The battlefield was a grim tableau of carnage. The ground, slick with blood, bore the lifeless forms of fallen werewolves, their savage features frozen in eternal stillness. Amid the wreckage lay a man sprawled on the earth, his breaths shallow and labored. Blood seeped from countless wounds, staining the soil beneath him a deep crimson.
Beside him knelt a woman, her snow-white hair streaked with blood—not her own. It soaked her hands, her clothes, and, perhaps most painfully, her soul. Her ethereal beauty, haunting even in this moment, was overshadowed by the raw anguish etched into her face.
"Aiden," she whispered, her voice trembling and broken. "Why? Why did you face him alone?"
Through the haze of pain, Aiden managed a faint, crooked smile. His voice, weak but steady, carried an unshakable affection. "Because I love you," he said simply. "Do you think I could stand by and watch the woman I love risk her life for me? I had to protect you."
Tears streamed down her face, carving paths through the grime on her cheeks. "You reckless fool," she choked out. "What good is your protection if it costs your life? I can't—" Her voice faltered, trembling under the weight of her emotions. "I won't lose you."
A weak chuckle escaped his lips, brittle but sincere. "You won't lose me. It's just… a few scratches." He winced as he shifted slightly, the grimace betraying the lie. "Nothing a week in bed won't fix."
Despite herself, a watery laugh broke through her sobs. "You're impossible," she murmured, lightly punching his chest.
Aiden groaned theatrically, his face a mask of exaggerated agony. "Ouch. That hurts."
"Oh?" she shot back, a flicker of humor piercing her sorrow. "I thought it was just a few scratches."
The teasing melted from her expression as her gaze roamed over him again. The pallor of his skin, the unsteady rise and fall of his chest—he was far worse off than he let on.
He sighed, catching the shift in her demeanor. "Alright, you win," he admitted softly. "I'm in bad shape. But… just a little healing. I hate feeling this useless."
Her resolve hardened, and she nodded. Placing her trembling hands over his chest, she closed her eyes. A soft, radiant glow spread from her palms, warm and soothing, as she channeled her power into him. "You're not useless, Aiden," she whispered. "Let me help you."
At the base of a distant cliff, another figure stirred. Groaning in agony, he pushed himself upright, his body riddled with broken bones and gaping wounds. Blood dripped from his mouth as he leaned heavily against the jagged rock.
"That woman," he spat, venom dripping from every word. His silver eyes burned with rage, their glow sharp and unforgiving. "Why did she have to interfere? I was so close to finishing him."
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand, his legs trembling under the effort. "If I weren't an Ultima, I'd be dead," he muttered. "But I'm not done yet. Damn them both—they'll pay."
His gaze climbed the sheer rock face above him, determination flaring in his eyes. With a guttural growl, he launched himself upward, his hands clawing onto an outcropping of stone. Pain seared through his body, but he didn't stop. "Broken bones be damned," he snarled through clenched teeth.
Every movement was torture, but his resolve was unshakable. When he finally reached the summit, he collapsed, panting heavily. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a faint light in the distance. A cruel smile tugged at his bloodied lips.
"There they are," he murmured, his silver eyes gleaming with predatory intent. "Aiden and his precious mate. The heavens want you dead, and I'm more than happy to oblige."
Aiden felt it first—a sudden, bone-deep chill piercing the comforting warmth of her healing light. His instincts screamed danger.
"Damn it," he muttered, twisting his head toward the source. His eyes widened as a silver streak shot toward them, a blur of speed and malice.
The woman looked up, startled by his abrupt shift. Before she could react, a violent force struck. Dust and debris exploded in the distance as Aiden's body was hurled away, vanishing into the swirling chaos.
"Aiden!" Her heart clenched, panic tightening her throat. She scrambled to her feet, her voice cracking as she screamed his name. "Aiden!"
A low, mocking laugh sliced through the silence. From the shadows emerged a man, his silver eyes blazing with malice. He exuded menace, his aura pulsing like a predator's heartbeat.
"Don't worry, little mate," he drawled, a sinister smile curling his lips. "You'll be joining him soon."
Her eyes narrowed as recognition dawned. Her fists clenched at her sides. "You," she hissed. "I threw you off that cliff. Why didn't you just die?"
His grin widened, teeth glinting like a wolf's. "The gods aren't done with me yet," he sneered. "And neither am I."
Her voice trembled with fury. "Where is he? What did you do to him?"
The man tilted his head mockingly. "Why don't you turn around and see for yourself?"
She spun sharply, her breath catching as the dust began to settle. There, crumpled on the ground, was Aiden. Blood poured from his mouth, staining the earth beneath him. His hand clutched his chest, his strength slipping away like grains of sand.
"Aiden!" she cried, her voice shattering under the weight of her despair.
A storm of power erupted from her, raw and unrestrained. Her hair shimmered, transforming into a radiant cascade of purple. Her eyes burned with an unearthly glow, her canines elongating into vicious fangs. Claws extended from her fingertips as her body trembled with unleashed fury.
The man chuckled darkly, unfazed. "Oh, she's angry now," he taunted. "How adorable. Not that it'll save you."
Her voice, low and guttural, carried a feral edge. "You'll regret ever touching him."
The man's smirk deepened. "Oh, will I?" he said, his own canines protruding as his claws extended. His silver eyes glowed with unrelenting malice, and an aura of destruction surrounded him.
"Let's see what you've got, little pup."
To his surprise, she didn't attack. Instead, she turned back to Aiden, her focus unwavering.