CHAPTER 20%
The world had become a battlefield of fire and blood.
Ivan stood before me, his golden eyes gleaming with twisted thumph, even as blood dripped from his lips. He was injured, but I still standing. Still dangerous.
time.
Behind me, Damon was fighting like a beast, cutting through Ivan’s warriors with pure, unrelenting fury. But we were running g out of
Ivan smirked. “You’re bleeding, my love.”
I spat blood onto the ground, “So are you.”
His grin widened “I always knew you were strong. But it won’t be enough”
I tightened my grip on my dagger. “I don’t need to be enough. I just need to kill you”
He lunged.
I dodged, barely avoiding his claws as they sliced through the air. I spun low, slashing at his ribs, feeling the blade tear through flesh. Ivan growled in pain, but he didn’t stop.
He never stopped
“You think you can win?” he snarled. “I gave you power, Cynthia. I made you who you are.”
I gritted my teeth, dodging another brutal strike. “You don’t get to take credit for my strength.”
Ivan’s eyes darkened. “You were always meant to be mine
Something inside me snapped, I met his gaze with pure hatred. “I was never yours.”
And then I attacked,
I feinted left before twisting right, slamming my dagger into his side. Ivan let out a strangled roar, staggering back. But I wasn’t done.
I drove my knee into his stomach, forcing him to the ground. My dagger glowed with my fury. This was my chance to end this nightmare forever.”
But before I could move. I heard Ethan screarn.
I spun around- and my heart stopped.
Ethan stood frozen in fear, his body trembling. But something was happening to him.
His small hands glowed, his entire body pulsing with raw, uncontained energy.)
Ivan, still on his knees, laughed weakly. “Look at him” He coughed blood. “Look at his power“}
Damon ran toward Ethan, but before he could reach him, Ethan released a blast of energy.
A shockwave tore through the battlefield.
Ivan’s warriors were sent flying. Even Damon was forced back, his body colliding with the ground.
The air burned with electricity.
Ethan’s eyes snapped up to Ivan–filled with something new. Rage!
Ivan’s expression shifted–for the first time, he looked afraid.
Ethan’s small hands curled into fists. The air crackled around him.
“You hurt my mom, Ethan whispered. His voice shook with something far too powerful for a child to carry.X
Ivan tried to stand, but Ethan lifted his hand–and Ivan’s body froze.
I gasped. Ethan wasn’t just using magic.
He was controlling Ivan.
Ivan’s body trembled against Ethan’s force. “W–what__?
Ethan took a shaky step forward. “I don’t want to be like you.”
Ivan’s face contorted in fury. “You are mine!”
Ethan’s eyes bumed with golden fire. “No. I never was.
With a final cry, Ethan unleashed his full power
Ivan screamed. His body convulsed as Ethan’s energy tore through him, draining every last bit of his strength. And then–he collapsed.
The mighty Alpha Ivan was dead.
For good. The battlefield was silent.
Ivan’s warriors, leaderless, had already fled. The fortress was in ruins. Smoke rose into the darkened sky.
I turned, my heart pounding, and found Ethan swaying on his feet.
I rushed to him, gathering him into my arms. “Baby, I’m here. I’m here”
Ethan trembled “Did I… kill him?”
I pressed a kiss on his forehead. “You ended something that should’ve never begun.”
Darmon appeared beside us, kneeling down. He reached out, cupping the back of Ethan’s head 8
12:14 PM c
“You saved us,” Damon said softly. “You saved her.”
Ethan’s lip trembled. “Are you still my dad?“!
Damon’s eyes softened. “I have always been your dad.”
Ethan threw himself into Damon’s arms. I watched as Damon held him tightly, whispering reassurances, promising that everything was going to be okay.
Tears burned my eyes. For the first time in ten years. I believed those words.
Everything was going to be okay. We were finally free.!!
Months Later. §.
The wind carried the scent of fresh pine as I stood on the porch of our new home.
It was a quiet place, surrounded by trees and endless sky. A place where war didn’t exist⠀
Behind me. Damon wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder
“Finally feels real, doesn’t it?” he murmured.
I smiled, leaning into him. “Yeah. It does.”
Ethan was in the yard, practicing with Amara. She had survived, though barely. Now, she was teaching him how to control his abilities, helping him build a future where his power didn’t define him.X
Damon kissed my temple. 1 love you. Cynthia:“2
I turned in his arms, pressing my forehead on him.3
“I love you too.”
His hand caressed my cheek. “And you’re finally mine.”
I grinned. “I always was.
His lips crashed into mine, sealing the promise wo had fought so hard to keep.
No more running. No more fear Just us.8
A family. Finally home.
