120. United

KIARA

She was strong, but I was not going to back down. Getting close to her had never been harder. She chuckled sardonically as Alejandro failed once again. Even though he was now using two foot-long daggers to help him, there was nothing that worked against her barriers.

‘Alpha! Luna! Darien called!' Someone shouted through the link.

‘What is it?!" Alejandro growled as I blasted another of her attacks away from us.

‘Jasmin's started to act weird in the cells. She seemed to have a seizure or something. What do we do? Leave her or go to her?'

‘Don't go anywhere near her, there must be some reason behind it. We're approaching the given time! Tell Darien that if she begins to go fucking psycho, kill her instantly. Keep me updated.' Alejandro grunted as he shoved through the wall. This time he seemed a little more successful, but it was futile. Before his blades even got close to her, he was blasted back.

He was in his Lycan form, and despite his immense power, his mother was holding her own against us all perfectly. Liam backed up, calculatingly looking around. I knew he had been observing Endora looking for any blind spot, but it was clear he hadn't found anything.

A strong blast of black shards rushed towards us and I just about managed to raise a barrier, despite the fact that Alejandro had jumped to shield me.

‘I'm fine.' I said softly.

‘I'm not taking any risks.' His reply came.

He kissed my forehead, and for a split second, I melted into his touch. But we didn't have time to linger, re-joining the battle once again.

I had just sliced a Wendigo"s head off when the same wolf"s voice came into my head.

‘Alpha, Darien's killed her.'

‘Is it just coincidental that she started acting strangely near the given time?' I asked.

‘Yeah, probably, but we can't take any fucking risks.' Alejandro replied.

I didn't reply. Something just felt off about it. Jasmin had done nothing apart from pleading. She had no idea why she was sent there, but for her to simply begin to act weirdly now felt off. Was there more behind it?

‘Ask Darien how she was acting strange. All the details!' I called, just as I blasted Endora away.

‘Ok, Luna!'

"I have no time to dally…" Endora hissed as she began chanting louder. A huge hurricane began whipping around her as she began to move forward.

"Stop her!" Someone shouted, but I didn't pay attention to who it was.

I ran towards her, but the sheer force of the cyclone that created a barrier around her was too much. She was heading towards the spot we had pinpointed, and it was clear she was paying attention to the time. Seems Delsanra had told nothing but the truth.

I nodded at Liam, who made quick work of sending a signal. The next thing we saw was the burst of flames as the entire area was lit ablaze. Endora stopped.

"What is this?!" She spat; but even through her anger, I could sense her panic.

Good, it meant we were slowing her down a little. But we knew ultimately, we were going to have to let her begin her spell. It was a risk we had to take to get to her at her weakest.

She whispered a spell and the fire was put out in seconds. We had placed these explosives, thanks to Grandma Amy's amazing idea to lace them with herbs that weakened witches a little. I just hoped they did the job, even if a little, and I would thank Grandma Amy later. We needed all the help we could possibly get.

Her chanting got louder and soon I felt the glowing black walls reach high into the sky as we were all stopped from crossing any further.

‘Reserve your energy for the precise moment.' Alejandro said quietly through the link.

His eyes glowed red and for once as he stood so close, my purple aura illuminated him properly. I paid attention to his Lycan form. It was terrifying yet made me stare in awe. The power that oozed from him, those glowing red eyes…

Endora laughed manically as she looked towards us.

"Petty herbs won't stop a witch like me!" She spat.

"You need me though, right?! For whatever it is that you are trying to accomplish?!" I shouted.

"I may not have gotten you, but I had a backup plan… The death of three from the Asheton bloodline will fuel me enough. Three innocents that were killed in cold blood, on this very night! When I have succeeded, I will have you too!"

I felt my blood run cold, fear twisting in my guts. Three innocents have been killed? W-what did she mean? There weren't many of our bloodline… I looked at Dad, my heart thumping like crazy.

"Fuck. She sent Jasmin to us so we would kill her?" Alejandro looked confused and disgusted.

It made sense. There was no way that Endora or her army would be the ones to kill Jasmin, Jasmin was not innocent but... she had actually not known why she was at our pack... So that made her an innocent. It was confusing and messed up, but it made sense.

Dad stepped up, not saying anything, and neither did he look surprised.

"Who else?" I whispered, my heart full of fear as I looked at him and Liam, both who I now noticed looked upset. There were only a few others with that bloodline. My panic was rising by the second. "Dad!"

"Indigo… and her baby." Dad said quietly.

I felt as if all my breath was knocked out of me. Alejandro looked stunned as well. I didn't know how to feel... She was gone… I felt numb. I couldn't accept it. I didn't want to know who else died… but the look on Dad's and Liam's faces terrified me. We had lost more, but I couldn't bring myself to ask.

Endora simply laughed as she carried on chanting, but we had no time to focus on her when an influx of Wendigos came running. I turned, sparing a quick glance at the watch on my wrist. Seven minutes… in seven minutes, we would take our chance. I blasted a Wendigo back, my purple flames incinerating it. I stepped back as another two lunged at me.

"Seriously, don't they ever run out!" Liam growled, as he jumped in front of me, snapping the first one's head off before he tore the other one"s heart out.

"Running out of patience, brother?" I teased weakly, despite there being nothing humorous about this situation. It wasn"t often when I saw Liam getting annoyed.

"I have limits too, sister." He shot back, his eyes flashing dangerously, slicing through a Wendigo.

"I can tell…" I said trying to smile, but there was nothing left to smile about.

We were losing pack members by the minute, and I wish I could have healed them. If I was with Aunty, could I have had healed her?

‘Alpha, Luna, Alpha Scarlett has a message to convey.'

It was one of the members who were sitting inside the packhouse relaying the message from another. Someone from Dad's pack must have conveyed the message to our pack member, who would then fill us in. It was a system that helped us all keep in touch. It was the same man who passed on Darien"s messages regarding Jasmin.

‘Indigo's pup is alive, so Endora has one less Asheton dead than she thinks.'

I frowned as I glanced at Dad, who gave us a tiny nod. I didn"t ask how the baby lived when Aunty was dead, but it gave me some level of relief.

‘She won't figure that out until she needs them for whatever purpose. We need to get this shit over with.' Alejandro said. ‘We're in the last five minutes. Tell Scarlett and Marcel, if the witches are taken care of to join us if they are up to it. We need an absolute defence around Kiara and me. We will go for the kill no matter what… They know the rest.'

‘Yes, Alpha.'

Alejandro frowned as he conveyed something to Rafael, Elijah, and Liam. Although they couldn't reply, they could hear his voice. They simply gave a small nod, just as I heard a snarl and turned to see a flash. I was just in time to see Mom rip a Wendigo to pieces. She stood there covered in blood, her eyes blazing silver, her anger so palpable it made me shiver.

"Let's send this bitch to hell." She growled. Behind her, Marcel stood with weapons in hand. "The rest of the bitches are dealt with."

"Red…" Dad murmured, sparing a second to pull her close, but it was fleeting as they fought off some Wendigos. At Mom' words, Endora seemed to falter, and for a fleeting second, I saw the worry in her eyes.

"Let's do this." I said quietly.

Turning to the barrier, I closed my eyes and channelled the moon"s energy… This was it. Selene, lend me your strength... Don't let any more of your wolves suffer…

-

ALEJANDRO

I felt it, the moment Kiara began to harness the moon"s aura. The blast of purple power reaching for the sky and her hair swaying around her, defying gravity. Then there was the billowing darkness that raged from Endora. It was like evil and serenity side by side. Darkness and light.

I glanced at the time. Two minutes... If we didn't attack at the right time, our chance would be gone... I wasn't sure we'd be able to defeat her if she managed to resurrect the dead as she was planning on.

We had lost so many… The losses I felt through the link were hitting me slower, which meant we may be slowly gaining the upper hand, but if Endora was able to go through with her plan, we were screwed.

I took a deep breath, unleashing all my aura. I was going to take the frontal hit. Even if Kiara was the one with the power, I was not going to let her get hurt.

‘It's time.' Her soft voice came in my head.

My blazing red eyes snapped towards Endora, who was whispering and chanting. To the naked eye, it didn't look like she was any weaker, but it was a chance we had to take. The Alphas formed around us, protecting us from all the Wendigos who seemed to be drawn to us the moment Kiara had unleashed her powers. They cut them down, leaving me and Kiara to deal with Endora.

‘Let's get this bitch sent to the pits of hell.' I growled.

Yes, she may be my mother… but it was only by blood. The Endora we had come to know was nothing like the sweet mother who always seemed to care for us when we were children. I didn't have any remorse that I wanted to rip her to shreds.

‘On three.' I said coldly.

Kiara nodded, as I stepped up next to her as I began counting. Giving the rest the signal to block all attacks, I took her hand and kissed it softly. Our gazes met before I turned away, my eyes fixed on the raging storm that separated us from Endora.

"Take care of her." Scarlett said, looking at me with bloodshot eyes.

I didn't reply, I couldn't answer anyway, I was in Lycan form. That was not something she needed to ask of me, I'd die protecting her if I had to.

We focused on none of the monsters that were now desperately trying to reach Kiara. As the rest struggled to keep them at bay. Fuelled by heartbreak, pain, determination and willpower, they didn't stop fighting, nor did they allow the ranks to break. A few other Alphas joined them and I realised we truly had become united.

I took Kiara's hand in my own, as we both took a few steps back, before we ran as one towards the hurricane. Kiara let out a scream of concentration as we hit the wall, her purple flames pushing against the darkness, but this time we didn't stop. Even as the wind whipped and cut my skin, I simply shielded Kiara the best I could, watching her powers penetrate the barrier. I gave it my all as we pushed against it, and finally, we fell through, hitting the ground.

My entire body was slashed up and I had been forced to shift back. Although I was healing, it was slower than normal. Kiara only had a few cuts; her power and my body had shielded her enough. I felt relieved at that, despite hating the fact that I had to let her do this to begin with.

I had hoped Endora would be too busy doing whatever she was doing to notice us. That was until her eyes snapped up towards us. I had never seen a more ugly and sinister expression on her face than she had right now. If looks could fucking kill…

"Don't push me…" She rasped. "I've spent too many years preparing for this moment."

Evil. Pure evil spewed from her, and I felt it swirl around us. Clawing at me and trying to sink its talons into me.

"Too late…" I whispered.

It was less than thirty seconds from that moment… In a flash, I ran at her, growling murderously as I pushed against the barrier she raised. Her eyes widening, she whispered a spell. Kiara was next to me in a moment, her purple force field smashing against Endora's.

"I'm your mother, Alejandro! We can be gods!" She shrieked, struggling to keep me away from her.

I saw her fleeting glance towards the moon and the ground, her heart thundering. I smirked coldly. So, this moment truly was important to her.

"I will succeed…" She murmured, as she carried on whispering, keeping me at bay.

Not under my fucking watch. I used all my force, letting my aura swirl around me as I used it all to break the barrier and knocked her to the ground. Even then, I was still pushing against the barrier that surrounded her, my hand"s inches from her heart.

"Don't!" She screamed as Kiara looked to the moon, raising her hands before she turned her attention to the ground. Channelling all her ability into it, I watched her purple aura sink into the land, determination clear on her beautiful face.

She looked fucking ethereal, her entire body was glowing... Her powers swirled around her so blindingly that they lit up the entire night sky. She was a goddess.

This was not the plan, but whatever Kiara was doing was fucking Endora up.

"Stop it! No! You bitch! Stop it!" She shrieked.

Her powers wrapped around my wrists as I struggled to reach for her chest, I needed to end this.

Her face paled as Kiara suddenly stopped what she was doing, a victorious smile on her face.

"Too late…" She said, walking over to us.

Endora was so occupied she didn't notice when I grabbed her necklace. Only when I wrenched it from her neck did she realise it was gone before I tossed it aside.

"No! That's-!" She spluttered, staring at the necklace.

I felt her power blast against me, but I refused to let go of her, not faltering when her shards of darkness impaled me. I didn't care about the pain. My only aim was to keep her anger targeted towards me and not my queen.

But the second wave sent me flying, I hit the wall of the hurricane as Endora clambered to her feet. Her chest heaving in rage.

"Alejandro!" Kiara shouted.

"Now!" I said, kicking off from the ground, shifting into my Lycan form once again. I saw Kiara preparing herself as we rushed towards Endora as one, reaching her at the same time. Kiara's blazing purple wrapped around her, shattering Endora's barrier as I smirked in victory.

Her scream of rage and despair filled the sky as I plunged my hand into her chest, my claws tearing through her flesh and breaking her ribs to get to my target. I felt victory was near. The smell of blood was strong in the air.

You're fucking dead.

"If I go… I'm taking you with me!" Endora hissed, slamming her hand against my chest. The runes that covered her arms glowed as she whispered something. I struggled to pull my hand free from her chest, to rip her heart out, but she was holding tight.

An agonising pain shot through me as she began chanting, and I felt something tighten in my own chest.

Kiara's hand wrapped around mine, plunging into Endora"s chest as we both tugged at her heart. Never had I felt such power fighting against me. I growled as we both mustered our strength and we managed to tear her heart from her chest.

Her eyes widened, a look of pure, unbridled hatred on her face as she chanted... a look that suddenly changed to vicious happiness.

"We are bound…" She whispered just as pain erupted in my chest and I growled in agony. I fell to the ground as my body screamed from the pain, forcing me to shift back. The taste of blood was strong in my mouth.

‘Destroy my heart and destroy your own in the process. The choice is yours…' Her voice whispered in the air.

"Alejandro!" Kiara shouted, pure fear in her eyes as I looked at the heart that was still pulsing in my hand. "Don't…"

We didn't have the time… We had to end this now...

She looked at me as I felt the darkness swirling around the heart in my hand. I looked up at her. I knew what I had to do.

"I love you… Amore…" I closed my eyes, ripping the heart I held in my grasp to shreds.

"Baby no!" Kiara"s shriek of despair filled the air.

I wasn't able to stop the howl of pain that escaped me as I felt my own heart being ripped to pieces.

I couldn't breathe… I couldn't… I saw Endora's body drop to the ground, her barrier dissipating as my body began shutting down.

The last thing I saw was Kiara's terrified face as she rushed towards me, the strong taste of blood and the pain consuming me as my vision darkened… I had never felt so much pain…

‘Hold on..."

The electrifying current of her touch was faint before my world went black.

This was it. My End.

I"m sorry.