Chapter 24: Unleashed
"Talia!" Liana rushed forward but stopped when her friend shook her head. "Careful. The guards check every few minutes," Talia whispered, her voice hoarse. "He's been keeping me here since I started having those visions about you." Liana's hands trembled as she touched the silver collar around Talia's neck. It was cold and hummed with dark magic. "I can't believe this. Darius told me he was saving wolves, not catching them." An older woman in the next cage spoke up.
"He hunts us. Takes our power through these bands. The stronger the wolf, the more power he drains." Liana recognized her – a nurse who'd gone missing from Shadowfang two years ago. Looking around, she saw faces from her pack and others. Some she knew only from missing signs. "I have to get you all out." Talia grabbed her hand. "The keys hang in his tent. But the collars need magic to open." Liana touched her mother's ring. It pulsed warmly against her skin. "I think I can help with that. But first, I need those keys." Sneaking back to the main camp, Liana felt strange new strength filling her limbs. The triplets' trial was affecting her somehow, making her braver. She could almost feel them with her – Kael's strategy, Jace's daring, Rowan's kindness.
Darius's tent was bigger than the others. Inside, she found him still asleep, snoring softly. Moonlight glinted off a ring of keys hanging from his belt. Too easy, she thought. As if hearing her thoughts, Darius's eyes snapped open. "Looking for something, niece?" he asked, his voice dangerously cool. Liana didn't waste time with lies. "Why are you keeping dogs prisoner? You said you wanted to free our kind, not cage them." Darius sat up slowly. "Sometimes cages are important. Those wolves have gifts I need – gifts that will help us take back what's ours." "You're stealing their power," Liana charged. "Just like you tried to steal my mother's." His eyes narrowed. "Your mother told you?" "She left me memories in this." Liana touched the charm.
"You threatened to hurt me if she didn't help you. Some loving uncle you are." Darius stood. "You don't understand the bigger picture. The Alpha packs have ruled too long. With enough power, I can challenge them all." "And the prisoners? What happens to them?" He shrugged. "Sacrifices are necessary in war." While they talked, Liana inched closer to his belt. In one quick move, she snatched the keys and bolted from the tent. "STOP HER!" Darius roared. Guards jumped to block her path, but Liana was faster than she'd ever been. She ducked and weaved through the camp, the pendant getting hotter against her skin. Behind her, wolves howled as they gave chase. She burst into the jail just as the guards realized something was wrong. Without thinking, Liana kicked the first one hard in the chest, sending him flying back. The second guard lunged, but she twisted away, her body moving with new grace. "Hurry!" Talia called. Hands shaking, Liana opened the cages one by one. But the collars stayed, draining the wolves' strength. "I don't know how to remove them," she revealed. "Your pendant," Talia pushed. "Press it against the locks." The first collar she touched sparked and fell open. Magic ran up Liana's arm, making her gasp. The freed wolf's eyes widened as his power returned. "Thank you, Luna," he whispered, bowing. One by one, Liana freed them all, each release sending more magic rushing into her body. By the time she reached Talia, her skin glowed slightly silver. "Something's happening to me," Liana whispered. "You're claiming your power," Talia said. "The triplets' trial and these wolves' energy – it's waking your true self." Outside, yelling grew louder. "We need to run," urged the doctor.
"Now!" They burst from the underground jail into chaos. Darius's troops fought with escaped prisoners. In the chaos, Liana spotted a familiar face. "Jace!" He was limping but fighting his way toward her, knocking aside anyone in his path. "This way!" he called. Hope rushed through her chest. The triplets had finished their trial and come for her. Halfway to the forest edge, Darius steps into their path. His eyes burned with rage. "Enough games, Liana. Your mother denied me, but you won't." "Leave her alone!" Jace growled, moving protectively in front of her. Darius laughed. "The fake mate thinks he can protect her? I know what you did, pup. The drug, the lies." Liana felt Jace tense. "That doesn't matter now," she said strongly. "What matters is stopping you." "You don't even know what I'm trying to do," Darius growled. He pulled out a bent blade that glowed with strange marks. "With royal blood – your blood – I can bind all Alpha powers to me. One ruler, one pack." Horror washed over Liana. "You'd kill wolves to rule them?" "Not kill.
Transform.
Reshape our world to what it should be." He lunged forward so fast that Jace couldn't block him. The blade cut Liana's arm, drawing blood. Pain shot through her, but something else followed – rage. Deep inside, a presence unfolded. Her wolf, quiet for so long, suddenly howled. Now, it ordered. Let me free. Heat burst through Liana's body. Her bones shifted, muscles stretched. The change came faster than any shift she'd ever heard described. One moment she was human, the next... A pure white wolf with silver stripes stood where Liana had been. Larger than an omega should be, she towered over standard wolves. Silver light pulsed from her hair in waves. Everyone froze, even Darius. "The white wolf," someone whispered. "The prophecy..." Darius recovered first, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Even better.
Your wolf form holds more power than I thought." He raised the bleeding knife. "Submit to me, niece. Or watch your friends die." Guards pulled forward Talia and several other escapees, blades at their throats. Liana's wolf growled, the sound shaking the ground. In her mind, three voices spoke as one – her mates, lending their power through their bond. We are with you. Always. Power surged through her blood. The pendant around her wolf's neck flashed brightly, sending out rings of silver light that knocked Darius's followers off their feet. Darius alone stood firm, his knife raised.
Show him what a true Alpha looks like, her wolf whispered. Liana crouched, muscles bunching. Her eyes locked with her uncle's. For the first time, she saw fear flash across his face. "No," he whispered. "This isn't possible..." The white wolf leaped, her teeth open, a blur of silver and white streaking through the night toward the man who had threatened everything she loved. Behind her, Jace watched in awe. "Run," he told the others. "Get to the pack. Tell them what's happening." As the prisoners fled to safety, the forest filled with blinding light, and a howl unlike any heard before echoed through the trees – the sound of chains breaking, of power released, of destiny finally accepted. This was no omega. This was Luna reborn.