Fated by Blood and Moon

Chapter 26: After the Storm

Maya’s POV

The first light of dawn filtered through the trees, casting a pale glow over the battlefield. The bodies of the fallen were scattered around us, but there was a calm in the air now—a quiet that settled in the wake of the storm. The Bloodfangs had retreated, but something had changed. Their threat felt distant, like a shadow that had been finally dispelled.

I could still feel the thrill of the fight coursing through me, Lyra’s presence humming just beneath the surface. We had won, but victory didn’t feel as sweet as I’d imagined. The pack had lost warriors, and the weight of that loss hung heavy in my heart. Yet, beneath the grief, there was relief—because the Bloodfangs wouldn’t be attacking again. Not without their leader.

Leo stood beside me, his gaze scanning the horizon. His silver eyes were hard, but I could sense the relief, the pride, and the exhaustion etched in the lines of his face. Fenrir had retreated, satisfied, and Leo was once again in control, though the weight of the battle still hung over him.

“They’re gone,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “And they won’t be coming back.”

Leo nodded, his gaze lingering on the trees where the Bloodfangs had retreated. “They lost their Alpha,” he replied, his voice low but firm. “Without him, they’ll be in disarray for a long time. It’ll take years for them to recover enough to challenge us again—if they even can.”

I nodded, knowing it was true. The death of their Alpha had broken the Bloodfangs. Their pack would be thrown into chaos, leaderless and weakened. Without a strong Alpha to guide them, they would splinter, fighting among themselves for dominance. And in that state, they were no longer a threat to us—or to the relic.

Lyra stirred within me, her voice steady and reassuring. It’s over, Maya. We’ve won.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me, the tension that had been coiled in my chest finally loosening. “It’s over,” I echoed, the words feeling strange on my tongue. After all the fighting, all the fear, it was hard to believe it had finally come to an end.

Leo’s eyes softened as he looked at me, a rare vulnerability shining through. “We did it,” he said quietly, stepping closer. “We protected our pack.”

I met his gaze, feeling the bond between us strengthen in that moment. “We did,” I whispered, reaching out to take his hand. The warmth of his touch grounded me, and for the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe again.

---

Later that Day

The pack gathered in the clearing, their expressions a mix of grief and relief. We had lost good wolves, and their absence was keenly felt, but there was also a sense of victory in the air. The Bloodfangs had been defeated, their leader killed, and we had emerged stronger.

Jaxon stood beside us, his face grim but resolute. “The scouts report no further movement from the Bloodfangs,” he said. “Their forces have scattered, and without an Alpha to unite them, they pose no immediate threat.”

Leo nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Good. We need to focus on rebuilding and strengthening our defenses, but at least we know we won’t have to deal with another attack anytime soon.”

Jaxon hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “And the relic?”

Leo’s gaze darkened as he glanced at the pack members around us. “It’s safe for now, but we’ll move it to a more secure location soon. Without the Bloodfangs to worry about, we have some time, but I don’t want to take any chances.”

I could feel the relief ripple through the pack at his words. The relic was still in our possession, and the immediate danger had passed. But Leo was right—we couldn’t afford to grow complacent.

---

That Night

As the moon rose high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the forest, I stood with Leo on the edge of the clearing, watching as the pack settled into the quiet of the night. The sense of peace was new, and though the grief for our fallen lingered, I knew that we had emerged stronger.

“We’ll need to honor those we lost,” I said softly, my gaze drifting to the stars. “They gave everything for this pack.”

Leo’s hand tightened around mine. “We will. They’ll be remembered, always.”

I nodded, comforted by the strength in his voice. We had survived the storm, and now it was time to rebuild, to heal. The Bloodfangs were no longer a threat, and the future stretched out before us—uncertain but filled with hope.

Lyra’s voice echoed softly in my mind, a quiet reassurance. We’re stronger now, Maya. We’ll protect our pack, and our family.

I smiled, feeling the truth of her words settle in my heart. The storm had passed, and together—with Leo, with our pack—we would face whatever came next.