"It is quiet here, I’ll stay here and rest," Kora said to the others and they looked at her doubtfully.

"What are you planning to do Kora, I know you well enough to know when you are hiding something," Emily said. She stopped to listen to the happenings around them and there was peace for now.

They were almost at the Blackstorm pack and they could finally have a decent rest there. At least when they get there, there will be many warriors who will keep an eye on Kora.

"Please do not do anything that would be harmful to you," Sophia pleaded. They didn’t stand a chance if Kora decided to send them away. They all knew what she could do but they were hoping to be there with her and for her, not just because the Alpha asked them to but because they wanted to keep the Luna and the unborn Alpha heir safe.

"If I told you I already have, would you be mad?" Kora asked out of the blue and they all went blank.

"What do you mean?" the three of them asked at the same time.

"Let us go to the Blackstorm Pack, it is where you all want to be." She said and led the way. She looked tired a moment ago but now she was full of energy walking as if she was not asking to rest.

"Luna, wait," Sophia went ahead to block her path.

"Tell us what you mean," Emily pleaded. She felt she would be losing her friend soon but she did not want to accept that strange feeling. Kora was right and she was smart enough not to do something stupid.

"Lucy knew about it didn’t she?" Rosie asked and Kora nodded her head. There was no need to deny it now. Once the clock strikes midnight, it will begin.

"How long do we have?" Sophia asked.

"A few hours," Kora replied. She looked at the sky that could barely be seen from down there. "Until Midnight."

"Why?" Emily, who was almost in tears asked. She didn’t need to ask what would happen because she could make some guesses of her own.

"It is the price to pay for what I have asked... Gaia and I asked. The goddess will be here by midnight and it will begin," She explained. "Don’t worry about this," she pointed to her stomach, "They will be taken care of as well."

"That still does not make anything better." Emily snapped at her. Her glistening eyes spilt the tears that she had been holding back.

"You’ll see when the time comes," Kora replied to Emily only to be glared at. "A lot of people are dying, this is the only way. I do not want to see anymore in the future like they did in the past and today."

"We should get to the Alpha, he would know what to do," Emily said, ready to turn around and head in the other direction. She didn’t care what Kora was saying, she didn’t want to lose her friend.

Kora stood rooted to the same spot and smiled when Emily turned around. She looked annoyed and desperate at the same time.

****

Lazarus stood shielding Dana who had become the target of all the attacks. He was bleeding from the many cuts that had been inflicted on him. Some parts of his skin could be seen corroding due to the effect of the silver in the weapons used.

"Lazarus," Dana called and touched his back. She had to get him away but he wouldn’t let her. "You are hurt, let’s take care of them."

"They are after you," he said, really trying to step aside. The warriors who have seen him like that have to come to help protect them but they were few. Many had been injured and a few dead.

"I can handle them," she argued. It was as if he was forgetting that she was more than just a shifter. She was a hybrid. "Look at me," using her hand, he made him look at her. "You need a few minutes to heal. You have protected me enough, now, it’s my turn to protect you."

Lazarus was about to refuse once again when she touched an injured part of his arm and he groaned in pain through the mind link. ["Let me protect you,"] She said through the link.

"Alright," he reluctantly agreed and moved to stand behind her.

"Sir, there is something wrong with that woman," a hunter reported. This was still the squad led by Hunter. They had waited for the arrival of Jared for a long time but he never came and the day was soon running out. If it got darker than it is now, they would lose the advantage they had. The element of surprise they thought was on their side was long lost.

"Keep the distance and attack, kill the woman and all of them will fall," Hunter instructed. He had seen that they protected the woman. Even the Alpha was protecting her. She was either the Luna or someone else of importance to the whole pack. The alpha was already weak, she was the only one keeping him standing.

"Understood, Sir," the soldiers responded.

["Get behind me, all of you,"] Dana ordered through the mind link. She had heard the instruction Hunter passed to his subordinate but she didn’t care. This was her pack, if she would die defending it, then so be it. ["Ezra," ] she called him when he got up trying to help a warrior to his feet.

["I am fine, Luna,"] Ezra replied. He was more composed in this fight than anyone else. It was unexpected due to what had been happening to him but at the same time, it was expected. He was the gamma, training and leading the warriors was his responsibility. He wouldn’t leave them to defend themselves when he could help, so staying focused was something that he had to do at all costs. "Go, I’ll cover you," he said to the warrior who was reluctant to leave the now bleeding gamma.

"Do as he said," Raven came from behind them. Seeing that Ezra was bit alone anymore, the warrior ran to where he had been ordered to be. They turned to look at Dana and gave her a nod.

The air crackled and sparks could be seen in the air. At the same time, a dome appeared, shielding The injured shifters from the attacks of the humans. "Move aside so you don’t get hurt," she said to Raven and Ezra.

Seeing what was happening, the humans started moving back. A whirlwind started to form, sweeping everything around it.

********** 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

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