Chapter 31: The Rival Pack
Celeste's purple eyes blazed with dark magic. The shadow creature behind her grew bigger, its form shifting like smoke. "Attack!" Kael roared, shifting mid-leap. The battle erupted. Shadow Army dogs poured through windows, doors, walls—anywhere darkness touched. The shadow thing laughed, a sound like breaking glass. Liana's golden power burst from her chest. It struck three enemies, turning them to ash. But for every wolf she killed, two more appeared. We need to get out! Jace's mental voice cut through the noise. The pack shelter! Kael ordered. Everyone retreat! They fought their way through the farm. Liana stayed close to the triplets, feeling their tie pulse with each shared movement. The shadow creature followed, always just out of reach, feeding on their link. "You can't run from destiny, false Luna!" Celeste's voice rang everywhere.
"The Moonless rise!" They burst into the secret shelter. Hundreds of pack members huddled inside—cubs crying, elders praying, fighters bleeding. The huge steel doors slammed shut behind them. "That won't hold for long," Beta Marcus growled. "Not against shadow magic." "Alpha, we need answers." Elder Patricia stepped forward, her old eyes hard. "What have you brought upon us?" Kael's jaw clenched. Through their bond, Liana felt his conflict—protect her or address the pack's fears. "The Binding of Four," Rowan spoke up, holding his study. "Our bond created something unexpected—" "Created a monster!" someone yelled. "She's cursed!" "I didn't ask for this!" Liana's voice cracked. The golden glow flickered under her skin. "Enough." Kael's Alpha order silenced everyone. "Celeste declared war. We defend our pack." "Against the Moonless?" A scout pushed through the crowd, face pale. "Alpha, I bring news from the borders." "Speak." "A new pack forms daily. Wolves cast out from everywhere—criminals, rogues, banished outsiders. They call themselves the Moonless Pack." Gasps filled the shelter. Even rogues usually avoided banding together. "How many?" Kael demanded. "Thousands. More coming hourly. They're led by—" "Let me guess," Jace interrupted sadly. "Celeste and Darius." The scout nodded. "They offer freedom from old laws. Power without customs. And..." He looked at Liana. "Revenge against the omega who stole a Beta's destiny." Liana's stomach dropped. Through their bond, she felt the triplets' protective rage spike. "That's not all," the scout continued. "They're taking ground. Three smaller packs already submitted rather than fight." "Cowards," Beta Marcus spat. Then his eyes narrowed at Liana. "Though maybe they're smarter than us." "Watch your tongue," Kael warned. "Or what?" Marcus stepped forward. "You'll banish me too?
Add me to Celeste's army?" He turned to the crowd. "Look around! Half our troops question whether an omega can truly lead!" Murmurs spread through the shelter. Liana felt doubt spreading like poison. "She saved us today!" Jace argued. "She brought this upon us!" Marcus countered. "That golden power—it's unnatural!" "The Goddess chose her!" Rowan insisted. "Did she?" Elder Patricia asked quietly. "Or did something else?" Before anyone could answer, Talia screamed. Her body went stiff, eyes rolling back. A vision grabbed her. "I see..." she gasped. "Wolves turning... brother against brother... the pack splitting down the middle... blood under a cracked moon..." She fell. Liana caught her, feeling the prophecy's weight. The pack would tear itself apart. "Convenient timing," Marcus smirked. "Another omega having visions." "Enough!" Kael's roar shook dust from the ceiling. "Anyone who questions my mate can leave. Join the Moonless. See how Celeste treats enemies." "Maybe we will," a young fighter stepped forward. Others nodded behind him. Liana's heart broke.
Through their link, she felt Kael's pain echo her own. His pack was splitting. Heavy banging shook the shelter doors. The darkness had found them. "Defensive positions!" Kael ordered. Warriors scrambled, but Liana saw the doubt in their motions. Half fought to protect their Luna. Half fought only for life. The doors burst inward. Shadow monsters poured through. Real wolves followed—Moonless Pack fighters wearing no pack marks, their eyes wild with promised freedom. The battle turned frantic. In the chaos, Liana saw Marcus grab several soldiers. "The omega or our lives!" he yelled. "Choose!" "Traitor!" Jace lunged at him. Marcus moved, meeting him mid-air. Other pack members turned on each other. The vision was coming true—brother against brother, the pack destroying itself. "Stop!" Liana's golden power burst outward. Everyone froze. "This is what Celeste wants! Us fighting ourselves!" "Then give us another option!" Marcus snarled. "Surrender yourself! Save the pack!" The shadow creature appeared beside her. "Yesss," it hissed. "Come freely, little bridge. Spare them the pain." Don't even think about it, Kael's thought voice was sharp steel. If it saves everyone— Liana started. No! All three triplets' voices crashed into her mind. "Touching." Celeste appeared in the broken doorway. "The mates protect their pet omega." Fury burned through Liana. "I'm nobody's pet." "No?" Celeste smiled coldly. "Then what are you? Luna? Please. You're just a mistake. A mistake in the Goddess's plan." "You're wrong," Rowan said, but doubt leaked through the bond. "Am I?" Celeste motioned to the fighting wolves. "Look at your pack. Splitting apart because of her.
The Moonless offer union. Purpose. Power without the old limits." "Power through dark magic," Kael growled. "Power is power." Darius came from the shadows, his scarred face twisted with hate. "Your father learned that too late." Kael lunged. Darius met him with equal rage. Around them, the battle raged harder. Moonless fighters seemed endless. Shadow creatures hit from every angle. Shadowfang wolves fell, overpowered. Through their bond, Liana felt the triplets' tiredness. They couldn't win this. "Surrender her!" Marcus screamed, wrestling with Jace. "End this madness!" More pack members took up the cry. "Give them the omega!" "Save ourselves!" "She's not worth dying for!" Each word cut deeper than claws. Liana's golden power flickered, weakening. The shadow thing laughed. "You see?" Celeste purred. "They don't want you. They fear you. And they should." "Leave her alone!" Talia struggled to her feet, eyes blazing. "Liana is our true Luna! I've seen it!" "Another omega's delusions," Marcus spat. But Talia stood taller. "I see more! The Moonless Pack isn't offering freedom—it's offering slavery! Celeste offers something ancient. Something hungry. She's not leading them—she's feeding them to—" A shadow tendril curled around Talia's throat. She choked, words cut off. "No!" Liana's power surged. Golden light fought shadow. The shelter shook. "Impressive." Celeste's eyes glowed brighter. "But not enough." She raised her hand. Dark energy gathered. But before she could strike, a horn echoed across the area. Then another. And another. "Border breach!" A hurt scout stumbled in. "The Moonless... they're everywhere! Surrounding us!" Through windows, they saw the truth.
Thousands of wolves, all carrying no pack marks, formed a massive circle around Shadowfang territory. Their howls rose together—a sound of anarchy and revenge. Celeste smiled. "My full army has come. Now, let's talk terms." A white wolf entered—a messenger holding a black flag. It shifted, showing a thin male who'd clearly suffered under old pack laws. "From Celeste and Darius, leaders of the Moonless Pack, to the false Alpha Kael," he stated. "Our terms are simple." Everyone held their breath. "Surrender the omega Liana by dawn. Acknowledge her unworthiness as Luna. Do this, and Shadowfang Pack survives under Moonless protection." "Never," Kael growled. "Then you choose war." The messenger's smile was evil. "And we will take her anyway. Along with everything else." He shifted and ran. The Moonless army howled their war cry. In the shelter, Shadowfang wolves looked at each other with rising fear. "You have until dawn," Celeste said, backing toward the exit. "Decide wisely. One omega's life... or everyone's." The shadow creature whispered in Liana's mind: They'll choose life. They always do. Celeste vanished into darkness. The immediate attack ended, but the Moonless stayed circled outside. Waiting. In the silence, Marcus spoke. "You heard the terms. It's simple math. One life or hundreds." "You're suggesting we sacrifice our Luna?" Kael's voice held dangerous warning. "I'm suggesting we survive." Marcus looked around. "Who agrees?" Too many hands rose.
Even some who'd fought beside them. Fear was winning. Liana felt the ground falling beneath her. Through their bond, the triplets' rage and despair crashed together. But underneath, a terrible truth emerged. Marcus was right about the math. "You have hours to decide," Elder Patricia said quietly. "Use them wisely." The pack dispersed into groups—some fighting for surrender, others for war. Families huddled together. Warriors checked weapons. Everyone avoided looking at Liana. She stood with her mates, feeling their tie pulse with unspoken fears. The Moonless Pack got stronger. The dark creature waited. Dawn approached too fast. "We need a plan," Rowan said desperately. "We need an army," Jace corrected. "We need a miracle," Kael whispered. Outside, Moonless dogs howled again. The sound offered only one thing. By dawn, everything would change.