Jerome's body throbbed with pain, but she couldn't afford to stay down. Her side ached from where the wolf had tackled her, but her instincts pushed her to get back up. She struggled to her feet, the chaos of the battle around her intensifying with every passing second.
Ian and Aiden were locked in a brutal fight, their massive forms crashing into each other with devastating force. The ground beneath them trembled as they fought for dominance. It wasn't just about power anymore—it was about survival, and neither of them intended to lose.
Jerome's eyes scanned the clearing. Ian's wolves were still holding their ground, but the sheer number of Aiden's pack was overwhelming. They had to hold on, but for how much longer?
A growl to her left caught her attention. A wolf lunged at her, teeth bared, but Jerome was ready this time. She dodged to the side and swung the branch she still held, connecting with the wolf's side. The wolf yelped in pain and fell back, giving Jerome a moment to catch her breath.
But that moment was short-lived.
"Jerome!" a voice shouted over the noise. Jerome whipped her head around to see Ian, still locked in combat with Aiden. Blood matted Ian's fur, but he wasn't giving in. His eyes, though, were fixed on her, filled with a mix of desperation and anger.
Aiden had noticed too. His lips curled into a wicked grin, and he made a sudden move, twisting around Ian to head straight for Jerome.
"No!" Ian roared, but Aiden was too fast.
Jerome's heart raced as Aiden closed the distance. She knew she couldn't take on a wolf like him. He was too powerful, too relentless. Panic surged through her veins, but she stood her ground, refusing to be the prey he wanted her to be.
Just as Aiden was about to strike, Ian slammed into him from the side, throwing the rogue Alpha off course. The two wolves tumbled to the ground in a violent clash, teeth snapping and claws tearing.
Ian roared again, fury blazing in his eyes. "You will not touch her!"
Jerome's pulse pounded in her ears as she watched them fight. She knew that this was it—this battle would decide everything. Ian's raw strength was pitted against Aiden's ruthless cunning, and the outcome was uncertain. For the first time, Jerome realized just how fragile this moment was. One wrong move, and everything could fall apart.
A flash of movement out of the corner of her eye made Jerome turn. Another one of Aiden's wolves was creeping toward her, its gaze fixed on her with deadly intent. She didn't have time to react before it pounced, knocking her to the ground once again.
This time, Jerome didn't have the strength to fight it off. The wolf's jaws closed around her arm, and she cried out in pain. Its weight pinned her down, and she felt the sharp sting of its teeth breaking skin.
"Ian!" she screamed, but her voice was drowned out by the chaos around her.
Just when she thought she couldn't take anymore, a blur of grey fur barreled into the wolf, knocking it off her with a vicious snarl. One of Ian's loyal wolves had come to her rescue, and within moments, the attacking wolf was lying motionless on the ground.
Jerome's vision blurred from pain, her body trembling from the shock. She tried to get up, but her limbs felt too heavy. The world around her was spinning, the sounds of the battle fading into the background.
She blinked, trying to focus, but everything was slipping away.
Through her fading consciousness, Jerome saw Ian, bloodied but still fighting with all he had. He was losing ground, and Aiden was gaining the upper hand. Jerome's heart broke at the sight, her last thought before darkness claimed her was a silent plea.
Ian... please, don't lose.
To be continued...