Chapter 102 Chapter 102

Chapter 102 Chapter 102
I exchanged a glance with my brother, feeling our connection strengthen with each passing moment. "With both of us channelling the goddess's power, yes. Diamond believes it is."

"As does Apollo," Lucious added, his hand unconsciously moving to touch the sunburst pattern on his chest. "He says this is what we were born to do, to bring balance, to restore the true connection between wolves and the goddess."

Alpha Maxwell looked between us, his expression grave. "This is unprecedented. And dangerous. If it fails..."

"It won't," I interrupted with a certainty that surprised even me. "The goddess has been preparing us for this moment. Everything that's happened, my awakening, finding Lucious, breaking the Northern Alliance's hold over him, it's all been leading to this."

My mates exchanged glances, their concern flowing through our bond. I could feel their protective instincts warring with their trust in my judgment.

"What do you need from us?" Fin asked finally, accepting that I wouldn't be swayed.

"Form a protective circle," I instructed, the plan taking shape in my mind as Diamond guided me. "Not to keep them out, but to ensure they all come within range of our cleansing."

"And what about you two?" Liam asked, his scholarly mind already calculating the energy expenditure such a massive cleansing would require. "The strain could be enormous."

"It will be," I admitted, not wanting to lie to my mates. "But we'll have each other. Our connection to the Goddess is now at its strongest now that Lucious has shifted into his true wolf form. Besides , if we don’t face them now, they’ll come for us again, but I’m sensing that while I’m in heat, my mates won’t be able to protect me from them in the way they would have otherwise.”

Kane's eyes widened at my words. "You're sensing your heat approaching? Now, of all times?"

I nodded, feeling the first subtle signs of the hormonal changes in my body. Diamond had been trying to tell me for hours, but with everything happening with Lucious, I'd pushed the awareness aside.

"It's still a couple of days away, but yes. My first true heat since Diamond fully awakened." I turned to the Priestess. "That's another reason why we need to end this now. Once my heat begins, I'll be vulnerable, and my mates will be focused on protecting me rather than fighting."

"A heat would complicate matters significantly," the Priestess agreed. "The Northern Alliance would see it as an opportunity to strike when you're weakened."

Lucious looked uncomfortable at the mention of my upcoming heat, but his resolve didn't waver. "Then we face them now, at our strongest."

Alpha Maxwell sighed heavily, but nodded. "Very well. I'll position our warriors as you've requested, not to attack, but to ensure the Northern Alliance forces remain contained within your cleansing range."

"Thank you," I said, gratitude flowing through me.

My mates moved closer, their protective instincts clearly at war with their respect for my decision. Fin was the first to speak, his analytical mind already working on the logistics.

"If you're going to channel that much power, you'll need anchoring," he said. "All four of us, positioned around you and Lucious."

"Like we did during the cleansing ritual," Liam added, nodding. "But stronger this time."

I felt tears prick my eyes at their immediate support, despite their obvious concerns. "Thank you," I whispered, reaching for Kane's hand. "All of you."

"Don't thank us yet," Brent said grimly. "This is going to be dangerous as hell, and if either of you gets hurt, I'm personally going to be pissed."

That drew a small laugh from me, easing some of the tension. "Noted."

We moved quickly after that, preparing for the confrontation that was rapidly approaching. The Priestess worked with Lucious and me, guiding us through the basics of channelling our combined power effectively. My mates coordinated with Alpha Maxwell's warriors, positioning them strategically around the clearing where we would meet the Northern Alliance forces.

As we made our final preparations, I found a moment alone with my brother. He stood by the window, gazing out at the moonlit forest where our enemies were approaching.

"Are you afraid?" I asked softly, moving to stand beside him.

Lucious considered the question seriously before answering. "Yes. But not of them anymore." He touched the sunburst pattern on his chest. "I'm afraid of the power I feel inside me. Apollo is... overwhelming."

"I understand," I said, remembering how disorienting it had been when Diamond first fully awakened, and I didn’t have the options he had. “I know better than anyone that I had to use my powers for the first time in the clearing where the pack usually has their first shifts. The Northern Alliance had come to kill me after finding out the day before they could mate me off to one of their Alpha Heirs. The thought of that still makes my skin crawl.”

Lucious's eyes widened slightly at my words. "You had to face them alone?"

"Not entirely alone," I admitted, grateful for the memory. "My mates were there, though our bond was new and fragile then. But I had to be the one to channel Diamond's power;  no one could do it for me."

He nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "And now it's my turn to step up. To use what they tried to corrupt for good instead."

"Exactly." I placed my hand over his, where it rested on the sunburst pattern. "What they did to you was terrible, but Apollo emerged anyway, pure and uncorrupted. That's the miracle we're fighting to protect."

A commotion outside drew our attention. Through the window, we could see torches moving through the trees at the edge of the property as the Northern Alliance forces made their approach.

"It's time," I said quietly.