Chapter 83

Chapter 83
"We'll get her there," Marco assured, his eyes meeting Drago's steely gaze as he carefully cradled Brooke's limp form. "She's incredibly weak, and there's a real risk she might not make it. You understand that, right?"
"Absolutely. But time is running out—you must hurry!"
"Boss, you must deal with the Vaewolfe before he regenerates," Drago warned, glancing at the slumped figure nearby. "He needs to be staked with silver and burned to ash, or he'll come back."
"You're right, but I need a human's help—I can't handle silver myself."
"You're in luck, boss!" Marco exclaimed, a spark of excitement in his eyes as he gestured to a group of weary-looking human soldiers gathered just beyond the clearing.

Without another word, Marco spun on his heel and sprinted off with Brooke in his arms, leaving Drago to scramble after him. I slowly turned my furious gaze toward the small cluster of men huddled in the shadows beneath the trees. Their faces showed a mix of discomfort and unease; some winced as they cradled invisible wounds. How were they still alive? My wolves should have killed every last human Kieran had! And where was the rest of my army? I desperately tried to use the mindlink to contact my men, but I was still shut off from my wolf counterparts. I was utterly helpless and alone.

"Wait, you're alive?" Kieran gasped, his raspy voice thick with disbelief.
"Well, sort of," one of the soldiers admitted, hesitation in his voice. "We took refuge in the caves, terrified for our lives. We knew you'd need human allies to take down the Vaewolfe, so we waited in the shadows, biding our time. When the battle raged, we held back until the right moment to leap in and support you."
"We're not cowards, we promise!" another soldier shouted, his voice cutting through the tension. "We just knew you'd need our help!"
"Where are the rest of you?" Kieran asked, his voice slow and deliberate.
"All gone," the first soldier replied, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Every last one. They sacrificed everything for your cause, pouring their hearts and souls into this fight. They took down countless shapeshifters, but in the end, the battle overwhelmed them. Their bravery won't be forgotten."
"I understand," Kieran said, nodding solemnly. "A werewolf battle is no place for a man, but you're right. Their courage will never fade from our memory—nor will yours. Tell me, brave soldier, what's your name?"
"Markus," the first soldier called out, his voice steady but cautious as he stepped from the shadows, inching closer to Mateo.
With deliberate slowness, he raised his left arm, revealing a glinting silver stake. A rush of instinct surged through me, a silent growl rumbling deep in my chest as my inner wolf stirred with caution.
"You'll need this, boss," Markus said with a knowing grin, glancing at Mateo. "How long has he been down?"

It had only been a few minutes since the battle ended, but time felt stretched into eternity. I struggled in vain against the moon goddess's bonds, but it was useless—she still wouldn't set me free. I tried to growl in frustration, but only a hiss of air escaped my lips. I watched angrily as Kieran sent a well-aimed kick into Mateo’s side—his fur dark and matted with congealing blood. With a heavy thump, Mateo’s body rolled onto his back, exposing his soft, vulnerable underside to the silver stake awaiting him. Please, moon goddess, don't let them kill my Mate. Let him come back to me!

"I don't know—ten, maybe fifteen minutes," Kieran replied gruffly, towering over Mateo and looking thoughtful.
"We don't have long before he awakens. We need to stake his heart now. That'll kill the vampire in him, and the silver will end his wolf," Markus instructed breathlessly as he carefully sidled up next to his prince.
"Would you like to do the honors?" Kieran barked, gesturing at the creature, then glancing at Markus.
A movement at the edge of the clearing caught my attention. The remaining human soldiers approached cautiously, and behind them, a pack of wolves assembled, their piercing eyes locked on the scene before them.
"Is it dead?" one of Markus's soldiers shouted, his voice tinged with anxiety. "It's not going to spring back to life and slaughter us all, right?"

Kieran chuckled, shaking his head. "No chance—he's not coming after you again. He's gone for good; three of my strongest warriors took him out. But if we don't stake him now with silver, he can come back. Markus, do it. Just get it over with!"

Markus climbed onto the creature's body, his heart pounding. With determination etched on his face, he raised the silver stake high, its surface gleaming under the moon. An eerie stillness settled over the night; not a whisper of wind stirred. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sharp whistle of the stake cutting through the air—a harbinger of the impending strike. A loud, squelching sound echoed—a gruesome confirmation the stake had found its mark. Markus dismounted from the beast with a theatrical flourish, bowing deeply as his cloak billowed behind him, celebrating his moment of triumph.

"It's done! The Vaewolfe is no more!" Markus shouted triumphantly.

He paused, reaching into a hidden pocket beneath his armor. With urgent resolve, he pulled out a small yellow box that stood out against the dull metal. The moment crackled with tension as Markus struck a match and flames hissed to life. With a determined glint, he tossed it onto the Vaewolfe's hide. Fire surged, thick smoke spiraling skyward as a soul-shattering scream erupted from the creature. Its dead soul left the body in a final fury, and then—silence.

Again, white-hot pain seared through me, forcing my body to bend and twist in silent protest as the last piece of my mate was destroyed. Tears blurred my vision as I struggled to cope with the pure agony. This was it. Mateo was truly gone—and nothing could ever bring him back.