CHAPTER 35 : Not A Damsel In Distress

Luna supported Clell and helped him walk. Clell put his arm around Luna's shoulders for support, he was deeply wounded that every move he made were very excruciating.
Luna kept on glancing at Clell, worried for him. She felt grateful that he saved her, but she was more apologetic--seeing Clell in that state made her heart constrict in agony. She felt helpless again, despite feeling strong. It was a contradiction she couldn't explain.
It took them long enough, but they finally managed to get out of the basement and the house.
“Let’s go there.” Clell said, his voice barely coming out due to the pain he was feeling from his deep wounds.
“No, we can go here.” Luna argued.
“No, go there.”
“Clell, I know this place more than you do. Let me guide you.” she told him, feeling as if she finally had a use--that she's not totally helpless.
“No, I—I. Uhhh. I asked some of my men to assist you out of here.” Clell managed to choke out.
“Your men?”
“Yes, my soldiers.”
“Assist me?”
“Yes, to make sure you are safe.”
“And you? How about you?”
“I need to go back and lead my pack.”
“NO! You are not going back in this condition.”
“I have to. That’s what leaders do.”
“NO!”
“They are fighting for the pack. As the alpha, I can’t just stay on the sidelines and watch.”
“Clell.” Luna said, hopeless, because she knew about the duties of the alpha.
“That is my duty. I can’t just turn my back on them.”
"Are you declaring war with the Summer Pack?
"No, we're just making a statement."
“Then I won’t go either. I’ll stay to help you.”
“Luna, it would be best if you would go and be safe. That way I can focus on the fight and not worry about your safety.”
“But what about me? Have you ever thought or even considered that I would worry about your safety too?”
“Luna.” Clell said, releasing a frustrated smile.
“I am not going to your pack’s territory. I will stay here with you.”
“What a sweet conversation.” Ayame butted in, smirking and slowly applauding her hands. She was with the guards that Clell previously encountered.
Clell managed to stand up, walking in front of Luna to cover her and make sure she’s safe.
“Stay at the back.” He commanded Luna.
“Are you sure you want to fight in that condition, Clell? Are you sure you want to fight with me?”
“I will protect Luna no matter what.”
“Ahhh. What a sweet love. Too bad it’ll end soon. I hate to hurt you, Clell, ‘cause I really like you—not for her, but for me.” Ayame said, walking towards Clell and caress his face. Clell moved his head away from Ayame’s touch as if it disgust him.
“I’ve always looked up to you, Ayame. I’ve always put you in high regards when I was young. You’ve always treated me good when I was young, what happened? I thought you love me, why did you turn your head away from me when I need you most? Why did you abandon me during the time that I needed comfort and love?”
“Because the truth is, I hate you, Luna. I hated you before, I hate you now.”
“Then why? Why did you treat me as if you love me? As if you adored me?”
“To share the spotlight.”
“What?”
“You took the spotlight from me the moment you were born. The chosen one. The one in the prophecy. Everyone adored you, and me? No one ever took a glance of me the moment you were born. All the attention was on you, unless if I treated you nicely or play with you and be with you then they’d adore me too.”
Luna looked at Ayame in disbelief, pain painted all over her face.
“Why would a sister feel jealous of her sister? Mom and dad adored you as much.”
“No, they didn’t. They didn’t until the day everyone found out that you couldn’t shift. Oh, you don’t know how happy I was that day. You took everything from me, Luna, and now Clell too.”
“I was never yours in the first place, Ayame.”
“You were almost mine when you haven’t met her first.”
“I don’t like people who don’t have a good attitude. I don’t like people who feels jealous of their own their blood. I don’t like toxic people.”
“My, my, my! The two of you teaming up together, ganging on me. How’s sweet. You disgust me.” Ayame uttered with contempt. She suddenly shifted in to her wolf form and Clell shifted too out of instinct to protect Luna.
“Clell, you know you’re not in the condition to fight me. Are you really willing to put your life at risk for a girl who couldn’t even shift? A girl who is a disgrace to the wolves? A girl who ran away from her roots and pack.”
“I would’ve done the same if my pack kept on hurting me physically and emotionally. You show no remorse. You still haven’t acknowledged your mistake. I sure hope you won’t be the successor of your pack, you are not fit to be a leader. You treat your family with love and respect, in that way you can treat your subordinates, as sovereign, with love and respect.”
“Good speech, but that doesn’t have an effect on me. You make me more angry, Clell.” Ayame directly launched forward, attacking Clell. Clell dodged a bit, but Ayame still managed to pierced through him a bit.
Clell was, clearly, still unfit and unwell to fight, but he still forced himself, thinking about Luna’s safety. The guards who were with Ayame also attacked Clell, colliding with Clell and knocking him back. Ayame then plunged unto him, piercing her claws unto him, while the others bit him. Clell roared in agony.
“STOP!” Luna cried in the background.
“Please, stop.”
“Luna, I am alright.” Clell told her through his mind.
“PLEASE! STOP!” Luna pleaded, but her pleas only made Ayame more eager to hurt Clell. Her agony made Ayame happy.
Seeing Ayame about to attack Clell again, Luna ran towards them and collided with Ayame, trying to push her away.
She stood there, arms extended widely side by side as she tried to cover for Clell, acting bravely. Ayame was quite taken aback at Luna’s act of bravery, leaving her quiet for a while and unable to make a move.
“Oh My! How cute of my sister to act so brave when she can’t even shift.” Ayame finally managed to say. She put herself into a stance, ready to strike an attack to Luna while Luna, on the other hand, stood firmly.
“Luna! Don’t!” Clell screamed helplessly, trying to stop Luna from what she's about to do.
"I am done being a coward anymore, Clell. I'll protect you. I love you so much! I'm sorry." Luna responded and close her eyes.
“Please, just now. If I am really the one in the prophecy, help me.” She prayed to their ancestors.
“Please, even if just now, let me shift to protect the man I love.” She whispered, trying to concentrate. She couldn’t help her tears falling from her closed eyes, her knees were trembling and hands shaking in fear.
“Come on!” Luna told herself. “Come on, Luna, concentrate.” She can sense Ayame sprinting towards, fangs ready to reap her to shreads.
However, before Ayame could even reach Luna, Luna released a loud roar.