Chapter 310

AURORA

I stood at the front lines, watching the pack fall into a deafening silence. Their faces were set with grim determination. Evelyn and Piper took control of the traps I'd ordered, carefully placing them in a circle around the packhouse perimeter. Trajan's steady voice cut through the tense air as I directed the defensive units. My heart clenched; the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily upon my shoulders.

“Are we ready?” I asked Trajan in a low tone.

“As ready as we’ll ever be,” he replied, his voice grim.

Rowan jogged over, wiping his brow. “Your plan is solid, but they’ll adapt quickly if we’re not careful. The last trap is in place. Piper double-checked everything.”

“Good,” I said, nodding. “We hold our ground. Let them come to us.”

Rowan hesitated. “You don’t think they’ll fall for it?”

“They will,” I replied confidently. “Orion’s arrogance will blind him.”

The clang of approaching footsteps announced Orion’s forces. Their numbers were astonishing, but their formation was arrogant.

“Hold,” I said sharply, my voice cutting through the tension.

As the first wave entered the trap zone, Rowan gave his signal. With a sharp pull of a lever, the ground exploded in a chaotic storm of snares and spikes. The wolves cried out in pain and confusion as their ranks broke.

Dane’s voice rang out from behind me. “Impressive, Luna.”

I turned sharply, my shock barely contained. “What are you doing here? You should be resting!”

He smirked, his presence commanding despite his pallor. “I couldn’t sit this one out. Besides, it looks like you could use my help.”

Before I could argue, Dane leaped into the battle, his strength seemingly restored enough to make a difference. His unexpected arrival inspired the wolves, boosting their morale.

“Dane!” I shouted, frustration lacing my tone. “This wasn’t part of the plan!”

“Plans change,” he called back, his voice even as he sliced through an oncoming attacker.

I was angry and surprised by his sudden strength, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I fought beside him, my movements instinctively following his. Together, we carved a path through the opposing pack’s ranks, each strike a reaffirmation of our unity.

The traps continued to pick off the enemy, but Orion himself emerged from the chaos, his figure towering over the others despite his wounds. My gaze fell upon him. The chaos of the battlefield suddenly stilled, replaced by the hard thud of my heart.

“Luna,” Orion snarled, blood streaming from his side. “Your tricks won’t save you… I know you did that to my army… I don’t know how, but I know you did it.”

“How?” I asked.

He grinned. “Because… you had the opportunity to kill them, but you didn’t… you chose to paralyze them instead.”

I gulped. “I am not you, Orion… I am not a heartless monster.”

“But you are married to one, just like me…”

I turned to Dane, shaking my head. “No… Dane is nothing like you… I know him.”

“You…” Orion growled, attempting to lift his sword before collapsing to his knees in front of me.

I raised my weapon, aiming for his neck, my hands trembling. Was I capable of delivering the killing blow?

“Do it!” Dane urged from beside me. “End this now!”

My grip tightened, my mind racing. In his eyes, I saw defiance, but also a flicker of pride, of arrogance—a chilling sight.

“You don’t deserve mercy,” I breathed.

“And yet you hesitate,” Orion replied, curling his lips into a grim smile.

The only sounds were the remnants of Orion’s forces fleeing desperately into the forest. I lowered my weapon, my breath coming fast, my gaze following his retreating warriors. Blood dripped steadily from his wound, but he remained defiant, his piercing gaze meeting mine with unwavering intensity. His lips curled into a grim smirk.

“You think you’ve won, Luna,” he said, his voice low but cutting through the silence like a blade. “But victory is an illusion.”

I stepped forward, my muscles tense. “Your men are running, Orion. That doesn’t look like victory to me.”

He chuckled, the sound low and mocking. “Running? No, this is a tactical withdrawal. Unlike you, I understand the long game. And trust me, this game is far from over.”

Dane limped to my side, his breathing labored but his presence commanding. “We outsmarted you today, Orion. You underestimated her.”

Orion’s gaze flickered to Dane, disgust crossing his face. “Ah, the broken Alpha. Surprising to see you standing. But then again, it’s always the desperate who fight hardest.”

“Enough,” I snapped, my voice hard. “This ends here, Orion. Walk away and don’t come back.”

Orion leaned to the side, his smile deepening. “You don’t have the stomach for this, do you? That’s your weakness, Luna. You hesitate, you negotiate, you beg. It’s why you’ll always lose in the end.”

My grip on my weapon tightened, though my feet felt rooted to the ground. And he was right; I hesitated, unsure if ending him would truly solve anything.

“Go,” I said finally, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. “And tell your pack this is the last time you’ll set foot here.”

Orion gritted his teeth, rising to his feet and disappearing into the darkness with his retreating wolves, their footsteps fading deep into the forest.

Dane turned to me, his face a mixture of pride and concern. “You should’ve ended him,” he said quietly.

“Maybe,” I conceded, my voice soft. “But I won’t kill out of anger. That’s not who I am.”

Dane shook his head. Frustration flickered across his face. “That’s why he’ll come back stronger. He’s already planning his next move.”

I nodded, my jaw set. “I doubt it.”

As we turned to face my warriors, the weight of my decision bore down heavily upon my shoulders. The wolves looked to me, their faces etched with hope and exhaustion, their faith in me unwavering.