20

Zen and Alex followed us with a group of beta wolves in the woods. The commotion caused by the two Alphas, who were losing their minds over their mate running away, alerted the Sapphires and allowed them to attack our pack.

Uncle Zaden and I were also discovered by a few Sapphire armies who followed us shortly after, turning everything into a chaotic mess. Zen and Alex became separated from the beta guards, losing their senses. Their only focus was capturing me. Taking advantage of the situation, the Sapphires attacked the betas and overpowered them.

Alex and Zen were also attacked by multiple groups of the Sapphires. Although they were strong enough to fight them all, they were not thinking clearly.

They blindly followed my scent through the woods, while I moved at a slower pace. They were closing in on me when the Alphas from the Sapphires attacked them.

Uncle Zaden had to slow down because of me, as I couldn't keep up with his speed. When Alex and Zen caught up with us and blocked our path, Uncle Zaden confronted them. He knew he couldn't defeat them, but he tried to create a distraction to buy me time.

Despite managing to shake off the Alphas chasing them, the Sapphires quickly caught up to us.

A fierce battle ensued. Uncle Zaden fought alongside Alex and Zen. Even without speaking, I could tell that I was their main concern, and they were willing to risk their own safety. I watched as Zen and Alex transformed into their wolf forms.

Even while engaged in a battle with a group of Alphas, both Zen and Alex moved swiftly and effortlessly like a feather. It seemed as though the fight posed no challenge for them, as their main focus was protecting me.

The Sapphires, however, recognized this and targeted me as their weakness. They all made attempts to reach me, unaware of Zen and Alex's intention to capture the Alphas alive in order to gather valuable information about the Sapphires' future plans.

As the wolves lunged at me, Zen and Alex no longer held back. Although they emerged victorious, it came at the cost of the lives of the Alphas they could have captured. Exhausted from the intense fight, everyone struggled to catch their breath as Uncle Zaden instructed me to leave on my own.

"Zaden," Zen called out in a threatening tone. "Step aside."

Zen's commanding tone reflected his Alpha command. Despite Zaden's efforts to resist, he eventually succumbed and fell to his knees. However, he refused to give up in order to buy me some time.

"We don't want to harm you, Zaden," Alex said in a more composed tone. "Clear our path, and we may spare your life when we return to the pack."

My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. How could I leave Uncle Zaden behind, knowing what fate awaited him?

"Ella, I beg you to go away!" Uncle Zaden pleaded. "Don't let all my hard work be for nothing."

I wanted to assist Uncle Zaden, but I couldn't move after hearing his plea. He was right. Allowing Zen and Alex to capture me would not benefit Uncle Zaden in any way. It would only prolong his suffering and mine. After coming this far, I couldn't let all of his efforts go to waste.

Therefore, without hesitating, I quickly disappeared into the woods. However, as I was leaving, I saw the Alpha Lord himself arriving at the location. Zen and Alex might have pursued me despite Uncle Zaden's resistance, but they stopped when the Alpha Lord commanded them to let me go.

The Alpha's words reached my ears from a distance. He was discussing with Zen the importance of choosing the right partner. Zen was the key to the spring, and without a strong vessel, it would never awaken. I wondered what that meant, but I disregarded it and ran as far as I could until I reached the edge of the woods.

Despite all the difficulties I faced, I successfully escaped from the woods. The Alpha Lord allowed me to flee, as he strongly opposed the notion of me becoming the Luna. Thus, letting me run away was also a part of his strategy.

After running for hours, I collapsed on the riverbank, gasping for air. Both my body and soul were completely exhausted. My vision became blurry, but I still managed to catch sight of a wooden house on the opposite side of the river.

" A farmhouse?" Muttering to myself, I attempted to get up.

Little did I know, the area beyond the river was inhabited by humans. Since I couldn't swim, I was unsure how to cross the river. However, I made the decision to try anyway. Without considering the consequences, I leaped into the river.

The force of the river's waves was so strong that I nearly drowned, as the current dragged my body away. Just before losing consciousness, my blurred vision caught sight of a man on the other side of the river engrossed in painting something. Desperate for help, I tried to shout, but water filled my nose and mouth, causing me to lose consciousness.

However, I felt a strong pair of arms snaking around my body as I drowned. Perhaps, I was hallucinating about being rescued in my final moments.