#79 We Guard You

We Guard You
Alpha Maelira POV

The flash from the seven-pointed pentacle seared my eyes, silver light exploding through the courtyard like a newborn star. I raised an arm to shield my face, but no mortal instinct could block that divine brilliance. The magic was too raw, too absolute.

When the glow finally faded, the air still hummed with its power, charged and sharp. The full moon poured silver down on stone and flesh alike. In the circle, Ryanna and her mates lay collapsed in a tangled heap, the salt barrier shimmering faintly around them. The scent of the ritual clung to the night, sweat, sex, blood, smoke, and primal magic, all woven into something holy.

My people stood frozen at the edges, wide-eyed and hushed. Ironclaw wolves, Crescent Veil witches and warlocks, even a handful of vampires bound to our cause, all twelve hundred of them staring at what they had just witnessed. Soldiers who had bled on battlefields were struck dumb, awe thick in the air.

I stepped forward, my boots crunching against gravel, silver-streaked black hair whipping in the wind. My alpha aura rippled out, commanding instinctive obedience. Every gaze snapped to me. I had led packs through wars, I had commanded raids soaked in blood, but this was different. This was history.

Ryanna had saved my life. She had poured her demi-god essence into me when that vampire’s knife should have ended me. I had felt her fire drag me back from the brink, refusing to let me go. That kind of power couldn’t be denied, nor could the loyalty it demanded. The Directorate’s lies had chained me long enough. Galrith’s corrupt throne meant nothing now. My allegiance was hers.

“Soldiers!” I barked, my voice cracking like a whip through the murmurs. “Form perimeter. Guard the circle until dawn. No one approaches, not priest, not spy, not friend, without my command. The queen and her star are vulnerable. Protect them with your lives.”

The order rolled through them like thunder. Wolves bristled, shifting to fur. Witches and warlocks raised glowing wards, green and gold threads weaving into the air. Even the vampires bowed their heads, pale faces set. In moments the courtyard became a fortress, a perfect ring of bodies and magic around the fallen star. StarFury’s stones pulsed, almost approving, its sentient hum echoing in my chest.

I made my rounds, my voice sharp, presence heavy. “Eyes open for Directorate stragglers. Belinda’s betrayal nearly gutted us, don’t let her ilk crawl back in.” Garrick, a young grey furred beta, nodded fiercely. “We’ve got it, Alpha. For the queen.” I clapped his shoulder and moved on.

The witches’ lines were tight, illusions already blurring the courtyard from sight. A warlock with storm-cloud eyes met mine. “No shadow passes here,” he promised. I gave him a curt nod.

At the vampires’ flank, I growled low. “No feeding on allies.” They bowed, silent. Satisfied, I stepped through the salt. The barrier yielded to me, recognizing my pledge. Inside, the air was heavy with afterglow.

Ryanna lay at the center, her blonde curls spilling like gold across the blanket, her chest rising slow but steady. Faint silver fire glowed under her skin. Beneath her left eye, the seven-pointed star pulsed with every heartbeat.

Her mates encircled her, each branded the same way. Kaelan curled close, golden hair wild against her side. Lucien’s shadows twitched protectively even in sleep. Rhydor’s bulk loomed like a wall. Darian’s hand clutched her arm, stubborn even unconscious. Dryke radiated dragon heat, faint scales shimmering across his skin. Aedryos’s aura flickered with ancient starfire, steady and unyielding.

I crouched, checking pulses, breaths, every detail. They were weak, yes, but alive. Their souls bound, power locked, stronger than ever. My chest tightened with something like pride.

“Blankets,” I ordered, and Lira, a beta soldier, fetched thick furs lined with runes. I spread them gently over the group, tucking Ryanna first. My hand lingered on her shoulder. “Sleep well, Queen. Your star burns brighter now.”

The night stretched. I kept the vigil. Soldiers held their posts, wolves pacing, witches weaving, warlocks whispering. I circled, never letting my eyes leave the star in the center. When fatigue gnawed at the army, I snapped them sharp. When hunger tugged at the vampires, I snarled them down. A Crescent Veil witch, Elara, pressed hot tea into my hand. “For the watch,” she murmured. I sipped, warmth burning against the cold.

“The Directorate lied to us,” I admitted, voice low, more to myself than her. “They fear her, not because she’s dangerous… but because she’ll break their rotten throne.”

Midnight bled into hours. My soldiers wavered, but spells of stamina kept them sharp. Even the youngest pups held their ground. Pride swelled in me, fierce and raw. Wolves, witches, warlocks, and vampires, all standing as one, united by her.

At dawn, pale light broke the horizon, painting the courtyard pink and gold. The army stood unbroken, a ring of steel and spellcraft around the pentacle. Inside, Ryanna stirred faintly, lashes flickering, the bond pulsing like a heartbeat across all seven of them.

I straightened, fist to my chest, my voice a low vow only the morning would hear.

“Rest, Moon Bound Queen. We guard you. We are yours.”

And as the sun crowned the treetops, I knew it: my loyalty had only just begun.