All Chapters of THE THIRD MATING: Chapter 191 - Chapter 200

THIRD PERSON POV:Darius stood in the center of the clearing with his arms crossed, his eyes cold and scanning every face.The villagers stood frozen in place, some still holding sticks and stones from their performance, others clutching their children close.The air was thick with fear and the smell of smoke from dying fires.“Search every building,” Darius ordered. “Every corner. Every hole in the ground.”His men spread out immediately, eight of them, knives drawn, moving. They kicked open doors, flipped over tables, tore through storage baskets, and ripped mats from floors. The villagers stepped back silently, their eyes wide.Inside the elder hut near the center, Ronan and Silas lay completely still under the low shelf, covered by a thick pile of woven mats.They could hear boots stomping closer, the sound of wood splintering, voices barking in Darius’s pack dialect.The door to their hut slammed open.Kael, one of Darius’s younger enforcers, lean and sharp-eyed, stepped inside.

RONAN:But before anyone could move, a sharp, distant sound echoed from high in the sky.A jet. One that I recognized. Jerome’s jet.Darius’s head snapped toward the sound.He smiled again, slowly.The jet’s engines roared louder as the ramp dropped midair before the wheels even touched the ground. Soldiers from our pack poured out fast, fighters, thirty or more, rifles slung, knives at their hips, moving in tight formation.Jerome had come. He didn’t know where Silas and I were, but he found a way and got here at the perfect moment.Relief hit me immediately. Now my faith in Lyra’s safety was even stronger, knowing we were no longer outnumbered.Darius watched the soldiers spread out, then looked up at the jet hovering low.A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face. He cracked his neck once.“I was hoping you’d bring backup,” he said. “Makes it more interesting. I’m ready.”He raised his hand. His men snapped into position behind him, knives out, shoulders squared, eyes locked o

THIRD PERSON POV:The clearing exploded into chaos the moment Darius dropped his hand.His men charged forward with a roar, their blades flashing under the sun, rifles raised high.Moonshadow soldiers from Jerome's jet didn't wait. They fired first, the sound echoing through the trees as bullets tore into Darius's front line.Two of Darius's enforcers fell immediately, their chests torn open.Ronan dove behind a low stone wall near the elder hut, pulling Silas with him. “Stay low!” he shouted over the gunfire. Silas nodded, grabbing a fallen staff from a villager and peeking over the edge.He swung it hard, cracking it against the knee of a rushing Darius man. The attacker screamed as his leg buckled, but Silas followed up with a stomp to the throat, silencing him forever.The villagers saw their opportunity, and they ran back this time. They ambushed from the sides, using the trees and huts for cover. The alpha led them, his staff whirling like a storm.He caught one of Darius's men

RONAN:I was ready to end this here and now, but before I could do anything, Cole appeared in front of me, tears in his eyes.Could this be what my mind is telling me?“Her last wish is to see you one more time, Ronan, but she's not going to make it.” Cole's words flew toward me like smoke. They weren't clear. They weren't believable.I immediately turned around. The alpha and I sprinted toward the elders' hut as he led the way. He must have understood what was happening even without understanding what Cole was saying.I ran like my life depended on it, because it does.Lyra, please don't do this to me. I beg of you, even if you can't hear me.We have a pup to raise together. Tears ran down my eyes as I increased my speed, running even past the alpha that led. I picked up her scent, following it. I changed route, following a shorter path. The alpha also followed behind.****COLE:I turned to Silas and Jerome. “Lyra is dying, and we all have to be with her.” Tears couldn't stop.Silas

RONAN:“Just tell me you're crying because the baby is cute. Please don't say anything else,” I cried, my voice breaking.Jerome reached out slowly and took the baby from my arms, holding her like she was made of glass. His hands shook a little as he cradled her close, almost like he was trying to shield her from whatever pain was coming next.“Lyra, please clean up and come out,” I said again, louder, tears running down my face. “We don't have much time.”Silas put a heavy hand on my shoulder. His eyes were red, full of tears he was trying to hold back. “I'm sorry, bro,” he whispered.“Sorry for what, Silas?” I asked, pretending to be confused. My voice cracked. “Sorry that I'm holding my child? What is there to be sorry about?”I pushed myself up to my feet, trying to act like everything was okay. But my legs felt weak. My chest hurt like someone was squeezing my heart. Mara slid down the wall and folded into herself, sobbing quietly into her hands.“Lyra!” I screamed at the top of