From The Ashes

Chapter Forty-Four

Battle ceased on both sides as all of the wolves turned their heads toward the grizzly scene.

Queen Stella was the first to howl. Her broken heart could be felt in the way she would raise and lower her voice in mourning of her lost husband. The rest of the pack was quick to join her.

King Alistair stood tall and proud over King Ruben's body. He shifted back to human and began to speak. 

"We all know now who is the most powerful king. Let this fighting cease and surrender. You've all lost." 

A small smirk played at the corner of his lips and I saw red as rage began to fester once again in my body; it's hot flames spreading from my stomach and throughout my limbs.

I sprinted toward him, shifting as he had done so I could speak. 

"You are a worthless king," I said with venom lacing my tone.

The blizzard had stopped raging. Everything was still as the surrounding packs watched what was about to unfold. 

"Quite the contrary, dear. I'd say I've proven my worth today."

He was full blown smirking at me now. He placed his foot on King Ruben's lifeless body. 

I ground my teeth and fought my body for control.

The darkness was trying to eat it's way into me, like a cancer that slowly spread and infected every cell in my body.

My hands shook and I clutched my head as another piercing headache came on. 

"Fight it," I heard Selene's melodious voice tell me.

"Indigo, you are stronger than this. If you surrender now, the whole world will fall." 

My vision was blurry and the pain in my head increased ten fold. I dropped to my knees and looked to the sky as I let out a feral scream.

I could vaguely hear multiple sets of footsteps approaching me. 

Valen's calloused hands caressed my face. 

"It's okay, baby. I'm here. You can fight it, I know you can." 

I opened my eyes and glimpsed his face one last time before I fell unconscious. 

*** 

Valen's POV 

I watched as my beautiful girl closed her eyes and drifted away. I knew within my soul that Selene had beckoned her away to help her fight what I could not.

I was terrified that she was lying unconscious in the middle of a battlefield, but a feeling a peace also spread through me. 

I lowered her down and kissed her forehead, a silent promise that I would take care of things until she came back to me.

I turned to my brother and his mate and nodded my head. Von instantly knew I what I was conveying. His eyes glazed over as he relayed my message to Artemis. 

She looked to me with those fiery eyes that used to annoy the shit out of me. I'd never tell her, but I was so glad that we had gotten her back.

I'd begun to see her as a sister in the short time she'd been with us. 

I turned to Indigo's father next, hatred blazing in my gut. The pain I'd felt when my father's life was ended was still there, but I had always been much better at dealing with the anger instead. 

Right now, that felt like a blessing as I lifted my lip and snarled at Alistair. 

"By law, you have to defeat us to take over our pack. Did you really think we would just hand it over to you?"