Chapter 82 The fiercest fighter
River
As I believe my final moment has come and the prince will kill me, a surge of primal energy disrupts the stillness. A thunderous roar pierces through the fog of my fading consciousness, igniting a spark of hope buried beneath the weight of despair. My instincts flare, and I instinctively recognize the sound… it's a fierce, unmistakable growl that reverberates through the very air around me.
Suddenly, a blur of fur and red eyes leaps into my field of vision, a magnificent wolf with eyes burning like embers. Aloria… My heart races as I realize she has defied the odds and come to my rescue. There's no time for hesitation as she lunges at the prince, her powerful form a whirlwind of fury and determination.
The prince barely has time to react, his expression shifting from smug triumph to sheer horror as Aloria collides with him, sending him sprawling to the ground. Her jaws snap inches from his throat, ferocity radiating from every sinew in her body. This is not the gentle mate I know; this is a warrior, fierce and unyielding.
Aloria’s growl reverberates through the clearing, echoing off the trees like thunder. The prince scrambles back, eyes wide with disbelief as he raises his hands defensively. “You dare interfere?” he snarls, but the tremor in his voice betrays his fear.
“Yes, I dare,” Aloria replies, her voice low and fierce, a growl woven with authority. She lunges again, her teeth flashing in the sunlight as she aims for his exposed flank.
The prince rolls away just in time, his agility surprising given his earlier bravado. “You think you can save him?” he taunts, his voice laced with contempt. “You’ll both die here.” With a flick of his wrist, he produces a dagger, its blade glinting wickedly.
But Aloria is relentless. She darts forward, weaving between the trees with a grace that belies her size, and heaves herself at him once more. The prince swings the dagger, but she evades the strike with an uncanny instinct, her body flowing like water around his attack.
In a fierce display of strength, she tackles him to the ground, her weight pinning him. The prince grunts, struggling beneath her, but she holds him fast. Her jaws snap just above his face, a warning growl rumbling deep within her chest.
I want to shout for her to be careful, to watch out, but my voice is lost in the haze of pain. My body aches, and I can barely move, but I focus on Aloria, on the fire burning in her gaze as she fights with everything she has.
The prince, realizing he’s outmatched, shifts tactics. He kicks out, trying to dislodge her, but Aloria is resolute. With a swift move, she bites into his arm, the sound of flesh tearing mingling with his screams. His cries echo through the forest, a mixture of rage and fear that sends a thrill through me.
“Enough!” he roars, desperation clawing at his tone. “You’ll pay for this.”
But Aloria doesn’t falter. With every ounce of strength she possesses, she twists and pulls, dragging him further into the clearing. The prince’s soldiers are nowhere to be seen, and I can only assume Kellan and my warriors have dealt with them. The thought fills me with pride, but I push it aside, focused on the battle before me.
Aloria releases him just long enough to leap back, and in that moment, the prince scrambles to his feet, wild-eyed and furious. He lunges at her, dagger poised, but she sidesteps him with a fluid motion, and before he can turn around, she attacks.
With a powerful swipe of her paw, she knocks the dagger from his hand, sending it clattering into the underbrush. He stumbles, momentarily disoriented, and Aloria seizes the opportunity. She jumps, her body crashing into his with the force of a freight train, sending him crashing back to the ground.
“Yield!” she growls, her voice a deep, resonant threat. The prince’s eyes dart around, and I can see the realization dawning on him… he is no match for her.
But he refuses to back down. “I will not be defeated by a mere beast… a female” he shouts, scrambling to regain his footing.
“Mere beast?” Aloria’s voice drips with contempt as she circles him, her eyes locked onto his. “You’re the one who underestimated the strength of a wolf. You’re outmatched, and you know it.”
With a final, desperate attempt, the prince lunges again, but this time, Aloria is ready. She sidesteps, and with a fierce growl, she sinks her teeth into his shoulder, dragging him down once more. The prince cries out, but it’s a sound of panic, not the bravado he wore so confidently before.
In the distance, I hear the sounds of a struggle, shouts from my warriors as they finish off the last of the prince’s soldiers. The tide has turned, and Aloria knows it.
With one last powerful shake of her head, she releases him. The prince collapses to the ground, panting and defeated, his bravado shattered like glass. Aloria stands over him, eyes blazing. “This is your chance,” she hisses. “Leave while you still can.”
He glares up at her, a mixture of fury and fear in his eyes. “You’ll regret this,” he grits out, but I see the truth in his gaze… the fight has drained from him.
“Go,” Aloria commands, her voice low and dangerous. “Tell my uncle to hand over the kingdom or face the consequenses.”
With a final snarl, the prince scrambles to his feet and bolts into the trees, disappearing into the shadows. The silence that follows is deafening, and I feel the weight of exhaustion settle over me.
As Aloria shifts back to her human form, she rushes to my side, kneeling beside me. Her eyes are wide with concern, the fire from moments before replaced by fear. “River…” she breathes, her fingers trembling as they brush against my cheek.
“How… how did you get here?” I manage to whisper, my voice hoarse.
“I’m sorry,” she says, her voice breaking. “I couldn’t just sit by. Kellan believed me when I said something was wrong. We followed you, and just in time…” Her words trail off, and I can see the relief flooding her features.
I give her a small smile, despite the pain coursing through me. “Thank you,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.
Before she can respond, darkness closes in on me once more. The adrenaline that had kept me awake drains away, and I feel myself slipping into unconsciousness. The last thing I hear is Aloria’s voice, steady and fierce, as she calls my name, pulling me back from the brink.
“Stay with me, River. I’m here.”
And then everything goes black.