Chapter 21
“You’ve gone too far!” Elder Elira’s voice echoed through the clearing.
Samuel’s gaze sharpened, full of hatred as he stared down Liora. “Touch her, and you will face a terrible failure.”
Liora wavered for a moment, but then forced a smile. “Wow. So you’re siding with Helena again? I’m not surprised. But going this far to save her? That’s unexpected.”
‘I regret choosing you,” Samuel said coldly, eyes flickering briefly toward me-filled with unresolved pain and tension.
His gaze snapped back to Liora, burning with anger. “You bastard! Trapping Helena with a blood seal and accusing her of betraying the pack-it was all a lie!”
let out a hollow chuckle, my blood boiling beneath it. It turned out Samuel and Elder Elira had :nown the truth all along. From the start, I wasn’t the enemy, but they had trusted Liora too
asily and discarded me. Now they regretted it.
Honestly, I didn’t expect them to come for me like this.
I regret treating you like my own child and pushing Helena aside,” Elder Elira said softly, her oice heavy with disappointment.
iora’s cruel laugh cut through the tension. “It’s your own fault for being so foolish. I only wanted Samuel’s power, but he’s worse than I thought.”
lder Elira clenched her jaw, holding back her emotions.
So I left Silver Moon, a lowly wolf, but I will destroy Helena!”
Enough of your arguing. I don’t have time.” I lifted my chin and glared at the enemy wolves ircling me. “You chose the wrong night to try to kill me.”
Behind me, an old power stirred. Elder Elira’s presence filled the air as she summoned the wolves of the past. Meanwhile, I saw Samuel struggling to stand on his injured legs.
Samuel,” Liora sneered, voice thick with contempt, “Are you sure you want to fight with broken egs? And Elira-your strength can’t match my fighting wolves. You’d better surrender.”
Samuel’s eyes blazed with anger. He stared calmly at me. “I’ll use my last strength to save Helena. I don’t care if I die.”
Me too,” Elder Elira whispered. “My life has no meaning. The pack is destroyed, and we wasted Helena all this time.”
Numbness filled me. Everything felt too late.
Before I could catch my breath, a hired wolf charged without warning.
‘Helena!” Samuel’s shout echoed.
Sharp claws tore into my side, sending me crashing to the hard ground. Breath caught. Vision spun. The metallic taste flooded my mouth.
I struggled to stand, the world tilting. Warm blood soaked my hip.
The wolf lunged again, jaws open, fangs bared-but a roar shattered the night.
Samuel.
Fully transformed, silver fur matted with dirt and blood, limping but fierce. He struck the enemy
like a storm.
Blood splattered. Screams echoed.
The battle erupted.
Elder Elira shifted too, her wolf large and ancient, glowing with the aura of the past.
One hired wolf attacked Elira, but with surprising strength, he deflected the strike-clawing, biting, and throwing the enemy into a tree until it cracked.
“Protect Helena!” Elder Elira shouted as she launched at the second wolf.
I forced myself up, teeth clenched against the pain. “No, Samuel, take care of Elder Elira!” I
ordered.
The last wolf tried to ambush Elira from behind, but Samuel charged, claws raking its face. It snarled but stumbled, leaving Elira to finish it.
Only Liora and one wolf remained.
The wolf advanced slowly, eyes gleaming with satisfaction as it saw us weary and wounded “Good. With strength like this, prepare to die.”
Liora grinned at me, signaling I was the first target.
I readied to strike, but Samuel lunged first. Despite his weakness, he grabbed Liora.
As Liora’s wolf aimed to bite, Elder Elira struck from behind, overpowering her despite he depleted strength.
‘You…” Samuel said softly, voice trembling with grief, “have destroyed everything.”
Liora tried to retreat, but Samuel pressed on, pinning her beneath him. His hands gripped her neck, crushing.
‘I trusted you. Loved you. Abandoned Helena for you!” His voice cracked, red eyes wet with blood and tears. “And you repay me by leaving? Destroying us all?”
Liora gasped, struggling for breath.
“You don’t deserve to live…” he hissed.
She was dead.
Samuel fell silent, breathing heavy and uneven.
I stared at him, my body battered, breath ragged, heart heavy with pain, relief, anger, and emptiness.
Samuel lay exhausted on the ground. Elder Elira’s weary gaze met mine, soft but worn.
“Forgive us, Helena. Knowing your innocence… I feel foolish,” Elder Elira said.
“Perhaps I don’t deserve forgiveness,” Samuel whispered.
Before I could respond, another wolf attacked Samuel savagely. It arrives in just a few seconds.
I glared fiercely. “STOP, LIAM!”
