Chapter 128

Thorne’s POV

The forest is eerily quiet as my men, Grayson’s men, and Sanders’s men get into position.

The night air is thick and heavy with the promise of bloodshed.

My wolf is prowling in my mind, restless and ready to end this. Like me, he’s itching to get this over with so we can go back to our mate.

“Come out!” I order, knowing that they’re waiting for us. The scouts told us as much. On our way here, Sanders let me know that the Black Knight Pack was on the move.

It was now or never, and I won’t wait any longer.

Alpha Dean emerges from the shadows, like he was born from them, and at his back, wolves appear. Members of his pack and rogues fan out around him, snarling and digging into the dirt. They’re ready for a fight.

My men return the snarls, trying to keep the enemy distracted long enough for Sanders’s and Grayson’s packs to sneak around for our three-way attack.

Alpha Dean steps forward, his hulking frame towering over the wolves behind him. He and I are the only ones in human form, but I don’t let that distract me. His dark eyes lock on mine, filled with defiance and challenge.

“Dean.”

“Thorne.”

The hatred between us crackles in the air, and I feel my men move closer, forming a wall behind me. Anders, Jace, and my warriors are ready to pounce the moment I give the signal.

“Where’s the little princess?” He calls, a hint of amusement in his tone.

A growl rips from my throat, deep and threatening at the mention of Aurora.

“You crossed the line, Dean,” I snarl. “Torturing my mate and targeting innocent packs… You won’t leave alive.”

It’s the only warning he gets.

I launch forward, shifting mid-run. My wolves surge forward with me, and the clearing erupts into chaos. Wolves clash, ramming into each other as snarls fill the air. The crunch of bones sounds from somewhere near, and the metallic scent of blood fills the air.

I slam into the first wolf stupid enough to get in my way, sending him flying with the swipe of my paw. Before it can attack again, I clamp my teeth around its neck and crush its throat. Warm blood floods my mouth, and I drop him, turning back to the fight.

My eyes roam the field until I find the enormous black wolf attacking two of Sanders’s men. Dean’s scent cuts through the battle, sharp and heavy, and sickening. I push forward, dodging attacks, and ram into him just before he can kill the Redwater wolf.

His body hits the ground, and we roll. Alpha Dean’s body slams into a tree, and I jump to my feet, looking around.

More wolves flood the clearing, all aiming for Alpha Dean’s wolves. My men hold their ground, driving the enemy toward our allies with brute force.

Then, something hits me. We roll, snarling, clawing at each other’s fur, and snapping at each other with our teeth.

Alpha Dean’s teeth graze my shoulder, but I shove my paws into his chest and try to launch him off of me. He’s heavier and stronger than I thought, so he doesn’t budge much. Dean’s weight grinds me into the ground, his jaws snapping just inches from my neck.

Twisting, I jerk my head to the side. His face hits the ground with a crack, giving me a chance to buck him off. I lunge. My fangs sink into his shoulder, tearing into the muscle. He howls, shoving me back with a swipe of his claws. They slice down my side, tearing into my flank and making me jump back.

Panting, I keep my eyes on him. The battle rages around us, but my focus is solely on Alpha Dean as we circle each other.

My wolf urges me to be careful, to think of who is waiting at home for us, and I let my anger clear away. I can’t act stupidly and get myself killed.

Then, Dean lunges again. I meet him head on, the impact sending pain through my body, but I don’t stop. I rake my claws at him, feeling personal anger with each blow. The weight of my purpose pushes me forward. Knowing that Aurora will be safe when he is gone keeps me going.

I don’t let him take me down as we clash again and again.

Neither of us yield. Each blow is one step closer to Aurora’s safety.

A moment later, Dean shoves me back, shifting to his human form in the blink of an eye. He stands there, bloody and proud as he demands, “Fight me like a man, Thorne!”

If that’s what he wants.

I shift too, my wolf staying ready just in case I need him. I flex my hands, my claws still extended, and bare my teeth, my fangs still protruding from my gums. I’m not stupid enough to believe that Dean will fight fair.

Dean grins, his teeth bloody as he says, “Your pack will fall, then I’ll go after your mate and her father.”

I snort. “Look around you. You’re the one who is going to fall.”

His eyes move to the battle around us, taking in his fallen pack members and the sheer number of wolves fighting the rogues he brought.

Grayson’s wolf isn’t far off, tearing into the largest wolf I’ve seen tonight.

For the first time since we arrived, doubt flickers in Dean’s gaze.

Then, Dean lunges. Our bodies crash together, fists and claws ripping through each other’s bodies as we tumble to the ground.

His elbow crushes my nose, but I reach around and shove my claw tipped fingers under his ribs. A crack sounds as I crush one of his ribs, and he stumbles back. But he doesn’t give up. We grapple with each other, and he drives a knee into my gut.

Pain flares, sending spots into my vision, but I ignore it.

He flips me, slamming my back to the ground and pinning me with his forearm across my neck.

“You can’t protect them forever,” he growls, spitting blood on my face.

An image of Aurora, curled up in our bed this morning as she slept peacefully, filters into my mind. And my wolf rips through me, surging forward and roaring.

I shove Dean off, forcing him to stumble back as I growl, “You’ll never threaten my mate again.”

I close the gap between us before he can blink, my claws slicing through his neck with a sickening squelch. He gasps and blood gushes from his neck as he staggers and drops to his knees.

I let him drop.

For a moment, all I hear is the ragged, choking before he goes silent. His body goes still, and I know it’s over. So does everyone else. The battlefield around me goes silent, everyone watching as life drains from Dean’s body and blood pools on the ground beneath him.

Howls of victory ring out, loud and proud, and I finally feel like I can breathe again.

“It’s done, Aurora,” I whisper down our bond. “Alpha Dean and the Black Knight Pack are no longer a threat.”