Chapter 22
ELIAS VERNAL
Iburst into the church and immediately spotted Serenity.
She looked terrible. She was kneeling on the ground in a dust-covered white wedding dress, her hands locked in silver shackles. A hunter pressed his gun barrel against her forehead, ready to pull the trigger at any moment.
"Let her go!" I roared. The moment I took a step forward, hunters all around me aimed their weapons at me. The one holding Serenity immediately yanked her up and used her as a human shield.
"The Alpha of Vernal. Welcome." The hunter holding Serenity hostage had three distinctive scars across his face.
He looked familiar. A sickening smile spread across his lips.
"I hope you remember me. But first, let me warn you.
One more step, and your beautiful Luna's brains will be splattered everywhere. "
Fenrir raged inside me, desperate to tear apart every human who dared harm my mate.
But I suppressed the urge—my eyes locked on the man's gun hand as I calculated the distance and speed I would need to reach him.
Too far. Even with my speed, his finger would have enough time to pull the trigger before I reached them.
"I remember you, Falcon. The hunter leader who attacked Vernal territory five years ago." I took a deep breath. "Those scars on your face are my handiwork. Too bad I didn't rip your head off back then."
"That's right. I have you to thank for these three scars, so I've never forgotten that humiliating day." Falcon's expression darkened.
I had no patience for reminiscing. "If you want revenge, come at me. I came alone, just like you demanded. Now it's your turn to keep your side of the deal. Let Serenity go!"
"Fair point," Falcon said, smiling. "But surely you understand. Without a hostage, how can I guarantee you'll behave? After all, you're an Alpha wolf with Lycan blood."
"What do you want?" I ground out, each word forced through clenched teeth.
"Simple," Falcon said. "I want to trade her life for yours!"
"No, don't agree to that!" Serenity suddenly screamed, her voice breaking. "I have nothing to do with you anymore! Mind your own business!"
Falcon slammed the butt of his gun into her shoulder. She let out a pained grunt and nearly fell forward, but he grabbed her hair and yanked her back up.
The sight was unbearable. I roared, "Stop! Touch her again and I'll kill every last one of you!"
"You really do care about her. That makes this much easier."
He grabbed her hair and forced her face up. She winced in pain but bit down hard and refused to make another sound. She kept trying to shake her head at me. Her eyes were red, clearly fighting back tears. The sight shattered me. I would have gladly taken her place.
"What do I have to do for you to release Serenity?" My voice was hoarse. I had to clench my fists to resist the urge to tear these humans apart.
"Simple. You need to prove you're willing to trade your life for her freedom," Falcon said. "We don't want to fight an Alpha at full strength. So if you'll stand still and let me shoot out both your legs, I'll accept that as proof of your sincerity."
"How do I know you'll keep your word?" I demanded coldly.
Falcon laughed. "You'll just have to trust me, Alpha wolf. Do you have any other choice? Either take the gamble. If you're still standing after two shots, I'll let her go. Otherwise, watch her head explode."
Damn bastards.
I cursed them silently. I knew perfectly well they had no intention of letting me live.
Once I lost the ability to fight, there was no way I could protect Serenity.
The smart choice would be to refuse their offer.
I was always calm and rational. I knew what the best decision was in this situation… but I couldn't bring myself to say it.
I gazed at Serenity, unable to bear the sight of any more pain or anguish on her face. If my life alone could buy her freedom and happiness, it would be the best deal in the world.
"I agree." I took a deep breath and heard my own answer.
"No!" Serenity screamed again, her voice choked with tears.
I wanted to comfort her, to tell her not to worry about me.
I had come alone, but I had installed a GPS tracker on myself.
Herman would follow the signal and bring warriors here.
As long as I could hold out until they arrived, Serenity would be safe.
I would never leave her happiness and freedom in the hands of our enemies!
Falcon smiled with satisfaction. He raised his pistol, the black barrel aimed at my right leg. "Then hold still."
I clenched my jaw and glared at him.
BANG!
A gunshot rang out. The silver bullet tore into my right leg, ripping open a deep, bloody wound. Searing pain and burning agony exploded at the site of impact. The silver toxin ravaged my flesh, nearly bringing me to my knees. But I bit down hard and swallowed my scream.
I couldn't fall. Through sheer willpower, I forced myself to stay standing. Cold sweat rolled down my forehead and dripped into my eyes. I didn't blink. I kept my gaze locked on Serenity.
It's okay. I sent the message to her through our bond. She gave me no response. Only tears streamed down her face.
"Impressive. You really are an Alpha." Falcon whistled. "That bullet had enough silver to kill an ordinary werewolf. I didn't expect you to still be standing. Now for the second shot."
He shifted his aim to my left leg.
This time, his angle was more vicious. The bullet went straight for my kneecap, shattering bone on impact.
Fenrir howled in agony and rage inside me.
Wolfsbane ravaged my system. Blood poured from both wounds like water.
No matter how hard I tried to hide it, the damage was too severe.
I collapsed to my knees, stumbling into a nearby church pew.
My fall drew mocking laughter from the hunters around me. They roared with amusement while Serenity screamed my name. It sounded distant.
But I heard her call.
So I braced my hands against the ground and staggered back to my feet.
The laughter died. They stared at me like they were witnessing something impossible. Fear and disgust crossed many faces. They instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons.
"Now let her go." I fixed my gaze on Falcon and rasped the command.
His expression soured. His eyes darted between Serenity and me. Finally, just as my patience was about to snap, he shrugged, pulled a key from his pocket, and unlocked her shackles.
"Elias!" The moment she was free, Serenity didn't run. She sprinted straight toward me.
But she'd barely taken a few steps when two hunters blocked her path, guns aimed at both of us.
I could no longer maintain human form. My teeth began shifting into fangs as I snarled at them. "Let her leave! What is this?!"
"Relax. We have no intention of breaking our promise." Falcon raised his gun again, aiming at my heart. "This is just the final step of our deal. Take this last bullet, and she can go."
Serenity froze at his words.
"Let her leave first." I narrowed my eyes dangerously. "Otherwise, let's see which is faster. Your bullets or me killing all of you."
Falcon considered it, then looked at Serenity. "Fine, I agree… Go on, then, Miss Serenity. Leave while I'm still feeling generous."
The armed hunters still wouldn't let Serenity near me, but they opened the church's back door, clearing an escape route. Serenity looked at that door, then at me. I burned her image into my mind. This might be the last time I would ever see her.
"Go." I forced a smile and kept my voice sounding calm and composed. "I signed a divorce agreement. Herman will tell you where to find it… Get it, take Arian, and live a good life."
Serenity bit her lip, but still didn't move.
When I saw impatience creep across Falcon's face, my tone turned harsh, and I shouted at her. "Go!"
Tears rolled down Serenity's cheeks. She turned toward the back door. Everyone thought she was leaving and relaxed their guard slightly. But then she suddenly whipped around with a snarl and charged at Falcon!
Her body shifted mid-run. She lunged in wolf form, her fangs sinking straight into Falcon's arm!
"Damn it!" Falcon hadn't expected this. He was pulling the trigger on me, but Serenity's attack threw off his aim. The bullet grazed my cheek and flew past. I didn't even care about myself. Terror ripped through me at Serenity’s reckless move!
"Be careful, Serenity!"
Hunters all around raised their guns at her.
I tried to shift, but the silver bullets must have contained something that suppressed transformation.
I couldn't change! But even in human form, I had to protect her!
Ignoring the agony in my legs, I charged forward and took down the nearest hunters.
Just as I snapped one's neck, the church doors exploded open.
A flood of wolf warriors finally arrived, led by Herman!
"Alpha! Luna!" Herman rushed in first. He took in the scene and barked orders. "Protect them!"
Chaos erupted inside the church. I spun and raced toward Serenity and Falcon. Mid-run, I saw Falcon kick Serenity hard in the stomach, sending her flying. Then he scrambled to his feet and grabbed his gun from the ground. "Damn monsters! Die!"
He aimed at Serenity's head. She was struggling, unable to get up.
In that moment, time seemed to slow. The sounds around me and the pain in my body faded away. Only one thought remained: I could not let him hurt my mate!
"Serenity!!"
I launched myself through the air and threw my body over hers.
BANG!
The bullet meant for Serenity hit me instead. It struck my back and seemed to pierce through my lung. I collapsed on top of her but kept her shielded beneath me.
"Elias? Elias!" Serenity scrambled up. Her body and hands were covered in my blood. She looked completely dazed. She cradled my head in her trembling arms, but my vision had gone red and blurry. I couldn't see her expression.
Warm drops fell onto my face. I couldn't tell whether it was blood or her tears.
"Don't cry… Didn't you say you never wanted to see me again? Then I'm not worth your tears…" I wanted to reach up and touch her cheek, but I had no strength to lift my hand.
Serenity suddenly gripped my hand tight. She tried to stop the bleeding, but it was useless. "Don't die, Elias, please don't die!"
My consciousness began to slip. I didn't know if I'd ever wake up again. So there were things I had to tell her now—
"Serenity." I squeezed her hand. "I love you. I always have. I never stopped… Forgive me for realizing it so late…"
"Stop talking…" Serenity suddenly bent down and pulled me up from the ground with all her strength. "I won't let you die! Do you hear me, Elias? I'll get you to a doctor. If you really love me, then hold on!"
Hunters aimed their guns at us while Herman and the others rushed forward to cover us. Serenity draped my arm over her shoulder and dragged me toward the church entrance. Every step was a struggle. I was far too heavy for an Omega, but she gritted her teeth and kept going.
Behind us came the sounds of battle. Gunfire, roars, and howls blended together. Bullets tore into the walls and ground around us.
"Faster—we need to go faster!" Serenity gasped out the words.
My chest and legs hurt so badly I nearly passed out, but I bit my tongue hard to shock myself awake and match her pace.
We burst through the church doors together. Outside was a forest. I spotted my own footprints in the dirt from when I had arrived.
"That way." I struggled to point Serenity in the right direction. "That way… leads to the highway… toward town…"
Serenity nodded. Then I heard footsteps and gunfire behind us. Some hunters had broken through Herman's line and were chasing us down!
"Don't look back! Just run!" I shouted at Serenity.
She dragged me forward with everything she had. To dodge the bullets, we plunged deeper into the forest. Branches whipped against us, sending fresh waves of pain through my wounds. My consciousness drifted in and out. Suddenly, the scene before me felt eerily familiar.
Memory transported me back to childhood. In my daze, I was still that boy who'd just escaped the vampire cage, and the person pulling me forward was the golden-haired girl who'd saved me…
"Elias, are you okay? Stay awake! Don't pass out!"
Because I'd gone silent and my pace had slowed, Serenity anxiously turned to check on me. Her golden hair swept through the air.
It was a full moon. The Moon Goddess gently bathed the forest in silver light, illuminating her hair as if coating it in a silver sheen. Under that light, her golden hair appeared pale and shimmering—almost platinum…
My eyes flew wide open.
Memory and reality merged completely in that moment!
"Serenity, it was you all along…" I called her name, my voice trembling.
"What?"
She looked at me in confusion, but I couldn't say another word. Only one thought screamed inside my mind.
Not Liv.
It was never Liv!
The savior I had been searching for all these years had always been Serenity!