Chapter 183: Damian Must Be Found

Brenda’s POV

With a sharp clang, the enemy leader's weapon fell out of his grasp as my sword sliced through his defense. His eyes widened as he gasped and fell to the ground. Silence swept the battlefield for a minute.

I stood there with blood and sweat streaming down my cheeks and my chest heaving. The silver fire on my shining sword dwindled. The man who had ruined so many lives, who had snatched Damian, who had tortured us, was no more.

With voices swelling in triumph, the pack started howling. "We've triumphed!" they exclaimed. The cries of the wolves resounded like thunder as they raised their heads to the sky.

But all I saw when I looked around were corpses. Companions. Family. Siblings who would never be able to rise again. I fell to the ground when my knees gave out.

I said, "We... we did it," but my voice broke. "So why is it hurting so much?"

One of my best boxers, Maria, came running over to me. "The enemy is running away, Luna! We won because you took down their leader!

I tried to grin weakly at her, but I was hollow on the inside. I remembered Damian's last words, his sacrifice, and his face. Without him, what was victory?

"Where is the body of Damian?" Glancing toward the combat, I asked quietly.

Maria's grin dimmed. We are unable to locate him. Where he fell, he is not.

My heart skipped a beat. "What are you saying? There he was. I noticed him—

She gave a headshake. "He's not here, Brenda."

Lost.

Like a dagger that twisted deeper every second, the word reverberated inside of me. Instead of screaming or breaking, I tightened my fists. The pack as a whole would fall apart if I did.

My legs shook, but I got back up. I looked at the weary, hopeful faces of my pack. With my voice echoing across the quiet, I declared, "This battle is over." However, the conflict isn't. We shall grieve for our deceased. Our wounds will be healed. And since it is what they gave their lives for, we will continue to fight.

With some sobbing and others roaring softly in grief, the wolves bent their heads.

I returned my attention to the corpse of the opposing leader, motionless on the ground. I believed that peace would result from conquering him, but it didn't. I was only aware of the oppressive weight of loss.

"Damian." With my eyes burning, I whispered one again. "Where are you?"

And I felt a gloom of dread descend upon my heart as the wind blew through the shattered battlefield, bringing with it the smell of ash and blood. The end did not come with this victory. There was still something more sinister to come.

I slipped off that night after the fires had subsided and the pack had assembled in stillness. It was too heavy for me to sleep. The moon was shining brightly over the shattered ground as I made my way to the battlefield's edge.

I dropped to my knees and said quietly, "Moon Goddess." "I've taken all the necessary action. I've lost too much. Please show me whether there is anything left for me.

The atmosphere changed. Luminous symbols emerged in the mud in front of me as a silver light swept across the ground. With a gasp, I took a step back as the light intensified.

Then I heard a voice inside my soul, not with my ears.

"The war is not won, but the battle is, Child of the Moon. You still have what you lost. Your search is not yet complete. Your relationship will influence everyone's destiny.

My heart was racing. "What are you saying? Damian? Is he still alive?

The voice did not directly respond. Rather, the luminous symbols came together to create an image of two wolves standing next to each other, one clad in golden light and the other in silver flame. A shadow, darker than anything I had ever seen, rose above them.

Once more, the voice spoke. "Two souls bound by blood, two fates bound by love." One must fall and one must get back up. The shadow can only be lifted by working together.

With tears streaming down my face, I shook my head. "Please don't... Don't use riddles when speaking. Just let me know if I may expect to see him again.

The picture wavered, and then the wolves disappeared, to be replaced by a single symbol: a blood-dripping crescent moon.

My chest constricted. I was aware of its meaning. Something bigger and more sinister than this battle was on the horizon. Damian participated in it as well.

"Luna?" From behind me, Maria's voice said softly. "How are you doing?"

I hurriedly brushed away my tears and looked back at her. The Moon Goddess has spoken, I believe. And based on what she said, our battle is far from over. Not quite yet.

Maria gave me a worried look. "What did you see from her?"

I swallowed hard and looked at the dying light again. Damian and I have more work to do. A worse thing is on the horizon.

The night fell silent once more as the final glimmer of light extinguished. However, my heart raced more quickly than before.

Because I was certain that our destiny was far from over.

And I vowed to sense Damian's presence in the darkness. Alive. Awaiting.