Amoux and Aurora: The Era of Wolves

Chapter 23: No Other Choice

Leo shielded his eyes but was not harmed. When he opened his eyes, to his shock, he sees Chris and Luna! "Dad? Luna? Your alive!!" shouted Leo as he hugs them both. "Are you okay, Leo?" asked Chris. "I'm okay. I'm just glad your alive." said Leo as he sheds tears. "Mom!" said Luna as she tended to her. Viperess looks up and sees Chris and Luna alive. "You...survived? Impossible!! I killed you both!! How could've you survived?!" exclaimed Viperess. "Well...let's just say someone came in at the right time." said Chris as Kitsune arrived and stood beside Chris. "So this is the snake you were telling me about. She sure seems creepy." he said. Viperess scoffed. "Whatever! I'll kill you all if it's the last thing I do!!" shouted Viperess as she charged towards them. Chris and Dante dodged and took on Viperess as they distracted her. "Damn! She's too fast!" said Kitsune. "Well...we're just gonna have to outrun her then." said Amoux as the two dashed towards her. "You know Chris...I actually wanted to have you under my control, just so my sister could feel the pain I have suffered over the years!" said Viperess. "You don't have to do this, Kayla!" said Chris. "Why bother not? So you could just imprison me or kill me??" asked Viperess. "I believe in second chances. We can help you. Cure you of your evil." said Chris. "There's no stopping me!!" shouted Viperess as she striked Amoux but he used his arm to block it. She winced in pain as she held her teeth. "What is that made of?" asked Viperess. "Pure metal. So pure not even your fangs could penetrate it." said Amoux as he bashed her and Dante kicks her in the tree. "You got this, Dad!" said Leo.

Carla slowly regained conscious as she sees Mei who too regained conscious. "Carla! Use this!" said Mei as she threw the serum towards Carla. She caught the rifle. She tried to aim the rifle but her movement was too fast. She then took out the pill. "Luna...t-take Leo someplace safe with Mei. I'm gonna put an end to this." said Carla. "But Mom." said Luna. "No! Go!" said Carla as they ran into the forest. Carla weakly stood and walks to the battlefield. It then started to rain hard as lightning struck the trees, causing a wildfire. Viperess wacks Dante with her tail and trips Chris. "Now...time for you to die." said Viperess as she was about to kill Chris but Carla tackles her to the ground. The two were in a scuffle as Kayla stuck the blade in Carla's midsection once more as she yelled in pain. But Carla would respond by forcefully placing the serum in her mouth, causing her to swallow it. "What...what did you do?!" exclaimed Viperess as Carla kicks her back. Then slowly, Kayla slowly was changing as her reptilian skin was dissolving. She stumbled back until suddenly slipping near the edge and grabbed on for dear life. She looks down as she sees fire on the bottom. Carla looks at the ledge and takes Chris's hand cannon and stumbled towards her. "What are you waiting for? Get on with it!!" shouted Kayla. Carla looks at the cannon before tossing it to the ground. "No. I've already made the mistake of trying to kill you. I'm not gonna be a monster in front of my family. Like you. I tried to offer you a chance. I tried to be a sister and help you. But instead...you go your way of taking innocent lives. Including our mother." said Carla as she slowly walks away but falls to the ground, heavily wounded. Kayla, with one final desperate act, pulls out a gun and aims it at Carla but she lost her grip. She screamed as she fell into the fire, seemingly killing her. Chris quickly stood as he tends to Carla. "Carla? Carla! Can you hear me??" asked Chris in worry as she wasn't responding. "MEI!! HELP!!" shouted Chris as Mei quickly arrived. "Get her to my lab! Go!!" shouted Mei as Chris carried Carla to the infirmary and Mei would begin her procedure. Chris would be by Carla's side, holding her hand. Meanwhile, Dante was with the kids. "Is Mom gonna be okay?" asked Leo. "Have faith, guys. After meeting your mom, I see her coming out of this alive." said Dante.

An hour goes by and Mei tried her absolute best to save her. "How's it looking, Mei?" asked Chris in a hopeful tone. Mei looks at the monitor as it was slowly fading. Mei looks at him with tears. "It would seem...she's in a coma and by the wounds she sustained...there is a strong chance she may never wake up." she said as Chris's mind went blank. "I'm so sorry." said Mei as she leaves the lab in tears. Chris eyes widened and was filled with tears. "No...Carla...C-Carla? Babe...please...talk to me! Say something!" said Chris as he held her face. But no response. Chris sobbed as he hugs her head. Luna and Leo look on in shock before falling into sadness. Leo sobbed as Luna pulls him into a hug, while too shedding tears. Dante and the Nightwolves look on in sadness as they had their heads down. Mei silently sobbed as she left the room, giving Chris privacy. She exits the lab, where Kate and Humphrey comfort her. "It's okay, Mei." said Humphrey. "You did the best you could. It's not your fault." said Kate as the others joined in. Chris was by himself in the room as he took a deep breath. Chris then looks at the ring on her hand as he had flashbacks of all the fun times they had together. Meeting Carla for the first time was the happiest moment of his life. "Carla...if you can even hear me...I just want you to know how much I love you. You are the best thing that has ever happened in my life. You've done everything for me. You gave me a home, you gave me love...and you gave me a family. A family we started together. When I met you, you were a shy and innocent person. But when we spent time together, you became a fierce, fearless, passionate and spectacular of a woman. Especially a romantic woman. Although we didn't have a prom night because of the crimes that occured. We came up with our own. The moment I was about to ask, you immediately said yes to not just the idea but to the dance. I set everything up by the lake, you arrived wearing that nice dress and wore a nice leather jacket with all the pins I've given you from Valentine's Day. We had our dance and it was a memorable moment. And then of course, you always talked about having a kid with me, so we agreed and 2 months later, you come to me with a positive pregnancy test. Then, Luna was born and eventually Leo was born. Another memorable moment of my life. At first...I was afraid of starting a family. Not just because of the responsibility...but also keeping you safe. Then years go by and now we have Leo, who you couldn't stop babying him even though he's 10." said Chris as he chuckled. He sighed as he looked at Carla once more. "But the bottom line is......I'm grateful for everything we shared together. Forever and always I will cherish the moments we had. I love you, Carla." said Chris as he kissed her once more, before slowly falling asleep next to her.