Chapter 168
The wolves between them scattered as she tore across the clearing. Tristan remained frozen, his blood red eyes fixed on fur purple Daten- battle around them seemed to fade away as wolves from both packs paused to watch the confrontation.
Through the mental link that still connected him to his officials, Tristan heard Varian’s urgent voice.
Tristan. I’m coming to you. As ordered, I’ve directed our main force toward Ravencroft Manor.
But Tristan couldn’t look away from the purple wolf racing toward him, something about those eyes striking him as hauntingly familiar.
Who are you? he repeated, this time with less command and more wonder.
When her voice filled his mind–Your death–recognition slammed into him. That voice. He knew that voice.
Lysandra?
His shock gave her the advantage. She crashed into him with the force of a runaway train, her weight knocking him off balance. Her claws found purchase in his neck, ripping through fur to the flesh beneath. Blood erupted from the wounds, spraying across her purple fur in a crimson arc. Tristan’s body jerked violently, a strangled howl escaping his throat,
Several of his wolves moved to intervene, but Lysandra’s growl stopped them in their tracks. Only Tristan seemed unable to look away, his eyes glazed with shock and agony.
Die, she projected, driving her claws deeper into his flesh.
She slashed again, this time across his ribs, her attack more savage than any wolf on the battlefield had witnessed. Her claws dug deep furrows in his flesh, tearing through muscle and scraping bone.
Tristan’s legs buckled beneath him, his massive body crashing to the ground with a thud that shook the earth. Blood pooled beneath him, soaking into the dirt. A wet, gurgling sound escaped his throat as he struggled to breathe, his chest heaving with the effort.
You’re here to kill my brother, she snarled through their connection. How could you? Let’s see who kills who.
She ripped into him again, tearing at his exposed flank. This time, a scream of raw agony tore from him, his body convulsing from the pain. Dark blood bubbled from his mouth, spilling over his silver–gray fur. Yet even as he writhed in torment, eyes rolling back from the shock, he made no move to counter her attacks, no attempt to defend himself.
You- he began, but she cut him off with another vicious slash.
You came here to murder my brother. And now see who dies tonight.
Her jaws snapped inches from his throat when suddenly a heavy weight slammed into her side, knocking her away from Tristan. She rolled to her feet, snarling, to find a large brown wolf standing protectively over his Alpha. Beta Varian’s teeth were bared, a growl rumbling from his
chest.
Before she could lunge again, another wolf joined the standoff–this one darker, with battle scars crisscrossing his muzzle. Gamma Darius.
I’ve come to kill your Alpha, she projected to them both. Step aside and you might live.
Gamma Darius snapped his jaws in fury. You want to harm our Alpha? You treacherous bitch. You’ll have to go through me first!
As you wish, Gamma, Lysandra replied coldly.
She feinted left before diving right, aiming to tear out Darius’s throat in one clean move. But before she could reach him, Tristan surged forward, shouldering his own Gamma out of the way. Their eyes locked, and for the first time since she’d arrived, Tristan backed away from her, creating space.
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Chapter 168
Lysandra stalked toward him, her purple fur bristling, satisfaction coursing through her as he retreated. He was yielding there Her lips pulled back in a savage smile, revealing bloodstained fangs.
You’ve hurt me too much over the years, Alpha Tristan, she projected. Today, on this battlefield, ril show you just how much I hate you
Her words seemed to trigger something in him. He stopped retreating, standing his ground despite the blood flowing freely from multiple wounds. Lysandra didn’t hesitate. She lunged again, slashing g across his chest, opening new gashes that immediately welled with cumson
But he didn’t defend himself. Didn’t fight back. Just stood there, taking her punishment.
It infuriated her. She attacked more viciously, determined to provoke to intervene, only to freeze at a look from their Alpha.
What the hell are you doing? Varian snarled at Tristan. Fight back!
sponse. From the corner of her eye, she saw Varian and Darius moving
Tristan’s response was too low for Lysandra to catch, but it made his Beta back away, though reluctance showed in every line of his body.
Lysandra circled Tristan, blood dripping from her claws. One more strike–one well–placed bite at his throat–and it would be over. She gathered herself, muscles coiling for the final attack.
Then, unbidden, Orion’s and Lyra’s faces flashed in her mind. Orion’s serious blue–eyes–so like his father’s. Lyra’s innocent voice echoing in her
memory.
“I dreamed about my daddy. He said he loved me.”
Lysandra faltered, suddenly aware that she stood at a crossroads.
Something else nagged at her consciousness. She glanced at Varian and Darius, who watched her with undisguised hatred. Then her gaze returned to Tristan, bloody but standing firm, making no move to strike back.
Why are they here? The thought struck her like lightning. Shouldn’t they be hunting my brother?
A bone–chilling howl sliced through the night, so filled with agony it made her blood freeze. She knew that voice.
Alaric!
The sound came from the direction of Ravencroft Manor. Without another thought for Tristan, Lysandra spun and bolted toward the sound, her heart hammering in her chest.
If Tristan is here, then who’s attacking my brother?
She raced through the forest, leaving the main battlefield behind. As she approached the manor grounds, she skidded to a halt, horror washing over her.
In the moonlit clearing before the manor gates, Alaric lay in his half–shifted form, a wooden stake driven through his leg, pinning him to the ground. Blood pooled beneath him, black in the moonlight.”
Above him stood a wolf she recognized immediately, its jaws dripping with her brother’s blood.
Alpha Kael?
