Chapter 195: Rally Before The Storm

Brenda’s POV

As I stood before the pack, the air felt heavy. The moon was waning beneath the eclipse's shadow, and the sky was dark. Despite my racing heart, I remained upright. They needed me to be strong.

Numerous eyes looked at me, wolves that believed in me and trusted me. They were worn out. I'm afraid. But I was, too.

I inhaled deeply. "Tonight, we fight for everything we love," I yelled, my voice resonating throughout the clearing.

There was a murmur among the people. I took a step forward, and the Moonstone rose. It pierced the darkness with a brilliant silver light.

"This is what they want," I stated firmly. "They desire our power. Our liberty. Our existence. However, we won't give it to them!

There were growls of agreement in the pack. I felt my chest expand.

"They believe we are weak," I added, raising my voice. They believe that we will submit. However, we are wolves! The centre of the jungle is us! We battle for our future and our families!

“YES!” responded voices.

I walked at a leisurely pace, observing every face—mothers, warriors, and even the small children who could hardly fight yet would not flee. I whispered, "Some of us might not see the dawn." However, we fall together if we do., as a single pack.

Quiet. The kind that leaves you feeling completely shaken. "ARE WE READY?" I then screamed, lifting my chin.

The trees shook as the pack raged back. "Yes!"

Fear still pulled at me, but I grinned. "All right. Due to the approaching eclipse. And when it begins... The shadow scuttling across the moon caught my attention. "They will pursue us."

Lila stepped next to me, passion blazing in her eyes. "You have them ready, Brenda," she remarked softly. But are you prepared?

I gave her a look. "I'm not sure," I said. "But I will fight until the day I die."

She gave a small smile. "That is all they require."

I tightened my hold on the Moonstone. Like the beat of a heart, its light pulsed. "Damian... hold on," I said in a whisper so that no one could hear.

The night was suddenly broken by a howl, long, harsh, and warning. My blood froze.

I said, "They're here," in a firm voice despite my racing heart. "Places!"

In preparation for battle, the wolves moved and formed lines. The sound of distant footsteps shook the ground. Blood and smoke filled the air.

With a brilliant brilliance against the darkness, I held the Moonstone high. "For the pack!" I yelled.

"For the pack!" they replied, their cries trembling the ground.

At the forest's edge, the first shadows moved—tall, dark beings with crimson eyes that glowed.

"They've arrived," I said. I clenched my fingers around the Moonstone.

Then, suddenly, a voice, broken, gentle, and urgent, said quietly in my mind: Brenda, Nobody close to you should be trusted.

I gasped. "Damian?" I returned the whisper.

However, the voice had vanished.

The crunch of footsteps was the only sound in the wilderness. With his muscles taut and his eyes keen, Damian moved like a shadow. Five warriors, devoted wolves who trusted him with their lives, trailed closely after him.

He crouched low, he said, "This way." The wind carried the scent of burning wood. "Their camp is in front."

"We should attack now," said quietly Rex, a teenage fighter and one of the wolves. Catch them off guard.

Damian gave a headshake. "Not just yet. First, we must fire their supplies. They will fall more quickly if they are not armed or fed.

Rex nodded, but his impatient claws twitched.

With distant fires glowing, they slipped through the trees. Voices resounded, loud, deep voices saying unnatural-sounding words.

Damian motioned the others to stop as he froze. He paid attention. The voices increased in volume.

One person said, "We take the girl when the moon is black." The darkness will rise as the moonstone breaks.

Damian's mouth clenched. He thought over my corpse.

"Rex," he said, pointing to a stack of crates close to the fire. That's what they have. Set it on fire.

Rex gave a nod before vanishing like vapour.

Damian remained motionless, observing the enemy's movements. There were twice as many of them as he had anticipated. Perhaps more.

Grimly, he thought, this won't be simple.

A few moments later, Rex came back with glowing eyes. "It is finished. Fire will spread quickly.

"All right," Damian said. "We strike them hard now. Quick. After that, we run.

The wolves gave a nod. They went silently, their hearts racing, until the first flames burst behind the enemy tent. There were shouts. There was anarchy.

"RIGHT NOW!" With a yell, Damian charged into the open space. His teeth were exposed, and his claws flashed. Following, the pack warriors struck like lightning.

The enemy soldiers whirled in disbelief, but Damian was quicker. His anger blazing hot, he cut through one, then another. With each blow, he thought of Brenda. For the group.

He yelled, "Pull back!" as the fire raged higher, consuming guns and tents.

They started to run, but a shadow in the smoke caught their attention. A tall person with crimson eyes stepped forward.

Damian stopped. That face was familiar to him.

"You," he snarled.

The icy, ruthless creature grinned. "Did you truly believe you could prevent me?"

Chains snagged from the fog and wrapped around Damian's arms, pulling him down as he lunged.

"No!" His claws tore at the iron as he struggled and shouted, but it was too powerful.

"She's next," the person whispered, leaning near.

"I'll kill you if you touch her," Damian said.

As the fire burned all around them, the figure only laughed.

And Brenda felt the bond flare with pain far away, in the eclipse's shadow.

“Damian,” she exclaimed, gripping her chest while the Moonstone throbbed ferociously. "No, not right now."

The world went dark as the eclipse engulfed the moon.