Avenging Luna
Chapter 180: The Old Verse’s The New

Chapter 180: The Old Verse’s The New

Leila POV

The old, decrepit house loomed ahead, its shattered windows and sagging roof a silent testament to years of neglect. Everything about it screamed "perfect hideout for rogue vampires." It was tucked away at the end of a forgotten lane, shrouded by overgrown trees that cast eerie shadows under the dusk light of the sun. The stench of mildew and blood was faint but unmistakable, mingling with Ash’s fading scent.

My claws itched to tear into something, and my wolf growled low in my chest, urging me forward. The bond between me and Ash was weak, but it flickered faintly, guiding me like a fragile thread. He was here. He had to be.

I pushed open the creaking door, my senses on high alert. The air inside was thick with dust and decay, the faint rustle of movement putting me on edge. As I stepped into the dimly lit entryway, the door slammed shut behind me.

Before I could react, two vampires lunged from the shadows, their faces twisted in malicious grins.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" one sneered.

I didn’t give them a chance to say more. My rage boiled over, and my wolf surged to the surface. I half-shifted, my claws extending and my teeth sharpening. My vision tinted red as I roared, throwing myself at the first vampire with unbridled fury.

He tried to dodge, but I was faster. My claws plunged into his chest, ripping through flesh and bone until I held his undead heart in my hand. His scream was cut short as I crushed the organ, his body collapsing in a heap.

The second vampire hesitated, but only for a moment. He lunged, fangs bared, aiming for my throat. I sidestepped and grabbed him by the neck, slamming him into the wall with enough force to crack the plaster. He thrashed, his nails scratching at my arm, but I didn’t care.

With a guttural growl, I sank my claws into his throat and yanked, tearing his head clean off. Blood sprayed across the walls, warm and sticky, as his body crumpled to the ground.

I didn’t even spare them a second glance. My mind was fixed on one thing: Ash.

The house was bigger than it looked from the outside, its corridors narrow and winding. Each step I took was met with another ambush. The vampires weren’t aiming to kill—they were trying to capture me.

Big mistake.

Every attack only fueled my rage. Every vampire that lunged at me was torn apart with ruthless efficiency. Their screams echoed through the halls as I ripped hearts from chests and snapped necks with the precision of a predator protecting her cub.

Blood coated my hands, dripping from my claws in thick, dark rivulets. The metallic tang filled the air, mingling with the scent of fear from the remaining vampires who dared to challenge me.

I noticed the patterns in their ambushes, the way they tried to corner me, to slow me down. They thought they were smart, but I was smarter. They thought they were strong, but I was stronger.

The wolf in me reveled in the carnage, but the mother in me raged harder. These monsters had dared to take my son. They would pay for it with their lives.

By the time I reached the large, central hall where Ash’s scent was the strongest, I was covered in blood. My claws still held bits of meat and tissue from the last vampire who had foolishly stood in my way.

The hall was eerily quiet, save for the faint sound of muffled cries. My heart clenched. Ash.

In the center of the room, a crude wooden cage held my baby. His small hands clutched the bars, his tear-streaked face lighting up when he saw me. "Mommy!"

Relief flooded through me, but it was short-lived.

"Well, aren’t you a sight," a cold voice drawled from the shadows.

I turned, my claws at the ready. From the darkness, a tall figure emerged—Ace.

His smirk was infuriating, his crimson eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "I’ll admit, you’re impressive. But you should’ve stayed home, little wolf."

I growled, my wolf clawing to take full control. "You made a mistake touching my son," I snarled.

Ace laughed, the sound grating and mocking. "Oh, I didn’t just touch him. I wanted to send a message, and it seems you got it loud and clear."

He stepped closer, his aura oppressive, but I didn’t back down. "Let him go," I demanded.

Ace tilted his head, feigning consideration. "Hmm... no. He’s leverage. And you... you’re a bonus."

His words snapped something in me. With a roar, I charged, claws outstretched.

Ace was fast, but I was faster. We clashed, his strength nearly matching mine, but rage gave me an edge. Every strike I landed was fueled by the image of Ash in that cage, by the thought of what could’ve happened if I hadn’t come.

The fight was brutal. Ace was skilled, but I was relentless. His taunts turned to curses as I gained the upper hand, my claws slicing through his defenses.

Finally, I pinned him to the ground, my claws at his throat. "This is for my son," I growled.

*****

The air inside the decrepit house was thick with tension, blood, and fear. My claws were slick with gore, my body trembling with adrenaline and fury. Ace lay pinned beneath me, his eyes wide with something between amusement and rage. His smirk didn’t falter, even as I pressed my claws against his throat.

"This is for my son," I snarled, ready to end him.

But before I could strike, a voice froze me in place.

"Leila, stop!"

That voice—familiar, sharp, and dripping with anger—pierced through the chaos. My heart lurched in my chest as I turned my head toward the source.

Standing at the edge of the room, his presence almost unreal, was Drake.

For a moment, my breath caught. Memories I thought I’d buried clawed their way to the surface. Drake, my first mate. The one who had shattered my heart and left me broken. And now, here he was, his furious gaze burning into me like acid.

"I can’t believe you’ve stooped this low," he spat, his tone laced with venom. "Mating with a bloodsucker. The head of them, no less. How pathetic."

I blinked, stunned not just by his words but by his presence. What was he doing here? Why now?

Ignoring his ridiculous rant, I focused on the question burning in my mind. "What are you doing here, Drake?"

He laughed, a cruel, mocking sound that sent a chill down my spine. "To get my son back before you corrupt him with your involvement with that... parasite."

"M-mommy..." Ash’s small, trembling voice reached my ears, snapping me back to reality.

Ace, taking advantage of my distraction, slithered out from under me and positioned himself next to Ash. The sight of his hand so close to my son made my blood boil.

"Don’t tell me," I hissed, my voice low and dangerous. "You’re working with him?"

Ace was the one to answer, his smirk returning with full force. "What can I say? I get the beloved, and Drake gets his pup. A fair deal, don’t you think?"

Drake didn’t respond, but his actions spoke volumes. He moved toward Ash, his massive frame towering over my son.

"Don’t you fucking touch him!" I roared, my voice trembling with rage.

Drake ignored me, his hand reaching for Ash.

The world seemed to blur as I charged toward him, my wolf roaring within me. I didn’t care about Ace or his scheming—I only cared about protecting my son.

But as I lunged, Ace’s cold, iron grip closed around my neck. He yanked me back with inhuman strength, his other hand brandishing a silver knife.

"One wrong move, little wolf," he hissed into my ear, his breath cold and foul, "and your son watches you die."

I froze, my chest heaving as I tried to suppress the growl building in my throat. My claws twitched with the urge to lash out, but I couldn’t risk it. Not with Ash watching, his tear-streaked face breaking my heart.

Drake knelt in front of Ash, his voice eerily soft. "Come, son. Let me take you home."

Ash backed away, shaking his head. "You’re not my daddy. Uncle Chase is."

The moment the words left Ash’s mouth, a familiar energy filled the room. Chase appeared out of thin air, his eyes blazing red with fury.

Ace stiffened, muttering, "Unbelievable. Imprint."

Chase didn’t waste time. His gaze swept the room, landing on me and then on Ash. His fangs glinted in the dim light as he snarled, "Let them go."

Drake stood, his posture tense but defiant. He sneered at Chase, his voice dripping with disdain. "So you’re the bloodsucker she spreads her legs for now?"

The insult barely registered before Drake shifted into his massive black wolf, his growl echoing through the room.

Chase didn’t hesitate. He lunged, meeting Drake mid-air. The clash was feral, a blur of fangs, claws, and snarls. They tore into each other with a viciousness that made my stomach churn, their battle shaking the very walls of the house.

Drake gained the upper hand, pinning Chase beneath him. My heart stopped as I watched him lower his jaws toward Chase’s throat.

"No!" I screamed, my voice raw with panic.