Chapter 25: A Battle Won

Rhys's P.O.V:
A prior warning, Mikalya, before you nearly give me a heart attack.
All I got in return was a smug look.
And why didn't you tell me your pack had invaded theirs? And why didn't you tell me you knew about Devon and Aiden? Are there any-
One question at a time, Rhys. Mink gave me a pointed look from the corner of her eyes. I didn't tell you before about my pack because if you knew you'd challenge me straight away and try to capture my people. And I didn't tell you about these losers because this was my pack’s secret. My spies are the ones who warned me when they saw you coming and confirmed my hunch that these two had finally made their move. As for your final question, no. I don't have spies in your pack. You stayed away from me and so did I.
We turned our attention back to the disaster twins to find both of them seething.
"Fine then!" It was Aiden who spoke through gritted teeth. "We'll do this your way. We challenge you to a battle. If you can beat us then we won't bother you again. But if we win, your packs become ours!"
I raised an eyebrow at Devon, who seemed too busy glaring at Aiden. "You think you’re in any position to make that stupid offer?" I asked him incredulously. “Your pack has lost, your soldiers have been caught and you are severely outnumbered and out powered.”
"Yes, we know." Devon replied, not meeting my eyes. “But I’m not going down without a final try.”
I frowned. Something still doesn't feel right. Aiden might be delusional and suicidal, but Devon knew better. Why was he agreeing to this?
Rhys!
I whipped my head towards Mikalya at her urgent call but before I could react, I felt her push me out of the way of an oncoming bullet just mere milliseconds before it hit the rock beside us.

Mink's P.O.V:
Everything was going exactly as planned when out of nowhere, I saw Aiden take out a gun discretely from his back pocket while Devon engaged Rhys in his conversation. They knew their backs were up against the wall, so they were using any means they could to win.
Rhys!
I dived towards him involuntarily and took him down to the ground with me just as the bullet sizzled past us and hit the boulder I had been sitting on.
Mikalya!
I felt him wrap an arm around my waist to keep me steady.
Did you get hurt somewhere? Did any of those bullets-
They're waking up! I've never compelled a pack this huge before but I can feel my energy draining as they come back to normal. I don't know how long I can stay awake at this rate. They're waking up faster than I predicted. I’ll be drained of all my energy soon.
Rhys's arm tightened around me. We'll get through this. I promise. My pack's in there too. They'll handle the rest.
I know we will.
“MAAAA!"
The voice startled me enough to momentarily give me pause. But the answer was obvious. Of course she wouldn't be under my compulsion, she's my own blood!
“I’m fine, Aya. We’re both fine.” I spoke into the communication device before taking it off. And then I turned to Rhys. “They’re mine.”
Before Rhys could comprehend what was going on, I jumped up from the ground and sprang towards the two coward Alpha’s with the speed of my wolf. I was in front of Aiden before he had the chance to pull the trigger once again. And then, I looked the dark Alpha straight in the eyes as I dug my claws into his chest, ripping through skin and muscle and crushing through his bones to reach his chest cavity.
I clutched his beating heart in the palm of my hand, felt the warmth of the organ, the fast rhythmic beat of it as Aiden’s mind filled with pain and anguish and then I tightened my grip on his beating heart…and ripped it out of his chest.
“NOOOO!” Devon screamed from beside his friend as Aiden’s lifeless body sank to the ground convulsing.
I opened my fist and dropped the still beating heart next to his body and watched as the heat from the organ caused the snow to melt as blood dripped the arteries and coloured the snow red. Devon dropped to the ground on his knees, his eyes huge as he looked up at me through thick lashes. The snow melted around him as he wet the ground, fear making him tremble likes a leaf. All I did was smile before I touched my blood soaked hands to his cheeks and in one swift motion, snapped his neck to the side, breaking the connection between his brain and his spinal cord and killing him instantly.
No one was allowed to threaten my pack and get away with it. Everyone who dared to do so will face the same consequences.
But soon enough, I felt all of my energy start to drain away as the others started walking up. I didn’t know what the reaction of the wolves would be but I’m guessing seeing their Alphas die in front of their eyes would prevent them from making any stupid choices. It was possible that a few wolves loyal to their Alpha would try to fight us but they will be crushed just like I had crushed their Alphas.
"Mink! Mink are you alright!" Kashmira came rushing to my side. Her movements were a bit sluggish which meant she had been affected by my power as well.
"Go." I told her. "I'll stop anyone who tries to get past us, but you have to be near the pack house. Take a portion of the troops and head back, but stay well away so no one can guess the exact location of the house."
"Yes Alpha." She headed back without any further complaints.
Rhys's pack was working with mine to defeat the rest of the wolves, it wasn't really necessary; most of them had surrendered the instant they'd woken up. Only a few made it past me to where Mira was waiting with her small troop. As I had expected, there a few who wanted to defeat us for their fallen Alpha, but soon, they put down as well. Things had begun to settle down now. Both the Alphas lay dead at my feet and I just received confirmation from Mira and Belle that all was well in their place.
The fight was finally over with minimal casualties.
I took a deep breath. Inhaling the crisp, cold wintery air. We won. And this time, the land wasn’t completely tainted with the blood of wolves like it had been seventeen years ago. I had managed to prevent a bloodbath. Something I tried to prevent since the day I had to burn down my entire pack.
“Mikalya!”
It was too late.
As I turned towards Rhys to find out why he had called out the warning, the wolf had already embedded its teeth into my shoulder and was pressing down hard, breaking through skin and muscles and even bones so it could rip my neck off of my shoulders.
But something else happened right then. At that exact instant, I felt a blur of light move past me. So bright and strong that I couldn't see what was inside it, that was until the sound of bones snapping reached my ears, and a second later, the light was gone and from it, emerged a wolf with its fur as black as the night and golden eyes similar that of a cat.
Aya. My daughter had finally transformed into a wolf.
Abhay, did you see that? Our daughter has finally transformed. She's found her other half. She's a wolf! And she's so beautiful! I sent a silent message to the heavens, where I knew he was watching over us, even as I sank to the ground with the wolf still trying to rip my head off.
I felt blood pour out of my wound and spill all over my thermos, on the white snow covered earth under my feet. Felt another jolt of pain pass through me, making me gasp as the wolf was ripped away from my shoulders.
I remember falling forward…too many people yelling my name...hands wrapping around me...People standing over me, so many people...Rhys...Aya...Mira…Kushal…Abhay...
"Mikalya!"
"Mom!"
"MINK!"
“MINK!!"
“Firangi…”