Chapter 117

Chapter 117
Damien’s POV.

"Max, do you know where my wife is?" I asked, approaching the man sitting comfortably on our living room sofa.

"Ah, she’s actually out with Astra, visiting Axel’s old house," he replied. "They’re hoping to find something there that might help locate their hideout."

A skeptical expression crossed my face. "She didn’t mention it to me."

Max picked up on the disappointment in my voice and quickly responded. "You know, Damien, sometimes it feels like they don’t consider our feelings, but trust me, they really do care." He shook his head in understanding. "I know it may seem odd, but my own mate is just the same. She occasionally prefers going on adventures without me, simply because she doesn’t want to burden or stress me out. I’m sure Amara just didn’t want to trouble you with the details."

I let out a small sigh. "Well, she definitely adds some stress to my life, that’s for sure."

He chuckled, empathizing with my sentiment. "Absolutely! But at the end of the day, they’re a part of us, and we’ve grown to love them regardless."

"It’s certainly a unique existence we lead."

"Just so you know," he stated, capturing my eye once more. "I recently heard that your brother has successfully completed his research on developing a vaccine for metal resistance."

"I hadn’t been informed about that yet, actually," I replied, raising an eyebrow.

He leaned back on the sofa and directed his gaze towards the ceiling. "Oh, I might have ruined the surprise then. You see, I heard that your brother absolutely despises spoilers. So, when he returns home, be sure to act surprised, alright? I definitely don’t want to be on the receiving end of one of his punches."

I turned to face him. "How did you even find out about this?"

With a mischievous grin, he leaned forward, "Well, connections. My sources have informed me that thousands of vaccines are set to be delivered here within the next month. Quite amazing, isn’t it?"

I shook my head, although deep inside, I was proud of Dane’s achievement.

"Shit!"

I jolted as the environment around me rapidly shook, not from an earthquake, but from the deafening sound of an explosion. Amelia, Henry, and the children stampeded outside. Simon wore a perplexed expression on his face. 

"What was that?"

We all looked at each other as we felt another blast echoed through the air. I was about to go out and check, but one of the pack warriors stormed in, his body covered in blood.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Alpha," he blurted. "They’ve bombed our border. There are more of them now than before. Our warriors can’t hold the border, and they’ve scattered into the forest," he reported.

I clenched my fist at what I heard. "Amelia, please tend to the pups," I entreated, and she nodded.

They made their way up to the second floor, leaving only Max and I behind.

"Can you reach out to the Royal Council? We need a medical team dispatched immediately. There will undoubtedly be multiple casualties," I implored.

"Of course," he replied, nodding.

I wasted no time and bolted out of the packhouse. I phased into my wolf form and darted into the woods.

"Alpha, in the minefield. Luna is under attack."

I abruptly changed my trajectory and sprinted in the opposite direction. I dashed as fast as I could, almost flying with my speed.

Upon my arrival, I hustled towards Amara, who was in a heated battle with a rogue. I lunged at the rogue, fighting with all my might until it was lifeless. Amara gave me a thumbs up, and I nodded approvingly before turning to confront the remaining enemies.

From the trees that surrounded the field we were in, I could sense more rogues approaching from the woods.

How dare they invade my territory?

"Where are the kids?" My wife’s urgent voice echoed in my mind as she valiantly fought in her human form.

I bit and threw away one opponent in front of me before answering her. "Amelia’s keeping them safe."

"Good. What’s taking Phoenix so long? The enemy forces are multiplying rapidly, damn it!" she exclaimed in frustration.

"Henry already reached out to them."

I winced as I momentarily forgot one of my two opponents. I growled at them, my focus sharpening, and launched another attack.

This bastard.

Shit! I winced again, not from the foe in front of me, but from a metal arrow grazing my side. I glanced skyward, witnessing a barrage of arrows raining down upon the entire minefield. Amara and I exchanged glances.

"Head for the forest. They can’t target what they can’t see from the air," she commanded, and I immediately complied.

"All of you, retreat to the forest and eliminate every last one of them!" I commanded.

They responded with growls and hastened away before the onslaught of arrows could reach us.

I stumbled as I was hit by a rogue. Before focusing on the one in front of me, it attempted to sink its teeth into my side, but I wrested free. I clamped down on its stomach, eliciting a pained groan. I flung it aside using my fangs until it collided with a tree, lifeless.

Afterward, I sprinted to reunite with Amara. I ran and ran until I reached the ravaged border. The scene was pure devastation. It was a disaster. Smoke choked the air, and everything lay charred from the fire.

"Damien, watch out!" I heard Amara’s familiar voice shout.

Instinctively, I dodged an arrow hurtling toward me before focusing on her. My heart sank as I saw her right arm slicked with blood.

"What happened?" I asked, gesturing to her wound.

She glanced down at her own arm, shook her head, and smiled at me.

"Just a graze. Nothing serious. Are you alright?" she asked.

Her question caused my eyes to sparkle, rendering me momentarily speechless.

"Don’t tell me you’re getting mushy in the midst of all this?" she teased, provoking a glare from me that made her laugh.

I was about to approach her when the ground trembled again from a powerful explosion. I looked up at the sky. I saw birds flying in the opposite direction. My heart raced because I knew where they were coming from.

Please don’t tell me…

"The pups, Damien!" my wife’s voice filled with fear. It seemed she had the same thought as me.

"Hop in!" I said to her urgently, and she quickly followed. She clung to my neck, and I sped towards the pack house.

When we arrived, we were met with a sight that only intensified our fear.

"Where are our pups?!" she cried out in a panic.

"Amelia!" I called through our mind link, where I could communicate with them as their Alpha.

If they were close enough, there was a chance she would respond.

"Amelia! Lily! Daniel!"

Amara darted towards the burning pack house, but I quickly caught up to her, shielding her from the flying debris caused by another explosion. We both fell to the ground, shaken but unharmed.

"Are you alright?" I asked, searching her eyes.

"Damien... our children," she sobbed.

My heart ached at the sight of her pain. It was rare to see her cry and vulnerable like this, as she usually showed her resilience. I approached her and rested my head on her chest, offering her comfort. She hugged me and cried even harder.

"Alpha?" Lucian’s voice came through our mind link.

"What’s the update?" I responded, hoping for some good news amidst the chaos.

"The pups are safe and sound. Portia took them together with the other pups," he informed, relieving my breath.

I released Amara from our embrace and looked into her eyes. "Our pups are safe. Portia took them to a secure location," I repeated my Beta’s words.

She stopped crying and her face showed a relieved expression as she wiped away her tears.

"The thought of not being able to see them grow… it made my heart ache," she whispered, her voice still hoarse from crying.

"I know, honey," I murmured.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Natasha’s voice taunted us, causing us to freeze in our tracks. 

We turned around to find her standing alongside Axel, flanked by a group of rogues. I realized that we had fallen right into their trap. They had known our pups were no longer at the pack house and had detonated it to draw us out.

"Ralph, head back to the pack house!" I commanded.

"We’re on our way, Alpha."

"Why, Axel? Why are you doing this?" Amara pleaded.

Axel smirked, a twisted satisfaction evident on his face. "I want to prove my worth. I want my mother to finally be proud of me."

I could see the deep-rooted hatred gleaming in his eyes, and it only fueled my anger.

"Axel, if you hadn’t turned down this path, there would be so many more who would be proud of you," Amara’s voice cracked. It took all my restraint not to unleash my fury upon him for being so cruel to her.

How dare he think he can get away with hurting my wife!

"Liar! You chose that bastard over me!" he spat, pointing an accusatory finger in my direction.

If I hadn’t been in my wolf form, I would have raised an eyebrow at him.

Was it my fault? Disgusted, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

"Buy us some time," Amara whispered through our mind link.

Yes, we needed to stall until Ralph and the others arrived. We had to hold our ground and protect each other until help came.

"You are the first one to turn your back, Axel, because of your greed. Don’t blame me," Amara shot back.

Axel hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond.

"And you’ve even brought a snake with you? I knew it! She’s a traitor," Amara accused.

"You stole him from me!" Anger seethed in Natasha’s voice.

"No one stole me from you, Natasha. I was never yours," I stated firmly.

She shook her head in denial. "No! I was supposed to be your Luna!"

"You’re both acting like children, willing to do anything when you don’t get what you want," Amara cut in.

"Honey, let’s buy some time, but don’t provoke them," I scolded her gently through our mind link.

"They started it. Now I’m annoyed," she retorted, annoyed, causing me to sigh inwardly.

"You! I’ll kill you, bitch!" Natasha angrily shouted and unleashed her arcane magic.

I was taken aback by her sudden attack, but I quickly pushed Amara out of harm’s way. Just as I did, I heard the familiar sounds of my warriors approaching. Within seconds, they emerged from the forest, along with my Beta, Phoenix’s clan, and Dane. A chorus of fierce growls filled the air.

And so, the game began.