MARKED BY MY STEPBROTHER

Chapter Twenty Eight

Damon’s POV

The forest was alive with the sound of wolves moving through the trees. Over sixty warriors followed me as we approached the old moon temple ruins under the cover of dusk. The air was thick with tension and the metallic scent of coming bloodshed. Yeah, well, we could sense that too. It didn't have to happen in real time for us to sense that blood was coming.

I ran at the front in my wolf form, the big black thing. Sophie ran beside me in human form, Lucas secured safely in a reinforced carrier against her chest, shielded by her golden energy. She had grown so much in such a short time.

Marcus was at my other side. “Scouts confirm Victor and Seraphina are inside the temple with roughly forty loyalists. Shadow Pack reinforcements are expected before midnight.”

I grunted in response. There was nothing much that I had to say regarding that. This ended tonight.

We stopped at the edge of the clearing.

The ancient stone temple stood in its ruined glory under the moonlight, its broken columns casting long shadows.

Torches flickered around the perimeter.

Sophie’s POV

My heart couldn't stop the way it was beating as I looked at the temple. This was where everything had started, where Victor had first tried to control us. Now we were bringing the fight to him. Such turn of events.

Damon shifted back to human form beside me, tall and imposing in black tactical gear. He cupped my face with one hand, his silver eyes intense.

“Stay close to Marcus and the others,” he said. “Protect Lucas. If things go wrong..”

“I know,” I whispered, leaning up to kiss him. He didn't need to say the rest of it. “But we’re ending this together.”

He kissed me back, then turned to the warriors to speak to them. And when he did, his voice was carried across the clearing with natural Alpha authority.

“Victor Blackthorn has betrayed our pack. He tried to enslave my mate and steal my son. Tonight, we take back what is ours!”

They howled into the night in response.

The battle began.

Damon’s POV

We charged.

I shifted on my run, leading the frontline assault. Victor’s guards met us at the temple steps. The clash was violent and immediate. I tore through the first line of defense, claws ripping into flesh and bone, desecrating the ancient stone with blood, blood, blood.

Through the bond, I felt Sophie fighting behind me, bursts of golden energy knocking enemies off their feet while she protected Lucas. Tell you what, she was magnificent.

Victor emerged from the temple entrance, shifting into his scarred gray wolf. Seraphina stood beside him, glowing with stolen golden power.

“You dare challenge me in my own territory?!” Victor roared through the link.

I slammed into him with every ounce of anger that I could muster. We rolled across the broken steps, fangs snapping, claws tearing. He was strong, no doubt about that, but I was fighting for my family.

Sophie’s POV

I stayed back with a small guard as instructed, but when Seraphina sent a wave of golden energy toward Damon, I knew that I had to react.

I pushed my own power forward, meeting hers in a blinding collision. The force nearly knocked me off my feet, but I held my ground, shielding Lucas.

“You cannot win this,” Seraphina called out, her voice echoing in such an unnatural manner. “The child belongs to a greater destiny!”

“He belongs to us!” I shouted back.

I felt Lucas stir against me. His power joined mine, and together we pushed harder. Seraphina staggered, surprise flashing across her face.

Damon gained the upper hand against Victor, and was able to pin him down. But more Shadow Pack wolves began pouring in from the eastern treeline, making the numbers even now.

The battle grew more and more desperate.

Damon’s POV

I had Victor by the throat when a Shadow Pack Alpha tackled me from the side. I rolled with him, but Victor used the moment to escape into the temple.

“Sophie!” I shouted through the bond. “They’re falling back inside!”

I fought my way toward her. She was breathing hard but still standing strong.

“We go in together,” I said, shifting back to human form and taking her hand.

Marcus and the others formed up around us as we entered the temple. The interior was lit with torches. Victor and Seraphina waited at the far end near an ancient altar, surrounded by their last loyal guards and several Shadow Pack Alphas.

Victor smiled through bloodied teeth.

“You’ve come this far but it's only gonna end bad for you because you are going to die here.”

Seraphina raised her hands. Dark golden energy surrounded her. “Give us the child, and I’ll make your deaths quick.”

I stepped forward, my claws extended and said, “Over my dead body.”

Sophie’s POV

The madness was now inside the temple.

Damon and the others fought the guards while I faced Seraphina directly. Our golden powers clashed again and again, sending sparks like it was some fireworks display.

“You are nothing without me!” she screamed. “I gave you this power!”

“You stole my mother’s life!” I shouted back.

Lucas cried out between us. His.vries seemed to increase his power and I was able to use it to my advantage. The combined force was aimed at Seraphina, throwing her against the altar. She crumpled to the ground and stayed down.

Victor came at Damon one final time, easy for me to see the glint of a silver dagger in Victor’s hand too late.

“Damon!” I screamed.

Damon twisted at the last second but the blade sank into his shoulder instead of his heart. He roared in pain and drove his claws straight into Victor’s chest.

Victor gasped, eyes wide with shock.

“This, is for my family,” Damon said, and twisted his hand.

Victor Blackthorn, the man who had tried to destroy us, collapsed to the temple floor, dead.

Seraphina screamed like it was the only thing she had left and unleashed everything from her body, one final, desperate blast of golden energy straight toward me and Lucas.

It was my turn to do the same so I threw up the strongest shield I could manage.

The impact was something else.