Chapter 152 Chapter 152

Chapter 152 Chapter 152
Rose’s POV

“No. Kavian!”
I forced myself up, legs shaking, and sprinted toward him.
“Get out of my way!” I shouted, shoving through the wall of men, my palms stinging as I pushed them aside until I finally reached him—reached the place where half of my father’s blade was protruding from Kavian's back.

My gaze jerked from my father to Kavian, dread pounding in my chest. Without a word, my father yanked the sword free, the metallic scrape turning my stomach. He stepped back as Kavian dropped to his knees, and I lunged forward, catching him before he collapsed completely.

“Kavian…” I whispered, tears burning my eyes as my hand pressed over his wound, warm blood slipping between my fingers. “Don’t move. I’ll heal you.”

“You will do no such thing,” my father said sharply.

I spun toward him, fury and disbelief twisting inside me. Words rose to my tongue—words I knew I might regret, or maybe wouldn’t regret at all—but I didn’t get the chance to speak them.

“Rose…”
Kavian’s voice pulled me back. I turned to him, my heartbreak flooding my face, but he looked up at me with soft, tender eyes.

“It’s alright,” he murmured. “I will heal.”

I shook my head hard, refusing to accept it.

“Get him back to his cell,” my father ordered, his voice cold enough to freeze bone.

Two men moved in, reaching for Kavian.

“Get your hands off him! Leave him alone!” I fought them, clawing at their arms, trying to pull them away from him.

“Rosemary. Behave yourself!” my father growled, his alpha aura pressing down on me like a heavy weight.

Before I could respond, a deep horn echoed from far beyond the gates—its long, distant bellow rolling toward us until it trembled through the ground beneath our feet.

“What’s that?” one of the guards asked, alarm flickering across his face.

“What’s that?” one of the guards asked, alarm flickering across his face.

“They are coming,” Kavian said, his expression twisting with troubled certainty.

“Who?” my father demanded.

“My father,” Kavian answered…

And the room fell silent.

“This is a declaration of war, my alpha. We have to protect the city and our pack,” Beta Marcel said, his voice tight with urgency as he faced my father.

“This city can still be saved,” Kavian rasped. “Release me so I can talk to my father.”

“Please listen to him, Father. I beg you,” I added, stepping forward, my heart thundering.

“Please… do this for the sake of your daughter,” Kavian said weakly, his breath uneven.

“We have to act now before they arrive at our gates, Alpha,” Beta Marcel insisted.

“Send word to Moonlit Shadow’s pack and Nightshade Wolves’ pack that the time is upon us,” he said to his beta, his tone hard as stone. I shook my head before I even realized I was doing it.

No, no, no, no… The words slipped out of me in a trembling whisper, barely more than breath.

He turned then—first to me, then to Kavian. Something sharp and merciless flickered in his eyes.

“Bring him along,” my father ordered, his voice slicing through the room. “He is going to witness firsthand the destruction of his people.” His cold words trailed behind him as he strode away.

“No!” I screamed, but their grip on Kavian tightened, dragging him forward like he was nothing more than a prisoner of war. I fought to reach him again, desperation clawing up my throat, when suddenly someone seized my arm from behind.

“Let go—” My words died the moment I turned and saw her.

“Relax, it’s me,” she said.

“Aunty Vivian…” Relief and fear tangled inside me. “Kavian’s father is here—he’s going to destroy everything. Father has to understand he’s making a terrible mistake. He can’t win this fight.”

“You should know he is the alpha,” she said firmly. “He has a responsibility to defend his pack and his city. You don’t expect him to simply cower away.”

“I expect him to do what’s best for this pack and release Kavian before it’s too late,” I said, my voice trembling with frustration.

“If he won’t do the right thing, then you should.”
Her words hit me like a slap, leaving me confused.

“What do you mean?”

“You have four mates, don’t you? Three of them are the ones out there with their father, coming to attack this city.” Her eyes locked onto mine, steady and unflinching. “Perhaps if you go out there and meet them—talk to them before they get here—you can plead on this pack’s behalf. You can prevent this war from happening, and this issue can be resolved in a more diplomatic manner. No one has to get hurt.”

“Without Kavian… their brother? Would they even listen to me? Won’t their father just capture me?” My voice wavered, the doubt curling through it like smoke. “Kavian risked everything to make sure I’m safe from his father. Won’t I just be handing myself over to him on a platter of gold?”

“You are the Phoenix wolf. You have a responsibility to this pack, Rose,” she said, her tone soft but anchored in something immovable. “There are risks you simply have to take. Or would you prefer this city burn to the ground? Because it will definitely burn if nothing is done.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking deep, and shook my head. “No...I will do it.”

“Good girl. Come with me then.”

She took my hand, her grip warm but urgent, and guided me through a narrow hidden route carved behind the walls—a secret passage that swallowed us in cool shadows. From beyond the stone, the distant clatter of soldiers assembling at the main gates bled through, their weapons drawing in unison, a grim chorus announcing the war inching closer with every heartbeat...

My aunt Vivian and I followed a narrow path I hadn’t even known existed until now, slipping out of the pack walls as we headed toward the distant horn that kept echoing through the air at intervals. Even though the sound was loud and sharp, I could tell it was coming from far ahead—likely from the very entrance of the city—and this hidden route only made it feel even farther away.

Enemy attacks were usually silent, shadows slipping in without warning. But my mates’ father and his pack were announcing themselves boldly, the horn blaring like a warning or a promise. Either they were unbelievably confident… or they wanted fear to settle deep in our bones long before they arrived.
Whichever it was, I was praying I wouldn’t have to witness a battle today. I prayed my aunt was right—that my voice would matter, that I could reach my mates and their father before this city was torn apart.

“Come on. We’re getting closer,” my aunt urged, her hand tightening around mine. I picked up my pace, lungs tightening with nerves.

But then—
The sudden thunder of hooves erupted around us, fast and closing in. Before I could even fully register what was happening, six horsemen circled us, blocking the path with their dark, towering mounts.

I froze. For a heartbeat, I thought they were our warriors returning from patrol—until I saw the crest pressed into the armor on their chests.

Not Crescent Moon.
Nightshade Wolves.

My stomach dropped. “What are they doing here?” I whispered.

“What the hell…” I muttered as my aunt and I pressed our backs together instinctively, both of us slipping into a defensive stance while the riders moved around us like predators herding prey.

“What is this?” my aunt demanded sharply.

One of the horsemen swung down from his saddle, landing with a heavy thud. “Where are you two sneaking off to?” he asked, his tone far too calm for comfort.

“We do not owe you any explanation,” my aunt snapped. “This is Crescent Moon’s territory—you have no right being here. And to spare unnecessary delay, listen well.” She jabbed a finger toward the sky where the horn still howled. “You hear that? That’s death coming for everyone. We are trying to save lives. So if you would please excuse us—”

She grabbed my hand and we tried to push through them.

However—

“Not so fast.”
The man stepped right into our path, blocking us with casual defiance as the others dismounted, circling tighter around us.

“Didn’t you hear anything I just said?” my aunt growled. “Get. Out. Of. The. Way.”

“You can leave,” the man said, eyes flickering to me. “But she comes with us.”