Rise of the rogue queen-Chapter 9 -

Zephyrine's POV

The battlefield was soaked in blood and filled with the sounds of growls, snarls, and the clash of bodies.

Their numbers were reduced greatly just as I predicted.

Although many were injured greatly from the traps, they still outnumbered us.

They ran towards us with great speed, and we stood prepared ready to take them on.

Roland moved beside me, taking down enemy after enemy, his claws stained with blood.

My claws tore through their flesh, my fangs sinking into their throats. For every soldier we killed, more took their place.

"They just keep coming," Roland growled, panting.

"Don't give up, most of them are already weak." I replied, spitting blood onto the ground. "Don't stop fighting."

A sudden force slammed into me from behind, sending me sprawling across the dirt. I groaned and rolled to my feet just in time to see a massive wolf — a soldier nearly twice my size — charging at me.

I quickly stood up, dodging at the last second. His claws missed my throat by an inch, and I saw an opening. I lunged, sinking my claws into the back of his neck. With a swift twist, I snapped it.

The soldier collapsed.

I turned to find Roland struggling with another wolf. His opponent had the upper hand, pinning him down and pressing down his throat.

"Roland!"

I rushed toward him, but before I could reach him, another soldier slammed into me. We tumbled across the dirt, his claws raking my shoulder. I gritted my teeth against the pain and kicked him off, sending him crashing into a nearby tree.

More soldiers swarmed around me, forcing me to fight them off. Roland was on his own.

I tore through the soldiers, my breaths coming in short, sharp bursts. The metallic taste of blood coated my tongue. My body ached, but I refused to stop.

Then, a sudden change in the air sent a chill down my spine.

The battlefield fell silent.

The surrounding soldiers stopped moving, stepping back as if something — no, someone — had arrived.

I turned, my heart beating in my chest.

A tall figure stood at the front of the soldiers.

Alpha Killian.

He looked very different from normal — his armor was dented, his dark hair wild.

I bared my teeth. "You finally decided to show yourself, coward?"

He smirked, "And miss all the fun? No, I wanted to let my men tire you out first."

For a second, we stood, no one ready to make the first move.

I thought Caden had finished him off. Why was he here?

That question didn't matter presently, I had people to protect and if Caden couldn't finish him, I'll do it myself.

I growled, stepping forward, but something felt... off. His scent was the same, but he felt different. Stronger.

Roland staggered to his feet, panting. "There's something wrong with him."

Killian rolled his shoulders, his muscles rippling unnaturally. "I must say, Zephyrine, I expected you to fall long before this. You've lasted longer than I thought." he grinned. "This battle will be boring without a deal."

I looked at him wondering what deal he meant.

"If you win, I'll surrender my pack to you." He said and grinned. I knew instantly that the next word from his mouth was going to be something ridiculous.

"And if I win, you not only surrender your rogues to me, but you become my sex slave."

Just as I thought. Never will I loose to him.

My grip tightened. "If you think I'm going down easily, you don't know me at all."

His smirk widened. "We'll see."

The moment Alpha Killian moved, I barely had time to react. One second, he was several feet away — the next, he was right in front of me, his fist slamming into my ribs with great force.

I flew back, crashing into the ground with a sharp gasp as pain exploded through my side.

He was faster.

Stronger.

I barely had time to breathe before he was on me again. I rolled away just as his foot came down where my head had been a second ago. Dirt and debris flew into the air.

He let out a low chuckle. "Sluggish already? Come on, Zephyrine. I thought you were stronger than this." he growled. "Aren't you the queen of rogues? Prove yourself."

Snarling, I forced myself to my feet. Blood dripped from my lips. My body ached from the relentless fights, but I would not let him win.

I lunged, aiming for his throat, but he sidestepped effortlessly. Before I could react, he struck me again — this time, his claws tore into my shoulder.

I screamed as pain flared through me, but I didn't stop. I twisted, and slash across his chest. My claws barely scratched him.

"What did you do to yourself?" I hissed, panting.

Killian smirked. "You can feel it too, Zephyrine. I'm no longer the weak Alpha you once knew."

He grabbed my throat, lifting me off the ground. My vision blurred as I clawed at his grip, struggling to breathe.

"Such a shame," he murmured, tilting his head. "You could have been my queen."

I snarled, forcing my knee into his ribs. He grunted, his grip loosening just enough for me to twist free.

But as soon as my feet hit the ground, he struck again—this time, his claws plunged deep into my side.

I felt pain. Unbearable pain.

I choked, my vision turning blue.

Killian leaned in close. "Your existence is to warm the bed of a man not to stand up to one. I knew all about your little issue with your pack. You killed your parents for power. Wait, until you become mine and I take you to Bryan. The fool will finally see how powerful I am."

I refused to let it end like this. I refused.

Just as he pulled back for the final blow—

Killian was thrown backward, crashing into the ground with a snarl.

I gasped for breath, barely managing to stay upright. And then—

"You never give up, princess?"

I turned sharply.

Caden.

He stood there, his presence radiating power, his golden eyes locked onto Killian with something dangerous.

Killian wiped the blood from his mouth, his smirk returning. "Ah, brother. Took you long enough."

"It wasn't much of a hassle to finish your monster creation off. It only took a snap of my finger, and he was dead." Caden replied, increasing Killian's anger.

I barely had time to process before Killian lunged at me again.

Caden moved beside me. Killian was fast, but Caden was faster.

The fight was relentless. Blow after blow, claw against claw. The ground cracked beneath us, the force of their power shaking the ground itself.

But then—

Killian vanished from in front of me.

I turned just in time to see him reappear behind Caden.

"Caden!" I screamed.

Killian's claw plunged toward his back—

And at that moment, Caden moved.

Not to dodge, to shield me.

Killian's claws went straight through him ripping his heart open.

I froze. My breath caught in my throat.

Caden's body tensed—then relaxed as he let out a small chuckle. "Damn. That actually hurt."

But before Killian could revel in his victory, Caden flicked his fingers.

His body tensed, unable to move. With a great force, Caden snapped his fingers and Killian fell heavily to the ground.

Caden swayed, and I caught him just before he collapsed.

"Caden," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I need to get you to a healer."

He smiled, "No need."

His wounds weren't closing, he had such an amount of power, yet he couldn't heal himself.

I shook my head frantically. "Don't you dare — don't you dare fade on me, Caden!"

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But even as I held him, his body was already starting to dissolve — tiny golden sparkles.

I don't know what I felt, but it was strange. I wanted to save him, wanted him to live. He is my mate after all, but even if I hate him for the rest of my life, what good will it be when he's dead?

"It was you right? You saved me that night at my pack's border, it was you."

He gave me a faint smile, "Took you so long to realize." His body was almost completely fading away in my arms.

"What's the use of having all those powers if you can't even save yourself." I hissed.

"I promise, I'll be back. I will be gone, but for a little while." He said and pouted his lips. "Princess, it hurts."

I felt like hitting him but he had already faded away. Can't believe he was still joking at the brink of death. He's something else.

I wiped the foolish tear that dropped. This mate bond can act crazy sometimes, not like he's dead.

"My queen, are you alright?" Roland rushed to me. The battle had died down, some soldiers fled away after Killian was killed.

I turned to Roland and smiled, "Silver moon is ours."