Chapter Fifty-Three: Enough is enough

Sapphire Lykos

I turned my head to see Lucien standing behind me, the aura of power radiating from him almost caused me to bow my head in submission. I turned back further to see Ophelia behind him, sitting on the ground, Xander’s arm around her as she supported his weight.

Lucien must have seen the look on my face as he placed his hand on my shoulder, urging me to go to Xander. I threw him a grateful look before moving to Xander, taking his hand off his mother so that she could go to her mate as well, biting my lip as I felt the sharp pain in my knee as I knelt down.

Xander sighed as he tried to shift his weight so that the majority of it would not be on my shoulder, small grunts of pain leaving his lips.

He let out a whimper as I forcibly readjusted his weight.

“I might not be as strong as I once was, but let me help you, Xander, please…”

He must have heard the guilt in my voice as he slowly start to relax, I bit my lip as I felt the sudden increase in weight against my body. My heart aching as I used my free hand to stroke his hair from his face, he was in so much pain, and yet tried to hide it so that he could care for me.

My thoughts were interrupted as I felt his hand close around mine, softly squeezing it as he rested his head in the crook of my neck.

“We will get through this, Sapphire.”

I swallowed hard, my throat tight, as I stroke the back of his hand with my thumb, forcing a tight smile on my face as I looked down at him.

“Yes we will, Xander.”

A sudden burst of roars and howls tore our attention from each other as we looked in front of us, Lucien shoulders tense as he stared at the sea of discontentment before him, Ophelia placing a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

“I said enough!”

Just as quickly as their anger erupted, it quelled as they fell silent at Lucien’s words, his voice leaving no trace of suspicion that he was once one of the most powerful Alphas to lead.

“Ophelia and I have just lost Angel, and many of us as well have lost people that you loved! We have too many pyres to light as it is, so let me ask you… How many of your loved ones do you want to burn?”

I clenched my jar in anger as I thought of all the deaths caused by this ridiculous fairy tale, my mind drifting to the image of Amelia kneeling over the unconscious bodies of her pack , knowing that what Damien did to her would forever change her.

“This decision that Sapphire made may not be the one we want, but it gives us all the time to regroup and give those who have fallen the burial they deserve… unless you are willing to continue fighting, leaving their bodies to rot.”

His spat out his last word, I shuddered as I felt the venom roll off his tongue. He was challenging them to disobey him.

I closed my eyes, thankful for the silence, but they were forced open once more when jeers came from below. The small group who still supported Damien roared in protest, vowing to bring hell and chaos onto all the packs who chose to side with us.

My body tensed as I prepared myself for a fight to break out, tightening my grip on Xander as I shifted my body, readying to force myself onto my feet once the forced peace finally shattered.

My eyes trailed to Lucien who, on the other hand, stood relaxed. Ophelia as well as she clutched his hand.

“Those who do not accept our offer of peace and asylum can leave, we do not wish for any more violence as we heal.”

Ugly laugh filled the air as they mocked Lucien for his weakness. My mouth fell open in shock, looking incredulously at Lucien’s back, my mind unable to comprehend his words. My body seemed to move on its own as I gently removed Xander’s hands and shifted his body against the stone before walking to stand next to Lucien.

My eyes moving to watch as wolves began to shift and take off to the woods while the rest of the packs stood by and watched.

There was about thirty seconds of incredulous silence, before Lucien slowly cracked his neck and nodded. My eyes widened as a large group of Shadow Mountain Warriors raced out into the forests after them.

The silence returned before it was shattered once more by screams and howls echoing from the forest, all of our wolves coming back after, their coats matted with fresh blood as they walked up to stand in front of Lucien before bowing.

He smiled before sweeping his gaze unto everyone who still remained.

“Just like Sapphire said, those of you who once did Damien’s bidding will be given the benefit of a doubt, but those who continue to make his vision into a reality… will be executed without a second thought. Do I make myself clear?”

Instant cries of, “Yes!”, filled the air as those not of Shadow Mountain grovelled before him.

Lucien opened his mouth once more before closing it as another group of wolves walked to the centre.

*“We request an audience with both Alexander Lykos and Sapphire Ragna Nighborne.”*

My eyes widened once again as a male voice echoed in my mind. The wolf that took the lead tilted his head as he waited for my response.

*“We accept your request. Meet us in the arena.”*

Ophelia looked at me with eyebrows raised as I stuttered trying to make sense of what had just happened, but she just placed her hand on my shoulder and looked upon me with understanding in her eyes.

“Those from Shadow Mountain, start your journey back home. Lucien will be your guide. Those who are not, stay where you are and wait for my instructions.”

The wolves started to separate, either moving off to the forest to return home, or staying to await further instructions.

Ophelia sighed before placing her hand on Lucien’s shoulder, raising her head to kiss him on the cheek, placing her other hand on the side of his face.

“Bring our daughter home.”

His eyes closed as he leaned into her touch, holding onto her hand before turning his face to kiss the inside of her wrist.

They slowly started to leave, resulting in Xander and I being the only ones to be left on the rooftop.

I moved towards him, and placed a kiss on his forehead as he chuckled.

“I told you that I would not let him take you from me.”

I laughed as tears slid down my cheek. Only he would try and joke during a time like this.

My hand fell on his leg as I stared at them, running down his calf before he gently knocked it aside.

“We will find a way to fix this… I have faith.”

I pressed my forehead against his, his hand moving to brush my matted hair away from my face.

“Maxwell must be waiting for us, Sapphire.”

“Maxwell?”