Before the alarm horns sounded, we heard the first scream. It ripped across the courtyard like a dying, living thing. My heart stopped before my body did. After the warriors froze for 30 seconds, chaos broke out. Fire, not sunset, was the source of the red glow in the sky over the eastern ridge.
"Border breach!" was yelled.
For what was taking place, the word "border" seemed insignificant. This did not constitute a breach. It was an invasion.
Sharp and commanding, Kael's voice broke through the panic. "Archers to the north wall! Form ranks! Shiels forward!
His might swept across the courtyard, compelling submission. Everybody shifted. Everyone but me. I stood in the middle of it all, nausea gnawing at my throat and the smell of smoke filling my lungs.
Today was worse. the lightheadedness. My abdomen twisted sharply at the bottom. I steadied myself by pressing my hand against my stomach. No. Not right now. Not right now.
"Lyra." Kael appeared before me. His jaw was clenched. Already, there was a slight glow in his eyes. "Go inside."
As another explosion roared from the east, I fixed my gaze on him. "They are assaulting our border."
"I am aware."
"Then I'll be there."
His face became stern. "Tonight, you are not a warrior. You are being investigated. You'll remain indoors.
The distant explosions were not as powerful as the words. under investigation. Not Luna. No, buddy. not a friend.
suspicion.
I muttered, "I fought beside you before." "Or did you forget?"
His eyes wavered for a moment. To the connection. To the memory. After that, it stopped. "That was earlier."
prior to treachery. Prior to uncertainty. Prior to someone whispering poison into his ear.
Before he stopped staring at me as if I were his own.
"I refuse to remain indoors while our people die," I said.
"It wasn't a request."
Once more, the earth trembled. closer this time. Screams came next, closer as well.
My wolf rushed up against my flesh. Pride and suspicion didn't matter to her. Blood was important to her.
I moved without saying anything more.
Sharper than usual, pain tore through me. My bones cracked and reformed, briefly blurring my vision. With erratic breathing, I landed on all four paws.
"Lyra!" yelled Kael.
I continued.
I ran past him and in the direction of the eastern gate.
Smoke and the metallic smell of blood filled the air outside. The first line of defense had already been breached by the enemy wolves. Along the tree line, there were fires. They let out savage, victorious howls.
The pack of Blackwood Ronan.
They moved as if they had researched our defenses.
They were aware of the blind spots.
Our walls were showered with arrows, but too many enemy fighters managed to sneak through openings that shouldn't have been there.
Shouldn't have.
When the first wolf lunged at me, I tore into it. My claws penetrated the skin. My teeth came into contact with bone. He fell under me.
One more came in from the side. I twisted and just managed to deflect the blow. His claws grazed my flank. The pain flared. I disregarded it.
I heard Rowan's voice yelling commands behind me.
"Retract the third line!"
No. That was incorrect. It was not yet time for the third line to withdraw. The lower ridge was visible.
Why would he—
Just where the third line had just retreated, another explosion broke out.
Too exact.
I felt a violent twist in my stomach. This time, not from nausea. from awareness.
They were being guided by someone.
Before I could think further, a huge wolf crashed into me. We rolled on the ground. I was weaker than him. heavier. Just inches from my throat, his jaws snapped.
With my claws digging into his chest, I struggled. For a moment, my strength faltered. My vision went black for a moment.
Too feeble.
What's wrong with you?
He made another lunge.
All of a sudden, he was taken from me. Kael.
Tonight, his wolf was terrifying. bigger. It was as dark as a storm. With ruthless efficiency, he tore into the assailant. The dirt was splattered with blood. The adversary wolf did not reappear.
With fiery eyes, Kael turned to face me.
Shift.
I thought of the command.
I repositioned myself, barely able to stand. My legs shook.
He yelled, "You shouldn't be here."
"I'm alright."
I wasn't.
The world tilted a little. The sounds of combat blended together. Once more, my stomach tightened so tightly that I nearly passed out.
Kael took hold of my arm. "You look pale."
"I said I'm alright."
A horn blast came from the ridge before he could argue.
We didn't own that.
The earth shook.
Reinforcement.
A second wave had been sent by Ronan.
from the lower ridge.
The ridge that the third line was supposed to guard.
The ridge Rowan ordered pulled back..
When Kael realized it too, his eyes darkened.
He insisted, "Who gave the signal?"
Rowan emerged from behind us, panting. "They made an unexpected breakthrough. We were forced to retreat.
I stated, "That's not our strategy."
Rowan's cool, unreadable gaze slid to me. "Lyra, you are not in charge."
Before I could reply, Kael's focus returned to the battlefield.
Over the ridge came the second wave.
Too many.
Way too many.
Kael gave fresh commands. To make up for it, his warriors changed their formation. However, it was disorganized. Desperate.
Every move we made had been foreseen by the enemy.
My breath was taken away by a searing pain that shot through my lower abdomen. I stumbled.
I was caught by Kael. "You're trembling."
"I'm still capable of fighting."
Before he could argue, another warrior collided with us. I was freed by Kael to defend. I pushed myself to move again.
Blood. Claws. Fangs.
The conflict descended into chaos.
A fallen pack member was attacked by an enemy wolf. This time, my timing was slower, but I managed to intercept him. My body didn't react as it ought to. He ran his claws over my shoulder. I let out a cry.
The world whirled once more.
Then I noticed it.
A huge gray wolf penetrating the front lines.
Ronan.
It was oppressive to be around him. His dominance was evident even in wolf form. He had no intention of fighting warriors.
He was looking around.
searching for a someone.
His eyes were fixed on me.
His eyes flickered with a chilling satisfaction.
He made a charge.
My body felt heavy, but I braced myself. My reflexes become dull. I nearly passed out before he could get to me because the nausea was so strong.
He crashed into me.
My lungs burst with air. We fell onto the ground. In an instant, he pinned me. I was crushed by his weight. His teeth lingered close to my throat.
It was this.
It ended this way.
I made an effort to push him away. I was not strong enough. My vision became completely blurry.
His growl vibrated against my skin as he leaned in closer.
Then he moved.
Half-wolf, half-man, looming over me.
"Pathetic," Ronan muttered. "The powerful Luna came down to this."
I attempted to move back. My body declined.
"What did you do?" I muttered.
He grinned slowly and cruelly. "There was nothing you weren't already doing to yourself."
For a moment, his eyes fell to my stomach.
And his expression shifted in some way.
Recognition.
Understanding.
Cold triumph.
I was overcome with fear unlike anything I had ever experienced.
He is aware.
From somewhere behind him, Kael let out a roar.
Ronan glanced over his shoulder for a brief moment.
That was sufficient.
Like a storm, Kael crashed into him. With savage force, they tore into one another. Their power caused the earth to tremble.
I made an effort to move.
I was unable to.
My stomach ached all over. Beneath my palm, a terrifying, warm sensation spread.
No.
No, no, no.
Not right now.
Not in this manner.
The conflict around us became hazy. It was so loud in my ears that I could hardly hear it.
Ronan and Kael battled like gods. They tore flesh with their claws. The night was divided by their roars.
Rowan's voice abruptly cut across the field once more.
"Go back to the inner wall!"
What?
No. At last, we were pushing them back.
Why back off now?
For a brief moment, Kael hesitated.
That portion was sufficient.
Kael's side was slashed by Ronan's claws. His flank was dripping with blood.
My heart stopped.
Kael stumbled.
Ronan grinned.
And I understood at that precise moment.
Rowan was not in a panic.
He was planning.
The retreat call was not a calculated move.
It was sabotage.
Furious, Kael lunged once more. They got farther away from me during their fight.
I pushed myself up onto my elbows. The feeling of warmth beneath my hand intensified.
Please. Don't let it be blood, please.
The shifting lines were breached by an enemy warrior. He perceived my weakness. Human. weak.
He made a charge.
I was immobile.
I was unable to even move.
This is how it concludes.
He raised his claws.
His throat was suddenly pierced by an arrow. He fell just inches away from me.
I raised my head.
Standing on the ridge with a bow drawn was one of Kael's beta warriors.
saved.
But barely.
Once more, the retreat horn sounded. The order was given by Kael himself this time. Over the field, his voice boomed.
In orderly lines, the pack started to retreat.
Grinning, Ronan moved away from him.
He calmly remarked, "This isn't over." "It's only getting started."
He gave his wolves a signal.
They withdrew slowly and methodically, as though they had achieved their goal.
Behind them, the border burned.
With blood streaming down his side, Kael transformed back into a human. He approached me directly.
Something broke in his eyes when he saw me on the ground.
His hands hovered as if he was scared to touch me as he knelt next to me.
"Lyra."
He didn't have an alpha voice.
It was terrified.
He muttered, "I told you not to come."
I made an effort to sit up. Once more, the world tipped.
I lied and said, "I'm fine."
He reached for my stomach.
I winced.
His gaze suddenly met mine.
"What's wrong?"
I started to respond.
I let out a cry as a sharp cramp tore through me.
Kael froze.
His scent abruptly changed.
Fear.
Fear, raw and unadulterated.
He repeated, "Lyra," but his voice was trembling this time.
Rowan came over from behind, keeping a close eye on things.
Too cautiously.
I made myself take a breath.
If Ronan knew, if Rowan verified it, if Kael realized now...
Everything would fall apart.
the conflict.
The treachery.
the connection.
and the life within me.
I firmly grasped Kael's arm.
"Don't," I muttered.
His eyebrows knitted.
"Don't what?"
An additional surge of pain struck.
And I sensed it this time.
Beneath my hand, warmth began to spread.
Not imagined.
Real.
Kael's eyes followed my every move.
And a look of horror came over his face.
Suddenly, there was silence in the night.
The crackling fires appeared to stop as well.
"Lyra," he exhaled.
And I was aware.
Whatever came next...
There would never be the same.