Allison walked out of the throne hall, her steps confident even though her hands were still trembling faintly at her sides.
Blood stained the floor behind her, the tallic scent hanging heavy in the air, but she did not look back. What was left behind her had now beco nothing but her past.
Outside the hall, the remaining mbers of the Bloodmoon pack were already gathered. Their faces were pale, and their eyes darted between one another, fear and uncertainty written clearly across their expressions. They had heard the screams, and they had felt the broken bond between them and their Alpha.
So of them whimpered in pain, while others growled ferociously. However, there was no way they could avenge their alpha.
Allison stopped before them, facing them. Rosa stood a few steps behind her, a look of admiration clouding her eyes.
"Your Alpha is dead," she said calmly, her voice carrying through the open space without effort.
A murmur rippled through the crowd. So growled and snarled, others lowered their heads instinctively in submission.
She let the silence settle before continuing.
"You now have a choice," she said, her gaze sweeping over them slowly. "You can kneel and follow , or you can choose to follow your dead Alpha."
The words landed heavily.
Several wolves dropped to their knees imdiately, their heads bowed low in submission. Their voices trembled as they spoke her na, fear and loyalty mixing together.
"Alpha Allison."
More followed, one after the other, the sound of knees hitting the ground echoing across the air.
But not all of them bowed even though they were poisoned with wolfbane.
Allison had sent so of her people to poison their water while she took care of Alpha Lucas. The werewolves of the Bloodmoon pack were mostly betas as the Ogas were considered slaves.
She knew there was no way she would take over without them fighting. She would only eliminate the ones that would pose a threat to her in the future.
A handful of the werewolves stood rigid, their jaws clenched tightly, and defiance burning in their eyes. One of them took a step forward, his claws slowly elongating.
"We will never follow you," he spat. "You are nothing but..."
Before he could finish his words Allison lifted her hand slightly, and the werewolves behind her moved in unison.
The defiant ones were taken down swiftly, their cries cut short as blood splattered the stone beneath their feet.
When it was over, silence returned once more.
The remaining mbers of the Bloodmoon pack dropped fully to the ground, their foreheads pressing against the earth.
"Alpha Allison," they chanted, their voices overlapping, desperate and obedient.
Most of them were Ogas, to them getting rid of Alpha Lucas was their biggest blessing, they could only wish Alpha Allison would treat them better.
Allison closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again. ’I did it... I did it.’ She muttered to herself.
From that mont on, the Bloodmoon pack was claid by her.
......
(Damon POV)
I stood before the sacred tree, my body still trembling from the pain in my chest.
’Love can stand against every trial.’
I repeated the words silently, over and over, like a prayer. I didn’t really know what I was supposed to do, or how I was supposed to make our love stand against this trail.
"Ember," I whispered to the tree. "Can you hear ?"
I waited for a couple of seconds, but all I got in return was silence.
"If you can hear , please... please say sothing," I begged.
Even if the Chosen or rather the seed gave her life to beco the tree, there should still be a trace of consciousness.
But no matter how much I begged, there was no answer.
"..."
How could that be?
I hesitantly placed my hand on the tree. It’s magic reacting to magic in my chest. At that mont, realization dawned on .
I took a step back from the tree.
My chest felt tight, hollow, and heavy all at once, but sothing inside remained calm. I finally understood what the Moon goddess ant.
This was not about power, and it was not about magic... This was about sincerity... my sincerity.
Ember’s heart was still beating inside my chest. She had given a second chance at life, and to , that was her biggest sincerity and love.
She loved ... but I loved her more. And I’ll do everything to prove how deep my love for her was. Even if it ant the path I was taking was a dead end. I’d rather die trying than not trying at all.
I pressed my hand against my chest, feeling the steady rhythm beneath my palm, the sa rhythm that had comforted through countless nights. If her heart remained with , then maybe this was not the end.
Maybe I just needed to give her back what belonged to her.
I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes.
"Beowulf, what do you say?" I asked, after all I was not alone. Not that his decision really mattered to if he refused.
"I’m in support of you. If it ans bringing our mate back, I’ll do anything." Beowulf said.
I nodded in satisfaction. My claws elongated slowly, sliding out of my nails with a quiet sound.
A small smile graced my lips, as our ti together flashed through my mind.
It was a beautiful ti indeed.
Then I drove my claws into my chest.
Pain ripped through instantly, sharp and blinding, but no sound escaped from my mouth. Blood trickled down from the corner of my lips.
My fingers closed around my heart as I tore it free from its cage, the world tilting violently as blood poured down my body.
The sound behind exploded into chaos.
"DAMON!"
I turned my head slightly over my shoulder and saw Alaric and Theo racing toward the hill, their faces twisted with panic and horror.
Before they could reach , the air beca charged with magic.
A barrier rose around the hill, shimring faintly as it sealed itself into place, cutting them off completely. Theo slamd his hands against it, his voice breaking as he shouted my na.
"Stop! Don’t do this!" Alaric yelled, pounding against the invisible wall.
I looked at them over my shoulder, my lips pulling into a faint smile.
"If this is the price I have to pay," I said quietly, my voice barely carrying through the air, "then I am willing."
My heart continued beating in my hand, glowing faintly as blood dripped from my fingers.
I turned my head back to the tree.
My vision blurred as my strength began to fade, but I forced myself forward. My legs gave way, and I fell toward the trunk, my body barely held upright as vines rose from the soil beneath .
They wrapped gently around my arms and torso, holding in place.
The blood that poured from my chest lifted into the air, floating like drops of rain before moving toward the tree. My heart rose slowly from my hand, hovering between and the trunk.
My eyes fluttered closed as darkness crept into the edges of my vision.
"Ember," I whispered.
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