Chapter 170
1122words
A thick silence covered the battlefield as the last sounds of fighting disappeared. I stood among the leftovers of the fight finally feeling my breath steady again.
The harsh truth hit me. It was finished. The rogue army led by the traitor Augustus had been defeated. Their threats will no longer hang over my packs and I will not have to be afraid of backstabbers anymore.
'We did it, Adams," Lilith said quietly, her voice a mix of relief and surprise. She moved closer, her bright green eyes looking into mine. 'It is finally done."
A huge weight lifted off my chest at her words. 'Yes... it is settled." Our eyes met and at that moment every other thing felt unimportant. I pulled her close, ignoring our friends and the signs of the battle, kissing her passionately.
The salty flavor from sweat and dirt dripped down my throat, but in her presence even the bad feelings turned good. We hugged each other tightly, connecting our hearts as one, enjoying the joy of our victory, and finding comfort in each other's arms.
When our lips separated, I leaned my forehead against hers. 'You fought so well, my Luna," I said quietly, letting myself be a little open.
'And you were amazing, my leader," she said, her confidence was really strong. 'But we need to remember those who sacrificed for us. They deserve our respect."
I nodded sadly, feeling a heavy weight in my heart. As I stepped back, a shout broke the silence. My men were regrouping, chasing the remains of Augustus's army spreading like leaves in the breeze.
'Ronan!" I shouted, sounding in charge after everything that had just happened. He came over covered in sweat and looking tough.
'Get the rest of the soldiers. Count everyone. We need to find out if anyone is dead or gone."
'Got it, Your Highness," Ronan said with a quick nod, already getting ready to move. 'I'll take care of it."
I looked at Adeline who was standing a short distance away and saw pride mixed with tiredness in her posture. 'Adeline," I called, walking over to her.
'Your Highness," she answered immediately, kneeling to show the respect she always had. 'What would you have me handle for you?"
'You did a great job today," I said calmly. 'You protected Lilith when it was crucial and your strength helped keep our pack together." I took a moment to think. 'I am promoting you to Captain."
Adeline's eyes grew wide, a mixture of surprise and happiness showed up on her face. 'Your Highness I—"
'Get up, Captain Adeline," I said, my tone strong but supportive. 'Your loyalty should be praised, and I believe you will lead as fiercely as you defended our Luna."
She bowed her head feeling very touched. 'You honor me greatly, Your Highness. I promise to serve and protect our pack until I die."
I smiled a little, but it faded fast when I saw Bartholomew and Raoul standing sadly next to my brother Ben's dead body. A strong feeling of guilt hit me as I walked closer, their faces full of sadness.
'Adams," Bartholomew said gently, 'he's gone. He tried his best, but it wasn't enough."
'I am sorry," I said, looking at Ben. Old memories came to me—fun times, kinship, trust, even hatred—all gone because of his betrayal. 'He made his choice."
'The pack is with you, Your Highness," Raoul said, sounding very sorry. 'He could have lived like a real Bloodhound, if only he reconsidered like we did," he said, pointing his finger between Bartholomew and himself.
'We still need to give him a royal burial," I said firmly, feeling determined. 'Let's move him. We will honor him right."
As my team started to work, a deep silence fell over the area. Each step toward remembering Ben felt heavy with thoughts of what might have happened, the sadness of loss and the pressure of being a leader weighing down on me.
When the fighting stopped and night began to cover the ground, I gathered my remaining soldiers. I saw their tired but determined faces looking at me, the bonds of friendship strong from our shared wins.
'Hey everyone!" I shouted, getting their attention. 'We fought hard today, and we won't forget those we have lost! But our battle isn't over yet. Captain Kael is waiting for us at the Green Forest Pack, and we need to stand with him after our victory!"
Lilith walked beside me, her energy lighting up the crowd. 'We have a goal my friends! Together we will heal our pain and bring back peace. We must not let the rogue army's actions hold us back!"
My jaw clenched at the sadness wanting to take hold of me. 'We should send out a search team later for our brothers who might have been lost while chasing the rogues," I said, trying to stay strong. 'For now let's ride."
As we got on our horses, the wind blew through our hair and the smells of the forest filled the air. I took the lead with Lilith next to me and Adeline and Ronan beside us. The sound of hooves hitting the ground echoed below us as we started our journey.
The mood shifted as we began our trip. Hope slowly rose, but the reality of our losses stayed in the back of our minds.
'You know," Lilith jokes, her bright smile easing the stress. 'We might conclude with the Green Forest Pack before dinner. If that is not a reward for our hard work, I do not know what could be."
I laughed softly, making the quiet night feel lighter. 'You always know how to cheer me up, my Luna. Maybe after dinner we can relax with the pack and share stories about today's success."
As I was enjoying my conversation with Lilith, Ronan interrupted. 'See smoke coming from the Green Forest Pack. We need to be careful."
My face went serious at what he said. 'Can you see it?" I asked, looking at the horizon. There it was—a dark cloud of smoke rising into the sky twisting through the dimming light. 'We need to hurry. Get your weapons, men!"
As we got closer to the Pack, my heart raced. I sensed the strong will of my men to fight becoming clearer. We had battled hard and gone through a lot, winning against the rogues. This time we would not back down.
'Stay focused! We don't know what we will find," I said, my voice cutting through the tension. I looked at Lilith briefly, finding reassurance in her presence. She nodded her face, showing the spirit of a fighter. The Green Forest pack was her home….
