Chapter 188: Till The Very End
Selene’s POV
Killing Draven was the best decision of my life so far.
I could have collected the bounty on his fucking head, but the money was never the point. He had been my sister’s mate, the love of her life, and I had ended him anyway.
We climbed into our car and sped off, ferocious and bloodied. Whatever crumbs of the human government in Bernia were left would learn their lesson. They would never dare try us again.
I was going home to my husband, who was finally hale and hearty.
I didn’t need a freaking reminder. I knew what I was. I was a killer, a serial killer. My conscience refused to let me rest, and it hammered against my chest with every mile. I told myself the same thing over and over: he deserved it, he had killed people, and this wasn’t even my first kill. So why the actual fuck did it feel like I was drowning? My hands were steady, but something inside me was shaking, and I wasn’t sure I would ever recover from it.
It was crazy.
By the time we reached Icefang, the sight of my people gave me such relief that my eyes burned. Many had died that night. Draven had joined them, and I hoped he suffered in hell forever, like the devil he was.
Beta Damien welcomed us warmly at the gates.
"I know it was a victory," he said.
I smiled tiredly. "How do you know?" I asked, because only a few of my soldiers had made it back with me, and every one of them looked half-dead.
"Because you’re standing here, Luna, and they’re not," he said. "Nobody leaves a mark like that on a battlefield unless they win."
"Yes. I killed the leader of their gang," I said. "They’ll never try to wipe out werewolves again."
I didn’t wait for his reply. My feet were already moving.
I found my husband standing out on the balcony, and my heart nearly stopped.
I rushed in. "Ohh, you’re awake! I’m so grateful to the goddess for sparing your life." I threw my arms around him and held him tightly. He was a fighter, and he had truly fought his way back from the edge of death.
"I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you," I whispered, and I kissed him on the lips, slowly and on purpose.
He kissed me back.
"I missed you too, Selene," he said against my mouth. "My heart has been calling out to you since I woke up. I’m glad you’re here."
He was standing without any aid, doing it all by himself. Ohh, I was so happy that I could have cried right there.
"They told me you went on a mission," William said.
My stomach tightened. What was he about to do? Reprimand me or praise me? I couldn’t tell, and for a second I was afraid.
"Yes. I went to take revenge for what they did to you, Alpha," I said.
"Did you kill?"
"Yes. I killed their team lead. Their main boss managed to slip out of the place, but the job was done and the assignment accomplished."
Fuck. Why did it sound so cold when I said it out loud?
"You did well, Luna," he said at last. "In my absence, I didn’t know you could kill. But you did it for my sake, so there is clemency for you."
My knees were already bending to thank him, but he caught me and pulled me back up into his arms. I buried my face in his chest and breathed him in. For one second, the guilt got quieter.
Together, we went outside to show ourselves to our people and tell them we loved them, and that we would do anything to protect them.
"Thank you, Alpha! Thank you, Luna!" they chanted.
It was never not a vibe with them around. They were happy for everything, and their happiness was so contagious that I started laughing myself.
William and I had broad shoulders, and we were carrying the entire Icefang, now the current seat of power, on them.
A few finishing touches had also been made to our security. A more sophisticated surveillance system had been installed for everyone’s safety. The chief operator could now oversee the whole territory at once while watching the gates, so if there was ever a breach, we would be notified instantly and could keep our weapons handy. We were even going to recruit more soldiers.
Journalists came to interview William and me, and they wrote down every word. When they finally left, Beta Damien came back to see us.
"Yes, Damien, come in. What is the issue?" William asked.
"My Alpha, my Luna, the elders want to see you both now. They said it’s as urgent as it gets!"
We stood up and went to meet them. It had to be serious. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but the elders didn’t miss a beat when we walked in.
"Welcome, Alpha. Welcome, Luna. William, it’s so great to see you back in shape," one of them said.
They all clapped and cheered, and William bowed his head, visibly moved.
"I’m really grateful. Your prayers and your good hearts let me see another day."
"We’re sorry to disturb you, but the matter is of great urgency," one elder said.
"Because so many died at the mating festival, and almost all of them were young wolves, the people of Icefang no longer have a future," another elder said.
I understood perfectly, and it made my chest ache.
"The future of Icefang is at risk because so many of our young ones were blasted away in that disaster," I said.
"Yes, Luna. It was a disaster indeed."
"So what are you suggesting we do?" William asked.
"It’s simple," the elder said. "Every couple in Icefang must give birth to two pups within the next eighteen months, to preserve our race. They tried to wipe us out, and now we double up."
"And these new pups will need a protection system," another elder added, "one where no outsider can see them."
"That’s an excellent idea, elders. Thank you for your foresight. We’ll make the announcement as quickly as possible," William said.
"That includes you, Alpha and Luna."
"Ohh." William nodded, then slowly turned to look at me.
"The time is already due for a pup. You must give birth to at least two. The royal bloodline has to be preserved too," the elder said.
"We’ll take that into consideration."
William gave me a corny look, and we both knew exactly what it meant and what we had to do. My cheeks burned. I couldn’t stop blushing.
A pup. Me, a mother, when I had just washed a dead man’s blood off my hands. The thought scared me and warmed me at the same time.
We stood up and left to prepare our speech.
It wasn’t going to be in front of a live audience. We would record it on camera and broadcast it across Icefang through different channels. The room was well lit, with only three of us in it: William, me, and the cameraman.
"Greetings from myself and my Luna, William and Selene Steelborn," William began, facing the camera.
It was so good to hear his voice again, steady and full of discipline. I didn’t regret knowing him, not for a single second. Then it was my turn.
"This is an urgent matter, and we wouldn’t be on your screens if it weren’t," I said.
"Owing to the devastating event a few days ago, in which many of our young and promising wolves were killed in the blast, there is now a critical shortage of young wolves across Icefang," William continued. "We deeply apologise and condole with the families of the deceased. We are acting quickly to contain this."
The light was beginning to hurt my eyes. I asked the cameraman to adjust it, and he did.
"Therefore, we are making this mandatory, effective immediately," I said into my clipped mic. "Every family, regardless of age range, is expected to give birth to two pups within eighteen months from now.
"This has a bigger picture. We are putting an end to the idea of werewolves going extinct. Our aim is to multiply exceedingly and remain unstoppable. Please, let’s do this together and preserve Icefang. The people they called remnants will in the end be the saviours of Morvaine at large."
The camera cut.
Somewhere deep within me, I knew we had the strength to withstand all of this and overcome it.
Damien came into the room, and we began to talk.
"How do we plan to achieve this?" I asked.
"We’ll monitor every family and medical facility to track pregnancies and support the movement," Damien said.
"Well said," William replied. "It takes effect as soon as possible."
"We’ll also extend this information to the whole of Morvaine to raise awareness. They’re our brothers, so let’s get it to them quickly," I added.
"I’ll do that now, sir." Damien went straight to work.
I knew the news would reach everyone just as fast.
As we prepared to leave the room, William took my hand. "Thank you for being by my side."
"I’m with you to the end, William," I said, "and the end is not now."
He smiled and pulled me into a hug. A better tomorrow was possible, even for a murderer like me.