~Layla~
I walked through the woods with the memory playing in my mind, giving me strength and fueling my anger. I heard the war starting, people shifting, growls and howls and blood-shedding.
My feet moved faster until I was running, and as I jumped over a tree, I shifted mid-air and landed on my paws.
“Finally!” Clara howled and ran as fast as she possibly could between the trees.
Never in my life had I seen a wolf run this fast. It was fascinating and beautiful, and Clara was happier than ever to finally be free again, even if it was for the last time.
We saw them up ahead on the field.
“Fuck,” I groaned as we ran out. I was hoping I’d make it before anyone died, but it seems I failed. I saw their bodies lying on the ground, and our eyes darted around the field to find Kade. That was when I saw everyone else: my father, Tracey, Mason, Cara, and several people from my old pack.
“Oh no, Clara, hurry!” I breathed.
She howled, her paws pressed against the ground. One by one, they turned their heads to watch us.
I saw Caspian on the ground. We went to school together in my old pack; Katja and Eric were old friends of my sister, and they, too, were lying lifeless on the ground. The more I looked around, the more I could see that not a single Emberclaw was dead. They were all our people.
Everyone stopped fighting. Nathaniel’s face lit up, drenched in blood, as I came running toward him. Clara jumped, and we shifted back as I landed on my knee on the field.
I stood up, raised my head, and walked up to Nathaniel.
“There she is. What an entrance,” he said gleefully with gestures like a true showman.
I looked around, my eyes met my father’s, and I felt something being cast over my body. One of Nathaniel’s girls threw a coat over me, a thin silk fabric with a golden beige that draped over my body and covered me up.
“Layla, you’re here,” Nathaniel said and reached around my waist. He pulled me into his side, and Kade’s wolf lowered his head. I saw how wounded he was. Big patches of skin had been ripped off, and he had claw marks next to his eye.
“I am,” I said and looked away from Kade, even though he was the only one I wanted to look at right now.
Nathaniel had a red coat in the same silk fabric covering his body. He, too, was injured but not nearly as badly.
“Let’s get this over with then,” he said and pressed his lips against my ear.
Kade’s wolf growled and ran toward him. However, he was pushed to the ground, another wolf standing over him, followed by two others that stood on each side. My first thought and fear was that they were Emberclaws protecting their Alpha, but then I realized they were with Kade. It was Mason who knocked him down. Cara stood beside him, and they were protecting their brother.
Jason was guarding his other side, ensuring nobody else came at them and that Kade didn’t try that again.
He didn’t know what was about to happen. I should’ve told him somehow, but it was too late, and he would’ve tried to stop me.
Kade’s wolf rolled over and got back up. He growled at his brother, who backed away enough for him to move but remained close enough to stop him if he tried anything again.
“Good little mutt,” Nathaniel cooed. His lips turned in a snarl, and his hand was tightly wrapped around my waist.
Mason growled and took a step closer.
Everyone was silently watching us.
“Layla, darling, why don’t you do your thing now, and we end this measly little show?” he said and ushered me forward.
The smell of blood and death was quickly rising from the ground in a little dark cloud that swept up my nose. I walked over to Ynox first. My mate and my love, the father of my child that he didn’t know existed. Shit, no, don’t do this now. Don’t think about that, Layla.
“You’ve got this,” Clara said.
I patted his snout and leaned my head against his wolf. My face burrowed into his fur, and I felt the burning gaze of Nathaniel’s fury behind me, but it was okay. It wouldn’t last for long.
“I love you. I always loved you, and I will forever love you,” I said and felt him freezing underneath me. Kade’s wolf turned his head; I felt him so strongly now. Much stronger than before. Something had changed.
Kade knew, and so did Ynox. They knew that was about to happen, that I would do something.
Maybe he thought I would do what Nathaniel asked; I hoped so. I would rather he think I betrayed them, and if I could leave him with that thought without doing what I needed to do next, I would. My eyes met Mirella’s, Cara’s wolf, and then I looked at Mason and Justin. I wanted to keep looking around and see my father and my sister. I wanted to run home and see Anna, give her a big hug and say goodbye to my mother. There were so many things one could want in their last moments, and I wanted all of them, but they weren’t mine to have.
This was my thing to do, my reason for being born—either destruction or redemption and finally, I had chosen.
Nathaniel taught me this neat little trick. I raised my hand and touched Ynox. He was the strongest wolf here besides the Emberclaws.
“Layla?” Nathaniel said in wonder behind me. There was excitement in his voice.
Jason’s wolf whined.
The other Alpha stood not too far away, so I walked to him first. “Trust me,” I said and smiled.
The Alpha growled, saliva dripping from his jaw as he bared his teeth.
“Shh,” I whispered and saw my fingers disappearing in his fur.
I bowed my head and moved on to the next.
“What are you doing?”
I looked over my shoulder at Nathaniel.
“Following through,” I said and winked.
He smiled proudly. His chest swelled.
Ynox tilted his head back and howled at the sky. The howl was followed by a ferocious growl. One by one, his pack members went on one knee. The wolves lowered their bodies submissively.
As I continued on each Alpha, they forced their pack members down into submission.
Nobody could help it. The call of your Alpha was the only thing that could have the strongest warrior in the pack falling on his knee.
“What is this?” Nathaniel asked as I worked the last Alpha.
“This,” I said and stepped away. The Alpha growled, and his men fell. “Is the plan,” I said.
I walked back to Nathaniel. The Ebercalws were confused. The only person not on their knees was Justin.
His wolf watched me, and I knew it was killing him not to intervene.
I tilted my head to the side and looked at him. There was something about Justin. Something about him tugged at my heart, and it had since the first time I met him.
I looked at Nathaniel, who was fuming.
“Whatever it is you’re planning, it won’t work. I am in charge here,” he seethed and grabbed my shoulders.
“You are, which is why I think it’s only fair that you fight this one alone.” My eyes glowed in blue as Clara joined me. My claws extended.
“I will kill you,” he growled and stepped back.
“Don’t worry, that is something I can help with.” I dug my claws into the side of my neck.
His jaw dropped, and for the first time ever, I saw him taken aback. Nathaniel didn’t know what was happening, and that was the only shot we had.
I felt the grass like a soft cloud beneath my knees as I fell. Clara was with me at the very front.
Kade and the other Alphas would be able to move when my life had reached the final line, and I only had a few breaths left.
“No!” Nathaniel fell in front of me and held me in his arms. “No, no. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t our future.” He was baffled; his words made no sense, and his eyes were strung so dearly into mine. It was like he had lost the love of his life.
I was just as confused for the few seconds I saw him, and then a shadow covered us.
Nathaniel jumped up on his feet, and my body slammed to the ground. He looked scared now.
That dick was about to get everything he severed.
The shadow fell over him as Justin’s wolf rose on his hind legs, and Nathaniel shifted. Their heads slammed together as they went in for the lethal bite. And so the war continued, but it wasn’t the same. They were angry now—hurt and betrayed.
My eyes closed, and I knew my time was almost up. I felt my body lifting from the ground.
Someone walked me away from the fighting, but my eyes remained closed, and each breath became harder. However, I wasn’t in pain; no, I was feeling peaceful.
We didn’t stop walking. Who was this carrying me? I couldn’t hear Clara anymore; she was gone. My mind was so quiet and empty. That was the only part that scared me.
I could feel something still inside me, a single straw of life. I fought to open my eyes just a little bit. A glance. Maybe I could see his face one last time. My eyelid slowly rose, not much, but enough. His eyes were red. Tears were falling down his cheeks. My heart shattered. It wasn’t Kade. My father was carrying me away from the war. He cried; his steps were slow.
He had a wound on his face. It was bleeding. My eyes closed again, and this time, I knew it was the last time.
