Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 73: Battle

Chapter 73: Battle

Ava stepped closer, her body tense but ready.

He turned to her. "Go."

She didn’t move.

"No," she said firmly. "I will be here. You may need me."

Lucas clenched his jaw. Damn it, Ava.

This wasn’t the battle he had planned. He had accounted for Crimson Pack’s betrayal, but Dravon bringing his own personal army?

That, he hadn’t seen coming.

"Damn it, Ava," he growled. "I didn’t plan for this."

She didn’t back down. "Which is why you may need me."

He grabbed her by the waist, pulling her close, and kissed her hard.

It was fierce, brief, but enough.

"Stay safe," he murmured against her lips.

Then he turned to Kade.

"You ready?"

Kade rolled his shoulders. "Always, Alpha."

Lucas nodded.

"Sound the alarm."

Kade howled.

And the battle began.

*****

The battlefield exploded into chaos.

Wolves clashed against wolves, snarls and growls filling the air.

Lucas took one last look at Ava and then he burst into his full wolf form.

And what a sight he was.

A magnificent beast, massive and powerful, his thick dark fur rippling under the pale morning light. His golden eyes glowed with lethal focus as he charged into the madness, cutting through his enemies.

Ava took a step back, her heart hammering against her ribs as she watched him move.

He was a force of nature.

Effortless. Deadly. Beautiful.

She stood at the edge of the battlefield, whispering silent prayers in her heart.

Lucas tore through the enemy ranks, his powerful jaws snapping down on the throat of an opposing wolf before tossing the limp body aside. His fur was already slick with blood.

Ava’s eyes followed his every move. Then a prickle of awareness crawled up her spine.

Something was wrong.

She turned around slowly, her instincts screaming at her.

Two wolves stood a few feet behind her.

Sharon and Selene.

Ava’s stomach twisted into a knot.

The two she-wolves prowled toward her, their eyes gleaming with malice.

Selene let out a low, guttural snarl as she inched forward on all fours, her sharp teeth bared. Sharon’s muscles tensed, her posture coiled.

Ava took a step back.

Her pulse thundered in her ears.

Lucas was too busy. She knew he’d come for her if she called for help, but the last thing she wanted was to distract him especially in the middle of a battle.

She was alone but never truly alone.

Instead, she closed her eyes and took a slow, steady breath.

’Willow... if there was ever a time I needed you, it’s now.’

Something deep inside her stirred.

Lucas caught sight of Ava just as he finished off another wolf, his massive form heaving with exertion. His gaze landed on her then on the threat in front of her and his stomach dropped.

No. His body moved before his mind did, but the split second of distraction cost him.

A large wolf slammed into his side, knocking him to the ground. He snarled, twisting his body and sinking his teeth into flesh before throwing the enemy off. He got back up, his focus razor-sharp.

He had to get to her.

Another wolf lunged at him. He dodged, but the delay was enough.

Ava was vulnerable.

Then something magical happened.

Right before his eyes, a silver flash erupted around Ava.

No way.

One moment, she was standing there, human and fragile.

The next, a radiant, silvery wolf had taken her place.

Ava’s transformation was seamless. Her fur shimmered in the sunlight, almost metallic.

The force of both attacking wolves hit her at once, sending her crashing into the ground, but she got back up almost instantly, her form vibrating with newfound strength.

Lucas lost sight of her for a brief second as he fended off another attacker, his entire body screaming to get to her.

But Ava didn’t need saving.

She tore through Sharon first, slamming her body into the she-wolf so hard that Sharon flew back, her body cracking against a thick tree branch.

Sharon collapsed to the ground, unmoving, groaning in pain.

That left Selene.

Ava turned on her next opponent, her silver fur bristling as she lunged forward.

Selene tried to dodge.

Ava was faster. A new wolf was stronger.

Her claws dug deep into Selene’s body, slicing through fur and flesh until the rival she-wolf howled in agony. Blood splattered onto the dirt as Selene’s form twisted.

She shifted back into her naked human body, coughing up blood.

"Fighting alongside a man that killed your father," Selene choked out, "you really are a shameless slut."

The battlefield disappeared.

Ava’s vision blurred.

Her heartbeat stopped.

The world around her faded into nothing but static noise.

What?

Selene smiled through her pain.

A slow, cruel smile.

She lay there, bleeding out on the ground.

Ava turned her gaze toward the battlefield, toward him.

Her mate.

Her lover.

The man she trusted. The man she fought for.

Lucas finally broke free from his opponents, his eyes wild with desperation as he turned toward her once more. And then he realised she didn’t need him.

He was so goddamn proud of her.

*****

The battlefield was calmer, the chaos of war reduced to nothing more than a grim, bloodstained memory.

Bodies were scattered across the clearing, the once-mighty warriors of the Bloodhound Pack now reduced to nothing more than battered, broken men.

And at the center of it all stood Lucas Raventhorn.

The Butcher.

He towered over them, his bare chest streaked with blood, his muscles taut with raw power. A single pair of black shorts was the only thing covering him, but he wore his victory like a crown.

And beneath him, on their knees, naked and defeated, were Alpha Dravon, Beta Garrik, Sharon, and the remaining survivors.

Lucas sneered.

"You really thought you could go against me, Dravon?"

Dravon’s head remained bowed, his breathing labored, but there was no mistaking the simmering rage in his eyes.

Lucas let out a low chuckle. "Did you forget who I am? I am Alpha Lucas Raventhorn, the Butcher." He leaned down slightly. "I am always one step ahead."

Dravon clenched his jaw. He had nothing left.

(I realised that readers on chereads dont have access to author’s notes. So I will be doing my shout outs at the end of the page.)