Chapter 95 — Under the Same Moon
I was halfway to the stairs when it happened. I felt it before I saw it–a sudden shift in the air, heavy and sharp, like the night itself had drawn in a breath. My heart lurched painfully in my chest.
Then they came. Two massive wolves burst into view, their bodies moving too fast, too wild. Their eyes glowed with a feral hunger that froze me where I stood. Their lips were pulled back, teeth slick with blood, growls tearing out of their throats as they lunged straight for me.
I screamed. Before I could even think of running, a dark blur slammed into them. Edward.
He moved like pure instinct, like power given flesh. His wolf crashed into the first rogue with brutal force, knocking it off balance. The second wolf barely had time to react before Edward turned on it, claws ripping, jaws snapping with deadly precision.
The sounds were horrifying. Bone cracking. Flesh tearing. Snarls so deep they seemed to shake the walls.
I stumbled backward, my legs finally remembering how to move. I ran blindly, tears already streaming down my face, until I reached the far corner of the room. I dropped behind a heavy table, curling in on myself, my hands shaking so badly I could barely hold them together.
I was terrified. All I could do was pray to the Moon Goddess.
Moon Goddess, I begged silently, my lips trembling. Please. Please keep him safe. Don’t let anything happen to him. Keep Edward safe, Please.
My chest ached with fear and helplessness. I could hear Edward fighting–every growl, every impact–and each sound felt like it was tearing something out of me.
Then footsteps thundered behind me.
Ma’am Albright, the guard, and Vivian rushed downstairs, that was when I remembered Vivian’s panic attack. But it looked like she was better now.
The moment the guard saw what was happening, he didn’t hesitate. His body shifted mid-stride, clothes tearing as fur erupted over skin. In seconds, he joined Edward, throwing himself into the fight with a fierce snarl.
Ma’am Albright’s eyes scanned the room frantically until they landed on me.
“Elara!” she shouted.
She ran to me, grabbing my arm firmly. “We need to get you back to the safe room. Now.”
She pulled me up, shielding me with her body as best as she could. My legs felt weak, like they might give out at any moment, but I forced myself to move.
That was when everything got worse.
The moment we stepped out from our hiding place, more rogue wolves noticed us.
Their heads snapped toward us. And then they came.
One after another, rogue wolves began crashing through windows, breaking glass, splintering wood, their bodies slamming into the mansion with terrifying force. Their focus shifted instantly.
Toward us, me and Ma’am Albright.
A wave of panic ripped through the room.
The staff–every wolf who worked under the Thorne name–moved as one. They surged forward, forming a living wall between us and the rogues. Growls filled the air, deep and thunderous, as they threw themselves into the fight without hesitation.
Edward saw us. Something inside him snapped.
His wolf became more vicious, more relentless. He fought like a storm unleashed, tearing through the rogues with savage fury. He ripped one down, then another, blood spraying across the stone floor as he moved with terrifying speed.
Titan fought beside him, just as fierce, just as deadly. Together, they were unstoppable–two forces bound by loyalty and purpose.
Edward didn’t hold back. He couldn’t. He knew what was at stake.
I could feel it even without words–his need to protect. Me. Ma’am Albright. Even Vivian.
He fought harder than I had ever seen, every movement driven by rage and fear and love twisted tightly together.
Ma’am Albright dragged me toward a corner, pressing my head against her shoulder as we crouched low.
“Stay here,” she whispered urgently. “Don’t move.”
I nodded, sobbing quietly as I clung to her.
The mansion had turned into a war zone.
Blood stained the floors. Broken furniture lay scattered everywhere. The air was thick with the metallic scent of injury and death. Wolves clashed everywhere I looked, their snarls echoing off the walls, drowning out everything else.
I covered my ears, but it didn’t help.
I could hear everything.
The pain, the anger and fear.
My senses were screaming, overwhelmed by the chaos. My skin burned. My heart felt like it was going to tear itself apart.
And through it all, Edward fought.
Again and again, he threw himself between the rogues and us. He took hits meant for others. He tore enemies down with a fury that made even the rogue wolves hesitate.
He was bleeding. I could see it. And it terrified me.
“Please,” I whispered again, tears blurring my vision. “Please be okay.”
Nearby, Vivian stood alone in a corner.
She wasn’t crying. She wasn’t fighting nor screaming. She was just watching.
Her face was pale, unreadable, her eyes fixed on the fight unfolding before her. She looked almost… calm. Too calm like she wasn’t in any form of danger.
The rogues were slowly being pushed back, outnumbered and overpowered.
The fight wasn’t over yet. But it seems it will come to an end soon.
I stayed pressed against Ma’am Albright, my body trembling, my heart aching with fear and love and confusion all at once.
And I had no idea what would be left when the fighting finally stopped.