28. ETHAN

The sight of Aria being hurled against the hard tree ignited a fury within me, burning hotter and fiercer than anything I had ever experienced. It was as if every blow she endured reverberated through my body, each impact fueling the inferno of wrath that consumed me.

All rational thought fled my mind, replaced by an overwhelming urge to protect her. The man who had dared to lay a hand on her, to inflict such pain and suffering upon her, was an obstacle to be swiftly dealt with, his presence an affront to everything I held dear.

With a guttural roar echoing in my ears, I launched myself into the direction where war was calling, unleashing a barrage of blows upon my adversaries with a ferocity born of desperation. Every strike was fueled by the desire to avenge Aria"s suffering and ensure the men responsible would pay dearly for their crimes.

As the last of Harris" men fell before me, their bodies crumbling in a heap of broken flesh and bone. I had snapped their heads, and their blood was splashed all over me. I turned my gaze toward Harris, my eyes blazing with an intensity that mirrored the flames of hell. He stood before me, a smirk playing upon his lips, but I could see the fear lurking behind his fa?ade, a tremor of uncertainty betraying his bravado.

With swift and decisive movements, I closed the distance between us, my paw clenched tightly as I prepared to deliver justice. He might have thought he was invincible, but at that moment, he was just a cornered animal, his fate sealed by his arrogance and cruelty.

As I loomed over him, ready to administer the final blow, I knew justice would be served, Aria would be avenged, and nothing would stand in the way of our victory. For at that moment, as the battle raged on around us, only one thing mattered — the fierce, unbreakable bond between Aria and me, one that would endure even in the face of the greatest adversity.

Harris proved to be a formidable adversary, his strength and cunning matched only by his ruthless ambition. As the Alpha of his pack, he commanded respect and authority, wielding power like a weapon to bend others to his will.

In any other circumstance, I might have admired his leadership and prowess, acknowledging him as a worthy opponent worthy of my respect. However, his actions had crossed a line that could never be forgiven or forgotten.

The thought of what he had done to Aria, and the pain and suffering he had inflicted upon her, ignited a burning fury that threatened to consume everything in its path.

But even as I faced him in the heat of battle, I felt a twinge of pity for the man. Despite his strength and dominance, he was ultimately driven by selfish desires, his lust for power blinding him to the consequences of his actions.

As I stood poised to deliver the final blow, I wondered what might have been if things had turned out differently. If Harris had chosen a different path and embraced his role as Alpha with honor and integrity, perhaps we could have stood side by side as allies rather than enemies.

But such thoughts were fleeting, overshadowed by the harsh reality of the present moment. Aria lay unconscious, and it was up to me to ensure that justice was served and that she would be safe.

With a steely resolve, I braced myself and focused all my energy on the task at hand. Harris may have been a formidable foe, but I was my father's son, and I would emerge victorious, bringing an end to his reign of terror. For Aria, my pack, and the future of our kind, I would stop at nothing to ensure justice was served.

In that crucial moment, victory seemed within my reach. I could already picture myself standing triumphantly over Harris, delivering a speech that would inspire my pack and strike fear into the hearts of our enemies. But fate had other plans.

In the blink of an eye, everything changed. My paws slipped, and before I could react, Harris seized the opportunity to turn the tables, locking me in a deadly embrace beneath his crushing form.

Fear and panic reared as I struggled against sharp fangs that ripped gashes in my fur and took chunks with them. I was pinned, and trying to escape was futile. I was trapped, helpless against his overwhelming strength.

Just when it seemed all was lost, a blur of white caught my eye. Aria, my love, had thrown herself into the fight, risking herself to save me. I had no time to think about safety. Was she not just lying unconscious? Fear gripped me as my mind conjured all kinds of possibilities. Could she be dead and now fighting as a ghost? I shook my head because not only was that thought preposterous, but it was scary, too.

Harris had me by the throat and my air was cut off. I had just moments until death took me. So, when Aria jumped on Harris" back, I thought all she wanted to do was distract him while I got back on my feet. But what she did next surprised me.

With a swift and decisive motion, she held onto his neck in her mouth and pinned his upper body to the ground. Then, she snapped Harris" neck sideways, ending his reign of terror forever.

His roars of rage were drowned out, until finally, he fell.

With a triumphant howl, Aria stood over the fallen Alpha, her chest heaving with exertion as she surveyed the battlefield around us. The Black Moon pack was finished; its forces scattered and defeated. Victory was ours, thanks to Aria's courage.

As we basked in the glow of our hard-won triumph, I felt a surge of pride and gratitude toward her. We had faced insurmountable odds and emerged victorious, proving that love and unity were the strongest weapons of all.

At that moment, as I lay gasping for breath, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and admiration for the woman who had risked everything to save me. She had proven herself to be not just a lover, but a true warrior, willing to face any foe to protect those she cared about.

As I struggled to my feet, shaken but alive, I knew I owed her a debt that could never be repaid. And as we stood together, I vowed to cherish and protect her for as long as I drew breath.

"Aria... I don"t know what to say. You saved my life. I owe you everything," I began.

"Don"t mention it, Ethan. I couldn"t just stand by and watch you die," she said with her chest still heaving.

"But still... you risked everything for me. I don"t know how to thank you." I persisted.

"You don"t have to thank me, Ethan. We"re in this together, remember?"

"I know, but... I just can"t shake the feeling that I should be the one protecting you, not the other way around." I looked around to see if anyone had seen that scene. As the Alpha, I didn"t want to risk any disrespect from either my pack or the rival pack.

"We"re a team, remember? We look out for each other. That"s what love is all about."

"Yeah, I know... but still..."

"Listen. No one has to know what happened here tonight. We can and should talk about this later. Right now, we need to focus on getting out of here and making sure everyone is safe," Aria countered.

Although the wounds on her body would need tending to, I knew better than to raise the topic. All she wanted right now was for our pack to be saved while we got the hell out of there.

"You"re right, as always. Let"s get out of here and go home."

"Together, Ethan. Always together," she said as she limped forward to find our packmates.

With Harris gone, a weight lifted from my shoulders. Yet, as I looked at Aria, I realized the toll the battle had taken on her. She was battered and bruised, but her spirit remained unbroken. It was then that I truly understood her strength and resilience.

Despite the pain she must have felt, she was still by my side, and I felt a surge of admiration and gratitude.

At that moment, I knew that Aria was not just a partner, but a true companion. Someone I could rely on no matter the circumstances. As we stood together in the aftermath of the battle, I felt a sense of reassurance knowing that she was with me.

With Aria by my side, I felt confident that together, we could overcome any obstacle and lead our pack to a brighter future.

As my pack gathered, I observed the disbelief and shock on the faces of the members of the rival pack. Seeing their Alpha lying lifeless on the ground seemed to shake them.

Harris was a formidable opponent, larger than life in stature and reputation. The fact that he had been defeated in battle and lay dead before them was surreal.

Some of them rushed to his side, desperately trying to revive him. They shook him, called his name, and attempted to stem the flow of blood from his wounds. But as they examined his neck, the truth became apparent.

The bone in his neck had been snapped, a fatal injury no amount of medical attention could reverse. The realization dawned on them that their Alpha had fallen in battle, leaving them without a leader.