Chapter 46 – The Storm Breaks

Chapter 46 – The Storm Breaks
Calla’s POV

“He’s coming,” I said, barely breathing. “This time... it’s for real.”
Beside me, Raiden stood with his sword in a shaky grasp. Between us lay Mariel's lifeless body, her blood seeping into the cracked ground. The Shadow King had vanished, and the atmosphere had changed. Now it was thicker. Accused of a horrible crime. The sort of quiet that precedes a storm.

Raiden was silent at first. He had a clenched jaw and was looking around the ruins as if he thought the shadows would attack us.

In a low, sombre voice, he finally stated, "Then we need to warn the pack." "They must have preparation. He is no longer hiding.

Despite my legs' desire to give out, I nodded and forced myself to stand. There was too much blood on my hands—mine, Lysandra's, and Mariel's. One sister had died before I could stop it, and I had attempted to save the other.

But there was no time for mourning now.

War was imminent.

We ran harder than we had in days as we sped through the forest. Smoke was already rising in the distance as trees whipped past us. Ash, not clouds, were causing the skies to turn grey. An indication.

We heard it by the time we got to the boundary of Silver Moon's domain.

Yells.

Howls.

The clatter of metal on flesh.

I almost fell to my knees when we reached the top of the last hill.

The army of the Shadow King was already there.

The pack's southern wall was on fire. Rogues flooded through, their bodies twisted and monstrous, their eyes blazing red. These wolves were not your typical ones. They were tainted. Dark magic makes it better. Some shifted in the middle of a fight, some moved on all fours, and some did not resemble anyone I knew.

I could see pack warriors engaged in combat everywhere. Losing. Dying.

"It is too late," I muttered.

Raiden moved ahead of me. "No. We are right on schedule.

He spun around and let out a howl that sliced through the commotion and pierced the atmosphere. People turned. A few warriors were startled to see us when they looked up.

And then there was a shout, “Raiden!”

“Alpha Raiden is back!” said another voice.

Suddenly, something changed. In the middle of the night, like a match struck.

“Silver Moon—STAND YOUR GROUND!” he roared, brandishing his sword.

With my heart racing, my claws out, and magic simmering in my veins, I followed him down the hill.

The battlefield was madness. I ducked as a rogue lunged at me, its jaws snapping for my throat. I rolled and slashed upward, my claws tearing through its stomach. Shouting, it fell, and another followed immediately.

Too many were present.

Too quickly.

Too powerful.

We still fought, though.

Raiden roared through two more next to me. Blood splattered, covering his arms and the blade. As more rogues surrounded me, I briefly lost sight of him. I kicked, twisted, and stabbed. My muscles shrieked. My injuries were burning. I did not stop, though.

I was unable to stop.

This was our home.

This was my pack.

“Behind you!” someone shouted.

I spun just in time to block a blow with my arm. The rogue knocked me back with a slam. The stone cracked against my shoulder. I sank my claws into its side and suppressed a scream.

It screamed, then froze.

Panting, I pushed it off me.

My vision became hazy.

Smoke irritated my eyes.

The battle continued to rage.

I heard the distinct growl of an alpha in full wolf form somewhere amid the mayhem.

Raiden.

He had changed.

When I looked up, I saw him tearing through enemies like a storm, his black fur slick with blood. After a brief moment of his golden eyes meeting mine, he spun around and leapt onto another rogue before it could hit one of our fighters.

We were keeping the line open.

Just barely.

Then I sensed it.

A tug.

Similar to a chilly breath on my nape.

He was there when I turned.

On the battlefield, the Shadow King had arrived.

He did not make a charge. He did not yell.

He took a step.

Slowly.

Consciously.

The wind did not cause his cloak to move. Not even his feet touched the floor.

The grass withered where he went. The fire stopped. The blood turned black.

And all around him...

The dead rose.

Rogues who fell—brought back.

Transformed into a worse thing.

My mouth was dry as I stared.

Between man and wolf, Raiden skidded to a stop next to me.

I whispered, "He is resurrecting the dead."

Raiden snarled. "Then, before he can produce more, we kill him."

A courageous idea.

However, the sky itself broke open as the Shadow King raised his hand.

A wave of dark magic swept across the battlefield. Warriors clutched their heads as they fell to their knees. A few of them screamed. A few fell silent.

Only because Raiden grabbed me and locked his arm around my waist did I manage to stay upright.

"We must reach him," he stated.

I barely nodded.

We persevered, one step at a time.

Beyond the injured.

Past the deceased.

Right in the direction of the person who had been in my dreams ever since this war started.

As we got closer, the Shadow King slowly turned his head. He looked at me, and I noticed a smile for the first time.

With a voice like rot, he said, "Hello, my queen."

I did not respond.

Instead, I let my magic respond.

I aimed a silver-blue fire bolt directly at his chest.

It struck.

He did not even flinch, though.

With a flick of his wrist, he launched me into the air after raising one hand.

I rolled, hit the ground hard, and barely managed to get up on one knee.

Raiden charged forward and yelled my name. He struck the Shadow King's arm with his sword.

The blade, however, bounced off.

Not a cut. No blood.

Like a toy, he grabbed Raiden by the throat and threw him into the air.

The Shadow King sneered, "Are you still defending her?" "When you had the opportunity, you ought to have let her die."

"Give him up!" I ran forward and screamed.

He spun and flung Raiden over the field.

I had no time to think at all.

With my teeth bared and my claws ready, I lunged.

However, he put up a wall of evil energy to separate us.

I struck it hard.

My head rang.

His voice was in my ear as he leaned close.

"Calla, you are the key. The final component. They all fall when you do.

Despite my efforts, the wall remained solid.

After that, I noticed something behind him.

Motion.

A shadow separating from the edge of the trees.

Someone is sprinting.

Quick.

Quicker than any outlaw.

It was—

"No," I exclaimed.

Elara was the one.

Mom.

Long believed to be dead.

Gleaming with silver light, her hair a streak of moonlight behind her, she hurried onto the battlefield. She made no hesitation. Did not slow down.

With a cry of fury, she leapt for the Shadow King—

And stabbed him in the back with a dagger.

He let out a scream.

It broke the barrier.

I collapsed forward, gasping for air.

His eyes were wild as he turned on her.

But she held on.

Additionally, for the first time—

He was bleeding.

"Mom," I muttered.

With a pale face, Raiden staggered to my side.

But Elara was the only thing I could see.

And the Shadow King, whose anger now flared.

He hit her.

Once.

Twice.

She fell apart.

"No!" I ran toward her and screamed—

And horrified as the Shadow King lifted his hand to deliver the final blow.