I try to calm myself to stay in control of my powers.
I have to save Damon.
Vivian runs towards me.
‘Come, Maia, I know you are in distress about the situation. Let us gather our thoughts, and we can put together a plan to save Damon,’
Before we can even devise a plan, the warriors are shouting.
‘Arm yourselves, prepare yourselves for war!’
I quickly run out of the hut.
‘What is going on?’ I ask the closest pack warrior.
We are going into the forest now for battle. King Fenris has already entered with his army.
Vivian and I gasp and run to find Troy. He is with the children hugging them.
‘Zayden, you are to stay here and look after your twin sisters. If we don’t return or win this war, I need you to leave and flee to Moon Crest Castle, where Eric will look after you all.’
Ella and Grace cry and run to Vivian.
‘It will be ok, girls. Zayden will protect you, stay close to him and behave like the little ladies I know you are,’ Vivian cries and hugs her daughters and turns to hug Zayden as she did Ella and Grace.
Ella and Grace sob and follow Zayden.
‘Maia, the war is about to begin. The army is waiting for your order to march forward into battle,’ Troy says.
I nod and run ahead. I am now in front of the army of warriors. They wait for my command.
‘My people,’ I yell.
They all immediately kneel.
‘As your Luna and Queen, I stand here today to fight by your side, free our Alpha and our King, and free everyone from the wrath of King Fenris!’
The warriors and villagers all cheer and roar. They begin to thump their chests with their fists in a beat of war.
It’s the same beat I heard in the dream I had.
I turn and start running towards the forest. I raise my right arm and create a ball of flame.
‘Charge!’ I yell.
They run into the forest following my lead, still beating their chests in rhythm.
We are in the forest, and I can see the army of soldiers charging toward us. The wolf warriors shift into their wolves. They are huge, at least three to four times the size of a regular wolf. They lunge at the soldiers, some yelp in pain as spears and swords of silver pierce their flesh. The heads of soldiers fly through the air after the werewolves rip their heads off. I throw balls of flame at the soldiers. One wolf has six soldiers on him. I quickly repel them back with the wind and make a wall of flame appear in front of them. The wolf gives me a nod of thanks and continues to kill other soldiers.
There are too many soldiers. We are outnumbered. I place my hands on the ground causing a large vibration to shake the ground beneath the soldiers racing toward us. They lose their balance and topple over each other. The wolves use this moment to strike and lunge at them, tearing their limbs off. Tears roll down my face as I look around to see many humans and werewolves are dead. Their bodies are scattered everywhere. There must be hundreds of dead already, and I know thousands more deaths will come. I need to find Damon, and I need to stop this war. I continue to use my powers. The soldiers fly back into the air. I stomp my foot and cause the ground to split open. Soldiers fall into the abyss. I keep moving around to avoid arrows flying through the air and the swords which swing in my direction.
There is no sign of King Fenris or Damon. I continue making my way through the army of soldiers. There is blood spattered all over me. I am surrounded by the screams of agony and the silence of death. Everything begins to spin as my breathing becomes heavy. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and open them again. I hear a familiar voice yell. It sounds like Hugo.
Running, I follow his yells as I fight through the soldiers. I now see Hugo. He looks pretty messed up. His hands are tied up. Soldiers are kicking him and throwing punches at him. A soldier swings his sword down. Hugo rolls just in time and avoids the blade’s strike, and he kicks the soldier in the groin the same way I did that day we fought each other at the training fields.
‘Hugo,’ I yell as I run towards him and throw flames at the soldiers.
I circle a soldier in a sphere of wind that lifts him off the ground, the soldier panics and drops his sword. With his wrists still bound in front, Hugo picks the sword up.
Hugo and I are back-to-back and lean up against each other. Hundreds of soldiers surround us. I gently place the soldier engulfed in the sphere of air gently onto the ground.
The soldiers have familiar faces. They seem conflicted and hesitant. The weapons they hold shake in their hands.
‘You are my friends, my people. I don’t want to harm you,’ I yell.
They all look at each other nervously.
‘This is not the answer. Bow to me, pledge your allegiance to me. Have me rule as your Queen in place of King Fenris. All he has given you is death, war and hunger! His ways are cruel, and I can see it in all of your eyes that you don’t want this. Accept me as your Queen, and let’s end this war!’ I yell.
The soldiers all begin to drop their weapons and bow. I let out a heavy sigh of relief as more follow, unarming themselves and bowing.
‘Long live the Queen, Long live the Queen!’ They shout. My pack warriors approach closer to the soldiers and now chant in unison. ‘Long live the Queen!’
I gesture for a warrior to free Hugo’s wrists. I cup Hugo’s face.
‘Hugo, where’s Damon?’ I ask.
‘I don’t know, kitten. King Fenris had separated us and told the soldiers to kill me,’
Everyone has stopped fighting. There are injured and dead everywhere. It’s a gruesome scene. Everyone looks around in sadness, and some begin to yell and cry when they find their brothers, fathers or friends amongst the dead. Vivian is tending to as many injured as she can.
‘Where is King Fenris?’ I shout in anger.
‘My love,’ he yells out.
I turn to see King Fenris. He has Damon in silver cuffs. He is covered in bruises and wounds.
‘Let Damon go,’ I command.
King Fenris laughs, grabs Damon by the hair, and swiftly holds a silver knife against his throat.
‘No!’ I scream.
I beg you, please don’t hurt him,’ I yell as I fall to my knees in distress.
The soldiers and the warriors face King Fenris as they wait for my orders.
‘You bunch of fools,’ He yells to the soldiers.
‘You choose this weak, foolish girl as your Queen?’ He yells.
Troy steps forward.
‘This girl is our Luna and Alpha King Damon’s mate. We have also discovered that the castle and lands you rule are rightfully Maia’s. The castle belonged to her parents, King Pyrus and Queen Lydia until your family wrongfully claimed it after wiping all the species out. Not only is she the legitimate heir to the throne she is the strongest and bravest girl I have ever met. She is far braver and wiser a ruler than you ever could be, Fenris!’ Troy spat.
King Fenris glares at Troy and stabs Damon in the abdomen.
‘No,’ I scream.
King Fenris holds the knife back to Damon’s throat. Damon is trying to put pressure on his wound.
