Chapter 72 Breaking Point
Amara’s POV
The earth shook beneath my feet. Fire reddened the sky, and smoke suffocated the air. I tried to steady my breathing while holding on to the last of my energy, my hands shaking. I felt Lilith's powers pressing down on me like a powerful storm.
“Remain back, Amara!” Through the confusion, Rowan's voice was audible. Black blood flowing from his blade, he materialised at my side. Anger was blazing in his eyes.
Kian followed, his strides firm and swift. His blade shone dimly, as though it held the pack's only chance. His voice was low yet firm as he said, "You won't face her alone."
I gave a headshake. Her strength is too great for you to be here. You two—
"No." With each sharp inhale, Rowan's chest rose as he took a step closer. We've already suffered too much loss. We lose everything if we flee right now.
Kian looked up at me. He had cold fire in his eyes, no hesitancy. "Come together, Amara. There is no other option.
Lilith's voice echoed like a thousand whispers as she laughed. She moved forward, unflinching in the face of the surrounding flames, wearing a dark gown. How heartwarming. Two wolves are fighting over one girl, but neither of you will intervene to save her.
“Silence!” With a cry, Rowan rushed forward, brandishing his sword.
Kian hurried next to him, their movements lethal and piercing. Steel and dark energy clashed, sending sparks flying. Lilith's hands were making shapes in the air as if she were dancing. She easily handled each blow they delivered, her grin never going away.
"Do you have anything else?" Lilith threw a wave of red fire at them in mockery.
"Now, Amara!" Rowan sobbed.
I raised my hands, pushing up a shield of light. I was rattled to my bones as the flames struck it, yet it held. Pain blasted through my body.
With a blade aiming at her heart, Kian sprang forward. With her clawed fingers grabbing for his throat, Lilith disappeared and then reappeared behind him.
"Not so quick!" Rowan's intercept knocked her back. Black smoke poured from the wound where his blade had grazed her arm.
Lilith stumbled, then burst out laughing. "At last, a spark worth observing." She stared at me with blood-red eyes. "But it's still insufficient."
"Keep fighting!" My voice cracking, I pleaded.
Rowan's aura flashed like a wolf as he roared. "We'll stop now!"
Kian tightened his jaw. "She won't get away."
Lilith, however, just smiled. Her body shattered into mist and shimmered. Around us, a dense, oppressive cloud of blood-red smoke swirled.
"No!" I let out a yell. "Avoid letting her—"
Through the red mist, her laughter reverberated. "Little goddess, you'll see me soon when you're prepared.
Then—she disappeared.
With a harsh voice, Rowan ripped at the air. "What a coward! Return soon!
With stiff shoulders, Kian lowered his sword. "She's playing tricks on us."
As her final words sank into my chest, I stood motionless, my heart racing.
"She went away." With weak knees, I said. "She knows something, which is why she left."
Rowan turned to face me, fear and rage tight on his face. "What does she mean?"
I couldn't respond, so I shook my head. I immediately knew that the real battle had just started.
The fight had ended, or at least paused, but the ensuing quiet was worse than the commotion had been.
Every stride I took through the camp felt more weighty than the last. The bodies of wolves I had trained with, laughed with, and dined with were strewn all over the soil. I was no longer able to recognise some faces. My stomach turned over.
"No, no, no." With tears in my eyes, I collapsed to my knees next to a fallen warrior. "This wasn't fair to them."
With his hand hovering close to my shoulder, Rowan approached me from behind. "Amara, don't look. It will shatter you.
I said, "It's already breaking me." I spoke in a hollow voice. "How many more people will perish as a result of me?"
Kian came over, his eyes clouded, his face white. "Don't try to handle this alone. Lilith is to blame for this, not you.
I turned to them both and said, "But she's after me." I'm the key, she says repeatedly. If I weren't present—
"Cease." Rowan's voice pierced my shame with its sharpness. "We would all be dead by now if you weren't here. We only survived this long because of you.
Kian's jaw was clenched, but he nodded slowly. "He's correct. You kept the pack safe. You spared the kids. We'd be nothing but ashes without you.
Their remarks should have reassured me, but they didn't. It was like my chest was breaking in two. In my mind, I could still hear Lilith laughing.
Smoke was heavy in the air. Wolves roamed wildly amid the dead, bleeding and injured, looking for loved ones. There were cries of sorrow everywhere.
I put my hand up to my chest. The heat that throbbed in my mark—the horrible mark—burned directly into my bones.
"Amara?" Rowan's eyes grew strained. "What's the matter?"
I clutched my arm as I stumbled back. "It's—burning."
The brand expanded, burning my skin as red light crept up my neck. As I fell to the ground, my scream ripped through the darkness.
Kian hurried on. "Amara!"
Rowan took hold of me and gave me a light shake. "Stay with us—how are you doing?"
Like poison, the burning crept further into my flesh. Black and crimson shapes danced before me as my vision blurred. I could hear Lilith's mocking, gentle voice inside of me.
Indeed, tiny goddess. Shatter. Burn. Let me in.
"No!" I writhed and shouted. I could no longer contain the pain as my body trembled.
Rowan's frightened expression, Kian's frantic eyes, and the quiet that descended upon the pack around us were the last things I saw before oblivion engulfed me.
Then I was gone.