Chapter 179

Freya's POV

The sight of four wolves bounding out of the darkness should have been pure relief. Caleb's massive form crashed into the nearest hunter while Zoe, Evander, and Theodore spread out, their coordinated attack breaking Edmund's perfect formation.

"Thank God," I gasped, feeling Alexander's relief flood through our mate bond as we pressed back-to-back in the center of the chaos.

For a moment—just a moment—I thought we might actually make it out of this alive.

That's when I saw them.

Three figures emerged from behind Edmund's position, moving with predatory grace through the smoke and confusion. My blood turned to ice as the center figure reached up and pulled off a tactical mask, revealing a face I'd hoped never to see.

"Well, well," Angela said, her voice carrying clearly over the gunfire. "You two look absolutely pathetic."

"Angela?" The name tore from my throat like a curse. "What the hell are you doing here?"

She smiled that cold, perfect smile. Behind her, Leonardo and another male flanked her position, both armed to the teeth. All three wore the same tactical gear as Edmund's hunters.

"Surprised to see me?" Angela's voice dripped with mock sweetness. "You shouldn't be. After all, this whole little hunting party was my idea."

Alexander's fury exploded through our bond, so violent I staggered. "You fucking traitor!" he snarled, blood still streaming from his silver wound. "You set this up!"

"Oh, Alexander," Angela sighed dramatically. "Always so slow to catch on. Did you really think Edmund just happened to know exactly where you'd be? That he just randomly knew about Freya's precious Faith bloodline?"

'She's been planning this. All of it.'

"Every step you've taken since leaving Moon Shadow Pack has been exactly where I wanted you to go," Angela continued, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "The route you chose, the timing, even your little moongrass expedition. I've been watching. Waiting."

"Why?" I demanded, my Faith bloodline power crackling under my skin. "What could you possibly gain from this?"

Angela's mask of civility finally dropped, revealing the twisted hatred beneath. "Everything you stole from me! Alexander was supposed to be mine! For twenty years, I've waited for him!"

"Alexander was never yours!" I shot back, silver energy spiraling around my claws. "Love isn't something you can scheme your way into!"

"Love?" Angela laughed, the sound sharp and broken. "You think this is about love? This is about justice! You're nothing but a cast-out failure who got lucky one night!"

Alexander stepped forward, partially shielding me despite his injuries. "Angela, you're fucking insane if you think—"

"Shut up!" she screamed, her composure completely shattered. "You have no idea what I've sacrificed for you! What I've done!"

The fighting around us intensified as Caleb and the others engaged Edmund's hunters, but Angela seemed oblivious to everything except her toxic obsession.

"And your little bastard pup," she continued, her voice turning venomous. "Is he still dying? How tragic. Maybe the Moon Goddess is finally punishing you for—"

I moved before conscious thought could stop me. Silver energy exploded around me as I lunged at her, my claws aimed at her throat. "Don't you dare speak about my son!"

Angela shifted mid-leap, meeting my attack with her own wolf form. We crashed together in a snarling mass of fur and fury, rolling across the blood-stained snow.

'She's strong,' I realized with growing alarm. 'Stronger than I expected.'

"Freya!" Alexander's roar of warning came just as Angela's claws raked across my ribs, silver-tipped and burning like acid.

Around us, the battle had dissolved into complete chaos. Edmund's hunters were trying to maintain formation against our rescue party, but Angela's sudden attack had thrown everyone off balance. Silver bullets whined through the air from all directions.

"Leonardo! Kevin!" Angela barked orders even as we fought. "Take out the Alpha! Focus fire!"

'She's trying to separate us,' I realized through the pain.

Alexander was holding his own despite his injuries, but I could feel his strength draining through our bond.

A fresh volley of gunfire erupted from our left flank. Edmund's voice cut through the noise: "All units, converge on this position! I repeat, all units!"

'No. More hunters coming.'

"How many?" Evander shouted as he ducked behind a fallen log.

"Too fucking many!" Zoe replied, her rifle spitting return fire.

Angela used my moment of distraction to slam me against a tree trunk, her jaws snapping inches from my throat. "You should have stayed in exile," she snarled. "Should have let your bastard pup die quietly instead of dragging Alexander into this!"

Rage unlike anything I'd ever felt consumed me. My Faith bloodline responded, silver light exploding outward in a wave that sent Angela skidding backward through the snow.

But even as we prepared for another clash, the sound that changed everything echoed across the valley.

"Helicopters," Caleb breathed, and for the first time since this nightmare began, he was smiling.

Three black aircraft appeared over the treeline, their spotlights cutting through the darkness like swords. I could barely make out figures rappelling down ropes, but the coordination and speed told me everything I needed to know.

Training camp elites. The real cavalry.

"What the hell?" Edmund's confident facade finally cracked.

Tyler's voice boomed through a megaphone: "Moon Shadow Pack, hold your positions! We're coming down!"

Angela's face went pale. "That's impossible."

"Wrong again, bitch," I said, watching her perfect plan crumble around her.

The elite fighters hit the ground running, their tactical formation immediately turning the tide. These weren't regular pack warriors—these were the best of the best, trained for exactly this kind of scenario.

Stella led the charge, her team moving like a machine as they carved through Edmund's hunters. Behind her, I spotted familiar faces: Molly, Nathan, Chris, all of them fighting with lethal precision.

"Freya!" Molly called out as she reached my position. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," I lied, though blood was streaming from Angela's claw marks. "Help Alexander—he's been hit with silver!"

Edmund's hunters were falling back now, their careful ambush turned into a rout. The man himself was already retreating, barking orders through his radio.

"All units, tactical withdrawal! Execute escape protocol seven!"

"This isn't over!" Angela screamed at me. "Even if you escape, you'll never be truly happy! The Faith bloodline is cursed!"

She turned to flee, but Tyler and Stella were ready. They'd been watching her since the moment they landed, recognizing the real threat.

Stella's tackle sent Angela sprawling face-first into the snow. Tyler was on her an instant later, silver restraints clicking into place around her wrists.

"Angela Baker," Tyler announced formally, "you're under arrest for treason against the Moon Shadow Pack."

"No!" Angela thrashed against the restraints, her composure completely gone. "Alexander! Tell them this is a mistake! Tell them you need me!"

Alexander looked down at her with nothing but disgust. "The only mistake was ever trusting you."

The fighting was winding down now, Edmund's remaining hunters disappearing into the forest. Our people were regrouping, tending to wounds and securing the area.

I should have felt victorious. We'd survived, Angela was captured, and we had the moongrass Luke needed.

Instead, I felt Alexander's strength giving out through our bond.

"Alexander?" I spun around just as he collapsed, his face gray with blood loss and silver poisoning.

"Shit!" Caleb was beside him in seconds, checking his pulse.

As they carried Alexander toward the helicopter, I clutched the moongrass container to my chest and tried not to think about how this victory felt an awful lot like defeat.