"Retreat! Retreat now!" Nadia screamed.
This was not how things were supposed to turn out. After Kasia lost control and went on a rampage, Victor had ordered her to take a small army, along with Kenneth and his rogues, to assault the Alpha King's territory. There shouldn't have been any opposition, but it was as if they were expecting them. How were these filthy beasts so organized?
"Where do you think you're going?" Lana's voice cut through the chaos behind her.
Nadia turned, sneering as she saw Lana standing there, dual blades glinting in the moonlight. The little cat thought she could stand against her? Pathetic. This was the perfect opportunity to deal another blow to Kasia, to make her pay for ruining everything.
"You're lucky that your pet saved you last time," Nadia taunted, gripping the dagger at her waist.
"Let's cut the chit-chat," Lana shot back, her grip tightening on her weapons. "I've been waiting to do this for a long time. I'm going to pay you back for everything you put Kasia through."
Nadia smirked, pulling out a gun with her free hand. Lana was fast, but she wasn't bulletproof. She fired and Lana barely managed to dodge. The bullet striking, going through her side, but Lana still closed the distance.
Lana kicked the gun out of Nadia's hand. Nadia countered with the dagger, but Lana spun out of the way blocking with her daggers. Steel clashed against steel as Lana's blades met Nadia's dagger. Each strike and counter were filled with rage.
Lana managed to slice Nadia's face and Nadia stumbled backward gripping her face. "You cut me! You actually cut me!"
"I am going to do more than that," Lana declared, rushing forward. She went more on the offensive where Nadia could only dodge and block. Nadia attempted to slash forward but lost her footing in the mud. Lana ducked under a wild slash and drove one of her blades across Nadia's throat. The woman gurgled, clutching her neck as blood poured from the wound. Lana watched, unflinching, as the life drained from Nadia's eyes.
Lily slammed a rogue's head hard into the ground before scooping the little boy into her arms. Her breath came in short, desperate gasps as she sprinted toward the shelter. She could hear the heavy footsteps behind her, could feel the threat closing in- but she couldn't stop. Not when she was carrying a life other than her own inside of her.
A hand latched onto her wrist, yanking her backward. The boy tumbled forward. "Run!" she shouted.
A familiar voice sent a cold chill through her. "Long time no see, Lily."
Kenneth.
Lily twisted, her stomach churning at the sight of him. "How dare you touch me!" she snarled, struggling to pry herself free.
Kenneth chuckled, amused by her fury. "I thought you'd be happy to see your mate."
"You disgust me. You were never my mate, and you never will be," she spat. "Kidnapping me won't save you."
Kenneth's smirk widened. "I don't need saving. Kasia is a lost cause. I plan on making you my Luna after I dig that bastard out of your stomach."
Lily froze. Her hands trembled, not with fear, but with fury. Before she could lash out, another voice growled low and deadly.
"You will get your hands off her."
Milo charged, fists swinging. Kenneth barely had time to react, releasing Lily as he dodged the strike. Milo positioned himself between them.
"Get to shelter, Lily."
Lily hesitated, her eyes locking onto the blood from his back staining his clothes. "But you-"
"I'll be fine. Go," Milo ordered, his voice firm as this was not a negotiation.
Kenneth smirked and winked. "See you soon, Lily."
Milo didn't give him the chance to say more. "You won't be seeing anyone but the Moon Goddess when she decides your fate."
Kenneth cracked his knuckles. "You really think you can take me on, cat?"
Milo flexed his fingers, his claws extending. "Let's find out."
Kenneth was stronger, faster, and Milo was still recovering. Each blow reopened wounds that hadn't fully healed. And then, an unknown force slammed into Milo's chest causing him to fall to his knees as he fought to catch his breath. Aimee stepped forward and rested a hand on Kenneth's shoulder; her presence thick with dark magic
"Oh, Milo, this is foolish. Just run along and stop interfering," she cooed.
"Do you really think Ethan is going to take you as his mate after everything you've done?" Milo asked.
"He won't have a choice. I have him wrapped around my finger, but you, Milo, need to worry about yourself," Aimee said. She waved her hand revealing more of Kenneth's followers.
Milo's stomach twisted. There was no telling how many of Kenneth's rogues were lurking in the shadows, hidden by her magic. But he had to take that risk. "I won't let you take her."
"Then we'll just kill you first," Aimee said.
"Lana!"
Lana snapped her head up from Nadia's lifeless body. Lily stood a few feet away, panting.
"Lily, what the hell are you doing out here? If Garrett finds out, he'll kill me!"
"Milo... he needs your help!" Lily gasped.
Lana's stomach dropped. "Where?"
"West side of the pack house."
Lana didn't hesitate. "Get inside. I'll handle it."
She sprinted through the battlefield, dodging past fallen bodies and clashing warriors. When she found Milo, her heart clenched. He was taking hit after hit, barely standing.
Her hand went to her pocket, fingers closing around the syringe. She had promised Ethan and Milo she wouldn't use it. She didn't know the full extent of its effects. But that didn't matter now.
She injected herself.
Pain ignited every nerve. Her vision sharpened. Sounds became clearer. A hunger unlike anything she had ever known coiled inside her. A hunger for blood.
She moved before she even processed it. Kenneth's rogues never saw her coming. Limbs snapped, necks shattered. Blood coated her hands, the scent intoxicating. The hunger roared louder, demanding more.
Aimee tried to fight back but was knocked aside by a body Lana threw at her. Kenneth turned, his eyes widening at the chaos that this human was causing.
"What the hell- ?"
Lana was on him before he could finish. He barely managed to block her first strike, but she was relentless. Each blow forced him back. His confidence wavered; his movements were more desperate to get away.
With a snarl, he turned and fled into the trees, Aimee scrambling after him.
Lana panted, watching them disappear. She took a step forward, ready to chase, but a hand grabbed her wrist. Instinct took over. She spun, seizing the person by the throat.
"Lana, it's me!" Milo choked out.
Her eyes widened. She released him instantly, stumbling back. "Milo... I'm sorry, I-"
His voice was gentle despite his wounds. "You need to feed."
She recoiled. "No. I can't-"
Milo cupped her face, tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. "You won't hurt me, Lana. Take what you need."
Her fangs ached. She could hear his pulse, steady and strong. When she leaned in, her lips brushing against his skin, she hesitated. But the hunger clawed at her, and she sank her fangs in.
His warmth filled her, steadying the chaos inside. The hunger dulled. Her mind cleared.
When she pulled away, Milo studied her with an unreadable expression.
"We'll deal with this later," he murmured.
"No," Lana whispered. Instinct guided her movements. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him. In a blink, they vanished from the battlefield.