Almost Over

Almost Over
Chapter 173: Almost Over.

Elias, Marquez and Jonah's absence was supposed to reduce the rate of the attacks from both the crawlers and Rogues.

But instead, for some reason, the crawlers seemed to have multiplied and about fifty of them rampaged through the forest.

As if that was not all, the haven society also began attacking after sensing that their leader was down. They fought the werewolves that surrounded Jonah, all to no avail.

So, the battle refused to die with their masters.

Three more hours dragged on under the moon that had slowly turned red. Crawlers, now mindless and acting on pure instinct, moved in different directions. The ones that had been taken down, still moved, despite the damages their body had.

They tore through the groups of rogues that attacked back, slammed and destroyed trees in their paths, sending the branches and roots flying everywhere.

The ground became wet and muddy with thick blood, resembling a river of blood along that single path.

In the warehouse, Lena remained on the makeshift bed, with blankets and coats. The newborn boy rested against her chest, his tiny fists curled in her hair.

Lyra and Reah both helped her clean up, and clean the baby as well, and she was currently trying to regain her energy, using the healing magic Lyra did and her own abilities.

The baby’s white hair gleamed faintly in the light, his bright red eyes were wide open, but he soon fell asleep after staring into space for a while.

She stroked his soft cheeks with her fingers, memorizing every line of his small face.
Lyra knelt beside her and she wiped Lena's forehead with a damp cold cloth. “You need to rest, the fight is not moving away and we need you strong enough before we move you." Lyra said.

Lena shook her head weakly, "I'm not doing that. It has been three hours since I gave birth, that's enough time, and we have to get the machine to work.”

Reah stood near the tall massive cylinder, she checked the connections for the tenth time, and glanced at the boxes of syringes next to her, then she sighed. “The serum is almost ready, but it's not enough. The third generation crawlers are far too gone for it to work effectively," she paused, not turning to look at Lena. “Without the blood of a crossbreed the change would only last for a few minutes and they'd return to that monstrous form.”
Lena looked down at her son. She wondered how strong a crossbreed she could be because she was just a combination of wolf and human.

She always believed she was gifted, since there was nothing special to being half human and half wolf.

"Then I'll provide the required amount of blood you need.”

Reah froze, “Lena….”

“I'm the only crossbreed here. My blood, my body, it's the bridge right? And there must be some kind of energy that allowed me to change Teresa back to normal,” she looked up from her kid and smiled. "That should be why Elias wanted me. If the machine needs my blood then let's do it.”

Lyra's voice cracked as she spoke, “You just gave birth, you are weak and….

“I know," Lena stroked the head of her baby, "But if we don't end this tonight, we'll have to live running for the rest of our lives, and my baby as well. I can't let that."

Reah exhaled, “We'll need to move the machine to an area the serum would move as a gas through the forest, away from the towns and packs."

Lyra looked at her, "Would beyond the Silver Crescentmoon territory work?”

Reah nodded, but then she looked at Lena for permission.

Lena nodded. “Do it.”

They worked in silence. Lena finally got up after gathering up enough energy, and she helped take out all the tubes from the machine.

Vitto and four other wolves were called to carry a heavy machine onto a cart.
Lyra wrapped the baby in extra blankets and strapped him securely against her chest, while Read loaded the last vials of the serum.

Before they left, Cain's wolf landed behind them with a loud thud, before he quickly shifted back and looked at her. He was panting, covered in blood and dirt, but that didn't stop Lena from running into his arms.

“You’re alive,” he breathed, pressing his forehead to hers as he rubbed her back and looked at the baby. “Both of you.”

Lena cupped his blood-streaked face. “It’s all thanks to everyone's hardwork..”

Cain pulled away from her embrace and walked over to Lyra and the baby in her arms. For the first time, tears fell from his eyes and down his cheeks.

He reached it, but hesitated to take the baby since he was filthy, but he gently touched the boy's small hand.

As if sensing it, the baby stirred and gently opened his eyes, his gaze met Cain's for a swift second before closing his fingers around his father's thumb.
At that moment it felt like it was just him and his baby in the world, excluding even Lena. Cain smiled then quickly wiped away his tears.

“He has my eyes." He mumbled thoughtlessly earning a chuckle from Lena.

Reah finally cleared her throat choosing to put an end to the happy moment before it would turn into a moment of panic by the time the crawlers reached them

“We need to talk.”

She explained to Cain as quickly as she could, the need for Lena's blood and the plan to lure the Crawlers away from the pack and towns so they could flood the area with the gas, instead administering the serum directly.

Cain frowned deeply, "No! Not after,” he gestured helplessly at Lena's pale face and how exhausted she looked. "She can barely stand.”

Lena narrowed her eyes, “Am I not standing?" she sighed, “Look you shouldn't worry too much about me, I am stronger than you think and it's just my blood."

Cain shook his head. “We’ll find another way.….”

“There is no other way,” Reah interrupted. “We forgot the backup vial containing Lena's blood and who knows how long it would take to get it.” she explained..”The crawlers are already coming towards this direction and we still need time to set up the machine there."

Cain exhaled, “Then I'll buy you time and draw them out of the territory with the others, as for blood…" he looked at Lena in defeat. “Take as little as you can."

Andrew appeared at that moment covered from head to toe in the blood of whoever it was that was his victim. “Is that all we need to do?"

Lena nodded and smiled as she looked at Cain, “Promise me you'll be safe and you'll protect him if anything goes wrong."

Cain smiled as well, "Nothing will go wrong, I promise.”

He kissed her gently, then kissed the baby's forehead and without another word, he shifted back and ran back to the battlefield with Andrew at his side.

Lyra held the baby with her and with the help of one the soldiers rode back to the pack for protection.

While the cart rolled towards the outside of the pack territory under heavy guard. Lena insisted on walking the first few minutes before she decided to ride on Vitto’s back.