more, I felt red hot anger lacing through me.
And just like that, chaos erupted all around me. Growls and snarls filled the air as both sides charged. Lucian shifted mid-run, his midnight black wolf barrel toward Desmond's men. Jake launched himself at two warriors, Eli beside him, fangs flashing. Mirabel fought with surprising speed and ferocity like a storm, the two long blades in her blades flashing under the sunlight.
And as for me? I stood frozen, unable to move, unable to shift, not because I didn't want to, but because I was trying to harness the damn magic in me. Amidst the chaos surrounding me, I closed my eyes. I could feel it, the hum inside me, the warm magic and the storm that threatened to rise from within me. But for the life of me, I could not reach it, no matter how much I tried.
I watched helplessly as our men fell, wounded but still tried to get up.
"He's too strong." I gasped.
Desmond wasn't just out to fight, he was out to kill. My heart felt pained as I saw more men fall down, never to rise again.
"Please..." I cried out, my hands balled in fists. "Let me help...show me how to use it."
But nothing worked.
"Stop it! Stop it you bastard. Let them go!" I screamed with all my might. He lifted his face and faced me. His lips spread in a wide grin as he stared at me.
"Oh Aurora, I haven't even started yet. Why are you fretting so?"
"You're a monster! Why can't you stay away from me! Stay away!"
"Not until you give me what I ask for."
"And what is that?"
"You."
I shook my head, "Never."
His eyes hardened, "If you say so."
He lifted his hands and dark tendrils of energy shot out, wrapping around Lucian, Eli, Jake, Shawn and Mirabel all at once all choking them in mid air. They wimpered in their wolf form, whimpering and gasping for breath.
"Then they die." He growled at me, a victorious smirked on his lips.