Chapter 50 050
LYKA
“I am going to fight,” I said, and that was the only resolution I gave to Amanda’s question before I dashed out of the room, my heart pounding violently against my ribs as if it were trying to escape my chest. My words sounded firm, decisive, but inside me everything was still tangled and uncertain. But the real question clawing at my mind was one I refused to answer aloud. Was I going to fight Derrick? Or was I going to fight by his side? The distinction mattered more than I wanted to admit.
“Are you going to fight by his side or fight him?” I heard Amanda shout from behind me, her voice echoing through the hallway as she hurried after me. My steps slowed for a split second before I turned, my gaze darkening with determination and something dangerously close to fury.
“Fight by his side now,” I replied sharply, my voice steady despite the storm in my chest, “and fight him later.” With that, I rushed out of the hallway, my blood already heating with the anticipation of battle. Amanda caught up to me, and without another word, we both shifted in perfect sync, our bones cracking and reforming as fur replaced skin and instinct replaced doubt.
We reached the battleground in a matter of seconds, the scent of blood thick in the air and the sound of growls, snarls, and pained cries filling the night. Chaos had swallowed the once peaceful grounds. I caught sight of Derrick almost immediately.
His massive form stood dominant in the center of the fight, power radiating from him like a living storm. For a fleeting moment, his gaze met mine, and I saw awe flicker in his eyes, but I tore my attention away from him just as quickly. I did not come here to admire him. I launched myself at the nearest rogue, my claws slicing through flesh with brutal precision as I tore him apart without hesitation. I released all my pent-up anger, all the confusion, all the betrayal and hurt I had been carrying, and poured it into every attack.
Elysia roared in exhilaration inside me, thrilled to finally stretch her limbs in battle after being suppressed for so long. She moved with lethal grace, her strength surging through me as we fought like we had been born for this very moment.
But then I felt it....a presence so powerful that it momentarily overshadowed everything else. A giant black wolf darted past me with terrifying speed, his dark fur gleaming under the pale moonlight like polished obsidian. He was the largest wolf I had ever seen, towering, muscular, and impossibly fast. His movements were fluid yet ferocious, calculated yet wild. ‘That wolf is so handsome!’ Elysia purred shamelessly, her tone filled with admiration. I almost rolled my eyes internally, but even I couldn’t deny the raw power he exuded.
I watched in stunned amazement as he tore through the rogues attacking him, devouring them with merciless precision. There was no hesitation in his strikes, no mercy in his claws. That was when I truly understood why Derrick was called the Demon Alpha. It wasn’t just a title meant to intimidate. It was a truth forged on battlefields like this one. His movements were unpredictable, impossible to calculate, and there was no opening to exploit. He was destruction personified.
The fight raged on for what felt like hours, though it was likely far less. Gradually, I noticed the rogues’ numbers dwindling. Their howls of confidence turned into desperate yelps of fear. Those who were still alive began to retreat, fleeing into the forest to save their miserable lives.
Retreating was easy when you were trying to protect something precious....your own survival.
Derrick’s pack erupted in triumphant growls as victory became clear, some of them chasing after the fleeing rogues to ensure they would not return anytime soon. I finally allowed myself to turn around fully, my chest heaving with exertion, only to see Derrick shifting back into his human form.
His body was scarred and glistening with sweat under the moonlight, powerful and intimidating even without his wolf. It took every ounce of willpower I had to restrain Elysia from running toward him and mounting him right there in the open.
“Simp it down, girl,” I mentally scolded her, my cheeks heating despite the exhaustion weighing me down.
I shifted back into my human form as well, my legs trembling slightly as the adrenaline began to fade. I slumped onto the ground, completely drained. I had not used this much energy in a long time, and the toll it took on me was immediate. My breathing was uneven, my limbs heavy.
“Are you feeling weak?” I heard Derrick ask, his voice closer than I expected. Before I could protest, he draped a cloak over my shoulders, shielding my nakedness from prying eyes. The gesture caught me off guard, and for a moment I simply stared at the fabric around me. I forced myself to stand, refusing to look vulnerable in front of him. ‘Don’t be so harsh on him. I am sure he meant well,’ Elysia murmured softly, her earlier excitement replaced with exhaustion.
“You shouldn’t worry about me,” I replied coldly, avoiding his gaze. “Your pack members are hurt. I am sure they need tending to more than I do.” I had barely taken a step when my eyes landed on Amanda lying helplessly on the ground. Panic surged through me instantly.
“What’s wrong with her?” I whispered in horror as I rushed to her side, my heart pounding painfully. To my surprise, Scott....Derrick’s Beta....was already kneeling beside her, his hands hovering protectively over her as he assessed her condition.
The closeness between them did not go unnoticed by me, and suspicion flickered through my mind. Why did they look so… comfortable together? Was I imagining things? Before I could dwell on it, Aiden approached me and suddenly placed his hand against my forehead.
“Are you okay? You’re not catching a cold, are you?” he asked with concern. I noticed the strange looks from those around us and was about to caution him when a low, possessive growl sounded from behind me. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Oh, he was angry? Good. Let him be. He should prepare to be more jealous because I was not about to make this easy for him.
“I’m fine,” I answered Aiden, deliberately keeping my focus on Amanda and Scott.
“Why did you join the fight? I thought you were looking for a chance to tear this place apart.” My tone carried curiosity but also challenge. Aiden sighed softly.
“Because you were in there,” he admitted. “Even though I wanted to destroy this place once, I can’t deny it has become our home. And you were living here too. I can’t destroy your home, Lyka. I can only protect it.” A small, involuntary smile crept onto my lips at his words. While we spoke, I could feel Derrick’s intense gaze boring into my back, even as he barked orders to his men. When I was certain that none of my pack members were critically hurt, I decided to leave.
I walked down the hallway toward my room, the space eerily empty now that most of the pack remained outside.
A shiver ran down my spine as I sensed a presence behind me. I knew who it was without turning. Still, I refused to acknowledge him and continued forward.
I had just grasped the doorknob when his voice stopped me.
“Why did you help me?” he asked quietly from behind. The question caught me off guard, freezing me in place. Why did I help him? I didn’t fully understand it myself. Yes, he could have handled the attack.
Yes, I still harbored anger toward him. But the thought of his pack being destroyed did not sit well with me. I slowly turned to face him.
“I think you’re asking the wrong question,” I replied, meeting his eyes even in the dim hallway.
“You should be asking why I didn’t kill you.” Even in the shadows, I could see his handsome features clearly, and my traitorous stomach fluttered in response. I hated how he still affected me.
“I know you hate me right now,” he said softly, stepping closer as he wrapped a muffler around my neck with surprising gentleness.
“But when the time comes, I will tell you everything. Until then… please bear with me. And don’t think about stabbing a dagger into my heart.” His voice was almost vulnerable, almost pleading.
“I heard from your chatty friend that you catch a cold easily after shifting,” he added lightly.
The warmth of the muffler seeped into my skin, and despite myself, it thawed a small, frozen part of my heart. I watched him retreat down the hallway, his broad shoulders disappearing into the darkness.
“That cold man,” I muttered under my breath, though my voice lacked its earlier bite. He said he would tell me when the time was right. But what did that even mean? How long was I supposed to wait? I remained standing there long after he had gone, the fabric around my neck still carrying his warmth. Could there ever truly be understanding between us? Or were we destined to remain caught between war and desire, suspicion and longing, forever walking a line neither of us dared to cross?