Chapter 15: Chapter 15: War (2)
Aeron stood at the top of the watchtower and watched the guards below rushing toward the second wall’s gate. Their movements were hurried but coordinated. Some carried shields while others dragged large wooden beams into position to reinforce the entrance.
His expression remained calm.
Without saying a word, he turned around and began climbing down the tower. His steps were steady despite the distant screams echoing from beyond the walls.
As he reached the bottom, something caught his attention from the corner of his eye.
"Elowen?"
She was running toward him, her dress lifted slightly so she would not trip.
"Brother!" she called out. "What is happening?"
Aeron stopped walking. "A neighboring Pack is attacking us," he said evenly. "They deceived Kael and lured his men into their territory while they sneaked into ours."
Elowen’s eyes widened slightly. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Aeron paused and glanced at her. His gaze was firm. "You will do nothing. Return to your chamber and do not come out until I send a guard to inform you that it is safe."
Elowen stepped forward stubbornly. "There must be something I can do. This is our Pack. Even if we are fighting for the throne, it is still ours. I must help."
Aeron’s jaw tightened. "No."
His voice rose slightly. "Return to your chamber, Elowen. This is not the time for you to be stubborn. You are smarter than this."
Before she could reply, a loud boom blasted through the air.
The ground beneath them seemed to tremble.
Aeron instinctively covered his ears and turned his head toward the direction of the noise.
Another boom followed.
A guard ran toward him, panic clear on his face. "Prince Cassien! The enemy is slamming the gate. They are trying to break through!"
Aeron cursed under his breath. "Give me your bow and arrow."
The guard nodded quickly and rushed off to retrieve it.
Aeron turned back to Elowen. For a brief second, his eyes softened.
"Leave," he said quietly.
Then he turned away before she could answer.
Elowen stood there, watching his back as he walked toward the wall. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides. Anger slowly gripped her heart.
She grabbed the scarf wrapped around her shoulders and pulled at it harshly until a few strands tore loose.
"I am not useless," she muttered to herself.
Without looking back again, she stormed toward the palace.
At the front gate, the guard returned with the bow and arrow. Aeron took it from him without hesitation.
He climbed up the second wall.
The breeze was stronger at the top. It pushed against his clothes and brushed against his face. Below him, he could hear faint whispering from the guards stationed nearby. They were wondering if he would be alright standing so exposed.
Aeron ignored them.
He adjusted his footing and stepped forward carefully until he could look down at the enemy from above.
Several men were gathered at the gate. They were using a heavy log to repeatedly slam against it. Each impact caused another loud boom.
Aeron’s eyes darkened. A cold glint flashed through them.
He took an arrow from the quiver and set it against the bow.
He aimed at the men holding the log.
His jaw tightened as he pulled the string back. The tension pressed against his fingers and brushed along his cheek.
He gritted his teeth.
"Bastards," he muttered.
His fingers released the string.
The arrow pierced through the air and shot downward.
It struck directly into a man’s skull.
The sound was dull. The man’s body stiffened before dropping lifelessly to the ground.
The heavy log slipped from the remaining men’s hands. It hit the ground with a thud as they finally noticed one of them was dead.
Aeron had already grabbed another arrow.
He did not hesitate.
He aimed again.
The second arrow flew.
Another body dropped.
This time they realized something was wrong. Their heads slowly lifted.
An incoming arrow pierced through one man’s eye before he could react. Blood spurted from the socket as he coughed, choking on his own breath. He collapsed face down, blood pooling beneath him.
"From above!" someone shouted. "The arrows are coming from above! Find shelter!"
Panic spread among them.
They abandoned the gate and ran toward the outer wall, seeking cover.
Aeron inhaled sharply before his voice boomed across the wall.
"ARCHERS!"
Immediately, movement erupted behind him. Nearly two hundred guards climbed the second wall, positioning themselves beside and behind him. Each one took out their bows and arrows, aiming at the fleeing enemy.
Aeron raised his hand.
"Fire!"
He released his arrow at the same time they did.
The sharp snap of bowstrings releasing filled the air. The sound was loud, but their eyes remained fixed on the enemy below.
None of them noticed the small line of blood trickling down Aeron’s cheek from where the bowstring had grazed him.
Arrows rained from the sky.
They pierced through bodies without mercy.
Screams echoed from below. Some enemies stumbled. Others dropped instantly. Chaos broke out among them as they tried to retreat.
Aeron lowered his bow.
Without another glance, he turned and walked toward the other side of the second wall where he had first climbed up.
"Kaiser!" he thundered. "Take back any injured members of our Pack. Capture any living enemy."
Elder Kasier nodded firmly. "Understood."
He immediately left with a group of men to carry out the order.
Aeron returned to the edge of the wall and watched. He saw Kaiser cutting down a few stubborn enemies who refused to surrender.
After a moment, Aeron exhaled heavily and stepped back. He climbed down from the wall.
Once on the ground, he brushed the dirt off his clothes. He handed the bow back to the guard who had given it to him earlier.
The guard caught it carefully. "Prince Cassien, what should be done next?"
"Inform my sister that everything is under control," Aeron replied.
He then called another guard over. "Send word to Kael."
The guard stepped forward.
"Tell him to wipe out the entire enemy’s Pack," Aeron said coldly. "Leave nothing. Even if their Alpha is still alive, he should be killed."
"Yes, Prince Cassian."
The guard bowed and hurried away.
Aeron stood still, his eyes fixed on the second wall.
He exhaled slowly as he walked back toward the palace. He tried to steady himself, but his hands were still shaking slightly from the rush of adrenaline.
The Pack had almost been wiped out because of a single mistake.
His jaw tightened.
When he reached the palace doors, he slammed them open. The loud sound echoed through the hall. The maids who were serving nearby flinched and quickly scrambled away from his path, lowering their heads.
He did not spare them a glance.
He marched through the corridor and headed straight for his quarters. He already knew Theron would be there.
The door banged open.
Theron was standing near the deck, several files spread across the table in front of him. He looked calm, as if the chaos outside had nothing to do with him.
Aeron’s eyes rested on the files for a while. He remained silent. After a moment, he shut his eyes briefly before opening them again.
When he spoke, his voice was low.
"Where is she?"
Theron finally looked up. The first thing he noticed was the thin line of blood running down Aeron’s cheek.
Instead of answering, he said evenly, "You should take care of yourself first before thinking about a woman."
Aeron did not react to the comment.
"Where is she?" he demanded again.
Theron studied him for a second before replying, "She is probably with her mother."
Aeron felt displeased. His brows furrowed slightly.
He had expected her to be here.
The fact that she was not made something inside him tighten
"Get her here," Aeron commanded.
Theron’s brows shot up slightly at the tone.
For a brief moment, he did not move. But when he saw the seriousness in Aeron’s face, he stepped away from the table.
Just as he reached the door, he stopped.
"I hope you have not forgotten," Theron said calmly, "we are still under suspicion. Besides, you already handed her over to Elowen."
Aeron’s jaw tightened.
"Just bring her here," he said through clenched teeth. "Do not ask questions."
Theron studied him carefully. This was not normal. Aeron rarely lost control, especially not like this.
Without pressing further, Theron nodded once and left the room.
The door closed behind him.
The moment it did, Aeron’s composure cracked.
His hands, which had been trembling slightly, lifted and gripped his own hair tightly. He lowered his head, his breathing uneven.
He struggled to draw in air properly. His breathing was still uneven when a low voice echoed inside his head.
’You have pushed this body too far.’ His wolf’s voice was calm but firm.
Aeron’s fingers slowly loosened from his hair. He shut his eyes as warmth began spreading through his veins. The trembling in his hands gradually eased. The tightness in his chest loosened.
He could feel it.
His wolf was healing him.
The faint sting on his cheek where the bowstring had grazed him began to fade. The dull ache in his muscles softened. Even his pounding heart started to steady.
’You are not invincible,’ the voice continued. ’You carry too much alone.’
Aeron exhaled slowly. He knew that. But there was no one else who could carry it for him.
