Chapter 51

As Kona and I sprinted towards Duke, all I could think about was how he had controlled my life for 18 years. The thought of him using magic to govern my feelings, emotions, and virtue filled me with rage. A shot of heat ran through my body, pumping my veins with determination to destroy Duke.

From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of two fighting wolves. As much as multiple fights were happening around me, the two wolves that caught my attention were Nicholas and Erik. Nicholas pure black wolf had pinned Erik’s scruffy chocolate-colored wolf to the ground.

****Matt, keep an eye on Nicholas until Noah gets back. He doesn’t have back up here.**** I mindlinked as I sprinted.

Without his Beta, Nicholas was vulnerable. Beta’s were made to help and protect their Alpha’s. They were an Alpha’s shadow. However, with the shortage I had in manpower, Noah was my best option to get Natalie and Gideon out of harm's way before the fights started. He had only been given short notice about this, and I could see the panic in his eyes when I mentioned that he would be leaving Nicholas alone. The only way I could get him to agree was by promising he could come back after taking Gideon and Natalie to safety.

My eyes zeroed into Duke’s wolf as he pushed himself off the ground, shaking the dirt and debris off himself. Once he noticed me approaching, he bolted into the forest. Kona growled and started to follow him. He wasn’t going to get away.

Duke was very fast, but I didn’t have trouble keeping up. The trees rushed past us as we dodged them and raced through the forest. The forest echoed with the sound of crunching leaves and twigs followed by heavy footsteps.

Kona impelled herself more, digging her feet harder into the ground, gaining more speed. A pain shot through me as we pushed harder. Duke must have broken my rib when he tackled me. I shoved the pain aside, knowing it would heal soon.

We were so close yet so far. Duke’s tail flapped in front of me, teasing me. I extended my muzzle a little more and nipped his tail, making Duke whimper.

Duke lost his focus and tripped over a branch that sent him flying through the forest. I heard him land with a thud as he scraped his back across the forest floor. Before he could recover appropriately from his landing, I tackled him and slammed him into a tree. The tree cracked from impact and groaned, splitting into two. Kona sunk her teeth into the back of his neck and lifted him off the ground. She twirled him around in the air and threw him across the forest back towards the packhouse.

Duke’s wolf whimpered as he hit another tree, splitting it into two. Kona’s teeth had made puncture marks on his neck, leaving behind a trail of blood dripping down Duke’s grey fur. Kona was careful not to get any of Duke’s blood on us.

Duke shook his muzzle, blinking, trying to get his focus back. He tried getting up, but his front legs gave way, and he fell back to the ground. There were deep lacerations on his back from his collision with the ground. Some of his furs had ripped off, leaving behind patches of bloody skin and exposed flesh. 

Kona didn’t wait for a reaction from Duke. She growled loudly and lurched for Duke’s neck again. Her tackle was harder, angrier. She sunk her teeth deeper into Duke’s neck, her teeth grazing his bones.

I could feel the anger bubbling inside Kona. She wasn’t in the mood to be gentle.

She lifted Duke in the air and slammed him into the ground, butt first. I heard a crack, and Duke let out a loud cry, struggling under her grip. Kona bites down hard, picking Duke up once again and tossing him into the air.

Duke’s body wolf flew back across the yard where rogue body parts were accumulating relatively fast.

****Alex, 3 o’clock**** Matt yelled in the mindlink.

I quickly turned my head to find a rogue charging towards me. He was barring his teeth and ready to crush me. I spun my body and kicked the rogue with my hind legs using all my strength. The impact of my kick sent the rogue flying across the forest, crashing through branches. As soon as he landed, he was surrounded by three warriors wolves ready to rip him apart.

I turned my attention back towards Duke. He was lying crumpled up on the lawn, whimpering and howling in pain. I watched him try to push himself off the ground and fail multiple times.

On the horizon, I could see Nicholas and Erik fighting. They were clawing and snapping at each other. Erik made a swift move and pinned Nicholas to the ground. My instincts kicked in, and I started moving towards Nicholas to help him.

However, an ombré light brown wolf appeared behind Erik’s wolf, making me stop. It was crouching, moving quickly and stealthy towards Erik, who was trying to bite Nicholas’s muzzle. Nicholas was using his front legs to keep Erik’s body off him.

The brown wolf leaped and tackled Erik off Nicholas. Nicholas scrambled to his feet and jumped onto Erik as well.

****I got his back, Alex**** Matt mindlinked.

****Thanks, man! I couldn’t shake him off**** Nicholas mindlinked.

****Hey! How are you in my head?**** Matt protested.

****Umm, Alex?****

The idiots were having this conversation during a fight!

****Not now! Focus on not getting killed first!**** I growled.

I hadn’t told Matt! How did I miss that?!

Kona huffed in relief. I was glad I had asked Matt to use the element of surprise. I knew that would be handy.

I turned my attention to the crumbled Duke. He was still trying to get up. I saw him move his head around to see his surroundings. I knew he was trying to look for help. As a rogue, he could have communicated with his army because they weren’t a pack. Although, given all the carnage they had done with magic, I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way.

***~Kill him already!~*** Kona demanded.

She was still fuming.

It suddenly dawned on me. Where did Roy go?!

****Anyone seen Roy?!**** I mindlinked.

A round of no’s chanted in my head.

Fuck! Where did he go?!

****I’ll find him.**** Asher’s voice broke all the chatter.

****Asher! Where’s Esther and everyone else?!**** I slowly walked towards Duke.

****They are safe. Alpha Trent’s taken them to safety. Most of the rogues have been taken down. Some got scared and ran towards the West.****

****That’s okay. Alpha Alex would have been waiting for them. You can’t go alone to find Roy****

As much as I knew Ash was fully capable of looking after himself, I couldn’t let him go into danger alone. I kept my eyes on Duke’s moving body. The last thing I wanted was him taking me by surprise.

****I’ve got Ethan, Vince, and Tim with me. We will grab more warriors and sweep the house.****

****Dad? You all good?**** I mindlinked.

****Yes, Hunny! Totally fine. I think that’s all the rogues. I’ve sent some warriors to search the perimeter. Trent and his boys are helping recover bodies. We will pile them up for a bonfire by the lake. You interested?**** dad laughed.

****Maybe later, Dad. I just got to take care of a few things first. You guys carry on****

****Ash, be careful. I want Roy and all the witches alive if you can.**** I mindlinked my brother.

****Roger that. You all good here?**** he replied.

****Yeap, we good. You go ahead.**** Matt added. I looked up to see Matt in human form. He was tying up Erik, who was also in human form.

****What happened?**** I quizzed.

****Shiloh happened. She paralyzed Erik’s wolf.****

On cue, Shiloh walked out of the shadows and started walking towards me.

****No. Don’t paralyze him. I’m not finished yet**** I mindlinked her, making her stop in her tracks.

Duke was still whimpering. I don’t know what part of his body I broke, but the crack sounded painful. He was bleeding, and everyone had to stay away from his blood.

I approached him slowly. He didn’t show any signs of trying to fight. From behind me, Matt walked up with Erik. Nicholas was following closely behind them in wolf form. Nicholas had a big gash on the side of his neck and his hind. His black fur did an excellent job of hiding the blood he was covered in.

Matt pushed Erik to the ground next to Duke.

****Tell Duke to shift**** I commanded.

“Alex wants you to shift back asshole.”Matt snarled.

A low growl erupted from Duke’s mouth. He was pissing me off.

I growled loudly and snapped my teeth at him. Kona didn’t like when people didn’t listen to her.

Duke whimpered, and I heard bones cracking. Slowly his human form started to appear. Matt used the extra rope he was holding to tie Duke’s hands behind his backs. Even though Duke’s wolf wasn’t paralyzed, he was too injured to try anything funny.

Nicholas walked around and stood behind the two culprits.

****I’ll stay in my wolf form just in case**** Nicholas paced behind the two men.

****Matt, got a shirt?**** he was already wearing shorts.

He nodded and pulled out a t-shirt from the waistband of his shorts.

I pushed Kona to the back and let my body shift. Matt stood in front of me until I had my t-shirt on.

“It’s been an eventful day, huh?” I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Very eventful” Matt rubbed his side. There were gashes on his ribs and chest.

“Get these two blankets to cover themselves. Nicholas, where’s Noah?”

****He’s on his way.**** Nicholas replied.

I nodded and kneeled in front of Erik and Duke.

“You guys made it too easy. I expected more blood. What happened? Didn’t think it through?”

Duke cleared his throat and spat on my face.

Nicholas let out a murderous growl and tackled Duke to the ground, ready to rip his head off.

“No, Nicholas! Stop!” I yelled and grabbed his muzzle.

“You can’t kill him yet. I want him to see everything he created get destroyed. He can’t die this easily!”

I had told Nicholas about Duke’s blood being venomous. This wasn’t the way to kill him.

“You will never be able to destroy my legacy. If I can’t achieve it, someone else will. Someone will find a way to ruin the Moon Goddess and her reign!” Duke exclaimed while struggling under Nicholas’s grasp.

I pushed Nicholas off Duke, and Matt pulled him to his feet.

****Nick, please. Calm down**** I purred, gently stroking his fur.

Nicholas whined and rubbed his face on my chest.

“Is there something I’m missing?” Matt looked confused. He raised his eyebrow and gave me a what the fuck look.

“Nicholas and I are mates. Jërk off here was using magic to keep me away from Nicholas because I had to stay unmated until he could perform his ritual,” I explained.

I let all the information Gideon gave me replay in my head, and Matt gasped as he absorbed my thoughts.

“What the fuck?! You bastard! You’ve been messing with her life far too much. Are you really that desperate for power?!” Matt grabbed Duke’s neck and lifted him off the ground. Duke started choking and wriggled, trying to get loose.

“Put him down, Matt. I have a little surprise for him.”

Matt let go, and Duke fell, smashing his face on the ground. He coughed and turned his head to get air.

I walked over and knelt before him again, grabbing his face and pulling it until I could look him square in the eyes. Duke groaned and wriggled under my grasp.

“You really underestimate me. I want you to watch me destroy your “legacy.” I want you to watch me destroy your life just like you destroyed mine.”

****Noah’s here**** Nicholas chuckled through the mindlink.

“Oh, good timing. Duke, I have a little surprise for you. Look who I found.” I let go of his face and turned around.

Noah turned the corner and walked towards us with a girl by his side.

Duke shook his head again, trying to move the dirt and grass from his eyes to see properly.

As Noah and the girl got closer, I turned my attention to Duke’s face. This wasn’t a reaction I wanted to miss.

Both Kona and I were satisfied by the way Duke’s face changed. His breathing picked up, and he looked horrified.

“Claire,” he whispered. He turned his face towards me and swallowed loudly.

“Like my surprise?” I tilted my head to the side and smirked...