Early the next morning, we resumed our trek.
With his keen eyes searching the landscape for any indication of danger, Lucas walked next to me.
His voice was firm yet low as he remarked, "We should rest soon. We need our strength if we encounter difficulties because we have been walking for hours."
Despite my body's protests against stopping, I nodded. I knew he was correct, but the need to get to Nightshade blazed like a flame inside me. We could not risk being unprepared and stumbling into Oliver's turf.
Lucas froze when we came to a little clearing, his hand out to stop me.
"Heard it?" His body tensed as he whispered.
As I listened, I strained my hearing and became more perceptive. There was a slight rustle from the woods up ahead, and then the distinct sound of low voices.
Lucas stepped protectively in front of me and said, "Stay close."
We approached the source of the commotion with caution, and as we turned a corner, a pack of wolves appeared. Their clothes were ragged, their faces were suspicious, and they had a rugged appearance. Rogues.
We were first noticed by one of them, a tall man with numerous scars on his face. With his hand on a dagger hilt at his belt, he took a step forward.
"Who are you?" His voice was rough as he commanded. "And why are you on our land?"
Lucas's body was still coiled like a spring, but he raised his hands in a sign of peace. Evenly, he stated, "We're not here to fight. We are only traveling through."
As he examined us, the man's eyes narrowed. "You're passing through? It doesn't appear to be. You smell like a pack wolf."
With my heart racing, I took a step forward. I blurted out, "We're not here to cause trouble. We're trying to stop Oliver."
The group erupted when Oliver's name was mentioned. A short-haired woman spat on the floor, her face contorting into a sneer.
"Oliver," she murmured resentfully. "What does a pack wolf like you care about stopping him?"
I paused, looking at Lucas, who nodded slightly. I took a deep breath, and met the woman's gaze.
Despite the tremble in my chest, I spoke steadily and said, "Because he's destroyed everything I care about. And I'm not going to allow him to harm anybody else."
The scarred guy chuckled harshly. "For someone like you, those are big words. Why do you think you can defeat him?"
I took a step closer and continued, "Because I have to. Oliver has wronged too many people. He must be stopped because he is a tyrant."
The group's mistrust was evident as they exchanged doubtful looks.
With her arms crossed, the woman questioned, "And how exactly do you plan to do that? You and your boyfriend don't exactly look like an army."
Lucas looked offended by the comment but kept silent allowing me to talk.
I acknowledged, "I know it sounds impossible, but I'm not asking you to believe in me. I'm urging you to have confidence in yourselves. You've seen what Oliver is capable of. You know what he's done to anyone who has dared to oppose him."
The scarred man's jaw tensed, and the woman's eyes grew darker. I persisted even though I could see the anguish and rage on their faces.
I went on, my voice getting louder, "I've seen it too. My guardian was killed by him. Crescent Grove was devastated by him. Without hesitation, he has destroyed packs and families. And he will continue until nothing is left if we don't stop him."
With narrowed eyes, the scarred man took a step forward. His voice was low as he said, "You talk a good game. But in this place, words don't really mean anything. Oliver, you want to stop him? Show it."
His challenge weighed heavily on me as I gulped. "What are you expecting me to do?"
He looked at me for a long time and then pointed to the others. He said, "Tell us everything. Tell us about Oliver's treatment of you. We will know if you're lying."
I looked at Lucas, and he nodded reassuringly. I inhaled deeply before starting to share my story with them.
I informed them about Nightshade and Oliver's treatment of the other omegas and me. I informed them of Leo's execution for a crime he did not commit. I told them about the damage Oliver had caused to Crescent Grove.
I noticed the rogues' faces change as I talked. Their doubts started to fade, giving way to rage and, at last, what appeared to be comprehension.
The wind rustling through the trees was the only sound in the clearing when I was done.
Slowly, the scarred guy nodded while looking directly into my eyes. Gruffly, he remarked, "You've been through hell. I'll give it to you. However, it would be suicide to fight Oliver."
"Perhaps," I responded firmly. "But it's worse to do nothing."
The woman moved forward, a puzzled look on her face. She remarked, "You're asking us to risk everything. What makes you worthy of our trust?"
I said, "Because I'm risking everything too. And because Oliver will continue to tear us apart if we don't stand together."
With my comments lingering in the air, the group fell silent once more. The scarred guy finally sighed deeply.
"You have courage," he remarked. "But you need a plan if you're going to do this."
I felt a glimmer of optimism in my chest. I replied, "Then assist us. Assist us in stopping him."
The woman glanced at the man and gave a grudging nod.
"All right," he said. "We'll listen to you."
"All right," I murmured, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.
Lucas looked at me as the rogues started talking strategy. He smiled slightly at me, and for the first time in a long time, I thought we might have a shot.
However, I felt in my heart that this was just the start. The path ahead would not be simple, and Oliver would not be defeated easily.
However, we had allies for the time being. And it was the beginning.
With my luggage draped over my shoulder and a weary but determined heart, I stood at the edge of the woodland. Beside me were Lucas and Maia, whose faces reflected mine: a mixture of resolve and melancholy.Cain came toward us, his eyes full of resolution but his face etched with fatigue. Although he had been among Oliver's most devoted soldiers, the insurrection had altered him. We were leaving him in control after he had fought with us and put his life in danger for the pack."Are you sure about this?" he said softly.I gave a nod. "Cain, you're the greatest option. You are trusted by the pack. They will follow you."He paused, his eyes darting between Maia and Lucas. "How about the three of you? Where are you going?""Somewhere new," was all I said. "A place where we can start again."Cain's face softened as he nodded. "You've done enough for this pack. More than sufficient. Go if this is what you need. We'll be alright."I said my
In the broken remnants of Nightshade's great hall, the firelight wavered, creating unsettling shadows on the stone walls. I had nothing left to offer the pack, but they continued to hover, perhaps awaiting guidance. There was still a weight in my chest. I didn't feel like I had won, even though Oliver was defeated and his rule was overthrown by the people he used to rule.Sitting next to me on a splintered wooden bench, Maia was looking off into space as she absently traced a scar over her arm. Ever the guardian, Lucas stood a few feet away, his gaze sweeping the still audience.After a long pause, Lucas whispered, "They need a leader." He spoke in a quiet, wary tone. "Someone to rebuild what's left."Slowly, I nodded. "They need someone," I said, then looked over at Maia.She stiffened as I stared at her. "Don't even think about it."I cocked my head. "Why not?"She gave a dry laugh, but it was devoid of any humor. "Becaus
The trumpet's call echoed through the broken remains of Nightshade, a sound that once sent fear rippling through the pack but now carried a different weight. A summons. A reckoning.I stood in the heart of the pack's gathering grounds, where months ago, I had watched Leo be condemned to death. My fingers tightened into fists at my sides as I forced myself to take in every detail... the stone platform, the lofty arches, the wooden beams above that had once felt oppressive. The torches flickered, casting long shadows against the walls, just like they had that night.Only this time, it wasn't Leo standing before the pack.It was Oliver.He was on his knees in the center of the hall, bound, his body battered and broken. Blood matted his dark hair, his once-imposing body slumped forward in exhaustion. The very warriors who had formerly battled under him stood around the perimeter of the hall, their gazes flitting between me and the fall
There was silence on the battlefield.The silence was not one that resulted from relief or tranquility. It was the thick, stifling type that comes after a storm, as though the world itself was holding its breath. The ground was covered in fallen people, and the air was heavy with the smell of smoke and blood. With a mixture of amazement and incredulity, the rebels who had survived the slaughter and were still standing glanced at Anna.Oliver was lying at her feet, immobile and broken. His burnt body stood out sharply against the blood-soaked ground below, and his once-imposing figure had now collapsed into a crumpled heap. He was not yet dead, but he was very nearly so. His chest rose and fell in weak, irregular spasms, and his breaths were shallow.With her shoulders heaving and her hands still burning dimly from the last of her power, Anna stood over him. Her hair was knotted and wild, and her face was stained with blood and filth, but her ey
All I could do was observe.My entire existence begged me to step in, step in, and support Anna as she faced Oliver alone. However, I was unable to.I shouldn't.This was her fight.Standing opposite Oliver, Anna's body was bruised and covered in blood, yet her unwavering will remained burning. I had never seen the raw electricity crackle in the air around her before. It was hazardous, untamed, and wild. There was nothing weak about the dim glow that flickered from her palms, like a fading ember. The ground beneath her boots seemed to be reacting to her, quivering in expectation of what lay ahead.Oliver rolled his shoulders and grinned as though this were merely a minor annoyance. I shuddered at his self-assurance. For so long, he had ruled by terror, destroying anybody who tried to oppose him. He now considered Anna to be simply another idiot who believed they could prevail.However, she wasn't.
The battlefield was a bloody, chaotic nightmare.The night was filled with screams as the rebels gave it their all in battle, but Oliver's forces were unrelenting and mercilessly defeated us. My muscles ached from the never ending battle, and I was breathing in ragged breaths, but there was no time to pause. Another life was lost with every second that passed.Maia was down.Across the field, I saw her fall, hitting the ground with a horrible crack. As I surged at her, avoiding an enemy's claws at the last second, my stomach knotted in terror."Maia!" I fell on my knees next to her. Her breathing was shallow, and blood was leaking from a deep wound along her shoulder.Her body trembled uncontrollably as she attempted to push herself up. "I'm fine," she rasped, but I could tell she wasn't."You're not," I said as I applied pressure to the cut. My palm was stained by the warmth of her blood, and my chest developed a hollow hole.Lucas s