Page 56 of Lycan Prince's Secret Baby

Leah

The ground trembled beneath my paws, a thunderous echo of chaos as the battle raged on. The air crackled with feral growls and the sharp clang of claws. The mingled scent of churned-up earth, sweat, and blood assaulted me. My heartbeat quickened as a new wave of wolves loyal to Reginald surged from the compound, their dark forms amplifying my fear. They’d emerged like shadows, answering Elder Sam’s howl.

Though we had the support of the Moonlight females, Reginald’s wolves were better-trained warriors, and Sam’s howl had reignited the fervor of combat. I wove through the chaos, dodging strikes and landing blows. Every bone-crunching thud of a downed wolf drove me forward, desperate to reach Kyle and Roman. The growls around me rang sharp and close, sending icy tendrils of fear coursing through my veins.

A sharp howl pierced the night, drawing my gaze upward. My blood ran cold as I saw the dark shapes cascading down the hill.

Are more of Reginald’s men coming?

I narrowly dodged a muscular gray wolf, anxiety roaring to life within me and my ears straining for the sounds of Kyle and Roman.

Then, a flash of vibrant yellow caught my eye on the hilltop—dozens of yellow-coated wolves charged down the hill, their golden fur like sunlight slicing through the darkness.

The Shadow Moon Pack has arrived.

A huge wolf appeared at the forefront, flanked by a cadre of formidable warriors. Judging by his intimidating size and presence, I reckoned this was Alexis, the Alpha of the Shadow Moon Pack. The yellow-furred coats of the Shadow Moons made me think of the brightness of Lyvia’s sikin crystals. The warmth of their arrival bloomed in my chest, a promise of hope amidst the turmoil.

Kyle had told me tales about his alliance with Alexis during our time in the safehouse. They had planned for this moment, hoping to confront Reginald together. They’d forged their alliance in the neighboring Shadow Moon Pack lands. Alexis had pledged his allegiance to Kyle, promising to help oppose Reginald’s rule and help restore our lands to us Blood Moons.

Yet here we were, surprise sharpening our edge as Alexis and his pack soared into the fray, their skill and speed dazzling as they swept past me, moving like fleeting shadows.

Kyle had sent word to his ally before we’d left the safehouse a night ago. But we hadn’t dared to hope, given the vast distance that Alexis and his pack had to travel, that they could arrive the same night as we.

Amazement shone through me as I marveled at the red and yellow coats blending together as they took on the hefty, gray-coated males. Like fall leaves, they scattered through the night, chasing the shadows away as they struck and brought the Moonlight wolves to the ground.

Yet, my dread returned as I caught sight of Kyle and Roman, engaged in their intense battle with Reginald. My pulse quickened—each moment stretched taut as I watched Kyle’s fluid form dart with a fierce mix of power and speed. Roman’s solid bulk was unwavering as he threw himself against his adversary. Yet, Reginald’s imposing form shimmered in hues of gray and silver, each glimmer of his fur like a warning in the moonlight. With his tactical precision, he countered every strike with deft movements, his keen eyes calculating their next maneuvers. Even together, Kyle and Roman found themselves challenged; the Moonlight Alpha’s experience and proficiency matched their fierce energy.

My focus splintered as adrenaline surged through me again, my instincts urging me into the fray. I engaged the next foe, a lithe wolf lunging with ferocity. Sweat mixed with blood on my fur, the stench suffocating. Every breath was a reminder of what was at stake—every heartbeat, a desperate plea for survival.

And then, in a heart-stopping moment, Reginald landed a vicious blow on Kyle.

No.

A primal snarl tore from my throat. I fought on, desperate to reach my mate. The chaos blurred, and time seemed to stretch while every victory felt bittersweet because I wasn’t where I needed to be—by Kyle’s side.

I saw the glimmer in Kyle’s fur, swathed in a reddish hue. Blood poured down his flank as he fought fiercely. Then, I was where I was meant to be. I reached Kyle, flanking him, with Roman on his other side. I launched myself into the final onslaught against Reginald with them.

Each strike carried weight beyond mere physical strength; it was laced with fury, desperation, and a lifetime of oppression. Together, we lunged at the tyrant, our fangs and claws clashing against his thick hide. The ground felt alive beneath us, thrumming with the intensity of our battle, our spirits primed to annihilate the suffering he had inflicted.

As I added my strength to the fight, determination seared through me. We were going to end this any moment—the three of us—we who had lost our loving parents to this man’s greed and ambition. My red wolf surged forward like flame, confident and sure of her power.

Then, Reginald feinted left. I felt an instinctual pulse ripple through me. Before I could react, he lunged toward me. His fangs glinted like daggers in the unforgiving light of the moon. A rush of air swept towards me, dauntingly close, suffocating as he aimed for my throat. But before he reached me, Kyle lunged in front of me, his body shielding mine, and I felt the shockwave of his father’s attack reverberate through my mate’s body.

A horrible snarl erupted from Kyle—an anguished roar of agony. Rage consumed me, igniting a furious heat that coursed through my veins as I surged forward with Roman. We moved like a single entity, our fangs tearing into Reginald’s flesh. With every shred of my teeth, I was motivated more by the need to get Reginald’s jaws off of my mate rather than killing him. But before I could process it, there Reginald lay—a grotesque pileof flesh and bones, his lifeblood pooling beneath him, spilling across the ground.

Around us, the battle came to a heart-stopping pause as everyone fighting started to take note that Reginald had fallen. I panted hard, confusion and fear mingling as my gaze darted behind me, searching for the unique gray coat of my mate. My gaze darted through the chaos, looking for Kyle. He had saved me. His wolf had come between me and Reginald.

Where is he?

A sickening dread gripped my heart as I found Kyle’s wolf teetering on his feet, the light in his green eyes flickering. Then, with an almighty thud, he collapsed onto the ground. Cold panic surged through my veins, suffocating my breath.

I morphed into my human form in a heartbeat, rushing to him. “My hands frantically found his right flank—thick with crimson, the vibrancy contrasting sharply with the barren earth beneath him.

“Healer Maria!” I shouted, my voice cracking under the weight of fear.

The healer had been fighting alongside us, and I turned, desperately searching for her amidst the chaos of faces—both wolf and human figures starting to emerge in the pale dawn.

Maria’s wolf emerged, steadiness radiating from her even on the battlefield. She morphed into her human form, her shoulder-length brown hair streaked with gray, falling around her face as she sank down beside the bleeding wolf. “Kyle,” she uttered with such heartfelt emotion I swore I’d never accuse her of lacking it again.

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