Part 42

The sun has long since moved from its throne to be replaced by the moon which is now on the throne. Silent night, only a handful of night animals singing or just hunting to find meaning in their impermanent life. Every now and then the leaves can be heard dancing in the wind as if laughing at every sneaky step made by the Black Witches and rogues which are completely meaningless to the border guard warriors.

Two warriors managed to jump and pounce on a Black Witch until her head was detached from her body before the Black Witch managed to cast her black magic. One of the warriors was blown away by black magic which immediately took his life. The remaining warriors howled for help. Then appeared dark figures in black robes perched atop a tree. Not just one but dozens.

The warrior knew his life would not be long. With his remaining time he contacted the herd. A magic threw it so that it hit two trees until it fell. The growls of dozens of rogues were heard. With the remainder of his consciousness he guides the rest of the herd to convey information and at the same time apologize that his task is finished tonight.

***

The moon shone brightly with incandescent white light illuminating the night. Lalita watched the moon from her bedroom window. Her heart still ached remembering the incident at dusk. Lalita realizes that she is selfish. But let him be selfish. She is selfish for something that should absolutely belong to her. If someone wants what she has. Lalita will neither share nor hesitate to kill. Because a life partner is not to be shared or death will come.

The door opened as Sean entered. His gaze softened but his expression remained deadpan. Lalita didn't budge as she continued to stare at the moon from the window. Cold air slowly entered followed by the night breeze that played a little bit of her almost white blonde hair.

"Close the window. Aren't you cold?" Lalita still didn't budge as she continued to stare at the moon. She hated having to stare at blue irises as deep as the ocean that might hide many secret riddles that would hurt her.

"What do you care?" asked Lalita coldly when Sean stepped closer.

"You're my mate. Of course I care about you."

"Hey." Lalita chuckled lightly.

"What about your ex-girlfriend. She's beautiful, charming, and elegant. Or maybe you two are back to being lovers?"

Sean was silent, didn't know what to say to Lalita who was annoyed with him. Sean's silence is the answer for Lalita. With a slanted smile, Lalita turned around and looked at Sean who looked back at her gently.

"Get out! I remember myself first,"said Lalita while looking away.

"If you don't want to get out and go. I'd better go."

Just a few steps closer to the door, Sean immediately hugged Lalita tightly from behind. Sean moved the tip of his nose into the crook of Lalita's neck while inhaling the scent of her opium deeply. Lalita didn't budge and let Sean hold her close.

"Do not go,"she whispered softly.

"Shakira was once my girlfriend." Lalita stiffened at Sean's statement.

"But after he left, I threw away all my feelings. You're the only one who makes me feel it again. You're the color in my life. You're the fire that warmed me when I was stuck in a frozen block of ice. You're everything now. I love you, not just because of our bond. But that bond is also what makes our love stronger. Believe me, you're the only one I want."

Lalita was silent, letting Sean stroke her mane gently while occasionally kissing the top of her head. However, slowly Lalita removed Sean's hand that was still holding her tightly. Lalita wants real proof. Not sweet words that could have betrayed her.

"You think by saying all that I will just melt away. Unfortunately no, you are very wrong Alpha,"Lalita smiled mockingly while Sean didn't like Lalita's smile at all. Sean prefers Lalita's gentle smile when she laughs out loud. The smile that first made her fall in true love. A distant howl interrupted their conversation. A tense aura and a dangerous feeling began to be felt.

"This aura, I recognize it. Such a dark magical aura. Damn! They found me," growled Lalita anxiously.

"Alpha!" called Sky after forcibly opening the bedroom door in panic.

"The southern border is under attack. Rogues and Black Witches, they are trying to break into the pack's territory."

"I already guessed!" Lalita rushed to leave but Sean caught her hand.

"You're not going anywhere." Sean's commandment absolutely did not want to be denied.

"Don't take things personally, Alpha. If it were just rogues I'd be quiet, but this time the Black Witch is taking part. I'm the only werewolf who masters magic and can compete with them. As Luna I have to protect my pack,"Lalita said firmly. There was no doubt in his words.

Sean, who was in a frenzy, grabbed Lalita's shoulder to make her face her while staring at her eyes intensely.

"You can't go!"

"Why!? Don't you believe in my abilities too?"

"Because I don't want to lose you!" Sean shouted in a high pitched voice. Emotions mixed with worry colored his mood.

"What they want is you. I don't want to lose you again. Johanna came to see me. She said there was going to be an attack involving the Black Witches, and what they were after was you. The goddess chose you out of millions of pure spirits. And I feel very lucky because the goddess destined you for me. That's why I will protect you. One way or another." Sean's breath hitched. He let out everything that stuck in his heart.

Lalita was stunned to hear Sean's story. Didn't expect Alpha's words to be so touching. But not strong enough to undermine Lalita's resolve.

"So you already know I'm White Blood?" Sean nodded while looking at Lalita with a look that was hard to define.

"You feel lucky to have me as your mate? You're Alpha's fault. I take on a responsibility that may be both dangerous and painful for you. To be a White Blood you have to be willing to sacrifice anything. That's not a gift. To me it's a curse. A curse in the form of responsibility."

"I will stand on the front lines, with or without your permission."

Lalita turned to leave but Sean hit her on the nape until she fainted. There is no other choice but to make her faint so Lalita doesn't leave.

"Sorry mate. For your own good"

Sean laid Lalita on the bed and then covered her warmly.

"Sky, prepare the best warriors for battle. We will soon be heading for the border."

***

For almost two hours, Lalita fainted before she finally woke up due to a stabbing pain in her chest. Sweat covered her forehead as well as her breathing increasingly ragged. A howl from afar woke Lalita up to what was happening.

Lalita quickly jumped out of bed to go to the southern border as fast as possible. The pain is Stefan's pain. Lalita couldn't imagine what the witches had done to Stefan to make her chest hurt so bad.

"Luna, where are you going?" asked Shakira who ran into Lalita who was half running.

"None of your business." Lalita said curtly without looking up.

"But Alpha asked me to make sure you are okay at the pack house."

Suddenly Lalita turned to look at Shakira who was chasing her. What's with this shewolf she thought.

"Sean asked you to look after me? Unfortunately, I wasn't that naive to believe you." Lalita chuckled lightly.

Her heart ached when she saw Shakira. And now Shakira spoke so innocently and caringly. This even provoked Lalita's emotional upheaval, which was still unstable. Lalita started walking again but Shakira stopped her.

"Luna, I beg you. Alpha is really worried about you."

Lalita's jaw tightened and at that instant, Lalita strangled Shakira with one hand so that her feet did not touch the floor. Shakira kept struggling while coughing to get oxygen for her lungs.

"You're such a hypocrite. When the sun is shining you want to finish me off while when the moon is shining you're being nice to me."

"Lu..Luna please..le let go."

Lalita smiled crookedly then threw Shakira to the corner of the wall hitting the nightstand until it fell apart. Blood was pouring from his nose and forehead. Without caring about Shakira, Lalita immediately ran out of the pack house and then did her shift with Rione. With its speed, the white wolf ran through the dark night towards the southern border. The smell of blood that was blown by the wind even managed to be smelled within a radius of several kilometers.

On the border itself, endless battles continue to occur. Nearly one-fifth of the Eclipse Pack warriors were killed tonight. Rogue with the help of the Black Witches is truly the perfect mix to push the Eclipse Pack warrior further.

The warriors grappled, clawed, and roared against every wild rogue's fierce resistance. Occasionally they are blown away due to the dark magic of the Black Witch which is capable of cracking bones covered in werewolf flesh and thick fur.

Once again, Stefan was blown away by two rogues at once. A Black Witch perched on a tree waiting for a good opportunity to paralyze the Alpha. Stefan growled angrily. With one jump, Stefan pounced on one of the rogues while rolling around to avoid the Black Witch's magic that was targeting his genitals. Stevan's strong jaw crushed the rogue's neck, which was now lying helpless from its deadly bite.Stefan got back up again, mercilessly clawing at the remaining rogue's face then biting his neck after slamming the opponent's body until the ground formed a deep depression. After ending the front battle, Stevan's rogue targeted the Black Witch. His bright golden eyes glared at Black Witch with intimidation.

Feeling intimidated by the Alpha's dominating aura made Black Witch show signs of running away. However, it was too late because the Alpha grabbed it first after quickly climbing up using its pointed claws. The two of them fell with Black Witch's body hitting the ground first, being crushed by the Alpha's large body which was embedded in her side. Viciously, Stefan crushed the Black Witch under his claws, separating the head from the body as easily as snapping a toothpick.

"Leisa!" another Black Witch exclaimed with a dense aura that was different from other Black Witches.

Stefan turned to look at the other Black Witches with a bold look. The Black Witch, who is now angry, doesn't heed the Alpha's dangerous gaze, who wants to kill her. With outstretched arms the Black Witch began to cast her black magic.

The warriors staggered back. Some of them ducked to feel their ears ringing in pain until blood flowed. Stefan tried to stay upright even though his ear was now bleeding. An unfavorable position for the Eclipse Pack warriors who are now very desperate. Some began to fall due to attacks by rogue and Black Witch simultaneously.

A loud howl made the Black Witch's magic stop. A deep howl full of majesty that brought back the spirit for the warriors to get back on their feet. The situation is now reversed. The Black Witches' magic no longer works. The warriors brutally slaughtered any rogues and Black Witches they could get their hands on.

Rione stood proudly in front of several Black Witches who were now standing around him. Very casually Rione returned control to Lalita who was far more adept at playing magic.

"Well, so this is the White Blood the Queen was talking about. It seems it would be very easy to take you away." said the leader of the Black Witches who stood in front of the others.

"Really? You must be Wizard Elder's

great-grandson, right?" asked Lalita casually while watching the Black Witch in front of her who started to brag.

"Yes, right." a haughty, devilish smile appeared on his face.

"Disappointing. You really disappointed your great-grandfather. With just a small howl I was able to break your magic. Well, indeed exiles must be of poor caliber. Heh that's why they were banished." Lalita's originally relaxed tone turned cynical and even. A grave humiliation that no wizard descendant could accept.

"You know nothing!" a magic flew towards Lalita. However just by extending his right hand the magic vanished.

Lalita raised her left hand with an open palm position. All the Black Witches around him stiffened then floated like a strangled neck, including the leader.A wizard devoted to dark magic is no longer a wizard. You even dragged your sister, Leisa into the black hole that you created Liam." Lalita glared at Liam who was struggling in front of her.

"Arthur Reamond is like my own grandfather. But you broke his heart. I can't forgive someone who has mingled with dark magic!"

Lalita's left hand clenched and then it was over. All cells in the Black Witch's body exploded after Lalita controlled the blood flow at will before accelerating the blood flow to destroy the vessels and heart which led to death.

Lalita turned to the battle that was going on. A rogue almost pounced on her but the spiky ice first penetrated her body which was now flowing fresh blood. Several rogues ran to attack her but Lalita created a fire that surrounded her body so that no one dared to approach her.

Right in the middle of the battle Lalita stopped looking at the terrifying surroundings. Wolf bodies were everywhere and most of them were no longer intact. Even Lalita recognized one of the wolves that fell tonight. Silvi's wolf. With all her anger rising in the midst of the flames that protected her, Lalita gathered all the elements she had. Red crystals representing fire appeared around her. Likewise, the green crystal represents wind, the brown crystal represents land, and the blue crystal represents water. It even appears yellow and purple crystals that symbolize death and life.

The six crystals spun rapidly before finally uniting to form a white crystal that shone brightly and was so beautiful. The white crystal floated into the air and then shattered into small pieces which turned into an abundance of white light and then collided with every remaining rogue. They all died, when the white light hit their bodies. Thus tonight's battle ended with the victory of the Eclipse Pack thanks to its formidable Luna.

Lalita staggered, but as much as possible she wanted to keep standing straight. Lalita spent a lot of energy to perfect the fusion of the six elements. The flames around him had been extinguished. And the night returned to silence. Only a few groans and cries were heard for the rest of the battle.

Astoria sat up. Her legs felt boneless when she saw Julius, her eyes were dead. Astoria wanted to cry but not a single drop of water fell. Astoria roared, letting out all her feelings that were bubbling up due to loss. Now she has to accept the fact that she will spend the rest of her life without a mate.

Astoria turned and found Lalita who was desperately trying to keep her balance so she wouldn't get swayed. A low growl escaped his mouth following his body which was now under Etna's control. All because of Lilita. The Witches won't attack without Lalita. Astoria blames Lalita for Julius' death.

Etna slowly approached Lalita. When the distance is not too far Etna jumped to pounce on Lalita from the side but failed because a silver wolf lunged at her first.

Storm growled then attacked Etna who clawed back at her neck. Several warriors immediately moved to surround Etna knowing that the shewolf had bad intentions for Luna.

"Snatch him!" Sky ordered after the change of shift. Astoria could only struggle. Without being able to do anything.

"You don't deserve to be Luna Lalita."

"You're weak! Even you can't protect all the pack members."

"You are pathetic. You took everything from me."

"Now you take my mate."

Astoria's repeated roars overwhelmed the three warriors who had dragged her into a rage and so they didn't hesitate to give them punches for insulting their Luna.

Lalita could no longer stand up and finally sat down limply. Astoria's rant added to the list of burdens on her mind. Sky, who saw it, immediately moved to help Lalita, but Sean first lent his chest as a support for Lalita.

"Why didn't my mate save me. Why should someone else's mate?" muttered Lalita before the darkness lulled her into silence.

Everyone was silent no one dared to make the slightest sound. They knew there was trouble between Alpha and Luna and neither of them wanted to interfere.

Sean took Lalita in his arms. The girl's beautiful face looked peaceful even though she fainted from exhaustion. One kiss Sean gifted for Lalita before taking his mate away and disappearing behind the darkness of the night.