Chapter
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Cassian gritted his teeth, refusing to lower his weapon. "I don't trust you," he said, his voice laced with defiance. "You'll destroy her no matter what I do."
Before the Lycan King could respond, Anica stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension. "There's another way."
Cassian glanced at her, his expression a mix of hope and desperation. "What are you talking about?"
"We don't have to destroy the Heart," Anica said, her eyes locked on the pulsating artifact. "If we can disrupt its corrupted energy, we might be able to sever the Lycan King's influence without harming Aurora or the child."
The Lycan King's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading. "You're playing with forces you can't comprehend, little wolf. One wrong move, and you'll tear the Pact apart."
"Better than letting you have it," Anica shot back, her voice steady.
Cassian nodded, his decision made. Together, he and Anica moved toward the Heart, dodging the Lycan King's attacks as they worked. Anica began to chant, her voice weaving ancient words that resonated with the Heart's energy. Cassian defended her fiercely, fending off the Lycan King's shadow tendrils.
The Heart flickered violently, its light alternating between blinding brilliance and suffocating darkness. The room shook as the Lycan King's fury grew, his attacks becoming more erratic. "You'll regret this insolence!" he bellowed, unleashing a massive wave of shadow energy.
Cassian barely managed to shield Anica, his body absorbing the brunt of the attack. Blood dripped from his wounds, but he refused to falter. "Keep going!" he shouted.
Anica's chant reached its crescendo, and the Heart emitted a deafening pulse of light, forcing the Lycan King to retreat. He snarled, his form dissipating into shadows as he fled the chamber.
The silence that followed was deafening. Cassian collapsed to his knees, his body trembling from the effort. Anica approached the Heart cautiously, inspecting its now-stable glow. "It's damaged," she said, her voice tinged with exhaustion, "but it's still intact." Outside, Aurora gasped as the chaotic energy within her subsided, replaced by a steady, soothing warmth. She opened her eyes to see Erya staring at her in relief.
"Cassian did it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
As the pack regrouped, Aurora sensed the shift in the Pact. It wasn't whole, but it wasn't lost. Yet, deep in her heart, she knew the Lycan King's retreat was only temporary. The battle was far from over.