The first wave of South wolves moved under Leonard’s command, disciplined and fast with silver flashing in moonlight, fangs bared and blood roaring despite the Void Moon crushing down on their instincts.
They ca in staggered ranks, flanking wide, but they never even reached Cain.
Cain stepped forward once, and it was almost as if he just vanished into thin air. The Ground beneath the first line of wolves collapsed as their bodies slamd together mid-stride, their ribs caving, and spines snapping under impossible pressure. Several wolves hit the forest floor already dead, their blood spilling into the ground.
The Vines of the forest quickly wrapped around their dying bodies, seemingly absorbing whatever was left of them and feeding itself.
Theodora stared at the carnage with a smile, then she outstretched a hand toward the Veil in an attempt to reach out.
And of course, the Veil answered.
The mist spilling from the Veil surged outward like it had been waiting for permission, and it wrapped around the second wave of wolves, slipping into mouths, eyes, and lungs. Their eyes popped wide in pain, and they all dropped their weapons, screaming in terror and clawing at their own throats as visions and mories not theirs flooded their minds.
There was regret, hunger, and devouring silence. Demons walking through burning cities that once belonged to werewolves, showing them exactly what was coming in the near future.
One by one, they collapsed, their minds shattered long before their bodies followed.
The West moved instantly.
Their blood flared, fate fracturing outward in invisible ripples, dulling the Void Moon’s grip even more on the rest of the army, steadying hearts, and forcing lungs to draw breath again. Wolves gasped, steadied, rose back to their feet, but they still fell again.
Cain waded into the fray like the Void Moon didn’t exist.
The silver that touched him should have burned him, and The Moon Goddess herself should have crushed his body through the Void Moon enough for him to shagger or even show so physical pain.
But none of it touched him.
The Bone Pearl at his wrist glowed faintly, pale and ancient, etched with symbols older than werewolves themselves. Every ti the Void Moon pressed, the stone answered by absorbing, redirecting, and feeding him instead.
Cain caught a charging West enforcer by the throat and lifted him off the ground with one hand, "You feel that?" Cain asked almost conversationally, watching the wolf convulse, "That panic?"
He crushed the Wolf’s throat, and the body dropped bonelessly at his feet.
Theo finally stepped forward, and the forest answered as usual. She moved through the forest like a knife, and the wolves who lunged at her simply... stopped. They would all freeze mid-motion, their eyes glassy for a mont as they stared into hers, before tearing themselves apart under her command. It was brutal to watch as their claws turned inward, and their own jaws snapped down on their own throats till they ripped it out.
A South Alpha shifted fully and attacked her head-on.
Theo caught the animal mid-leap, one of her hand closing around his muzzle. His montum ended right there and then she twisted sharply.
The Alpha’s neck snapped to an untold angle, and the body collapsed to the floor, quickly absorbed by the forest again as she walked forward without looking back.
Leonard roared, the sound ripping through the forest as he shifted fully. His Alpha form slamd into Cain with titanic force, the impact uprooting a tree and tearing a trench through the forest floor. The collision sent shockwaves outward, knocking lesser wolves flat even from a distance.
For the first ti that night, Cain was forced back a step.
Leonard didn’t give him room to breathe, and tore into Cain with brutal precision. His claws were reinforced with silver, and every strike was aid to kill. His experience showed in every movent. This was a veteran Alpha who had won wars, and refused to kneel.
Cain grunted as claws raked across his ribs, silver biting deep into his body. But even before Leonard pulled out his claw, Cain’s fast healing speed had already kicked into place.
Leonard drove his shoulder into Cain’s chest and slamd him into the ground hard enough to crater the earth.
Cain simply laughed.
He caught Leonard’s next strike mid-swing the next ti, and with a savage twist, Cain redirected Leonard’s montum, slamming him face-first into the earth.
The ground cracked, and Leonard tried to rise imdiately because that’s what Alphas do, but Cain’s boot ca down on his spine with overwhelming force and crushed it.
Leonard snarled in pain, his muscles screaming as he fought against it.
Then, Cain leaned down, just close enough for Leonard to sll the rot and power tangled in his blood, "You’re still strong," Cain said almost kindly, "That’s why this hurts."
Vincent moved the instant Leonard went down. There was no roar from him as he ca in fast and vicious, his grief sharpened into sothing lethal. His blade struck for Cain’s heart with surgical intent.
Cain barely turned.
The blade bit too deep, silver burning as it pierced flesh. Vincent followed through instantly, shifting mid-strike, his claws aiming to rip Cain apart from the inside.
Cain snarled as he sent back an elbow, and Vincent was hurled back mid-air, slamming through two trees before hitting the ground in a spray of blood and splintered bark. He rolled, ca up on one knee, coughing.
Cain wiped blood from his mouth, his red eyes glowing brighter now, with irritation flickering beneath the amusent.
"You," Cain said, turning fully to Vincent, "Are persistent. For a son who turns into a daughter and whose true form is a woman, you do too much,"
"It doesn’t matter what form is true and what form isn’t. Celeste is my seed, and you won’t get away with everything you did to him,"
Cain smiled widely, "How so? I’m Cain Pendragon. I always get away with everything, and there’s nothing you can do about it,"
Vincent spat blood and bared his teeth, "Not tonight, you fucking bastard. Tonight, we will end you. Before dawn cos, I promise you, your head will roll across this forest!"
They collided again, and this ti Cain did not hold back.
The fight was brutal, fast, and devastating—Alpha against Alpha, each blow cracking bone, tearing flesh, and shaking the forest itself. Vincent landed hit after hit, every strike fuelled by rage.
But Cain was still stronger.
And with the Void Moon not having the slightest effects on him, he remained the Strongest Wolf present on the battlefield.
He caught Vincent by the throat and drove him into the ground hard enough that it split stone and vines alike, but Vincent fought even then, his claws tearing into Cain’s arm, and teeth snapping, but Cain overpowered him, easily snapping the two limbs he was using to wield his blade.
Theo watched it happen with idle interest.
The army was collapsing now with wolves falling to their knees.
Aurelius stood where he was. His work was to guard Celeste stabilizing the veil. But he could see the Demon approaching them fast, and knew it was ti for him to join the fight.
He clashed briefly with Theo, sparks of power tearing through the air as demon and wolf t.
Theo laughed, then backhanded him across the clearing. Aurelius hit the ground hard, skidding through mud and blood before slamming into a tree. He pushed himself upright anyway, breathing hard, and refusing to fall.
Celeste’s hands shook around his daggers as he poured everything he had into stabilising the Veil. Sweat streaked down his face. The demon’s closeness carrying Theo’s body was making it even difficult to keep the tear in tact, and his body scread under the strain.
Liam stood rigid at the edge of the slaughter. The rot in his arm throbbed violently, spreading, and aching terribly. His blood burned, fate splintering uselessly against Cain like glass against steel, all because of the goddamn bracelet he was wearing.
Before Theo could step closer to Celeste, Aurelius was right in front of her again and this ti, another person present in the battlefield joined Aurelius and they both stood in the path of the demon.
"Dora," Harrison said, pointing his claws at her, "You better snap out of whatever’s wearing you!"
"And you...," Theo’s eyes rolled over to him, "Better control that tongue,"
"Else...what?"
He shouldn’t have said that.
He was instantly in front of him, and his body locked into place unwillingly as an invisible force held him still. Her claws dug into his chest, and he groaned. Lucky enough, Aurelius slamd into her and the force stripped her away from Harrison. He let out a breath of relief, and they both quickly put good distance between themselves and her.
"It’s her eyes," Harrison said to Aurelius, "It’s only when you look into her eyes that she can freeze you like that,"
"Good to know," Aurelius replied.
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