Chapter 49: Cyrius

*~Author’s POV~*

The world had shattered.

It wasn’t just Hazel’s—it was everyone’s.

She lay there, lifeless, blood soaking into the dirt beneath her, her body broken, her soul silent. Aurora, barely breathing, was sprawled beside her, veins still dark and pulsating with corrupted magic.

Her legs had snapped from the force of her last spell, but she’d taken two of the five witches with her. Her clones still fought in the distance shadowy versions of herself holding the line, barely.

But the battle had shifted.

O’Brien had killed the last of the wolves Cayden had sent to protect them. One by one, he’d ripped them apart, until he stood over the final one, gripping its neck. In a single twist—snap—it was done.

Then came the worst sound of all.

Laughter.

O’Brien dropped the body and shifted into his human form. Half-naked, drenched in blood, bits of flesh stuck in his teeth, he looked less like a man and more like a monster born from nightmares.

He walked over to Dahlia slowly, savoring the moment, then kissed the back of her hand. "You look... magnificent, my lady," he said, voice thick with blood and madness. "Even more ravishing than Lilith. I’m sure you’ll be more powerful than her now."

Dahlia smiled, smug and ageless in her new youthful form. "Oh, I’ll make Lilith bow. I’ll force her Crescent bloodline to kneel. I mean look at her daughter now." Her eyes drifted to Hazel’s still body, mouth curling. "I wonder what expression she’ll make when she realizes we killed her grandchild. The deal was just the child, but... well, accidents happen."

"Lilith is a fool," O’Brien muttered. "She must have her own plan—but I’m lucky we acted on ours first."

They smirked together, monsters wearing human faces.

"And now," he added, "what about that power you promised me? The one that will make me more powerful than any Alpha?"

Dahlia turned to him with glowing eyes. "Oh, don’t worry, dear. I have plenty of power now. Enough to remake you. I’ll make you into a beast no Alpha could ever defeat."

But then—

Roars tore through the air. Deep. Violent. Earth-shaking.

O’Brien froze mid-step. Dahlia’s smile twitched.

"Guess who’s here," O’Brien muttered.

Two massive wolves landed hard—one by Hazel’s body, the other in the heart of the battlefield. Both shifted almost at once.

Caspian and Cayden.

Both soaked in sweat and fury.

Caspian fell to his knees beside Hazel, lifting her limp body with trembling arms. His breath hitched. Her skin was cold. Too cold.

"No—Hazel," he whispered. "Hazel, no—please—"

eyes wide,

toward them calmly, brushing a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. "What you wouldn’t," she said softly. "I killed the child. Absorbed its power. Killed her too. Isn’t that what you wanted, Alpha? You rejected her. You cast her out. You said she wasn’t worthy.

smirked at him. "I helped you clean up your little

growled through clenched teeth, cradling Hazel’s

mockingly. "Caspian, you were the surprise. I expected Cayden to betray her—but you? I thought you’d be the obstacle. Always ruining my plans.

tightened. His claws threatened to break through his skin. But he didn’t move—not while Hazel’s body lay cold in his arms. His rage burned quietly. Deeply. The kind of fire that kills

still frozen, whispered,

said sweetly. "The mate you spent your whole life denying? She’s gone. Both of

Then Caspian laughed.

Bitter. Unhinged. The sound stopped everyone in

Silence. Everything froze.

His laughter

the floor, tainted by dark veins and drained of strength lifted her head slowly. Her expression was twisted, unreadable, and

Dahlia’s confident smirk faltered.

O’Brien’s eyes darted nervously.

Then, Caspian growled.

cold, bone-deep laugh that

blood, like a nightmare in royal armor. His white shirt was stained crimson, his jaw clenched, his energy deathly calm. And then, without a word, he pulled a

a twisted smirk

dumb enough to believe

Dahlia’s brow furrowed. "What?"

forward, his presence swallowing the air. "You really believed I’d leave Hazel defenseless? That I’d just walk her out of the High House because this idiot," he gestured

The air crackled.

from a picnic

I was weak?" she

Then it began.

wolves who had fallen... started

twisted. Bones

one, the dead

backward, lips trembling. "No. I...

her hair with a smirk. "No. You killed illusions. You fed

Dahlia’s face fell.

"What is this—"

then the

lifeless and broken—suddenly turned to ash,

clearing, cloaked in long brown fabric. A wide-brimmed hat sat on her head, casting her face in shadows. Her brunette

O’Brien choked. "What...?"

sharp.

with a slow

eyes. That

"Lilith?" Caspian whispered.

tilted her head toward him, smiling faintly. "My beautiful

echoed through the

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