69!

LIAM

We raced towards the warehouse Adrian and his men took. They were all fighting for their life's and being overrun, fiercely battling Castillo's army.

“Oh my goodness, that's more than half of Castillo's army,” Layla exclaimed.

I turned to my men, none of us have been killed in our own attack against the right warehouse and we are still in full strength.

“Ethan, take your men and flank them from behind, the rest of us will strike from the front,” he nodded. Trisha followed him with his men into the forest, so Castillo's army won't see them, ensuring our secret attack remains a surprise.

“The rest of you, with me!” I yelled and we all raced towards the warehouse with Commander Blackburn and Layla beside me.

“Yahh!” Layla used her magic to strike one of Castillo's men trying to kill Adrian's man.

Where is Adrian? He should be here fighting with his men. I took down any one that came by way.

As we fought our way through the warehouse, I caught glimpses of Adrian's men struggling to hold their ground. But where was Adrian himself?

"Adrian!" I shouted above the din of battle, scanning the chaos.

"Over there!" Commander Blackburn pointed to a corner of the warehouse, where Adrian was pinned down by a group of Castillo's soldiers.

I charged towards him, Layla and Commander Blackburn covering my back. We cut through the enemy lines, Layla's magic and Commander Blackburn's tactical expertise clearing a path.

As we reached Adrian, I saw he was wounded, clutching his side. But it wasn't Adrian, it was the commander of his men wearing his uniform.

"Get him out of here!" I yelled to Commander Blackburn, who quickly assessed the situation.

"Trisha and Ethan's team should be in position soon," he said, nodding. "We'll provide cover."

Layla stepped forward, her eyes blazing with magic. "I'll keep them off us."

With a swift motion, she conjured a shield, deflecting enemy fire. Commander Blackburn and I dragged Adrian's commander to safety, as Ethan's team emerged from the forest, taking down Castillo's soldiers from behind.

The tide of the battle began to shift.

"Castillo's men are retreating!" Trisha shouted, her voice carrying across the warehouse.

But I knew we weren't out of danger yet.

"What happened?" I asked, as Commander Blackburn tended to his wounds.

"They...ambushed us," Adrian gasped, wincing in pain. "Castillo must have known we were coming."

“Where is my brother?” I asked him.

“Don't know your highness, he asked us to switch uniforms. We attacked the warehouse but that was the last time I saw him.”

I gritted my teeth.

"This isn't over."

Suddenly, Layla's magic faltered, and she stumbled.

"Layla!" I shouted, rushing to her side.

"What's wrong?" Commander Blackburn asked, concern etched on his face.

Layla's eyes locked onto something behind me.

"Shadow," she whispered.

I turned, and my heart sank.

The shadow I had earlier seen in Brianna's tent was right behind the tree. I could see a sinister grin spreading across his face.

"The real battle is far from over," he sneered, his voice echoed around the camp.

Suddenly there was a flaming fire and it tore into the shadow and it vanished.

“It isn't real,” we turned as we heard Brianna's voice.

“Brianna,” I raced to her, taking her lips as I hugged her. “You are safe,” I whispered and she nodded, trying to hide her face.

“You shouldn't have done that,” she said, shly.

“I don't think the men will mind,” I said to her and she coughed slightly.

“Come, Layla. There is someone both of you need to meet,” she said with her eyes shining. She walked towards Trish and Layla, hugging them tightly.

She shook hands with Ethan and Commander Blackburn, along with some soliders.

“Commander, coordinate with the others, set security,” I ordered.

“Yes, your highness,” he adjusted his gun and walked away with the men.

Brianna held my hands as she led us to Castillo's tent. “This is Castillo's tent,” I said at the entrance.

“I won't go in,” I uttered firmly, “he killed a lot of our people, I won't give him the decency of walking in.”

“Liam,” I heard a voice that I haven't heard in a long time. Layla gasped beside me and walked in.

“She needs to see you, Liam,” Ethan said, nudging at me to go in.

I walked into the tent and saw her. My mother, I haven't seen her in years.

“Liam, Layla,” she walked towards us and embraced us. She pulled away and touched my face.

“Mama,” I said, softly and she nodded. “It's really you,” I hugged her again and she cried on my shoulder.

“Goddess, you have grown into a King,” she said as we pulled away.

“Is that Ethan?” She looks behind me.

“Your Majesty,” Ethan and Trisha bowed as she walked towards them. “You look so strong,” she held his arms.

“You must be Trisha,” she held her hands as well. “You are just as beautiful as your Mom was,”

“Thank you, your majesty,” Trisha said in tears. Brianna walked over to calm her down.

“Your grace!” Mason raced into the tent. His eyes lit up when he saw my mother.

“Your Majesty,” he bowed immediately.

“Mason, you look just like your father,” she turned to look at Beta Chris who smiled at her.

“I have to say it. This is a victorious day,” my father said, holding my mothers arm.

“Father, what are you doing here?” I whispered.

“I told Brianna that I will either die on the battlefield or have your mother. I guess you can see that I won,” he said but I'm not going with it.

“Father, you are weak. You could compromise the whole mission. We don't know where Adrian is,” I said to him.

“Then find him” he demanded. “Find him and let him answer for his crimes.”

“What is it Mason,” Ethan asked him, a message was delivered.

“This isn't over yet,” Mason said. “Castillo is on the hill with his men,” he said and we all rushed out of the tent.

“Castillo!” My father screamed. “Come out and face me, you bastard,” we could see Castillo and a quarter of his men on the hill.

“Snipers on the trees, now!” I ordered and the snipers section of our army raced to the forest.

“I see him,” Brianna said to me, referring to the shadow.

“Me too,” my mother, Layla and Trisha said as well.

“Ladies I hope you know your element,” she was about to work but she couldn't.

“What's going on, Mother?” I asked and she cursed.

“Castillo! Damn you!” She yelled. I could hear Castillo's laugh

“What's going on?” I asked her.

“Your father and I are standing on bombs,” she said. My father was about to move but she stopped him.

“We will defuse it,” I said looking at Mason who understood me as well.

“Beta Desmond, Beta Chris, don't move as well,” she said and groaned.

“No, this can't be happening!” I yelled.

“Come down and face me, Castillo!”

“Y'all have to go,” Beta Chris said.

“Father, we are not leaving you,” Mason walked towards him.

“You all need to do exactly what we ordered. We are still in charge,” Beta Desmond said and Ethan sighed heavily.

“Liam!” That was Thane's voice. I looked up to the hill and saw a man on a stake.

“Here is your caller,” he mocked. “Can you save his body?”

"Take cover!" I shouted, as Castillo's men unleashed a hail of bullets.

Our soldiers scrambled for shelter, returning fire with precision.

Layla's magic shielded us, deflecting enemy bullets.

Trisha and Ethan provided cover fire, taking down enemy soldiers.

Brianna joined the fight, her fire magic scorching enemy positions.

"Castillo, you coward!" my father roared.

Castillo laughed maniacally.

"Snipers, take out their command!" I ordered.

Our snipers picked off enemy commanders.

Castillo's men wavered.

"Advance!" I shouted.

Our soldiers surged forward.

The enemy lines crumbled.

"Retreat!" Castillo yelled.

His men fled.

But Castillo remained.

"You'll pay for your treachery!" my father vowed.

Castillo sneered.

"You'll never leave this place alive."

My mother's eyes locked onto Castillo.

"Enough," she whispered.

Her magic surged.

Castillo stumbled.

"Now!" I shouted. All of a sudden, the shadow that attacked Tara came out from the sky and screamed.

We covered our ears trying to block the sound but it didn't stop. I noticed Brianna walking towards me.

“What are you doing?” I asked her but I couldn't hear her as she spoke.

As she got closer, I could see blood running down her cheeks from her eyes. The scream was getting to her.

I watched as Castillo's men raced towards the hill and stood behind Thane. Castillo couldn't move because he had been rendered useless by my mother's magic.

“What are you doing?” I asked Brianna again as she moved closer to me.

“Take my hand!” She yelled in my face. I took her hands not knowing what was happening.

All of a sudden, I felt a surge of energy go through me and I howled like never before.

My howls are the loudest whenever I'm in my wolf form but right now in human skin it was greater combined with Brianna's.

Our howl's filled the whole valley, bringing down the shadow's voice.

It looks at Brianna with surprise and hatred. It tried to speak but it couldn't. Suddenly Castillo was in the air and the shadow vanished.

“So that's who its working for,” Brianna said and I turned to her.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“The other day in the dream world, it kept asking me, trying to pry into my mind what I knew about the attack on Castillo's camp,” she said and I sighed.

I looked up to the hill, Castillo was with his son, Thane. He wasn't man enough to defeat my father alone, he had to break a Shadow.

“That will explain a lot of things,” I said to Brianna. Everyone nodded in agreement.

At least, now we know who the shadow is really fighting for.