Chapter 328: A Turning Point in Desperation

Chapter 328: A Turning Point in Desperation

Cyrus's POV

Midnight had fallen, the full moon hanging ominously above the ritual site in the forest.

I watched through the magical barrier as Alpha Joshua discovered Phoebe's true intentions. His eyes turned blood red with fury, his entire body radiating danger.

"What is the meaning of this, Phoebe?!" he roared.

Phoebe merely glanced at him coldly, continuing to add the final ingredients to the bubbling cauldron. The smoke had changed from gray to purple-black, and she only needed Maeve's blood to complete the ritual.

The moon had reached its zenith, the ritual nearing completion.

Those black tendrils hovered above Maeve, and I felt my heart being torn apart.

She was my mate, the only person I'd ever truly yearned for. She would become my Luna. She was the light in my life, and I was watching her about to be taken away.

"Answer me, Phoebe!" Joshua thundered again, his voice so powerful it made the ground tremble slightly with each word.

Phoebe finally raised her head, her eyes devoid of warmth. "Shut up, you watchdog. Did you really think I would help your pathetic daughter?"

She let out a shrill laugh, the rogues around the clearing howling in response.

"I'm saving the world," Phoebe continued, "That's far more important than your useless daughter."

She turned her back on him, a gesture that finally pushed Joshua over the edge. He released a sky-shattering roar, instantly transforming into an enormous black wolf with eyes glowing.

I'd never seen Joshua so enraged before, and I instinctively took a step back. I expected him to lunge directly at Phoebe, but instead, he turned toward the witches maintaining the shield, which caught me by surprise.

With a swift turn, his razor-sharp claws tore through the throat of one of the witches maintaining the shield. Blood gushed forth as the other witches screamed in horror for their fallen companion.

The entire ritual site descended into chaos.

Phoebe panicked at the witch's death, shouting to the smoke, "Now, dear! Let the Callisto's blood flow!"

With one witch dead, the shield immediately developed cracks, and the remaining witches couldn't maintain their focus due to their panic.

In that moment, I didn't hesitate for a second. I let Dean take complete control of our body, running at unprecedented speed.

I used everything around me to gain height—the edge of the cauldron, fallen tree trunks, anything that could give me leverage.

In my final leap, I pushed off the ground with all my might, placing myself between my beloved and death just as the dark tendrils were about to pierce Maeve's heart.

Maeve's POV

I regained consciousness to find myself being carried away from the battlefield. Opening my eyes, I saw Professor Sebastian rushing me away from the scene.

"Sebastian? What's happening? Where are we going?" My voice was weak but urgent.

"I need to get you away. Keeping you safe is my only mission!" Sebastian's tone was resolute.

"Tell me what's happening! Where is Cyrus?" I demanded, my voice growing firmer.

When Sebastian remained silent, a threatening growl escaped my throat. "Put me down, now!"

Suddenly, I felt energy surging through me, my fingertips sparking with strange light. He sensed the energy wave and quickly released me.

"You must survive," Sebastian said harshly. "The entire pack depends on it."

"I never run from danger," I shot back, staring in surprise at my hands still emitting energy.

"Our powers are back... it's time to find our mate." Katie's voice echoed in my mind. Hearing my wolf again was a relief.

"If you die, that ultimate weapon will be born, and we'll all perish. His sacrifice will have been for nothing." Sebastian accidentally let slip.

My eyes suddenly sharpened. "What sacrifice?"

Is he talking about Cyrus?

He realized his mistake and took a deep breath. "Maeve, let me explain..."

But I was no longer listening, instantly shifting into wolf and racing back toward the battlefield.

The magical shield had completely shattered, and the dark magic that had enveloped the battlefield had dissipated.

In the distance, Juniper and her father were battling a group of rogues.

Joshua had shifted into a massive black wolf, his eyes flashing a terrifying red, nearly mad with rage. He must have seen the note I'd dropped.

Juniper was using her abilities to fend off rogues while her father tore into enemies with his fangs.

I was surprised to see Juniper still able to use her powers under the dark curse, though her face grew paler with each spell she cast.

Sidney was fighting to reach Juniper through the crowd, shouting, "Stop, Juniper! You're killing yourself!" Juniper rushed to provide support, but I could see she was already dangerously weak.

Watching her like this broke my heart.

Most of the witches who had assisted Phoebe were already down, and I was certain Alpha Joshua was responsible.

Everyone was too focused on their own battles to notice me charging onto the battlefield.

My eyes scanned the battlefield, finally locking onto a fallen figure. "Cyrus..."

He lay on the ground, and even from a distance, I could see he was covered in blood.

My heart shattered, and I rushed toward him without hesitation. I reached him at top speed, shifted back to human, and knelt beside him.

Cyrus had a horrifying wound in his abdomen. His face was as white as paper, showing no signs of breathing.

"Goddess, no..." I trembled, only realizing I was crying when I spoke, my voice broken beyond recognition. "Cyrus! No!" I cried out in agony.

I cradled his face in my hands. "Please... you can't leave like this..." I sobbed, completely forgetting the battle around me. "Please come back..." I begged.

I shook his shoulders, trying to wake him, but there was no response.

My trembling fingers reached for his neck, searching for any sign of a pulse.

"Maeve!! You need to leave, it's too dangerous!" My mother shouted.

Her eyes glowed with mysterious light, and an emotional wave spread outward, causing a nearby rogue to fall into confusion.

Shadows rose from the ground around her as if alive, repelling more enemies. She directed these shadows to cover Cyrus and me, providing temporary shelter.

Her powers have returned too...

If I weren't heartbroken, I would probably rejoice at this. But right now, I'm numb, seeing only Cyrus's lifeless body.

The curse must have been lifted... but how?

"Cyrus... please..." I sobbed, holding his hand against my heart. My entire body was shaking, uncontrollable sobs escaping my lips.

"Without you, I can't go on, Cyrus... I never got to tell you how much I love you... you can't leave us like this... I love you..." I whispered through my tears.

"Maeve, we need to get you out of here! Where's Sebastian?" my mother called through the battle sounds.

I couldn't stand up, couldn't leave Cyrus. I lowered my head, letting the shadows envelop us, temporarily shutting out the fighting outside.

I buried my face in Cyrus's chest, allowing myself to completely break down. I held him tightly, pouring out my love and regrets to him.

"Maeve..." a familiar but weak voice called, and a gentle hand rested on my shoulder.

I recognized Juniper's voice, with Sidney surely nearby. Juniper sounded exhausted, and I knew it was because she'd overused her abilities, draining her life force.

"We need to—" Juniper suddenly stopped, gasping, her hand slipping from my shoulder.

"Goddess above... Maeve, you need to see this," Juniper's voice filled with astonishment.

"Maeve, she's right. Look at Cyrus..." Sidney's voice broke through my thoughts.

I jerked my head up, momentarily dizzy, but I clearly saw what they were pointing to.

Cyrus's body was glowing! More precisely... his wound was glowing. Silver moonlight flowed into his wound like tiny streams.

"His wound is healing..." Juniper whispered in amazement.

My mother had joined us, dispersing the shadows that had covered us.

"I don't understand what's happening, but Juniper is right. His wound is healing."

"Goddess bless..." my mother said softly.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake, rumbling like an earthquake, and the fighting gradually subsided.

I noticed my mother looking toward the horizon, a slight smile forming on her lips. I followed her gaze.

A pack of werewolves was approaching from the horizon, moonlight illuminating their path forward like a guiding beacon. Dozens of powerful figures rapidly closing in.

"Those are..." Sidney began to ask.

"Callisto werewolves..." I answered for him.

Just as the lead Callisto werewolf threw back its head in a long howl, prompting the others to join in response, Cyrus's eyes suddenly flew open.