The Cost of Victory
Cleopatra’s POV
The soft glow of moonlight spilled through the curtains, illuminating the dimly lit room. Williams’ hand traced slow, deliberate patterns on my bare stomach, lingering where life had begun to grow within me. His touch was possessive, protective—a reminder of what we were fighting for.
"You’re trembling," he whispered, his voice low and rough, pulling me closer until his body pressed against mine.
"I’m not afraid," I said, though my heart betrayed me, thudding with a mix of anticipation and dread.
“You’re lying,” he countered, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “But I’ll fix that.”
The weight of the coming battle pressed heavily on both of us, but at this moment, I needed him more than anything. His lips claimed mine, not in a gentle caress but in a desperate, searing kiss. It was as if he needed to prove something—to remind us both of what we stood to lose.
I arched into him, my fingers tangling in his hair, and he groaned against my lips. His hands roamed over my curves, in a way that spread warmth all over me. He paused when his palm rested on my stomach again.
“You’re carrying my child,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “Do you know what that does to me, Cleopatra? Knowing that you’re mine in every way?”
His words sent a shiver through me, and I pulled him closer, pressing his lips to mine once more. “Then show me, Williams,” I whispered against his mouth. “Remind me who I belong to.”
That was all the permission he needed. He lifted me as though I weighed nothing, laying me back on the bed with a tenderness that betrayed the raw need in his gaze.
His mouth was everywhere—my neck, my shoulders, the swell of my breasts—his teeth grazing and claiming in the way of our kind. Each mark he left was a vow, a promise that he would never let anything happen to me or our child.
I responded in kind, my nails raking down his back, drawing a growl from deep within his chest. The sound sent a thrill through me, and I wrapped my legs around him, pulling him closer.
“Do you feel that?” he growled, his voice thick with need as he kissed me again, his hips pressing against mine.
“Yes,” I breathed, my head falling back as his lips trailed down my throat. “I feel everything.”
Our connection was electric, perfect. Every touch, every kiss, every movement was a reminder of who we were—not just two lovers, but mates bound by something far deeper than passion. It was a connection of souls, of power and dominance shared equally between us.
He worshiped me, his hands and mouth mapping every inch of my body, and I gave myself to him completely. In that moment, there was no war, no betrayal, no fear. There was only us.
When we finally came undone together, it was with a force that left us both trembling, breathless. Williams held me close, his forehead resting against mine.
“You’re my everything, Cleopatra,” he murmured. “I’ll fight until my last breath to protect you and our pup.”
“And I’ll fight for you,” I replied, my voice fierce despite the tears that pricked my eyes. “Until the very end.”
\-----
Hours later, we stood side by side, our war attire gleaming in the moonlight. My hands were steady as I adjusted the clasps of Williams’ armor, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.
“You ready for this?” he asked, his voice low but steady.
I nodded, taking his hand. “I was born ready.”
We marched out together, hand in hand, a united front against the forces that sought to tear us apart. Our warriors surrounded us, their eyes burning with resolve.
The battlefield was exactly as we had planned—a secluded clearing on the palace grounds, far from the rest of the pack. The enemy arrived as expected, their arrogance blinding them to the trap we had laid.
Kane led the charge, his allies at his side. Simone, the Night Wolf Alpha, and Kyle snarled viciously at his side, flanked by their warriors. Anya also followed closely behind them, their forces spreading out to encircle us.
But the shock on their faces was evident when they realized they were outnumbered. From the shadows emerged Thomas and his men, the White Wolf warriors, and the vampires.
I stepped forward, a smile playing on my lips as I addressed Kane. “Welcome,” I said, my voice dripping with mock warmth. “To your grave.”
The battle erupted in an instant, a cacophony of snarls, growls, and the clash of bodies. Claws raked and fangs tore as wolves collided in a blur of motion.
I fought side by side with Williams, my claws slashing through enemies with deadly precision. Beta Jack, who had once stood by Kane’s side, joined us, his loyalty evident as he tore through Kane’s warriors with a ferocity that rivaled my own.
They didn’t see this attack coming nor did Kane expect Beta Jack’s betrayal.
Kane found me amidst the chaos, his black eyes gleaming with malice. “You could have had an easy life,” he snarled, circling me. “You could have been mine and mine alone.”
I bared my teeth, a growl rumbling deep in my chest. “I was never yours, Kane. And I will never bow to a coward who hides behind lies and manipulation.”
His snarl was the only warning I had before he lunged, but I was ready. We clashed with a force that shook the ground, our snarls echoing through the battlefield.
Nearby, Williams battled the Night Wolf Alpha. My dear old uncle’s remaining arm was a blur of motion as he fought with a savagery that betrayed his age.
Simone took over from him, facing Williams, while the Night Wolf Alpha lunged towards me with deadly force.
He is mine to destroy.
I flung Alpha Kane over to where Lucien was and faced my uncle head on.
“You’ll die today, niece,” he sneered, his voice cold.
I didn’t let him finish. My claws slashed through his remaining arm, and his howl of pain was short-lived as I drove my claws into his chest, ending his reign of terror once and for all.
The tide of the battle was obviously in our favor. Enemy warriors fell one by one, their blood soaking the earth. Victory was within our grasp.
But then it happened.
An arrow, black as night, struck Williams in the chest.
Time seemed to slow as I turned, my heart stopping at the sight of him staggering back, black blood already seeping from the wound.
“Williams!” I screamed, tearing through the battlefield with the speed of lightning.
Anya, daughter of Alpha Othello, didn’t have a chance to react before I reached her. My claws tore through her throat, silencing her forever. She dared shoot an arrow at my mate?
I fell to my knees beside Williams, tearing his shirt open to inspect the wound. The skin around the arrow had already blackened, and blood poured from his mouth as he coughed. Poison.
“No,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Stay with me. Please, stay with me.”
His eyes met mine, filled with pain but also love. “Cleopatra…our pup…you have to protect—”
“Don’t you dare,” I choked out, tears streaming down my face. “You’re not leaving me. Do you hear me? You’re not leaving!”
But his body grew limp in my arms, the light fading from his eyes as the poison took hold.
A scream tore from my throat, raw and anguished, as the man I loved—the father of my child—slipped away.
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