Serena
I hurried to the location of Moonlight Hills, almost stumbling over the rocks beneath my feet. Time was running out, and I needed to reach the site before it was too late. The Trial of the Moon was expected to end in death, and while I hoped it would be Romin, a part of me worried for Damon.
“Hurry, Serena! Damon needs you!” The voice of my wolf echoed in my head, adding to the weight of my concern. The twilight's cold breeze stung my skin, but the chill inside me was more unsettling. I shouldn't have left Damon. I shouldn't have abandoned him when he was lost and needed me the most.
What if it's too late to reach him now?
Tears threatened to escape, and I hastily wiped them away. Running down the hill, I resisted the urge to let out a loud sob. This wasn't the time to cry. Blood Rose needed me, and I was determined not to let them down.
Climbing a large boulder, I tried to witness the ongoing fight. Scanning the ground, I spotted the pack. People clustered together, surrounding the false Alpha and the true heir engaged in a life-and-death struggle. I covered my mouth as my eyes landed on the injured, nearly lifeless wolf. Damn it! I might have arrived too late!
"DON'T YOU DARE CLOSE YOUR EYES! IF YOU DO, THEN YOU ONLY PROVE THAT YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A LOSER! GET UP, DAMON! THINK ABOUT YOUR MOM AND DAD! THINK ABOUT OUR CHILD! THINK ABOUT EVERYONE ROMIN KILLED JUST TO CLAIM THE ALPHA SEAT OF BLOOD ROSE!”
I shouted at the top of my lungs, hoping Damon could still hear me amidst the chaos. The people of Blood Rose turned their eyes towards me, curious to see who boldly cheered for the seemingly losing heir. They gasped as they saw me standing among them.
I saw Damon flinch but not rise. Perhaps he was still processing if this was reality or a hallucination.
"LOOK AT ME, DAMON! IT’S ME, SERENA, YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE!"
The crowd gasped as I proudly declared my role in Damon's life. Smiles of approval spread among them, acknowledging me as Damon's mate and sharing the hope for a positive outcome.
"YOU CAN DO THIS, DAMON! SHOW HIM WHAT YOU'VE GOT! THE MOON GODDESS IS WITH YOU! WE ARE ALL WITH YOU! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
My cries resonated through the sacred valley. Ashford, Tori, Alexei, and the members of the Asteria pack finally arrived, acknowledging me with a nod before adding their voices to the collective support for Damon from those who believed in him.
“Damon, you've got this! We believe in you. Damon! Damon! Damon!”
They led the crowd in chanting his name, and I joined in, of course. Then, I witnessed Damon slowly rising to his feet, and my mouth stretched into a proud smile.
“Serena! Allow me to take over so Damon’s wolf can sense me. This is the only way to save him!”
Guided by my wolf, Remus, I embraced the transformation, closing my eyes and surrendering to my wolf instinct.
This metamorphosis was one of the most surreal experiences I had ever undergone. In the blink of an eye, my original features vanished, revealing Remus' platinum-white wolf to Blood Rose for the first time. Seeing their astonished reaction, I resisted the urge to bow my head. Something inside me insisted that I should embrace this transformation, loud and proud.
Leaping onto an elevated portion of the ground, I released a howl. It felt different, as if my energy was being drawn out of my body and dispersed in the air. The other men shifted and joined me on the elevated ground, contributing to the howling like a choir singing an incomprehensible tune.
Suddenly, tiny sparkles enveloped Damon's body, resembling a cloud of pixie dust appearing out of nowhere. Slowly, these magical specks entered Damon’s body, and if that wasn't enchanting enough, his wounds miraculously healed. Within a few seconds, he was back to his unscathed self.
Romin emitted a fierce growl, his disbelief evident in his wild, beast-like demeanor. Reverting to his wolf form, he lunged forward, revealing sharp teeth and claws. Another clash ensued, this time favoring the four-legged wolf.
On the ground, they wrestled for dominance. When Romin found himself beneath the gallant black copper wolf, he clamped his massive jaw onto Romin's neck. Despite Romin's efforts to dislodge Damon, the force Damon exerted was so immense that it tore through half of Romin’s neck, allowing crimson liquid to flow onto the sacred land.
Gradually, Romin returned to his original form, struggling to rise and covering his hand to stem the blood. Damon approached, now changed back to his original form. He sat at eye level.
"If it weren't for that she-wolf, I would have killed you," Romin said.
Damon remained unfazed. "That is our difference, Uncle. My strength is my connection. Great wolves surround me, giving me their love and support. While you, you will die alone."
Romin smirked. "At least I sired an heir who will surely avenge my death."
"Oh, didn't you hear?" Damon mocked. "The child Tori was carrying wasn’t yours. It’s from her mate, Alexei. They're probably planning their wedding now and their lives together."
Romin's face lost its color. He looked at Damon and pleaded. "No! It’s all a lie! That’s my baby! You’re lying!"
Just then, Tori and Alexei stepped forward, and I joined them. We all looked at Romin with pity. Meanwhile, Tori was crying, gazing at him with disgust.
“The child I am carrying will never be yours. We will erase you from our memories. Go to Sheol carrying the weight of your sins! Justice has been served for all of us whose lives were destroyed because of you!”
The rest of us spat at Romin as life slowly left him. The moment he closed his eyes, a cry of triumph rose among us.
It was over. Romin was gone.
The night sky was shrouded in darkness, yet fear no longer gripped us. Tonight marked the birth of a new era, bringing the promise of a brighter tomorrow.