The Lost Beta 9 - The Storm's Teeth

Lightning flashed behind Lucien reflecting a shadow as though bending to his will in the darkness. He showed no fear, wore a smile widened sharp, cold and triumphant despite the thunder rumbling above.

Emily felt a lot of pain in her ribs as she tried standing up on her feet. Her legs shook under the weight of tiredness and fear, still she lifted her head up high. She would not cower for him. Not now.

Alexander moved ahead of her, his body clenched and ready to attack. At his hip, his hand moved to the blade's hilt. It seemed like the final inch of rope before the noose tightened, the gap between them and Lucien.

"You've run long enough," Lucien said in a low, almost pleased voice. “Did you think your little rebellion could outlast me?”

No one spoke. The rain started falling heavily, hitting the scorched earth hard. 

No one will listen to you after killing you. 

Rain started to descend and it met the parched ground. 

When Emily finally found her voice, it was raspy yet firm. “We won’t let you bury the truth.”

---

The world was obscured by shifting shadows as the rain grew faster and fell in sheets. When Lucien raised his hand, shapes appeared from the tree's five, ten, or twelve devoted rogues at his quiet command.

Emily’s stomach dropped. They were surrounded.

Alexander moved to protect her, his body grazing hers in a way that made her feel both frightened and grounded. This was the moment every nightmare had promised her: Lucien, closing in.

“Stay put,” Alexander whispered, his voice a low rasp.

“No I won't, all of these are becoming too much,” she whispered back.

Lightning lanced the sky again, revealing the defiance in his eyes. “Then fight with me.”

She swallowed hard and reached for her dagger. She gripped the metal, even though it felt strange and chilly in her hand. No one would steal her again.

Lucien took a step closer, rain plastering his dark hair to his brow. “I warned you, Emily. I promised you that resisting me would only end in pain.”

“Then hurt me,” she said, voice breaking but unbowed. “I’d rather die free than kneel to you.”

---

One of Lucien’s wolves lunged, but Alexander met him with a snarl and a blade to the throat. The rogue collapsed in the mud, crimson blooming beneath him.

Chaos erupted. The others rushed forward in a crush of snarls and silvered steel. Emily fought to keep her footing as bodies collided.

She stabbed at an attacker’s ribs, felt the jolt as the blade struck true. Pain tore across her forearm as another rogue’s claws raked her skin.

Alexander was a blur beside her, all feral grace and deadly precision. She had seen him fight previously, but never to the extent that it was motivated by unbridled love as much as loyalty.

A nearby pine was split with a loud crack by lightning. Everything became still in the dazzling white shortly.

Lucien stood still and not bothered about all happening around him. He looked at Emily with a faint smile on his cheek.

"You will fail," he screamed at the top of his voice. “You are nothing without me.”

She felt the truth of it in her bones and rejected it anyway.

---

Emily's hands were washed clean by the rain as the battle continued. A rogue came for her, and she shrieked, but Alexander dragged her back into his chest, blocking the fatal blow with his blade.

When their gazes locked, she realized she had already changed in that one breath. The girl Lucien had tormented was gone.

“I will be by your side,” she panted, her voice had a blend of fear and vigor.

“You’d better not,” he growled and rested his forehead on hers. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

Another rogue rushed them. In a twinkle of an eye, Alexander spun and caught him across the throat. Emily's gut churned as blood gushed out as the man fell, but she made herself stay upright.

"We must reach the vault," she exclaimed. “If we don’t”

“I know,” Alexander said, voice grim. “But he’ll never let us go.”

“Then we make him.”

She experienced a sense of hope for the first time since the night her family died. Together, they were stronger even during the storm.

---

Lucien moved at last, striding through the carnage with unhurried confidence. His wolves fled in different directions as he approached.

The air itself seemed to hold its breath immediately he lifted his hands. “End this. Come with me now, and I will spare him.”

Emily’s chest seized. She knew he meant it. Lucien had always been a man of his word when it suited him.

Alexander held her by the arm firmly, he didn't look or say a word to her, but she felt the question in the tension of his body.

She could end this, save Alexander’s life if she surrendered.

But she would lose herself all over again.

Her throat worked as she swallowed hard despite the terror staring at her in the face. “You can’t have me,” she said, voice raw.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. “Then he dies.”

The choice crystallized inside her like lightning frozen in glass. She stepped forward, past Alexander, past every fear that had ever chained her.

“I would rather burn,” she said, lifting her blade, “than be your prisoner.”

---

Lucien’s lips parted in something between amusement and fury. “So be it.”

He lunged.

Everything dissolved into motion. As Lucien's claws touched her hair, Emily dodged the initial blow and felt the rush of air. With a yell, Alexander swung his knife at Lucien, but Lucien was too quick, turning the corner and backhanding Alexander into the muck.

Emily let out a scream and charged ahead. She used all of her strength to swing her dagger. She felt a crunch as Lucien grabbed her wrist and twisted it.

Pain burst white behind her eyes. She staggered for a while and fell on her knees.

“You should pick your battles carefully,” Lucien yelled with one hand pressing her throat.

Through the haze, she saw Alexander rising, blood streaming from his temple. She saw Selene appear on the edge of the clearing, a crossbow in her hands.

Lucien didn’t notice. His attention was only on her. “I made you,” he whispered. “I can unmake you.”

Emily’s vision darkened, but her hand found the silver crest at her throat. The symbol of her family, the proof he could never erase.

---

Her fingers closed around the crest, and she drove it into Lucien’s cheek.

He howled, staggering back. Blood welled beneath the silver.

Emily collapsed, choking on air. Alexander lunged past her, ramming his blade into Lucien’s side. The Alpha’s roar shattered the rain-choked silence.

Selene lost her bolt. It struck Lucien’s shoulder, pinning him to the split pine.

Alexander held Emily close and dragged her back. She couldn't see properly, but she felt comfort as his heart beats against hers.

“You’re safe,” he panted, in a shaky tone. “Stay with me.”

Lucien ripped the bolt free and straightened, blood soaking his side. “This is only but the beginning,” he snarled and gazed at Emily for a moment with a promise of vengeance that sent a chill down her spine.

He disappeared into the woods.

The storm howled around them, but for one breath, there was only quiet.

---

Alexander held Emily delicately in his arms, he stared at her wrist bleeding, her throat scratched. Every part of her body was in severe pain, but she was alive.

Selene approached, crossbow lowered. “You're a woman with great courage,” she muttered.

Emily tried speaking but couldn't.

Alexander kissed her on her temple. “You chose yourself,” he whispered, voice fierce. “You chose us.”

Her eyes become soft. “I couldn’t let him win.”

“You didn’t.”

Selene knelt, her gaze searching. "He'll return to get you."

Emily nodded, the terror coiling in her chest but her heart calm. "We'll be prepared then."

The thunder shattered in the air and it made the forest tremble accordingly.

Despite the cold, Alexander's hands were firm and warm as he assisted her on her feet. “This ends with us.”

Emily looked into the storm and felt something ignite in her, a promise or maybe a purpose.

She would end this war. She would reclaim her

life.

No matter what it cost.

---

And somewhere beyond the trees, Lucien’s voice rose in the darkness, a ragged, furious vow.

“I will burn your pack to the ground.”