THE WHITE WOLF HE REJECTED

Chapter 4: The Final Battle

Lyra's POV

The howls that echoed through the forest the previous night refused to leave my mind even as the first rays of sunlight crept over the mountains surrounding Silver Crest the uneasy feeling lingered in my chest, I had barely slept every time I closed my eyes I heard those haunting cries again each one darker than the last, something was coming I just didn't know what.

I pushed the thought aside as I stepped out of the orphan quarters, the entire pack was already awake, warriors hurried across the courtyard with swords strapped to their backs while servants carried baskets filled with food and fresh bandages toward the infirmary. Today wasn't a day for fear, today was the day Alpha Regent Victor Draven would fall.

The streets buzzed with excitement but beneath every smile was nervous anticipation. Everyone knew there would only be one outcome, it was either victory or complete destruction. I made my way toward the training grounds weaving through the crowd until I spotted Beta Damon giving orders to a group of warriors. When he noticed me he walked over.

“You look exhausted,”

I smiled faintly, “I could say the same thing about you,” He smiled then his expression turned serious

“The battle begins within an hour,”

“I know,”

His eyes searched mine, “You still have time to stay behind,”

I shook my head, “I've already done all I can,”

He didn't argue, instead he reached into his pocket and handed me a small silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon.

“For luck,”

I stared at it in surprise, “You've had this since we were children,”

“I know,”

“I can't take it,”

“You can,” He gently closed my fingers around it

“I have a feeling you'll need it more than I will,”

I became emotional but I held it, “Thank you,”

Before either of us could say another word, the sound of a horn echoed across the pack.

The battle had begun, hundreds of warriors gathered before the gates of Silver Crest. At the front stood Kael, his black armor gleaming beneath the morning sun, the blackthorn crest engraved his shoulder as he looked over the warriors who had chosen to follow him.

For a moment, everything became quiet.

“My brothers,” Kael began, his voice heard across the courtyard with effortless authority.

“For years we've watched our home crumble,” he paused looking toward the children standing beside their mother's, “We've buried fathers, we've buried mothers, we've buried children who never even had the chance to awaken their wolves”

The crowd lowered their heads,

“The Regent stole more than our Alpha, he stole our future”

A murmur of agreement swept through the warriors,

“Today,” Kael said lifting his sword toward the sky, “We take it back,”

The roar that answered him shook the very ground beneath my feet

“Our Alpha! Our Alpha! Our Alpha!”

I couldn't stop smiling, he truly was born for this. As the warriors prepared to leave, Kael suddenly glanced toward the crowd, his gaze sweeping across dozens of faces before stopping for the briefest moment on me, his expression softened before he gave me a small nod, it lasted only for a second then he looked away. I frowned, why did he give me that look? The strange moment disappeared when Selena approached him with his cloak. “You almost forgot this,”

Kael laughed, “What would I do without you?”

“You'd probably ride into battle looking like you've forgotten you're the future Alpha”

Several warriors laughed, Karl collected the cloak with an appreciative smile, “Thank you”

I watched them from a distance, for reasons I couldn't explain. Something about that smile hurt more today than it ever had before.

The journey to the Regent’s fortress took nearly two hours, I wasn't supposed to be there. Officially, I had remained behind with the healers, unofficially I had slipped away long before the army crossed the eastern ridge using the hidden first paths I'd discovered months ago, I reached the cliffs overlooking the battle field before anyone noticed I was gone.

From there, I watched everything unfold, and Kael's warriors followed the revised strategy perfectly. The northern unit drew the Regent’s attention while Damon led the western flank through the narrow mountain pass exactly as we had planned,I allowed myself a small smile.

Then movement near the eastern watchtower caught my attention, three archers not two, my heart ached, that wasn't on the map. One archer slowly raised his bow, aiming directly at Kael.

“No…”

Without thinking, I picked up a loose stone and threw it toward the tower. The rock struck the wall with a loud c***k, the unexpected noise scared one of the archers just enough for his arrow to fly wide, burying itself harmlessly in the ground several feet away from Kael, no one noticed aside me. I was relieved, the battle erupted seconds later. Swords clashed against swords, war cries echoed across the valley and Kael fought his way through enemy warriors, his sword moved faster than my eyes could follow.

Everywhere I looked, Silver Crest was winning, Victor Draven’s forces began retreating and hope spread through the battlefield. Then something unexpected happened. Kael suddenly stopped only for a heartbeat and turned towards the cliffs. Toward me even from that distance I could see the confusion on his face. His wolf stirred uneasily beneath his skin, protect. The instinct came so suddenly that it stole his breath.

Protect her, Kael frowned, her? His eyes searched the cliffs again for a brief moment he thought he saw the outline of a woman disappearing behind the trees, the feeling vanished as quickly as it had come, another enemy attached and Kael pushed the strange instinct aside and returned to battle.

From my hiding place, I released the breath I didn't realise I was holding, that was close. The battle ended before sunset, Victor Draven lay defeated at Kael's feet.

The warriors erupted into deafening cheers as the Regent’s banner was torn down and replaced with Blackthorn crest. Silver Crest had finally reclaimed its rightful Alpha. Tears filled my eyes, we had done it.kael was alive and the pack was finally free, for the first time in years hope no longer felt impossible.

As everyone surrounded Kael, bowing down and cheering, I quietly stepped away from the celebration no one noticed me leave, no one except Elder Orion.

Our eyes met across the courtyard, he didn't smile, he didn't speak but there was something unsettling in his expression, almost recognition as though he had finally seen something he'd been searching for all these years. A cold breeze brushed against my skin.

My fingers closed around the crescent moon pendant Damon had given me, it felt strangely warm then somewhere deep inside the first beyond the battlefield a lone white feather drifted silently to the ground, unseen by everyone except hooded stranger watching from the trees.

“The time is almost here” the stranger whispered

“The White Wolf is beginning to awaken.”