Chapter: twenty-eight

Bathed in the glow of the full moon, the altar stood stark against the dark woods. Aylin looked around, but there was no one coming to her rescue.

The air was thick with the scent of demons and the burning flesh of the werewolves kneeling in the dirt.

She looked up, the moonlight illuminating the altar and casting long shadows.

The demons stood in a tight line, their low voices chanting the same phrase in a language she didn’t understand.

Aylin closed her eyes, tilting her face towards the sky. ~“Kaia, this might be the end.”~

~“I’m sorry. The demon blood is too strong.”~ Kaia’s voice was weak and pitiful in Aylin’s mind.

~“I can handle it from here.”~

She looked down at her mate, offering him a small smile, hoping it would bring him some comfort.

But seeing her face only made him fight harder against his chains. As he was forced to the ground, a wave of defeat washed over him.

The loss he was about to experience would be the most devastating of his life, even more so than losing his parents.

~“Zeke,”~ Aylin’s voice echoed in his mind. ~“When I’m gone, find someone worthy of being queen and move on.”~

He was yanked back onto his knees, his hands clenched behind him. She was already saying goodbye, and she hadn’t even fought yet.

He wouldn’t let a demon take what was his. ~“No! I’m not losing you. I promised I wouldn’t.”~

~“I told you before. It’s better if it’s me. The pack needs you.”~

~“Damn it, I need you!”~ he argued.

Another voice sliced through their conversation, but their eyes stayed locked on each other.

“On this sacred full moon, we gather to witness the transformation of the Rogue Queen.”

Zagan moved through the crowd of demons, past the bound werewolves, to the altar where Aylin stood, frozen. He held a chalice high above his head.

“Just as the Moon Goddess once abandoned me, so will she abandon you. Now, if you would be so kind as to lie down on the altar.”

Confused, she didn’t move.

“If you don’t, I’ll kill him right now while you still remember him.”

“You bastard,” Ezekiel growled.

“Stop!” Aylin shouted before Zagan could hurt him. “I’ll do it.”

“Aylin, don’t!” Daemon pleaded.

“It’s okay, Daemon. I forgive you.”

Zagan smirked to himself, knowing she was unaware of the child growing inside her. She was willing to sacrifice herself, a concept he couldn’t comprehend.

Watching the Rogue King squirm on his knees was so satisfying, he could have died happy.

With Aylin gone, there would be nothing to stop him from claiming the child as his own. She wouldn’t remember the life she’d started.

As she lay on the altar, Aylin’s nerves started to kick in. She prayed to the Moon Goddess, hoping for a solution to this impossible situation.

She tried to block him out, but she could feel Ezekiel’s anger and sadness through their bond. He was trying to think of a way out, but coming up empty.

Zagan pulled a silver dagger from his belt and dipped the tip into the chalice. “With my blood, you will be baptized in death, and reborn as a high-ranking demon.”

Aylin flinched at the word “death.” From what she’d read, death wasn’t necessary for the transformation.

Something was missing: a higher purpose. She clenched her dress tightly and turned to look at her mate. As she mouthed “I love you” to Ezekiel, a single tear slipped down her cheek.

Zagan raised the blade above his head and spoke the final words. “You will be abandoned by the Moon Goddess and embraced by the Devil.”

Zagan paused, looking down at Aylin. “So say I!”

At the last moment, Aylin watched the blade come down. The pure rage coursing through the demon’s veins made the impact even more brutal.

Pain radiated from her midsection as the distant sounds of protest and fury faded in her ears.

“No!” the king roared. He was powerless against the superior demon, who looked pleased with himself. Losing all strength, the king collapsed, heartbroken.

Zagan moved to stand in front of the defeated wolves, smirking. “You thought you could beat me? How naive. It seems you have nothing left to live for.

“Once the queen wakes, you’ll be nothing more than food for her.”

“You bastard!” Angus growled.

Zagan turned to the beta, met with a snarl. “Well, well. I didn’t think you cared about her. Was I wrong? I suppose she was one of a kind,” he sneered.

All Ezekiel could see was the blood dripping onto the ground. Blood that should never have been spilled.

He hadn’t been able to stop the demon, and now he was left to suffer. He welcomed death, even if it meant taking his own life.

Nothing would bring him more relief than the cold blade piercing his heart.

He closed his eyes, remembering all the beautiful moments he’d shared with Aylin, her smile, the way she lit up just being in the same room as him. All of that was gone now, never to return.

“Do not despair, Rogue King. Aylin is not lost.”

His eyes snapped open, looking at the lifeless body of his mate. A white light radiated from her body, lifting it from the altar. Suddenly, the earth beneath them began to shake.

“Oh, my Goddess.”

The ground started to tremble, sending many of the demons running for their lives. None of them had expected something so earth-shattering to happen during the ceremony.

Zagan was the most shocked. “This isn’t supposed to happen.” The light was so bright he had to look away.

A booming voice echoed from above. “The only one who is forsaken here is you, Zagan.”

A woman’s voice rang out, a melody so divine it was unfamiliar to all who heard it.

The wolves felt the raw power in her few spoken words, and it shook them to their core.

It was as if the power was a heavy weight, but they didn’t feel threatened. To guard themselves, they stood and retreated from the altar.

Suddenly, the blinding light vanished, replaced by the woman who had been stabbed, now standing, the light in her eyes fading.

“Aylin?” Ezekiel questioned, his voice filled with disbelief.

“Not exactly,” the woman replied.

Her voice held the echo of the queen. The bloodstain from the stab wound was still there, but the skin beneath was healed.

“W-who are you?”

The woman didn’t answer, instead studying the body she now inhabited. Her fascination with the mortal form brought a smile to her face.

Zagan’s patience wore thin. “I demand to know who you are!”

She turned her attention to the demon, her eyes narrowing. “You’re not in a position to demand anything. I’m a Goddess; I don’t bow to your demands.”

Ezekiel stepped forward. “Then tell us who you are.” His voice was steady, non-threatening.

She moved toward the king, but he didn’t back down. The others were screaming in his head to run, but he stood firm.

She gently touched his cheek, a smile on her face. “You’re the one who made her happy, Rogue King. Don’t worry. Your beloved queen is alive.”

Ezekiel’s brow furrowed, his muscles tensing. “That’s not possible.”

“Anything is possible. Your promise still stands.”

“How do you—”

“Enough of this!” Zagan roared. A threatening black mist emerged from his hand and rushed toward the woman. “It doesn’t matter who you are now.”

Unfazed, the woman watched it approach. With a simple wave of her hand, it vanished before her eyes.

“I’ve had enough of you, demon.” The same light glowed in her eyes. “Did you really think I’d let you harm my grandchild?”

Zagan’s eyes widened in fear as realization dawned. “Grandch— You’re—”

“That’s right. I turned a blind eye once. I won’t do it again.”

At the same moment, the wolves all bowed before her in reverence.

She laughed at their action. “Oh, my children. You’ve all served me well.” She stood before each of them, lifting their chins. Circling back to the king, she smiled again.

“You’ll be happy to know your line will continue.” As she whispered those words in his ear, the Goddess felt the king’s tension ease.

Ezekiel looked up, his mouth falling open. “You mean—”

Without a word, she nodded.

“Now, I’m going to do you another favor.” She reached out her hand, and a white light surrounded the binding that held the wolves.

Stepping back onto the altar, she raised her arms and let out a deep, resonating howl.

Zagan scoffed at her. “The wolves are outnumbered. You think you can take me on?!”

His forehead vein bulged in frustration; with the tide turning, victory over the wolves seemed impossible.

“When I tear your head from your body, we’ll see who comes out on top.”

Distant howls signaled to the demons that danger was approaching. Fear began to creep in.

As they stood trembling, some tried to run, only to have their life force cut off by the higher demon. “No one moves!”

~“Now would be a good time for you four to run,”~ the Goddess said inside the king’s head.

~“We’re not leaving. This is our fight too.”~ The king’s voice was filled with determination, earning a smile from the Goddess.

The growls grew louder and closer. The king and the others held their ground until help arrived.

His eyes were locked on the higher demon, wondering if he would make a move in the confusion. With fists clenched, Ezekiel waited for his moment.

A sudden silence startled them all. Then, as if on cue, a pack of wolves leaped from the trees, attacking the demons.

Screams pierced the air, blood spattered, and chaos reigned. Snarls and growls filled the air as flesh was ripped apart.

The Goddess stood on the altar, simply watching as her children fought. Inside, she chastised herself for waiting so long to intervene in Aylin’s life.

She felt guilty for the child and had vowed to fight if the demon ever resurfaced after killing her mother. Worse, she hadn’t intervened when her first mate rejected her.

Watching her only living descendant fall so far was heartbreaking.

But she was glad that Aylin had found herself again with her second-chance mate, flourishing as a queen and leading her pack alongside a distinguished wolf.

She snapped out of her thoughts. The battle was growing bloodier by the minute. In her head, she could hear the cries of the fallen wolves.

Her gaze landed on the higher demon, who was killing wolves at an alarming rate. What she saw next spurred her into action.

Ezekiel had his sights set on Zagan, determined to end his life. The more he fought to reach him, the more demons blocked his path.

He was going to kill the demon for all the time he had stolen, time he could have spent with his mate. The fact that his mate was pregnant only added salt to the wound.

A hand landed on his shoulder just as he was about to strike. He turned to see the golden-blue eyes of the Goddess.

“Not yet.”

Her soft voice brought him some comfort, but his goal remained the same. “I have to. For Aylin.” When he turned back, the demon was gone. “Fuck!”

“Your Majesty”—Angus ran up, covered in blood and sweat—“Quill is missing.”