Rise of the Rejected Luna - Chapter 171

Chapter 171: _Going In For The Kill
“By the moon! Kaene.” I gasped, placing my hands over my mouth at the sight before me.

He was sprinting toward us in his wolf form but seemed to be intentionally slowing down as if he was expecting something.

His snow-white fur was now stained with crimson-red blood thanks to arrows sticking to his body, and he breathed heavily.

“We have to go–” Before I could step forward, Negan grabbed my arm and yanked me toward him.

I grunted as he snuck us into a nearby alleyway in between two buildings.

My eyes fluttered as I stared up at Negan’s face only to see him staring down at me as well, his hazel eyes glinting with an unknown light.

My body shook with dread for some reason, especially with the human blood still fresh on his body.

It didn’t help that he held both of my arms until I felt like he was going to sink his claws into me.

“B– Beta Negan.” I coughed awkwardly when his gaze became too intense and tried to get out of his grip.

Fortunately, he was quick to let go of me and sighed. “Sorry about that. But remember what I said about helping Kaene from the shadows?” He asked.

I paused, nodding my head slowly.

He proceeded to step away from me and peeked his head out of the alleyway, spying on Kaene.

“Well, it’s clear that Kaene managed to get the attention of the Hunters somehow.” He muttered, causing me to also peek my head out.

I was just in time to see several Hunters chasing after him, some even jumping from one building to the other.

It was right out of those ninja movies and I couldn’t help but gasp, stunned by the sight.

Kaene was getting dangerously close and locked eyes with me just then.

His piercing blue eyes made me hold my breath and time seemed to freeze during that brief moment of eye contact.

I could see the confusion in his eyes. That was probably because he didn’t expect to see me out here after our last plan.

“Hide,” Negan whispered urgently, grabbing me away from there and further into the shadows of the alleyway.

At that same moment, Kaene and the Hunters chasing after him sprinted past, not noticing us within the alleyway.

“You see? I told you he could handle himself.” Negan remarked with a soft chuckle, letting go of me.

But I dimmed my eyes, my instincts alerting me that something was wrong.

“Why would all the Hunters chase after him through one spot though?” I blurted out loud. “They have the advantage of numbers and could just split and corner him in one maneuver. And where the heck are the other pack soldiers?”

Negan stared at me, his expression unreadable.

After a while, he drew out his phone and dialed a number.

“Who’re you calling?” I asked, cold sweat running down my back as I stepped back into the light and peeked my head out of the alleyway.

Kaene seemed so close to Elder Gita’s sanctuary. Nothing was supposed to go wrong at this point.

But then, I saw it.

In the distance, at the other side of the estate, I spotted several Hunters targeting Kaene from on top of buildings.

I squinted my eyes, utilizing my enhanced wolf sight when one of them caught my eyes.

However, my eyes widened as soon as I realized what the Hunter was wielding.

“Is that a freaking rocket launcher?!” I yelled, glancing back at Negan who was focused on whatever call he was making.

No, no, no…

“Alright, thank you, Lycan,” Negan muttered to the phone before shoving it back into his pocket. He then fixed his gaze on me with a grim expression. “Kaene ordered the pack soldiers to pull out from attacking the Hunters and focus on finding and rescuing any other survivors out there.”

Crap!

“Wait, what did you say about a rocket launcher?” He asked, tilting his head.

And then it happened.

The sound of an explosion rang through the air, causing me to subconsciously cover my ears and bend down.

Negan grabbed me by my shoulders, protectively holding me close as the estate shook from the force of the explosion.

When the explosion seemed to have cleared, my heart fell when I realized what it could mean.

“Kaene!” I screamed, rushing out of Negan’s grip and running out of the alleyway.

The spot where I’d last seen Kaene was covered in smoke and debris.

To make matters worse, my wolf howled in alarm inside me, warning me about the smoke so vehemently.

It wasn’t just a normal explosion.

“Wolfsbane,” Negan mumbled when he also stepped out of the alleyway.

He sounded astonished, shaking his head. “Those bastards are going full-on for the kill. They have Kaene outnumbered.” He remarked.

Yeah, no shit!

“Haven’t the Hunters gotten within a fifty-meter radius of Elder Gita’s sanctuary already?” I asked, clutching my chest tightly.

The mate bond was still there, but just like the night when Elsa almost killed Kaene, its strength was fluctuating.

“According to my estimates, no.” Negan shook his head, his gaze following a group of Hunters who scaled down a building, stepping stealthily into the smoke. “If Kaene’s down, I doubt all of them would try getting any closer. Unless–”

Without any warning, I sprinted away from Negan, my eyes set on the huge cloud of smoke ahead.

My wolf growled, begging me to let her out so we could tear the bastards who dared to hurt our mate into pieces.

I listened to her plea, my bones shifting as a howl escaped my mouth. I shifted fully, my claws coming out as I braced myself.

As I ran, I remembered my father and how I’d already lost him in this attack.

I couldn’t afford to lose Kaene too.

“Isn’t that the Luna?” A Hunter yelled out, pointing at me as I jumped into the mist of wolfsbane.

I whimpered in pain, the drug entering my nostrils and weakening my connection with my wolf.

But I held on until I spotted Kaene in his human form in the smoke, lying face against the snow.

“Kaene!” I called out, shifting back into my human form and crawling to him.

My skin felt like it could peel off thanks to the wolfsbane, but I ignored the pain, gritting my teeth as I finally held my mate’s body.

He was still breathing… Thank the moon goddess.

Suddenly, he coughed, turning around and grunting before slowly opening his eyes.

“Mi Amor.” He said with warmth, stretching his hand forward and caressing my face. “What… What are you doing here? This will be all for nothing if you die.”

I could hear the despair in his voice. I could see it in his eyes.

My heart hurt for him when I realized that he’d also lost someone today and probably couldn’t afford to lose me as well.

But at the same time… My stomach danced with butterflies when I realized that he felt the same protectiveness toward me as I did to him.

I instinctively reached out, caressing his face and ignoring the poisoning of the wolfsbane and the yells of Hunters outside the smoke.

“No, Kaene. It will be all for nothing if YOU die.” My voice broke, tears welling up in my eyes. “I– I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you and–”

Suddenly, our bittersweet moment was cut short by the terrified screams of Hunters outside the smoke, followed by the sound of gunshots.