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Those were the last words that fell upon his ears before my fangs clamped around his throat. I bit down with everything I had. This time it was far easier. When my teeth were close to meeting, I wrenched my head back, ripping out his throat just like I’d imagined countless times.
Staggering back with the force of it, I spit the blood and sinew on the ground. I didn’t bother to move until the life had drained fully from his eyes. Only then did I shift back, ignoring the foul taste of copper on my tongue.
As I pulled my clothes on, I felt numb, hollow, when I should be celebrating. But there were no real victors when it came to war. After this, I knew I would be forever changed, tainted by death and carnage. But there was no looking back. This was our life now. And our future was ahead of us.
Callum wasn’t finished yet. He had a lot of decisions to make and I didn’t envy him for that. For now, all I wanted to do was hug my sister.
They didn’t stop me as I turned and walked to the stairs. Fingers brushed my skin in reassurance as I passed, a show of solidarity and strength.
I thought they had evacuated but thankfully, they were still downstairs. My sister let out a sob of relief as I walked down the stairs. She still couldn’t stand so I collapsed next to her, ignoring the other two for now as I wrapped my arms around her and finally broke down.
Meira clung to me, her frail body shaking as her own sobs tore through her with force.
“I hoped you’d come for me. Every fucking day I’d wish for it. He taunted me with news of what you were doing and I’ve never been more proud of you, Vanya,” she whispered in my ear. “And today… you came for me. Not only that, but you saved me.”
“I’ll always come for you, Meira,” I vowed. “No matter how hard I have to fight to get there.”
When our tears dried, I finally released her. She glanced at the men behind me, eyebrows raising when she hit Torryn, then she looked back at her two mates, an unhinged laugh escaping.
“I think we have a lot to catch up on, Sister.”
* * *
The ground was paintedin blood and bodies. The stench of it hung in the air, a mix of death, magic, and gunpowder.
But it was over.
“What are you thinking?” Callum’s question startled me. I hadn’t even realized I’d stopped walking as I took it all in.
“That this was a senseless war,” I admitted. “Too much death and destruction for one man’s twisted plans.”
“Yes. But now we have to think of the future. Our own pack,” he countered. He wasn’t looking at me, but out of the land. I looked at it in a different light, ignoring the carnage below as I took in the structures, the beauty of the mountains, the stream that cut through it all.
“We needed a new home,” I said. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead, the gesture soft and loving.
“I was thinking the same thing, my Luna.”
“At this point, every pack that we could move to would be tainted by the alpha,” Torryn pointed out.
“Agreed. In fact, I say we take one of the worst spots in our history and turn it into one of the strongest alliances of our kind. A mix of supernaturals that share leadership and knowledge.” Callum’s voice was determined.
“That means sharing your role,” Leven noted. It wasn’t said in a taunting way, he was merely pointing out all sides of this decision. He’d calmed so much since I’d met him. No longer going straight to anger.
Callum glanced at me, then Torryn. “I already have. It’ll be fine.”
“We stand with you, Alpha,” Nyx said, bowing his head in a show of respect and submission to the alpha. All five of us followed suit and Callum’s breath caught.
“Then let’s get to work,” Callum choked out.
As we made our way through the village, vampires, witches, and wolves bowed their heads in the same show of respect. We’d given them their freedom back, saved them from fear, and the level of gratitude was truly humbling.
Just seeing the places of torment turned my stomach. I would never understand how so many wolves had stood behind him as he tortured their own kind. Sure wolves were notorious for being bloodthirsty but this was insanity. Shackles lined every wall of every cabin… except the guards’ quarters of course. Though he still used control on them, from making it impossible to shift in their heavy tactical gear to using their families against them. It would take years to heal the scars he’d left behind.
Bodies were being dragged to the center of town to be given a proper burial, guards and our own people. The only ones who didn’t deserve the respect of a proper burial were Straya and the failed alpha.
It took hours to rid the land of the dead and wounded. Nyx had jumped in to help in the healing tents. My heart was heavy for the wolves we lost and I felt guilty for being relieved that my men and closest friends had made it out as unharmed as they could be.
The vampires took their leave almost as soon as the battle ended. There was at least a promise to keep in contact. Some vampires left with them, but those imprisoned had chosen to stay and heal with others that had been through the same hell they’d endured.
