The Beaten Path.

Chapter 16: War

"As you wish," Dom says as he stands ready to pounce.
Our warriors and pack members come running, taking their positions around the territory. We have them completely surrounded.

Just as it seems that victory is within our grasp, a loud howl pierces the air, signaling an unexpected turn of events. From beyond the trees, reinforcements for Joe's side emerge, adding numbers to their forces. Our heartbeats quicken with the sudden shift, but we stand our ground, unwavering in our resolve.

"Sky Light, stand down!" my mother commands, her Luna tone jarring. The pack members willing to fight obey her, murmuring a reluctant "yes, Luna."

"Joe, what is going on?" she demands, her eyes reflecting confusion and anger.

"A war!" he states, lunging at Dom. Dom dodges swiftly, and Joe lands on all fours, snapping his jaws at him. Dom shifts quickly, circling Joe as his pack members join the fray.

My pack is taking them down swiftly. Amid the chaos, I hear Faith yell for me to watch out.

Turning, I see my mother charging at me. I brace myself, ready to fight. She swings her fist at my face. I duck and retaliate with a punch that connects under her chin. I hear a crack and smirk as I watch her stumble, grabbing her jaw.

"I'm not the same weak little girl, Mother!" I growl.

She laughs wickedly. "You will always be weak," she retorts, swinging her leg to kick me. I catch her leg, grab her throat, and throw her into a post.

She hits it hard, gasping as the air is knocked from her lungs.

"You are wrong, Mother. I am stronger than anyone here! I am more powerful than any witch alive. You are mistaken about me in more ways than you know!"

She struggles to rise, and when she does, she says, "I will have my revenge today!" With that, she shifts and charges at me. I stand tall, head held high, and with my Luna strength, I command,
"Heal!" Her wolf stops instantly.

"Shift!" I command. Her wolf obeys.

"What the hell?" she asks, confusion etched on her face as she tries to cover her nakedness.

"I told you, Mother, I am more powerful than you know," I smirk, approaching her.

Before I can speak again, Faith is at my side, urging me to look around. When I do, I see an unbelievable sight. Not only has my pack stopped fighting and shifted back into human form, but so has the Skylight pack. They all stare at me, confusion on some faces and pride on others.

Dom, along with a few warriors, holds Joe while stepping beside me.

"You did this, my beautiful mate," he says with pride. "What would you like to do next, my Luna?"

"I want to deal with my mother first. Then we will handle everyone else." He nods, stepping aside with our beta and third-in-command.

I turn back to my mother, who is looking around in disbelief.

"Mother," I call. She snaps her head back to me, raising an eyebrow.

"You do know that I have loved you through all the years, even when you treated me like dirt. Every kick, every punch, every hateful word, every time you turned away when I screamed for help. Each time you allowed others to hurt me, every blame you laid on me for Mae and Father's death—despite it all, I have loved you!" I say, my voice filled with emotion.

She stares at me blankly, no emotion visible in her eyes. I continue,
"I am your daughter by blood, but you are right, Mother—I'm no longer your daughter. I will never forget the good times we shared when Mae and Father were here. I hope one day you realize the mistake you made by blaming me for their death and all the pain you caused me."

"I will ask you one time, Mother. Please think before you respond. Are you ready to let go and move on, or do you want to continue this fight? If you choose to fight, it will be to the death. So please make your choice now."

"She seems to be thinking, Kelly," Athena chimes in.

"I hope she chooses not to fight; I don't want to kill her, but I know we must if she does," I whimper back to Athena.

"I choose to fight," she declares, head held high.

"Well, she's definitely a strong-willed woman," Athena states.

"Yeah, also stubborn," I growl in frustration.

"Jeez, calm down," she snaps back before blocking me out. I huff and refocus on my mother.

"It saddens me that this is the route you wish to take. You understand this will be to the death, and no one will intervene?"

"Yes, I understand," she replies, standing tall and meeting my gaze.

"Fair enough," I state, matching her stance.

I wait for her first move, watching her body language. I see her leaning to the left, and I know she's about to strike. I leap over her, performing a flip and landing perfectly.

She turns around, and I connect my fist with her face. She growls, clearly furious, and I can tell she's about to shift.

I let her shift first, and then I do too. When I transform into my beautiful silver wolf, gasps ripple through the yard, not from my pack but from the Skylight pack.

I shake out my fur and growl at my mother, who looks stunned by my power.

Unexpectedly, she shifts back into her human form, and I follow suit. She lunges at me, but I'm quicker, using my claws to slice a gash across her stomach. She gasps and collapses to the ground.

In that moment, I know the fight is over. Kneeling beside her, I take her hand in mine.

"Why, Mother? Why did you make me do this?" Tears stream down my face. Yes, I know how she has treated me, but she is the woman who gave birth to me, once a loving mother. I can never hate her.

"Kelly," she coughs. "Thank you," she says, rubbing away my tears. I look at her, bewildered.

"Thank you for what, Mother?"

"For giving me my wish, for reuniting me with my mate," she says, a genuine smile gracing her lips. I cry harder.

"I'm so sorry, Kel, for everything. I hope the Moon Goddess can forgive me for what I've done to you, my sweet girl. Stay strong; keep that strength you showed today! Your father would be proud," she says, struggling to breathe. I squeeze her hand and nod.

She inhales one last time and falls limp, showing no sign of life. I whisper, "I love you," to her.

I have no idea how long I sit beside her, letting the tears flow freely.

Once they finish, Dom approaches me, wrapping his arms around me and lifting me. I cling to his neck, resting my head on his shoulder. As he carries me, I feel the dried blood crusted on my boots and see the shredded Skylight banners fluttering in the fading sunlight, reminders of the battle's cost. The bittersweet scent of victory mingles with the lingering echoes of loss, etching the day into my memory. The quiet hum of the SUV ride back to our pack symbolizes a new beginning, but I cannot shake the uneasy feeling of the price we paid.

"You did a great job today, my love. I hope you see that," he says softly.

"I do, Dom. I want to go home now."

He helps me into the SUV, mentioning he sent members to retrieve my mother's body for burial beside my father and sister.

The drive home is silent; no one speaks. When we arrive at the house, I turn to everyone, offering my good nights before heading upstairs to our room.

Exhausted from the day, I shower and then lie with my mate. Once my head rests on his chest, he wraps his arms around me, and I let the darkness consume me, washing the day away.