CHAPTER 153: WHEN ALPHAS COLLIDE

• DIANA •

I shielded Eloise with my body when chaos ensued. The earth beneath us trembled like an earthquake was about to occur, columns and debris fell, and almost crushed us. It was a miracle we were still intact amid all this disarray.

Judging from the mix of roars that caused the air to vibrate, Damon had shifted too.

An Alpha had shifted, not one but two. My eyes were unable to trace their movement, every growl stirred the wind, and every roar took the courtyard apart until it was reduced to nothing.

With each collision, I feared the entire castle would follow. I sobbed, holding onto Eloise tighter, knowing this would take us too. But I knew in my last moments, I’ll be by Eloise’s side, she wouldn’t be alone even in the afterlife.

My hopes of meeting a gruesome end by being crushed and torn apart by the pressure bleeding into the air like fire were not met. Their rampage drew distance, but the cracks and crashes were louder than thunder. With every sound, my heartbeat sped, until I thought I’d stop breathing.

"Your Highness!"

I gasped, facing the company coming. Garrick, Lucan, and Ravyn hurried to where I was. When they saw what was left of the courtyard, they knew what had happened, but what they didn’t expect was Eloise’s bleeding out in my arms.

"Princess!" Ravyn came closer and dropped to her knees.

"She’s not breathing!"

Garrick crouched to check her. "She has lost too much blood. What happened?"

"I think Damon tried to mark her. Please, is there anything we can do? She’s very cold."

Garrick looked uncertain and apprehensive when he saw the gruesome bite on her neck.

"Garrick!" I snapped, hoping he would say something. He was a healer, wasn’t he?

"I can’t hear her heartbeat."

"Wh-What?" I looked at Ravyn, who was in tears, and Lucan, with a sad expression on his face.

"No," I mumbled in disbelief. "You’re a healer, do something!"

"Let’s get her inside," Garrick said. "It’s not safe out here." He carried her in his arms.

Bring her to us.

A voice made me turn, but there was no one behind me.

Bring her to the Moonhall.

It was the Fates; I recognized their voice from today.

"Wait!" I stopped them. "We have to go to the Moonhall now!"

~•~

We rushed into the Moonhall, and at the end of the aisle, the Fates were waiting.

"Lay her here," they instructed, and Garrick rested Eloise’s body on the platform.

They circled her as if observing.

The earth beneath us shook, like the entire building would collapse, loud cracks followed, and I pondered if we were safe in here.

"We will be buried alive if we don’t stop what’s happening there," Ravyn broke the silence.

"Do you think the monarch will stop?" Garrick reasoned. "He won’t until he has his brother’s heart in his hand."

"We should be worried about the town, if the heat gets there, lives will be lost," Lucan considered.

"How would you stop two Alphas going into a blood rage?" Garrick snapped.

"The Alpha’s brother must not die."

The Fates’ words caught our attention.

"To save the Lunas’ life, we need their blood."

"You know..." I found my voice. "You know she’s a snowblood?"

"Yes, we do."

I gulped. Yet Eloise was a goddess chosen. This made me question everything I have ever known. But there was one thing I had to do.

"I will stop them."

~•~

Ravyn followed me as we reached the path of ruin. The sound of cracks and crashes grew louder as we neared. We navigated the forest, most of the trees knocked down, the entire landscape reshaped. It was still snowing, but it was only more eerie.

"Your highness, you have to be careful; being near an Alpha in full shift can be dangerous," Ravyn said.

"I have to get close," I said, hurrying on ahead, knowing there was no time.

We have a chance to stop two disasters from happening. Goddess knew what would happen if we couldn’t save Eloise, we’d lose Drevon too.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, it was quiet, the quakes seizing. I was on the cliff when I saw them. The monstrous form of two Alphas.

Unlike a normal-looking Lycan, theirs was far more lethal, that even I feared going closer. Their form stood towering, with a grotesque frame, broad shoulders, nearly nine feet tall; every inch of them was coiled in muscle and raw power. Midnight-black fur rippling across their bodies. Eyes burning a deep, bloodied crimson.

It was difficult to tell them apart because they both marched in power and appearance, but I knew the one who hovered above the other with long claws buried deep into the chest was Drevon.

The contentious pressure that surrounded him made it harder to exhale. Damon was overpowered, and being still was the perfect choice he could make at the moment.

Drevon was torturing him because his hand was certainly clasped around his heart; the pained growl from Damon was unmistakable.

I hope I wasn’t too late.

Without hesitation, I slid down from the cliff with Ravyn yelling for me. I rolled on the dirt, but I picked myself up.

I came closer, and my shoes snapped a twig.

Drevon’s head moved, and he unleashed a monstrous roar. I moved back in panic as the air got tighter and the ground beneath divided.

"You can’t kill him!"

He didn’t budge, his claws deep, driving deeper, and Damon resisted by clenching, but it did nothing to stop the force of Drevon’s wrath.

If I don’t stop this, Drevon would give him a slow, painful death, and I’d watch it unfold. I never liked Damon, but I can’t bear the scene of my brother killing another brother either.

"Kill him, and there will be no way to save Eloise!"

At my blunder, the pressure around Drevon decreased, and his action came to a halt.

"She needs both your blood. Please...Drevon, let him live."