Fated by Blood and Moon

Chapter 25: The Reckoning

Maya’s POV

The ground trembled beneath us as the Bloodfang Alpha, now in his full wolf form, stood before us—a towering black wolf with eyes that burned like embers. His presence exuded raw power, making every muscle in my body tense in anticipation. Leo, in his wolf form, Fenrir, stood at my side, his silver fur bristling as a low growl rumbled from his throat.

Lyra stirred within me, her own growl mixing with Fenrir’s. We’re ready for this, she said with conviction. Let’s finish it.

I could feel the heat of battle coursing through my veins as I shifted, bones cracking and muscles snapping into place until Lyra took over. Our grey and brown fur bristled in the cool air, the scent of earth and blood filling our senses. The Bloodfang Alpha was massive, but we were ready.

He lunged first, a blur of black fur and fangs, aiming straight for Fenrir. But Leo—Fenrir—was quick, sidestepping the attack and snapping back with his powerful jaws, barely missing the Alpha’s neck. The sound of their growls shook the ground, but I wasn’t about to let Leo take this fight alone.

We’re stronger together, I reminded myself as Lyra sprang forward, joining Fenrir in the battle.

The three of us collided in a fury of fur and claws. The Bloodfang Alpha was strong, his strikes brutal, but Lyra and Fenrir worked in perfect harmony. While Fenrir distracted him with powerful lunges, I darted in from the side, slashing at his flanks. Every strike sent a surge of satisfaction through me, knowing we were wearing him down.

Keep pushing, Maya! Lyra urged, her focus sharp. We can take him!

The Alpha snapped his jaws in my direction, and I barely dodged the attack, feeling the rush of air as his fangs closed where my neck had been just a second earlier. Lyra growled with frustration, but we weren’t backing down. Fenrir leaped onto the Alpha’s back, his powerful claws digging deep into the enemy’s fur, holding him down for a crucial moment.

I saw the opening. Without hesitation, I lunged, sinking my teeth into the Alpha’s exposed side. He howled in pain, thrashing wildly, but Fenrir held him steady. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and for a split second, I felt the primal urge to finish it.

But the Alpha was strong. With a violent jerk, he threw both of us off, his massive body rising to its full height. He stood there, panting, blood dripping from his wounds, but his eyes still blazed with fury.

He’s not giving up easily, Lyra snarled, pacing beside Fenrir as we circled the Alpha, waiting for our next opening.

Fenrir growled low, eyes locked on the Alpha, his body coiled and ready to strike again. We’ll finish this together, Fenrir’s voice echoed in my mind, steady and full of determination.

Without warning, the Alpha lunged again, this time aiming directly at me. I braced myself, but Fenrir was faster. He intercepted the attack, his body slamming into the Alpha’s with incredible force. The two wolves tumbled to the ground in a flurry of claws and fangs, their growls deafening.

Now! Lyra screamed, and I didn’t hesitate. We charged, aiming straight for the Alpha’s exposed throat.

In a blur of motion, Fenrir clamped down on the Alpha’s shoulder, pinning him to the ground. I felt the surge of power as Lyra and I bit down, hard, on his neck. The Alpha let out a bone-chilling howl, thrashing beneath us, but it was over. His strength faded with every passing second until he lay still beneath us, his breath ragged and shallow.

We stepped back, watching as the Alpha struggled to rise, but he couldn’t. His defeat was written in the way his body sagged, the fire in his eyes finally dimming.

Fenrir released him, letting out a triumphant growl as the Bloodfang Alpha crumbled to the earth. The battlefield went silent for a moment, the only sound the labored breathing of the fallen Alpha.

Leo’s POV

Victory surged through me as I stood over the defeated Alpha. The Bloodfangs, seeing their leader collapse, hesitated. Their morale shattered as they witnessed his downfall. One by one, they began to retreat, their dark forms vanishing into the shadows of the forest.

Fenrir growled, his chest heaving with exertion. I looked over to Maya—Lyra. Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of triumph and exhaustion, her fur matted with the blood of battle. But there was something else—a bond forged stronger through the fight, a deeper connection than ever before.

We did it, I thought, my eyes locking with hers.

Fenrir padded over to Lyra, and together we stood over the fallen Alpha, a silent message to anyone who dared to threaten us again. Together, we’re unstoppable, Fenrir rumbled, his voice full of pride.

Lyra nodded, her eyes flicking to the retreating Bloodfangs. They won’t be back anytime soon.

As the remaining Bloodfang wolves vanished into the night, the adrenaline began to fade, replaced by a sense of overwhelming relief. The battle was won, but the war wasn’t over. There would be more challenges ahead, more threats lurking in the shadows. But for now, we had secured our home, our pack.

I shifted back into human form, my breath coming in short gasps. Maya followed suit, her face flushed with victory. I stepped closer, pulling her into my arms. “You were amazing,” I whispered, pressing my forehead to hers. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

She smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. “We fought together. That’s all that matters.”

The night was quiet again, save for the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. The storm had passed, but I knew there were darker days ahead. Yet standing there with Maya—my mate, my equal—I knew we could face anything together.