Twin Moon - Chapter 292 - Cleo
Zelena.
I swallowed the pain in my chest and stood up slowly on shaking legs. Gunner grabbed my arm, half to help me stand, and I expect half to stop me from bolting right for the door. Smith and Felix followed my movements, both of them also rising slowly. Smith’s growl rumbled lowly through the room, quickly followed by Felix, then Lupus. The symphony of growls rolled around the room, all blending into one angry song. I hadn’t realised it at first, but my own growl joined the angry tune. All of us rumbled out how worried, angry, and ready to fight we were. I pulled my arm from Gunner’s hold and stepped toward the door. My claws extended and my bones ached through my anger and the desire the change. I pulled the Goddess power into my body. It tingled across my skin, fed my soul, and filled me with energy.
“Let’s get to it then” I snarled. My anger was palpable. Family be damned, if my own sister has hurt Tobias, MY Tobias, I will finish her where she stands. I will reign the pain she has caused back down upon her. Though, if I was honest, it’s all just a front. I'm angry yes. I'm ready to fight and die for my pack and my family. But I'm also terrified. What if Tobias is hurt badly, what if he dies? What if I can't take Aurora’s wolf, what if she kills more of my people? What if I fail? Everyone was counting on me now. I can’t fail. I won't. For them. I have to do this, for my pack and my family.
I stomped through the doors, brushing past Roe as I went. I was almost at the front door when I was spun around by my shoulders. One of Gunner’s arms came to the back of my neck, the other to my waist, pulling my body flush against his. His lips were on mine before I could argue for him to let me go. He kissed me with more passion than I was ready for. I could feel all his love, his devotion, his hopes and dreams. All of him was felt in that single kiss. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine and breathed deeply.
“Come back to me. You hear me? Don't you dare leave me” he whispered desperately. Tears sprang to my eyes as the realisation once again slammed down on me. I'm risking everything for this prophecy. My love, my family, my life. I could lose them all. I swallowed my sob and pulled on every single bit of courage I could find. I grabbed both sides of Gunner’s face and ran my thumb across his bottom lip. This man, Gunner, he is more than I ever could have wished for. I looked deep into his crystal blue eyes and pulled him down to kiss him once more.
“I’m not going anywhere” I said as convincingly as I could. He kissed my forehead and stepped out of my arms. He turned to the others, who I hadn’t realised were watching and waiting for us.
“We're going with Zelena’s plan, do as she instructed. Smith, clear the village as much as you can. Felix, round up the commanders and fighters and place them in the woods where we discussed. Dad, I need you with me, keep everyone and anyone away from me and Zelena. We have to stay focused and uninterrupted. Mum, get to Doyle, make sure he stays in the barn, we can’t trust him not to turn on us” Gunner commanded. There was no hesitation, no question. Everyone nodded once and went about their duties.
Gunner burst through the door first, with me and everyone else hot on his heels. I could hear the commotion towards the far right corner of the village. Orders being yelled, a baby wailing, screams of pain, all of it echoed across the early morning sky. The others dashed off on their own missions, leaving Gunner, Lupus and I standing on the porch. Hearing the screams of pain, feeling the deaths of my pack members snap away from my Luna bond, it was too much to bear. I ran forward, headed for the source of the chaos. Gunner came to my side and took my hand as we ran stride for stride. I looked up to him as we raced towards the fight, just as he looked down to me. In the back of his eyes, the soft glimmer of silver was starting to sparkle through. I have no doubt my eyes too were shining a golden yellow. Mother was with us, I could feel her in the air.
We reached the back of the barn, which appeared to be the outskirts of the fight, and I just about fell over my own feet. The scene was frightening. It all but fuelled the already heated rage bubbling through my veins. Bodies were scattered around the clearing. Bodies of my fallen pack mates. Some were still alive and screaming in pain, and others were freshly dead and already paling. I raised my hand to cover my mouth. I don’t know if I was trying to stop myself from screaming, crying or vomiting. I scanned the scattered bodies and froze when I found my mother. I dashed towards her and fell to my knees at her side.
“Mum? Cleo?” I blanched while moving my eyes between them. Fresh tears were pouring from my mother's eyes and Cleo’s breaths were coming out in harsh pants. Alyse was kneeling at Cleo’s other side, holding a t-shirt over her neck and upper chest. Mum was clutching Cleo’s hand to her chest while gently brushing her fingers through the shaved side of Cleo’s head. Blood was covering both their hands and Cleo’s face and neck. I looked back to the shirt in Alyse’s hands and realised it wasn’t red, it was soaked in blood.
“What happen?” I demanded.
“The other one” Cleo panted with a pain filled face.
“Try not to talk” Alyse snipped while repositioning herself. She moved to place more of her body weight over the injury at Cleo’s chest. Blood was seeping from beneath the cloth and dripping between Alyse’s fingers.
“Aurora” Mum sniffed and swallowed hard. She didn’t take her eyes off Cleo as she spoke.
“Cleo was defending a mother and her baby. Aurora got her in the neck with an axe” she said with a melancholy tone. I felt Gunner move in behind me as his hand came to rest on my shoulder. My eyes were wide and I could hear my pulse thrumming in my ears.
“Aurora did this?” I whispered. Neither of them responded, they didn’t need to.
“Zee, we need to go” Gunner said gently as he pulled back on my shoulder. I pushed his hand away and leaned down over Cleo. I pressed my forehead to hers and held it there. Cleo lifted her arm and grabbed the back of my neck. As her grip waivered and her arm started to fall, I grabbed her hand and held it in place.
“Thank you for bringing my mother to me” I whispered. Cleo grunted and exhaled a sharp breath.
“For the Goddess” she wheezed. Her arm went limp and fell from her grip on my neck. I sat back and stared down at her unmoving body. Her chest had stopped its rising and falling as her eyes glazed over. Lunaya sobbed softly and Alyse tried to shake Cleo back to life.
“Cleo!” she shouted and rubbed at her chest. I moved back as Alyse hit the centre of Cleo’s chest with her fist. I stood slowly and backed up into Gunner’s waiting arms. I watched as Alyse desperately tried to revive Cleo. I turned my head to Gunner’s chest and listened carefully. There was too much blood, as much Alyse tries, it won’t do any good. Cleo’s heart had stopped. There's no coming back from this one.
“I’m sorry my love, but we don’t have the time” Gunner whispered gently. He brushed the hair from my tear-streaked face and lifted my chin to look at him.
“If we don’t act now, there will be many more deaths to mourn” he said solemnly. I nodded my head and took one last look at my crying mother. Gunner took my hand and I turned to follow behind him.
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