MATED TO THE BEAST ALPHA BROTHERS
Chapter 69: Blood for the Alpha child

Chapter 69: Blood for the Alpha child

"Move!" Seraphis shouted, shoving Haelyn toward the woods.

But Haelyn wasn’t moving fast enough. Her heart thudded in her ears...Ezra. Her body surged with adrenaline, feet pounding the forest floor as the howls split the sky behind her. The scent of blood was already thick in the air.

"Marlyil!" she screamed through the trees. "Protect him!"

From deep in the woods came the crash of bodies colliding, claws raking flesh, and the guttural roars of wolves driven mad by war. Haelyn leapt over a fallen log, thorns slicing her arms, the image of Ezra’s sleeping face burned behind her eyes.

Behind her, Seraphis stayed close, her cloak snapping like a black flame as she hurled sigils through the air. Each one burst against the night with a deafening crack, forcing back the shadows creeping closer.

"They’ve breached the outer wards!" Seraphis growled. "We need to get to the cabin before they do..."

A blur of gray and black slammed into them from the side.

Haelyn hit the ground hard, rolling, dirt in her teeth. A wolf the size of a horse snarled inches from her face, eyes glowing red. She didn’t hesitate. Her dagger flashed, jamming into its neck. It howled, blood spraying across her chest, but it kept coming.

"Get off her!" Seraphis’s voice thundered.

A bolt of pure violet fire split the air, sending the creature flying. Haelyn scrambled to her feet, chest heaving.

"Go!" Seraphis barked. "I’ll hold the line!"

"You’re outnumbered!" Haelyn yelled.

"So are you. But your son doesn’t have claws."

That was all Haelyn needed.

She turned and ran.

The cabin came into view like a lighthouse in a storm...light flickering from within, the door half-open, and something inside her screamed.

"Marlyil!" Haelyn slammed through the door.

The cradle was empty.

"No...no..." her hands trembled as she grabbed the overturned chair, scanning frantically. Blood on the floor. A small trail.

Then a sound...behind her.

She spun.

Marlyil stood there, face bruised, bleeding, but alive...barely. In her arms, Ezra. Safe. Crying, but safe.

"I hid in the cellar," Marlyil choked. "They were in the trees...wolves, men, I don’t know what. One of them got in. I...I thought I was going to..."

"Give him to me," Haelyn whispered.

Ezra fell into her arms like the final piece of a shattered heart. She kissed his forehead, her tears streaking down her cheeks.

"They’re coming," Marlyil gasped. "You have to go."

"I’m not leaving you."

"You have to! Take him. Run. Please."

Haelyn met her friend’s eyes...and something inside her broke again.

"I’ll come back for you," she promised.

But even as she said it, the shadows were rising outside the cabin.

A growl echoed beyond the wall.

Too late.

Outside, Artemis was chaos incarnate.

Fur black as midnight, blood dripping from his maw, his eyes locked on the hulking wolf that stood before him...Tiago.

"You should’ve stayed buried," Artemis snarled through bared fangs.

Tiago chuckled, shifting halfway into his human form, his face splitting into a grotesque smile. "And miss this little reunion? No, no, brother. I came to finish what you failed to do...burn the line of the Wolf King into ash."

"Over my dead body."

Tiago shrugged. "That’s the plan."

They collided with a thunderous crash, fangs meeting flesh, claws tearing muscle. Artemis roared, slamming Tiago into the ground, biting into his throat...but Tiago twisted, throwing him off, slashing across his ribs.

"You always thought you were stronger," Tiago sneered, circling. "But deep down, you were just better loved."

Artemis lunged again...but this time, Tiago was ready.

Haelyn bolted from the back with Ezra wrapped tightly to her chest, her magic barely holding the illusion of silence around them.

"Mama’s here," she whispered against his ear, even as the growls grew louder behind them. The flames of battle lit the trees. "I’ve got you. Just a little more..."

The wards flickered.

She could feel them weakening with every step.

A wolf burst through the trees..this one smaller, but fast.

She couldn’t stop.

She turned, braced for impact.

And then...

A howl cut through the night.

Archer.

He descended like a vengeful spirit, sword gleaming, slicing through the attacker without breaking stride. Blood sprayed the air as he dropped beside her, eyes wild, breath ragged.

"You’re late," Haelyn breathed.

"I was killing the other dozen."

Their eyes locked for a heartbeat.

Then she whispered, "Artemis is still fighting."

"He’ll hold them. We have to protect the boy."

A snarl behind them.

Another one approaching from the west.

They were being surrounded.

"Get behind me," Archer growled, lifting his sword.

Haelyn clutched Ezra tighter and stepped back, her free hand already glowing with a dark, old sigil.

The first wolf lunged.

Archer ducked, drove his blade up through its belly. Haelyn screamed another spell, sending a gust of kinetic force hurling two more into the trees.

But there were too many.

"Haelyn...take him. Run."

"I’m not leaving you!"

"You have to!"

"I won’t!"

"Damn it, Haelyn..."

Then the earth split beneath them.

A fissure erupted, tossing the enemy wolves into the air. From the darkness rose a figure cloaked in shadow, flames licking at her heels.

Nemesis.

Her presence was suffocating.

"Sweet reunion," she purred. "But we’re not done yet."

Archer’s blade trembled in his hand.

Haelyn’s magic flared...but Ezra screamed, and her power faltered.

"Such a beautiful child," Nemesis whispered. "So much potential."

"You come one step closer, and I’ll rip your heart out," Haelyn spat.

Nemesis laughed.

"Do it then."

She opened her arms.

Archer lunged.

Nemesis flicked her wrist...and he froze midair, body held by invisible strings.

"You’re brave," she said, tilting her head. "And stupid."

Haelyn’s scream tore through the clearing as Archer dropped, unmoving.

"No...no!"

Nemesis turned to her. "Now. Bring me the child."

Haelyn backed away, arms trembling. Ezra sobbed against her chest.

"You won’t touch him."

"Then let’s see what breaks first," Nemesis said softly. "Your body... or your mind."

She moved forward.

And that’s when the trees exploded.

A massive black wolf barreled through the fire.

Artemis.

He slammed into Nemesis with the full force of his rage, sending both of them crashing through the forest.

"Go!" he howled.

Haelyn didn’t think.

She turned and ran.

Ten minutes later, bloodied, breathless, she stumbled into a hidden cave behind the falls.

Safe.

For now.

She collapsed, clutching Ezra, sobs wracking her body.

He was safe.

But at what cost?

Archer. Marlyil. Artemis.

She didn’t know who was alive, who had fallen.

And Nemesis...

Nemesis would never stop.

Her power had grown.

And next time, she’d come not for a child..

...but for everything.