The Cost of Power

Serena lay cold and shivering on the ground as her mind buzzed in a fog of confusion and fear. The terrible pain in her head, like reality was pulling her in two directions. Her scream was still echoing, just the sound of her breath, shallow and frantic, as she struggled to bring herself back to a place of control.

Lucian knelt down next to her, hand over her shoulder without touching. Anxiety was painted on there, and something in his eyes — fear, maybe, or worry — was something Möbil couldn’t quite identify.

“Serena,” he said, his voice cracking. “Stay with me.”

She was rolling onto her back and then sitting up, the world whirling around her, her head as heavy as a block of iron. The clearing was still, eerily so, as if it had been frozen for centuries. Scattered around were the battered bodies of the rogue wolves. It was too much power inside of her, threatening to consume her whole.

She had accepted that it was happening, that there was no stopping it now. But when the weight of it settled on her shoulders, when the full meaning of what was unfolding around her began to sink in, she realized how much of it she wasn’t ready for. It was out in the open, and with that came the fear that she would not be able to handle it. What had once appeared to be something she could control now seemed a force so massive that it was beyond her reach, too potent to be tamed. And she didn’t know if she was strong enough to carry it, or if she was losing herself to the process.

Lucian’s voice cut through her thoughts once more. “ Serena, we have to take you back to the pack.”

“Don’t…” Serena’s voice was harsh; she held up a hand to stop him. “ Elias is coming with the army, we fight.”

“Serena,” he whispered, and the name pierced the fog. “ I do not want you getting hurt.

She rolled over, yet was still groining in pain. The golden stains on her palms were gradually losing their colours. Her head as heavy as lead, the world around her spinning. The clearing was still, eerily so, as if everything had been frozen in time.

Lucian’s voice broke through her thoughts once more. “ Serena we need to get you help."

“No, I'm fine” Serena’s voice came hoarse; she raised a hand to halt him. “ There's no going back, Elias Army is on the way and mum is still rogue.

It was as if the air around them was humming with unsaid sentences, the universe being born full to bursting with possibility. In the distance the sound of marching feet began to swell. Elias and his army were coming. Time was running out.

“ Guards the border,” Lucian's voice came in a firm and commanding tone. Dorian loyal as ever, had agreed without much question and instantly found his attention elsewhere.  Lucian, on the other hand, had respectfully but securely lifted Serena up off the floor and onto solid ground, his hand hovering merely above her back without ever making contact.

Serena stared into a space blankly. She wasn’t staring at the fallen bodies of the rogue wolves littering the clearing. Her head had other ideas, far too distracted by the storm brewing inside her. There was too much strength in her, a power she couldn’t harness threatening to consume her with every breath. She had come to terms with it being real, but now that the floodgates had opened, she didn’t know whether she could last through it. It was a lot to bear, and made her feel so small and fragile; she didn't know if she would even be able to survive, let alone be prepared for, the change coming.

“Lucian,” Serena said, her voice subdued now, though her heart was still pounding. “Do you know why this is happening?

“ It’s the prophecy, you might have to do a sacrifice you know.

" What sacrifice? I don't understand.” Serena with her brow creased in confusion despite the pain she was still suffering.

" The Onyx wolf entwined with two Alpha but has to break one to survive."  Lucian stared at everything but her face. They were already so close to the pack house. Serena's eyes widened in suprise when it finally dawned on her

“ But do I have to choose one of you?"

Lucian’s eyes softened; a brief gaze of understanding and morning blazed. “You risk losing yourself. You will be torn between two worlds, none of which is entirely yours. You might never find peace.”

“And if I embrace my fate?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“Then you become the Alpha you were always meant to be,” Lucian replied, no uncertainty in his voice. “But with great power comes great responsibility.

Serena’s thoughts raced. She’d always been pulled between the pull of the pack, the pull of herself, and now the pull with herself with her power. Was she ready to make that sacrifice? To embrace the destiny written for her, that would tear her apart?

The sound of marching footsteps always got louder, this time nearer. She felt Elias’s army looming on the horizon, a black cloud hovering over them. There was no more waiting.

“ Serena…” Lucian’s voice was soft, almost a plea. “This is your choice. But no matter what you decide, I am with you. Always.”

Serena closed her eyes tight, letting his words wash over her. Never before had she felt so lost, so disempowered. But in that instant, she felt something snap inside her. Also Inside of her she felt the power, thrumming with life, waiting to be released. It was about so much more than being an Alpha. It was about what that power could do — what she could do with it.

Her eyes sprang open, and for the first time, she realized what she had to do.

“ Elias and the Silver Reige park is coming,” she said pointedly, her voice was weak. It was like life was slowly slipping out of her.

" Serena we are almost there."

" We need to go back." That was the last thing she muttered before her eyes clamped shut.

Lucian’s eyes widened, his mouth opening in astonishment. But before he could utter a word, the ground shook below them. A guttural, thunderous roar rippled the trees around them, mingling with the sound of Elias’s army, charging toward them in deafening waves.

Lucian increased his speed and got to the pack house.

"Gather everyone to the underground secret tunnels." He ordered one of the pack warriors. "Get the pack doctor now!" He said dropping Serena with some of the elders, before running back to the border.

With his heart racing, Lucian arrived at the border. Immediately he got there, a masked person drew a sword and was charging towards Dorian. Dorian was so focused on defeating the person in front of him that he didn't see the attacker behind.

" DORIAN!" Lucian yelled. As Dorian turned around a sword was pierced through him.