Chapter 34 Continuation
Brutus transformed immediately. His massive gray wolf form was scarred and battle worn. He had decades of fighting experience.
Mara transformed too. Her white and black wolf appeared. Smaller than Brutus but faster.
They circled each other. Neither attacking first. Both looking for an opening.
"You are weak," Brutus growled. "I can smell it. The shadow power is eating you from the inside."
"Then this should be easy for you."
"It will be."
Brutus lunged. His jaws aimed for Mara's throat.
Mara dodged. Used her shadow power to move faster than normal. She got behind Brutus and bit his back leg.
He howled and spun around. His claws raked across her shoulder. Blood sprayed.
Mara jumped back. The wound hurt but it was not deep.
They circled again. Brutus was limping slightly. Good. She had hurt him.
"You are fast," Brutus admitted. "But speed will not save you."
He charged again. This time, Mara did not dodge. She met him head on.
They crashed together. Teeth and claws flashing. Both fighting with everything they had.
Mara used her light to create shields. Her shadow to strike at weak points. The combination made her unpredictable.
But Brutus was experienced. He adapted quickly. Started anticipating her moves.
He caught her leg in his jaws and bit down hard. Mara heard bones crack.
She screamed and kicked him in the face with her other leg. He released her.
Mara limped away. Her leg was broken. She could not put weight on it.
"Surrender," Brutus said. "You cannot win on three legs."
"Watch me."
Mara called on her healing power. White light surrounded her broken leg. The bones began to mend. Slowly. Painfully.
"That is cheating!" Brutus snarled.
"No. That is using every advantage I have. Like you said, this is war."
Her leg was not fully healed but it was good enough to stand on. Mara charged at Brutus before he could react.
She used her shadow power to become faster. Her light power to hit harder. She was a blur of white and black.
Brutus tried to defend but he was too slow. Too predictable.
Mara bit his throat. Not hard enough to kill. Just hard enough to show she could if she wanted to.
"Surrender," she growled.
Brutus struggled. Then went still. "I surrender."
Mara released him. Stepped back. Transformed to human form.
"It is over. I won. Now keep your word and accept my leadership."
Brutus transformed too. Blood dripped from his throat wound. "You cheated. Used magic to heal yourself."
"I used my natural abilities. Just like you used your strength and experience. There was no cheating."
"I disagree!" Brutus looked at the crowd. "She is not worthy! She is a half breed! A freak!"
"Enough!" Elder Sage's voice boomed. "You lost fairly. Accept it with dignity."
"I will never accept her! Never!" Brutus transformed and ran. His supporters followed him.
About two hundred wolves left the stone circle with him.
"Good riddance," Luna muttered.
But Mara felt sick. She had not wanted this. Had not wanted to divide the packs.
"You did what you had to do," Zevran said, appearing beside her. "Brutus gave you no choice."
"I know. But I still hate it."
"Being a leader means making hard choices. You will get used to it."
"I do not want to get used to it."
Elder Sage approached. "You fought well, Moon Wolf. You proved your strength. Now the packs will follow you."
"I did not want them to follow me. I just wanted peace."
"Peace comes after war. Not before." Elder Sage tapped her staff. "Brutus will attack. Probably within days. He cannot afford to look weak. So we must prepare. Gather our forces. Make alliances. Get ready for battle."
"How many wolves can we gather?" Marcus asked.
"Maybe three thousand. If we call in every favor. Every alliance."
"And how many does Brutus have?"
"Maybe two thousand. But they are all experienced fighters. Veterans of many wars."
"So we have numbers but they have experience," Riven said. "That is not ideal."
"No. But we have something they do not have. We have the Moon Wolf." Elder Sage looked at Mara. "Your power can turn the tide of any battle. If you use it correctly."
"And if I use too much? If the shadow consumes me?"
"Then we all die. So do not let that happen."
"That is not helpful advice."
"It is the only advice I have." Elder Sage walked away. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow we start preparations for war."
That night, Mara could not sleep. Again. Too many worries. Too many fears.
She wandered away from camp. Found a quiet hill where she could see the stars.
"You should not be alone," a voice said.
Mara turned. A woman stood there. Beautiful and elegant. Long silver hair. Eyes like the moon itself.
"Who are you?" Mara asked.
"You know who I am. We have spoken before."
"The Moon Goddess?"
"Yes, child. I have come to give you guidance."
"I could use some guidance. Everything is falling apart."
"No. Everything is coming together. Exactly as it should." The Moon Goddess sat beside Mara. "You have done well. Better than I expected."
"I do not feel like I have done well. I feel like I am barely surviving."
"That is what strength looks like. Not perfection. Not ease. Just the will to keep fighting even when everything seems impossible."
"The Shadow King said he was like me once. That he balanced light and dark. But the darkness won. How do I stop that from happening to me?"
"You already know the answer. Love. Connection. Purpose." The Moon Goddess touched Mara's chest where her heart beat. "The Shadow King lost those things. He became isolated. Alone. The darkness thrives in isolation. But you have Zevran. Riven. Isla. All the wolves who believe in you. As long as you hold onto them, the darkness cannot take you."
"But Morgana's deal—"
"Is a problem for another day. Do not borrow tomorrow's troubles. Focus on today." The Moon Goddess stood. "You are stronger than you know, Mara. Braver than you believe. You will find a way through this. I have faith in you."
"Wait! Do not go yet! I have so many questions!"
"And you will find the answers. In time. For now, rest. You have a war to fight soon."
The Moon Goddess faded like morning mist.
Mara sat alone on the hill, looking at the stars. She did not feel stronger or braver. She felt tired and scared.
But maybe that was okay. Maybe being a hero did not mean being fearless. It meant being afraid and fighting anyway.
She stood and walked back to camp. Back to Zevran. Back to the people who needed her.
Tomorrow they would prepare for war. But tonight, she would rest in the arms of her mate.
And that would have to be enough.