Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Zena watched as Knox and his soldiers shifted into their wolves and went on to go after her comrades. She chuckled to herself as her grin got even wider; though Knox was powerful, he and his thirteen guards were no match for her fifty rogue soldiers.

And those backup soldiers would never make it to the battleground.

Why?

Because Zena was going to kill those two soldiers and Lydia before they even got to the palace. She would say it over and over again because even the mere thought of it filled her with immense  delight.

She wasted no time before shifting into her wolf form as well; a brown–furred wolf that matched with the colour of her hair and orange eyes with a tinge of black.

It was time to unleash havoc.

Her predatory eyes glimmered in the moonlight as she sprang into motion, her steps stomping against the forest' damp soil. She could see Lydia and the two guards in a distant blur, their forms barely visible against the backdrop of darkness.

However, her eyed were fixed on her target, her exhales coming out in ragged breaths. Each second passed and she  was gradually closing the gap between them.

It wasn't until she was almost close enough to take a swipe before the soldiers and Lydia noticed her presence, and that was because Zena had masked her scent perfectly.

However, it was too late to dodge her attack. Her sights were already set on one of the guards and he barely had time to react before her jaws snapped shut around his throat.

A bone–chilling growl emitted as she tackled him to the floor, tearing off his head from the hinges of his neck. The guard's startled yelp were immediately stifled by the crushing force of her jaws and the uproot of his head.

"Oh my goodness!" Lydia's scream sliced through the night as she witnessed the head of the soldiers roll off, blood and bits littering the scene.

The second guard immediately shifted into his wolf form, he had to protect the Luna at all costs. Zena looked away from the dead guard with a snarl. She faced the second guard, her jaw stained with blood and she bared her crimson–stained teeth in a malicious snare

Lydia immediately communicated with her husband via mind–link, that she was being attacked. Panic and anxiety flooded her veins and her body was trembling with fear as she wondered how she could stay safe until her husband arrived.

"I won't let you lay your hands on our Luna, not at all." The guard said, but Zena didn't have the luxury of time to engage in a back–and–forth with him.

Actions spoke louder than words. So, Zena growled and then she launched herself at the soldier, targeting his flank. And then, she sank her teeth into his fur with a snarl. .

The soldier yelped in pain, giving Zena the needed opportunity to lay in the finishing attack. Her jaw quickly found his neck and the next that followed was the severe crack of bone, the taste of blood consuming her as she tore into him.

The guard's struggles grew feeble, his form shaking before he finally went limp.  Zena released him and his lifeless body dropped to the floor.

Her sharp gaze immediately darted to Lydia who flinched at the contact. Her eyed were wide with fear and her breath came in shallow gasps. Her hand was over her protruded belly as her heart raced, pounding against her ribs.

Zena's orange eyes gleamed with intensity as she advanced towards the pregnant woman, moving with calculation. Lydia moved backwards as Zena approached her, her instincts screamed at her to run from the ranger. But her body felt like if was rooted to the ground.

Moreover, where would she run to? She couldn't defend herself, that was because a heavily pregnant wolf couldn't shift into her wolf form.

It was either Knox stepped in immediately to save her or….

She tripped over a stone and fell to the ground, wincing. Zena let out a low growl and Lydia's fingers clawed the earth beneath her as her palms scraped against the cool dirt, her eyes trembling in fright.

"You know, Lydia, you haven't personally wronged me in any way. I habour no personal grudges against you." Zena spoke, her voice cold and icy. 'However, your existence—your very presence—is a reminder of the pain inflicted upon me many years ago.'

The pregnant woman's breath hitched, her lips quivering in terror, 'P–please, I beg you. Spare me." Her voice trembled as she spoke, "I haven't done anything to you. I'm innocent—" she paused, looking down at her baby and then back at the angry wolf before her with teary eyes. "—I'm carrying a child."

Zena's gaze of loathe did not falter, not even one bit, neither did the resolve in her heart to kill. "Innocence is a luxury I can no longer afford," she replied. "Your father-in-law did to my mother what I'm about to do to you. It's only fair, don't you think?" she added, a sinister chuckle punctuating her words.

Lydia could hear her own frantic heartbeats in her ears and tears started to stream down her eyes, "Please, have mercy. Spare me and my unborn child. We're innocent."

Zena growled, "Mention that word innocence again and I'll make your death even more painful!" Her angered words sliced through the air.

Lydia's hands clasped together in plea, "I'm sorry, please. All I ask is mercy. I know—" a sniffle paused her words, "—I know I'm not innocent but at least, have mercy, please."

She tilted her head, "Mercy?" She mused, speaking the word like it left a better taste in her mouth, and it did. "Mercy is something you won't find in my heart tonight. Not at all."

"Please, I—"

Zena's sudden movement interjected whatever futile plea Lydia wanted to voice out. She lunged forward, her claws projected and they collided with Lydia's fair skin.

Her eyes widened as her strangled scream filled the air as the pain exploded through her, red–hot and searing. She fell to her knees, clutching her abdomen.

Her pristine white dressed was immediately stained with crimson, a mighty gush of blood emitting from her mouth.

"Please…. spare…..us…." her voice, a broken whisper.

Zena's predatory eyes bore into Lydia's, "I told you. There is no mercy here." She said, her eyes glinting in menance. "Only revenge."

And with that, Zena's claws descended once more into Lydia's abdomen, sealing her fate. And she enjoyed every second of her chilling screams of pain, enjoying even more, her lifeless body bleeding unto the ground.