Chapter 128: They Came At Dawn
Chapter 128: They Came At Dawn
Scarlett’s POV
At dawn, they came.
The attack wasn’t subtle; the screams and the clash of steel against steel echoed through Redcape, shaking the earth beneath us. I had felt it before I even opened my eyes—a dark, foreboding presence that made my skin crawl.
As I sat up, my heart pounded in my chest, knowing the inevitable had arrived. Fear gripped me, cold and unrelenting. Were we ready? I didn’t know, and I wasn’t sure it mattered anymore.
Lucian, Clay, and Maxwell were already moving, their movements quick and deliberate as they readied themselves for battle. Their focus was sharp, but the tension in the air was palpable.
“For all we know, David has no idea Scarlett has a wolf or magic,” Lucian said, his tone firm as he strapped on his gear. “Let’s keep it that way. It’ll be our element of surprise.”
He turned to me, his eyes glowing with both determination and worry. “Guns and bullets for now. We need to blindside them—just like you did with Garland. That’s the only way. And, Scarlett,” he stepped closer, gripping my arm, “you cannot let that dark magic touch yours. We’ve heard Elsa and Alison. If you fall, everything is lost. Stick to the plan. Promise me.”
I nodded, my voice steady despite the fear swirling inside me. “I promise.”
I got up and quickly donned my vest and helmet. They weren’t much, but they’d protect me from stray bullets or a sniper’s precision. As we stepped outside, the chaos struck me like a physical blow.
Fire raged in every direction, consuming homes and spreading rapidly through Redcape. The once-vibrant settlement was now a battleground littered with bodies, and the dark aura of malevolent magic thickened the air, making it hard to breathe. My heart sank as I saw pack members and warriors fighting desperately to hold the lines.
In the distance, I spotted Elder Timothy and Tasha, both gearing up to fight alongside the defenders. It was a rare moment of usefulness from them, but I knew better than to let my guard down.
“This is why a useless Luna was a bad choice!” Tasha spat venomously as she passed me. “Do you think you can win this with just a gun, Vladislav?”
I didn’t respond, refusing to let her words bother me. Her hateful rants served a purpose—they painted me as weaker than I was, something that could work in our favor. Let them think I was just another wolf with a gun. Let them underestimate me.
Keith stood nearby with Emerald, both ready for battle. Emerald was partially shifted, her wolf eyes glowing with fierce determination. I linked Keith through our mind connection.
“Take Emerald and lead her to cover,” I urged him. “She’s your second chance, Keith. Don’t let her fall.”
There was a pause before he responded, and his voice was heavy with emotion. “She’s resolute, Scarlett, but I’ll keep her safe. I promise.”
Garland and his men were already stationed at the frontline, his alphas standing strong at his side. As I scanned the enemy forces, my stomach twisted. They were well-organized and numerous—far more than I’d anticipated.
Warriors from all regions stood with them, their armor gleaming and their faces set with grim determination. How long had David been gathering these forces? The realization hit me like a blow.
This plan had been in motion long before my father’s death. David had been orchestrating this all along.
The fighting came to a sudden halt, an eerie stillness descending over the battlefield. Enemy warriors parted in disciplined lines, clearing a path. I knew what it meant—their leaders were approaching.
My body tensed, and I reached out with my magic, ensuring I was ready to act at a moment’s notice.
Despite the destruction, I took some solace in knowing we had evacuated most of Redcape’s civilians in time.
The casualties would’ve been far higher otherwise. Martha had been my driving force behind the evacuation. Ensuring her safety had motivated me to prioritize the lives of the innocent.
Thanks to that, many had been taken to Tealberg, away from the chaos.
I steadied myself as shadows emerged from the enemy ranks. My heart raced as I prepared to face them. This was it—the confrontation we’d been dreading. Whatever happened next, there was no turning back.
David and a young man approached from the enemy ranks, their figures cutting through the chaos with an unsettling calm. My breath caught as I looked at the young man for the first time—my half-brother.
He bore the unmistakable features of a Vladislav, the sharp jawline and proud posture, but there was something deeply wrong about him.
His eyes, dark and lifeless orbs, revealed the twisted soul within. He wasn’t just a young man. He was an abomination, something fate should never have allowed to exist. A grim reminder that Valkins and seers should never have been bound together. Why had fate made such a colossal mistake by tying my father to her?
I waited, expecting a vision to overwhelm me as it had when we fought Garland, but nothing came. My mind remained blank, leaving me alone to face the weight of the moment.
“Scarlett!” David called out, his sneer cutting through the tension like a blade. “Lovely attire you have on. It seems they’ve finally found a good use for your uselessness.”
I didn’t rise to his taunt, refusing to let him see the effect his words might have. I stayed silent, but my fists clenched at my sides.
“What is the meaning of this, David?” Lucian demanded, his voice sharp and commanding. “You were supposed to be under our command. We had a deal.”
David scoffed, his expression dripping with disdain. “I only serve the true Vladislav heir. Scarlett was always a pest, a hindrance to young Nikolay’s rightful place. Her mother murdered his in cold blood, stealing his birthright. And now you expect him to sit by while she takes everything? To leave him with nothing? That’s not justice.”
I could feel the venom in his words, and I understood now how he had spun this story to Nikolay. No wonder my brother hated me.
“Then you should have stayed in the South,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “No one would have come for it. The East, West, and North have nothing to do with what my mother or father did. You’ve already won the South. Why not rule it? What’s your qualm with the rest of the regions? What did they ever do to you?”
David smirked, a glint of malice in his eyes. “Nikolay wants the world to be a better place,” he said, his tone almost mocking. “They all sat and watched the injustice your father caused, doing nothing about it!”
“Injustice?” I interrupted, my voice rising with anger. “My father brought peace to the regions. If he hadn’t stepped in, the entire seer clan of the South would have disappeared under the reign of horror that McCain and Grisham inflicted. You were his beta—you know this to be true. This isn’t about justice, David. This is about your greed. Why settle for the South when you can try to take it all, especially now that you have a magic-wielding puppet to manipulate for your cause?”
David’s smirk faltered slightly, but the young Nikolay didn’t take the words lightly. He growled, the sound low and guttural, his dark eyes locking onto me with a burning rage. His fists clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might lunge at me.
“You’re just using him,” I continued, my voice steady as I met Nikolay’s furious gaze. “He’s nothing more than a tool for you, isn’t he? A means to an end.”
Nikolay snarled, his body vibrating with barely contained fury. His hatred was palpable, and I could feel the dark magic within him churning, feeding off his anger.
This was the monster David had created, and now, it stood before me, ready to destroy everything I loved.