Chapter

169

The attack came with terrifying precision. The shadow army surged through the trees like an unstoppable tide, their shrieks and howls cutting through the stillness of the night. Cassian barked orders from atop a ridge, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Hold the line!" he roared, rallying the wolves as they formed a defensive arc around the camp.

Aurora stood near the front, her hands glowing with the Pact's energy. She unleashed bursts of light that disoriented the shadow beasts, buying the wolves precious seconds to regroup. Her daughter's cries echoed faintly from the healer's tent, sharpening Aurora's resolve.noveldrama

Arianna appeared amidst the carnage, her presence like a dark beacon. "You can't stop this," she taunted, her voice cutting through the battle. "The King's corruption is already in your veins."

Cassian charged her, their blades clashing with a metallic ring that reverberated across the battlefield. "You'll never touch her," he snarled, driving Arianna back with a furious combination of strikes. Aurora focused on repelling the shadow beasts, her power intertwining with the wolves around her. But each pulse of energy left her more drained, and she knew she couldn't keep it up indefinitely.

Arianna laughed, blood dripping from a fresh wound Cassian had inflicted. "You fight well, but you're outmatched," she hissed, retreating into the shadows.

As the wolves regrouped, the battlefield fell quiet except for the sound of labored breathing and distant howls. The cost of the battle was stark-many wolves lay injured or worse, their sacrifices weighing heavily on everyone.

Selene approached Aurora, her expression grim. "This was just the beginning," she warned. "The Lycan King's corruption is nearing its peak. If we don't act soon, he'll consume the Pact entirely."

Aurora clenched her fists, her exhaustion overshadowed by determination. "We'll stop him, no matter the cost."