lt's finally over.

Vera

The beast comes at me with everything it has, and in that moment I'm grateful for every mile I've ever run. Ten miles a day, every day, and right now that discipline is the only thing keeping me alive. The wolves are tearing at it. The lycans are slamming into it from every angle. None of it matters. This creature wants me dead, and it won't let anything stand in its way.

Then I catch it. More wolves. Pouring out from the direction of the packhouse. Within seconds, around fifty of them burst into the clearing with their fangs out and ready. These must be the ones who were holding the other borders.

I have to end this fast. We can't leave the borders open for long, and I refuse to lose anyone else.

I sprint toward the incoming wolves, scanning their ranks until I spot their lieutenant. The beast will be distracted for a few seconds by this fresh wave of attackers, so I use that window.

"I need you to buy me time! I have to get that spear out of its eye!"

He doesn't speak. He just nods and charges. His teeth sink deep into the beast's leg.

I run to where Noah, Lucas, and Eli are pulling themselves off the ground. I drop to my knees so I can look Noah directly in the eyes.

"Noah, I need you to throw me at the spear."

All three of them stare at me like I've lost my mind.

"I know how that sounds, but I need that spear back so I can blind its other eye. At least then we have a real chance."

Noah holds still for a second. Then he's on his feet. He moves me toward the creature. Once we're close and positioned at its side, he plants one massive paw against my middle.

Thank the Goddess for core strength, because he lifts me by my torso like I'm nothing more than a javelin and hurls me into the air.

As I fly upward, I realize Noah has massively overestimated how much I weigh. Or underestimated his own power. Either way, I'm shooting straight up, staring at the beast from directly below. Nowhere near my target. But from this height, I notice something. A tiny, blazing point of light on the top of its head.

I feel it before I understand it. A pulse of energy radiates from that light, like the source of everything this creature is. That's what I need to destroy. That's the target.

I come down hard, landing far from the beast, and Eli is there to catch me. His silver coat stands out against everything else.

"I hope you weren't the one who taught Noah how to throw."

He makes a sound close to a scoff and repositions me, lining me up for a direct launch at the spear.

I'm airborne again, this time on a perfect path toward the creature's face. Eli's aim is flawless. The beast doesn't even notice me coming.

I grab hold of the spear. The pull on its eyeball makes the beast scream and thrash its head wildly. I plant my feet against its face for leverage and yank the spear free. With my other arm, I grip its furry cheek. It tries to claw at me, but all it manages to do is rake its own face as I climb toward the top of its skull.

I move fast. When I reach the top, I see the light clearly. It's embedded in the beast's skull, buried under layers and layers of thick hair.

I raise the spear with both hands and drive it toward the light. The beast goes berserk, trying everything to throw me off while the wolves and lycans keep tearing into it.

The spear only goes halfway. I pull it back and adjust my position to try again. The beast drops to its knees, fighting with everything it has left. I dodge its hands as I search for a better angle, nearly losing my footing on its head more than once. I grab fistfuls of its thick fur and haul myself back into place. The wolves and lycans are giving everything they have, taking their cues from wherever I am in the air.

I find my opening and ram the spear down with every ounce of strength I have. The beast releases a horrible shriek. I'm getting closer to the light. But it isn't dead.

I need to go deeper. I need to drive the spear further in, but no matter how hard I push, it isn't enough. I'm not strong enough to do this alone.

I look down, desperate, searching for anything, anyone, when I feel a massive body climbing over mine. Every nerve in my body knows who it is before I even look. Noah.

He settles his weight over me and starts pushing the spear alongside me. The beast shrieks louder than before. We're both giving everything we have, but the creature's skull is too thick. I start to fear the spear will snap before we can finish this.

Then I catch movement from the corner of my eye. Eli is crawling toward us. He positions himself beside Noah and grabs the spear too, adding his strength to ours.

The three of us together. It's barely enough. But it is enough.

The spear tears into the light, and the beast crashes to the ground with a thunderous thud. One final, wretched shriek escapes it. All three of us fall with it. Noah wraps himself around me as we drop. We tumble across the ground, gasping for air, faces turned toward the sky, completely spent.

It's finally over.