47!

LIAM

“Liam, Liam, can you hear me?” I heard Brianna's voice in the comms inside my ears.

“When you said you will be in my ears I didn't think literally,” I said to her and heard her laugh.

“Well, I did,” she said and I smiled.

“I have to go, we are about to pass through the barricade,” I said and I could feel her tension.

“Yeah, be safe,” she said, trying hard to act tough.

“Always, pass me through Akire,” I said. There was a beep and silence for a while.

“Your highness,” I heard Akire's voice.

“Listen up, we don't know exactly what Thane is planning. This might just be a ruse to get us out of the castle,” I said.

“He won't take her. He doesn't know how many guards and soldiers are here,” she said.

“Yeah, you might be right but I'm going to rephrase your first statement. He can't take her,” I said, firmly.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Prince 1 out,” that's my code name anytime we are on a mission. Anyone could be named Prince. It's a ruse to trap our enemies in case our communication becomes compromised.

“Two fights in one day,” Mason said and clicked his teeth.

“What are you talking about?” Ethan smacked his head up, “it's almost day break.”

“We have to finish this now,” I said. “Spray out.” Each of the captains I had assigned to both . Mason and Ethan moved with them.

“We will be on high ground, captain,” I said to the one beside me.

“I'm with you, your highness,” I heard Commander Blackburn beside me.

“Get down,” I heard the gunshot from afar aimed at us.

“I guess no time is better than now.”

The battle was intense and I spared no man that charged towards me. No one has seen Thane yet and I'm becoming frustrated.

Bullets whizzed past my head as I returned fire, taking cover behind a nearby stack of crates. Mason and Ethan flanked me, laying down suppressive fire.

"Where's Thane?" I yelled above the gunfire.

"No sign, Liam!" Mason shouted back.

"Take the high ground!" Commander Blackburn ordered, leading his team up a nearby hill.

I followed, gun blazing, as we cleared the hill. Werewolves emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing in the dim light.

"Take them down!" I bellowed, unleashing a precise shot that dropped a snarling werewolf.

Ethan's knife flashed in the moonlight, slicing through an attacker's defenses.

Mason's gun roared, dropping two more enemies.

"Thane, you coward!" I taunted, scanning the chaos below.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the smoke.

Thane.

His eyes locked onto mine, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"Liam, Prince of the Silvermoon," he sneered. "How nice of you to join me."

"You'll never leave this place alive," I vowed, charging forward.

Thane snarled, transforming into a monstrous werewolf.

I sprinted through the underbrush, my senses heightened as I tracked Thane's scent. Mason and Ethan flanked me, their guns at the ready.

"Thane's heading for the river," I shouted, leaping over a fallen log.

We burst through the trees, and I spotted Thane's werewolf form racing along the riverbank.

"After him!" I yelled, pursuing Thane across the shallow water.

Thane's pack gave chase, their snarls and growls echoing through the forest.

Mason and Ethan provided covering fire, keeping the pack at bay.

I gained on Thane, my feet pounding the riverbank.

Thane spun, snapping his jaws mere inches from my face.

I dodged, countering with a fierce blow that sent Thane stumbling.

The river's current swept Thane away, but he transformed mid-stream, his human form swimming powerfully.

"Get him!" I shouted, wading into the icy water.

Mason and Ethan followed, forming a semi-circle around Thane.

Thane emerged, water dripping from his hair, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"You'll never stop me, Liam," he sneered.

I charged, tackling Thane to the riverbank.

The two of us clashed, fists flying, our werewolf strength fueling the battle.

Here's the continuation:

I pinned Thane to the riverbank, my grip tightening.

"You're finished," I snarled.

Thane's eyes flashed, and he transformed, his werewolf form bursting free.

I matched him, my own transformation swift and fierce.

The two of us clashed, snarling and snapping, our werewolf strength fueling the battle.

Mason and Ethan joined the fray, taking down Thane's pack members.

Thane and I tore through the forest, our fight intensifying.

Trees shattered, and underbrush ripped apart as we exchanged blows.

Thane's jaws closed inches from my throat. I countered, sending him crashing into a boulder.

He rebounded, slashing claws across my chest.

I stumbled, but Mason's quick shot grazed Thane's ear, giving me opening.

I pounced, pinning Thane to the ground.

"Over," I growled. Suddenly we began to hear the sounds of more wolves running towards us.

“You are outnumbered,” he sneered.

“Not if I can help it,” I heard Layla's voice from afar and suddenly a ball of fire came across us towards the wolves running towards our destination.

“Charge!” Mason yelled and everyone ran after him.

“Why is your Father doing this?” I asked and Thane laughed hysterically.

“Still dumb and weak as ever,” he said. My fangs grew and I struck his lower abdomen.

“How's that for weak?” I growled at him.

“Are you going to be okay?” Ethan asked and I nodded.

“Yes, go!” I yelled, “he is mine,” I said, firmly.

“You better answer or your men will be the least of your worries,” I said to him and he scoffed.

“My men came here to die,” he said with assurance. “Did your men come to die for their King or Prince because mine will,” his words came out boldly.

“But I guess they did come out to die, especially your caller,” his eyes looked at me fiercely.

“Haa!” I pushed my fangs deeper into his abdomen.

“Where is he?” I asked and he began to laugh.

“Liam, you need to stop. We need him alive,” I heard Brianna's voice in my ear.

“Even you can't stop me from killing him,” I said. He looks at me confused.

“We need him to know his father's plans,” she said.

“No, we don't,” I removed the comms from my ear.

“The future queen wants me alive. I guess she wants to see who exactly I am that makes you tick more than she does,” he said and I twisted my fangs in him.

All of a sudden there was sharp light that tore the tree above us into two. I had to release my hands from inside him and he escaped from my grip.

“Say your last prayers, Prince,” I heard him. He was opposite me but far away. Suddenly an arrow moved towards me with speed but stopped close to me and fell.

“What are you doing?” Thane asked the woman besides him.

“Mom?”