Chapter 160 Kaden's POV
We were finishing breakfast when the alarm blared. Loud, urgent the sound that meant imminent attack.
I was on my feet immediately. "Stay here lock the door don't open it for anyone except Kira or Marcus."
I ran downstairs, grabbing weapons as I went. Found Marcus already organizing the warriors.
"Report!"
"Eastern and western borders breached simultaneously. Estimated five hundred attackers maybe more led by Xavier himself."
"He is here? On our territory?"
"Yes. And Alpha, half of them are branded. Erebus followers fully converted. They're not holding back not taking prisoners this is an extermination attempt."
"Defensive positions! Protect the pack house at all costs! Evacuate non-combatants to the underground shelters!"
Warriors scrambled to obey.
Kira came running down the stairs. "Where's Elara?”
"In our quarters with Adrian. I need you to protect them. No matter what happens out here, you keep them safe."
"I will. I swear it." She ran back upstairs.
I headed outside where the sounds of battle were already deafening.
Bodies everywhere. Blue Moon Pack warriors fighting desperately against overwhelming numbers.
And there, in the center of the chaos, was Xavier. Cutting through my warriors like they were nothing.
Our eyes met across the battlefield.
He smiled. "Kaden! Finally! Let's end this!"
I charged toward him, Marcus at my side.
Xavier met us with brutal efficiency he moved faster than should be possible. Hit harder his eyes glowed with dark magic.
"You can't win!" he shouted over the sounds of battle. "Erebus has already won! Your pack is falling! Your people are dying! And soon, your son will be ours!"
"Never!"
We clashed claws against claws teeth bared. Two Alphas fighting for dominance.
Marcus tried to help but Xavier struck him so hard he flew twenty feet and didn't get up.
I was alone against an opponent enhanced by dark magic. He slashed my chest deep cuts that burned with unnatural fire.
Broke three of my ribs with a single punch tore through my shoulder with his claws. I was losing. Badly the dark magic made him nearly invincible.
But I couldn't give up couldn't let him reach Elara and Adrian.
I fought through the pain through the injuries. Through the knowledge that I might die here.
And I managed to land a solid hit drove my claws deep into Xavier's side.
He staggered back, bleeding heavily. "This isn't over, Kaden. Not even close."
Then he signaled his forces. They began to retreat, dragging their wounded with them.
"Fall back!" Xavier ordered his troops. "We return when reinforcements arrive!"
They disappeared into the forest, leaving destruction in their wake.
I collapsed to my knees, the adrenaline fading, the pain overwhelming.
Marcus limped over to me. "Alpha. Preliminary count we lost approximately two hundred pack members buildings destroyed. The pack house is severely damaged."
Two hundred out of a pack of eight hundred a quarter of my people gone. And Xavier was still alive. Still out there still planning his next attack.
"Get the wounded to medical," I managed to say. "Fortify what's left of our defenses this war isn't over."
The pack house doors burst open. Elara ran out, Adrian in her arms, Kira right behind her.
"Kaden!" She saw me covered in blood saw the devastation around me. "Oh God."
She came to me knelt beside me let me lean against her. Then something changed. I felt it through the bond a shift in Elara's consciousness.
She gasped her eyes went wide. "I remember. Oh God, I remember everything."
"What?"
"My memories. They're back. All of them." She pulled away slightly, her expression transforming.
My heart sank. "Elara-"
"You destroyed me, Kaden shattered me completely."
Tears streamed down her face. "And now it's all back every moment of that pain."
Around us, the pack was in ruins.
Xavier was still alive, regrouping for another attack.
And the woman I loved had just remembered every terrible thing I'd done to her victory had never felt so much like defeat.