Chapter 150: Rise up

Christopher

She looked wounded, small, holding her arm, but determined. She bravely stepped forward, defying everyone. My heart leaped with joy and worry at the same time.

"My name is Olivia. I am human and Christopher's true mate." Her voice was strong and clear. "I know many of you believe my words mean nothing, but I was there when Caterina died. She was a manipulative woman who made a deal with the human hunters. They are here because of her, and they have committed atrocities - as have the wolves." Joaquin growled, seemingly about to give the order to attack, but Alpha Samuel stepped beside him in warning.  Even more striking, the pack members were silent as they listened to her. My mate was so brave that she had left them all speechless.

"She was a despicable woman, an abuser and cruel, but she didn't deserve to die like that. I saw him strangle her with his own hands until the life drained from her eyes."

"Shut up, stupid human! Who's going to believe you? You're nothing but an unwanted outsider here!" Joaquin shouted and tried to approach her. But several Alphas and allied warriors stepped in and surrounded her, making it clear that they would not allow him to attack her. Cassandra looked at me hopefully.

"I tell you what I saw. And Christopher... yes, he has made mistakes, but he loves this pack with all his being. So much so that he even left me, his own mate, because he thought it was best for you. He knew exactly what would happen if someone as cruel as Joaquin took over this place, and look what happened - death and suffering, all because of his great ambition."

"Don't listen to her! She's just a human bitch who doesn't know what she's talking about! He deceived her, and now he wants to deceive all you. Humans only want our downfall!" Joaquin roared. But I saw the worry in his eyes as Olivia spoke. He looked at me, realizing that the truth was spreading through the crowd.

"Christopher gave everything for this pack, for his family, and for you. And look at what he has received in return - betrayal and suffering. Yet he is still here, willing to give his life for this pack repeatedly." Olivia's voice carried such eloquence and sincerity that I knew she had won the hearts of many. Murmurs began to spread. Some scorned her words, but others seemed moved.

"She's just a human..." 

"But... what if she's telling the truth?" Then Alpha Samuel stepped forward. "The sickness was created by Joaquin's orders. He has threatened other packs with it, demanding their surrender. He destroyed his own home. Our pack was threatened, and here we are—not only defending what is ours but also defending you." This was all part of his plan. People were in shock, and I heard murmurs of surprise.

"No... it can be..."

"That's outrageous!"

"Lies!" Joaquin roared angrily.

"No, they are not," said an unexpected voice. Orlando, the chief warrior, stepped forward. "I was his right hand; I believed in him. But I can no longer follow him. He is destroying our pack, our family. He has allied himself with human hunters - our enemies!" The members of the pack looked around; some must have already sensed the hunters nearby. Then a young hunter who tried to help me, took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"I am a hunter," he confessed. "And it was my people who created the sickness." Gasps of shock filled the air. I had told him to run, and he hadn't. Now he looked at Cassandra with gratitude. "What my people have done is outrageous. They forced us to attack innocents. They even abused women, I am not proud of this, and it must stop. There are bad wolves, but there are also good wolves. And humans have suffered in the middle. But someone told me that there must be hope and that things can change" 

The roar of the crowd was immediate. No one had seen it coming. The hunters drew their weapons. Joaquín's loyal wolves prepared to fight.

"Traitors!"

"Attack the hunters!"

"Protect our pack!"

"Kill the alpha!" pack members yelled, and the battle erupted.

Adrenaline surged through my body like an uncontrollable fire. My muscles tensed with new energy, rage boiling inside me. With a savage growl, I lunged forward, straining against my bonds until the rope snapped with a sharp crack. The moment my feet hit the ground, I spun quickly to avoid a blow aimed directly at my head. My fist slammed into the enemy warrior's face with such force that I felt his nose shatter beneath my knuckles. He collapsed instantly, groaning in pain.

Another wolf lunged at me, dagger in hand. I saw him coming and caught his arm in the air before he could drive the blade into my flesh. With a sharp crack, I twisted his wrist until he dropped the weapon. I delivered a powerful kick to his stomach, sending him stumbling backwards before my claws tore through his throat. He collapsed without another sound.

Alpha Samuel advanced with his men, cutting through the enemy ranks like a storm of death. His claws tore through flesh and his fangs sank into the bodies of Joaquin's warriors. A wolf tried to charge him from behind, but Samuel spun with deadly speed, sinking his claws into the wolf's chest and tossing him aside like a mere obstacle. Blood splattered the ground around him as he continued his ferocious charge.

The roar of the battle was deafening. The growls of the wolves mingled with cries of pain and rage. Some wolves had been hesitant, now watched the battle with uncertainty. I saw their tense faces, their palpable fear. But when they saw me fighting with everything I had, when they saw that I was willing to die for them, something shifted. Slowly they began to join the fight. First one, then another, and suddenly the whole pack rose against Joaquín and his followers.

Joaquin's warriors, though trained and ruthless, began to lose ground. Orlando's words had planted doubt in their hearts. Some dropped their weapons and surrendered immediately, while others refused to accept defeat and fought to the bitter end. One tried to strike Olivia, but I saw his intent and roared in anger.

"Olivia!" but before he could reach her, Orlando intercepted him, knocking him to the ground and sinking his fangs into his neck.

Then the human hunters sprang into action. The flash of their weapons was the only warning before the bullets began to fly. Barely dodging a shot, I threw myself to the ground before rolling and pouncing on an unsuspecting hunter. I tackled him with brutal force, ripping open his chest with my claws in a single motion. He fell lifeless, but the gunfire continued.

As time passed, the hunters realized the battle was lost. I could see the fear in their eyes as their numbers quickly dwindled. They retreated, fleeing into the trees like rats. Joaquin's resistance also crumbled. His warriors, outnumbered and morally defeated, fell one by one. I stood, covered in blood and panting, and surveyed the battlefield. My eyes fell on my brother... I had to finish him.