Chapter 103 Chapter 103

Chapter 103 Chapter 103
We joined the others in the main hall, where final preparations were being made. The Priestess approached us, her ancient face solemn as she placed ceremonial pendants around both our necks, silver for me, gold for Lucious.

"These will help focus your energies," she explained. "The goddess's symbols to guide her power through you."

My mates gathered around me, their faces set with determination despite their concern. Each touched me briefly, Kane's hand firm on my shoulder, Fin's fingers brushing my cheek, Brent's forehead pressing against mine, Liam's kiss soft on my temple.

"Come back to us," Kane said simply, his dark eyes intense.

"Always," I promised.

We moved outside, taking our positions in the large clearing before the mansion. The full moon shone directly overhead now, bathing everything in silver light. Alpha Maxwell's warriors formed a wide circle around the perimeter, not threatening but containing.

Lucious and I stood back-to-back in the centre, our wolves stirring restlessly beneath our skin. My mates positioned themselves around us at the four cardinal points, creating an inner circle of protection.

The Northern Alliance forces emerged from the trees exactly as our scouts had reported, about thirty warriors, heavily armed and moving with military precision. At their centre walked a tall man I didn't recognise, his bearing aristocratic and cold. He carried a staff topped with a dark crystal that seemed to absorb the moonlight rather than reflect it.

"That's Marcus Thornfield," Lucious murmured, tension evident in his voice. "Helena's second-in-command. He's the one who supervised most of my... treatments."

I felt a surge of protective rage at his words, Diamond rising closer to the surface in response. "Then he'll be the first to face judgment," I promised.

The Northern Alliance forces halted at the edge of our perimeter, clearly surprised to find us waiting for them rather than hiding. Marcus stepped forward, his cold eyes assessing the situation with calculating precision.

"Elias," he called, using the name that they tried to poison my brother with.

“Sorry, I think you're in the wrong place, nobody here by that name,” I replied coldly as my eyes began to glow silver.

Marcus's eyes narrowed as he took in my glowing silver eyes, his gaze shifting between my brother and me. Recognition dawned on his face as he noticed the matching pendants around our necks.

"So, the rumours are true," he said, his voice carrying across the clearing. "The Blackthorne heirs reunited at last. How... inconvenient."

"For you, perhaps," I replied, feeling Diamond's power surging through me. "For us, it's destiny."

Marcus sneered, raising the dark crystal staff. "Destiny? Is that what you call it? Your brother was meant for greatness, meant to lead our new world order. And you've corrupted him with your goddess nonsense."

Lucious stepped forward, his eyes blazing with golden light. "The only corruption was what you tried to force upon me. Apollo has shown me the truth."

A murmur ran through the Northern Alliance forces at the mention of Apollo. I could see confusion and uncertainty in some faces; not everyone had been fully briefed on what was happening.

"Apollo?" Marcus spat the name like a curse. "That's not your wolf's name. Your wolf is Shadow."

"My wolf was never Shadow," Lucious replied calmly. "That was just another lie you told. Another way you tried to control me."

I felt my brother's confidence growing through our bond, Apollo's strength merging with his own. The sunburst pattern on his chest began to glow faintly beneath his shirt, matching the silver light emanating from my skin.

"Enough of this," Marcus snarled, signalling to his warriors. "Take them both. Kill the Maxwell heirs if necessary, but the Blackthornes must be captured alive."

The Northern Alliance forces began to advance, weapons drawn. I felt my mates tense around us, ready to defend, but I raised my hand to halt them.

"Now, brother," I whispered, reaching back to grasp Lucious's hand.

The moment our fingers intertwined, power exploded between us. Silver and gold light spiralled upward, creating a column of radiance that shot toward the moon overhead. I heard gasps from both our allies and enemies as the display illuminated the entire clearing.

"By the goddess's will," I began, the ancient words flowing through me as Diamond surged forward.

"By the light of truth," Lucious continued, Apollo's power joining with Diamond's.

"We call judgment upon those who have turned from the true path," we spoke in unison, our voices resonating with power that wasn't entirely our own.

Marcus raised his staff, dark energy gathering at its crystal tip. "Shield yourselves!" he commanded his forces. "Their power is nothing compared to what we've prepared for!"

But it was already too late. The combined energy of Diamond and Apollo expanded outward in a wave of silver-gold light, washing over everyone in the clearing. I felt my mates' steady presence anchoring us as we channelled more power than I had ever before.

“We are the wolves of truth and justice, the sun and the moon. And tonight this ends here. Oh Great Goddess Mother of our bloodline, lend us your power to free your children from those who chain them to do such evil acts of their human halves.” We spoke again as one.

The power surged through us like a living force, more intense than anything I'd ever experienced before. Diamond and Apollo's energies intertwined, creating something greater than either could achieve alone. As our combined magic swept across the clearing, I could see the Northern Alliance warriors caught in its radiance, some falling to their knees, others trying futilely to shield themselves.

Marcus's dark crystal staff began to crack, hairline fractures spreading across its surface as our light touched it. "No!" he screamed, his face contorted with rage and disbelief. "This isn't possible!"

But it was happening. Through our connection, I could see what Lucious saw: the corrupted wolves inside each Northern Alliance warrior, chained and suppressed by years of dark magic and manipulation. Unlike Helena, whose wolf had been irredeemably corrupted, most of these wolves were simply imprisoned within their humans, forced to serve against their true nature.

"Be free," I whispered, focusing Diamond's power through our joined hands.

"Return to your true path," Lucious added, Apollo's golden energy pulsing alongside Diamond's silver light.