Chapter 348

Now, she stood between the caravan and the horde, a lone wall of flesh and fury protecting her people, an Alpha standing like a mountain. Dozens of goblins lay lifeless around her, most slain by her claws and fangs alone.
Every inch of her body screamed in pain, yet she found herself almost laughing inside, as if patting her own shoulder for enduring this long. She didn’t even know how long she’d been fighting anymore; it felt like she was running on broken strings, moving only through stubborn instinct and the need to protect.
She had even blacked out a few times, still standing, still fighting, her body moving purely on instinct, driven by her wolf’s primal will to survive.
“Mary, you’ve done great as an Alpha. I’m so proud of you,” her wolf’s voice echoed softly in her mind, tender yet heavy with sorrow. It was as if the wolf wanted to nuzzle her face, to comfort her in its own way. But even though it knew, Mary was nearing her limit. One more push, one more wound, and she might not make it back.
“Awooo
Through the haze of her fading consciousness, Mary’s hearing felt muffled, as if she were submerged underwater. Her limbs were heavy, her strength almost gone, and the blood loss was dragging her down fast. But then, through that fog of exhaustion, she heard it. A distant howl.
Even though every other sound had faded into silence, that single howl broke through, clear and powerful. It was like sunlight piercing through a storm, igniting a flicker of hope deep within her chest.
’I can do this… just a little longer. Reinforcements will come Mary told herself as she stood firm before the goblins, like a unyielding mountain shielding her people.
By now, she had already cleared the goblins surrounding the caravan, giving the young warriors and coachmen a moment to breathe.
The warriors, though wounded, regrouped and formed a protective wall around the elderly and the young. Seeing that sight, her people still standing despite everything, made Mary’s heart tighten with a mix of pride and sorrow.
The moment she heard the howl, a spark of hope bloomed in Mary’s chest. It was as if that sound breathed life back into her weary limbs, filling the emptiness inside her with renewed strength. Gritting her teeth, she pressed on, tearing into the goblins one after another as they surged toward her like an unending tide.
Out of the corner of her eye, she checked on her people. The young warriors still held the line, shielding the elders and children behind them. Seeing that, determination flared brighter within her, and her strikes grew sharper, and fiercer.
“Ah
A sudden scream cut through the chaos, making Mary’s heart jolt.
’What happened?’ Mary thought, her eyes darting around frantically. Then she saw it, a fresh wave of goblins bursting out from the bushes, charging straight toward the young and the old.
Two more goblin archers emerged behind them, their bows drawn. In the next instant, a pair of arrows cut through the air and struck one of the young warriors who had been shielding the elderly man tending to the wounded.
“Duck your heads and stay on guard!” one of the young warriors shouted. The others immediately crouched down, raising their arms to shield their heads, the most vulnerable spot, while making sure the children were safely hidden in the center of their formation.
The elderly formed a protective ring around the little ones, and the young warriors stood as the outer shield, bracing themselves for the next assault. Seeing the blood gushing from the wounded warrior, someone barely older than them, the children began to cry in terror, their small voices trembling as the elders tried desperately to soothe them.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Big brother’s fine, see? It doesn’t hurt,” one of the young warriors whispered with a faint smile, trying to comfort the frightened children huddled before him.
He wanted to say more, to reassure them further, but the searing pain from the arrow buried in his side made his voice tremble. Even as he insisted he wasn’t hurting, his body betrayed him, a slight wince, a shallow breath, and a flicker of pain showed in his eyes. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ.net
Without a wolf to aid his healing, every second felt like fire spreading through his veins. Still, he held on, relying only on sheer willpower to stay conscious. He couldn’t let the children see his weakness, not when they were already trembling in fear.
The elders nearby understood his struggle, their hearts aching with helplessness. They wanted to help, but their bodies were old, their wolves frail and sluggish. If they shifted, they would only slow the others down. So instead, they stayed where they were, silently praying, using their own bodies as shields to protect the young.
“Hold on just a little longer!” Mary shouted, her voice steady despite the exhaustion in her limbs. It wasn’t just a command to her people, it was a plea to herself, a desperate reminder to endure just a little more.
Reinforcements were on their way.
They had to be.
“Yes, Young Alpha!” the young warriors answered, their voices hoarse but resolute. Those still able to move fought on, forming a defensive line to fend off the goblins’ relentless assault. The wounded caught their breath behind them, patching their injuries with trembling hands.
“Don’t push yourselves too hard!” an elderly man warned as he hastily wrapped a bandage around another’s arm.
“We know, just a little longer,” one of the warriors replied, forcing a grin despite the blood trickling down his cheek. But though they said it was only for a little while, each second felt like an eternity, an endless battle against pain, fatigue, and fear.
Mary was already at her limit. Her mind screamed for her to keep fighting, but her body could no longer keep up. Her legs trembled beneath her, her muscles burning with exhaustion.
When she lunged to bite the next goblin’s head off, her weakened stance made her stumble, missing her mark. The goblin seized the chance and slashed back, its crude bone dagger grazing dangerously close to her throat.
Pain flared as the weapon sliced her shoulder, and she barely managed to twist away in time. Had she been a heartbeat slower, the blade would’ve pierced her neck.
Just then—
“Grrr!”
A midnight-black wolf burst out from the dense forest, its massive frame moving with lethal grace. Behind its back was a woman, her presence as fierce as the beast’s.
Just as another goblin lunged toward Mary, a blur sliced past her face, followed by a wet thunk! and a spray of blood splattering across her cheek. The goblin froze mid-attack before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Blinking through the crimson droplets, Mary turned her gaze and saw the cause, a dagger, its hilt wrapped with a rope, embedded cleanly in the goblin’s temple.
“Move back!” Addison shouted as she yanked the rope. The dagger lodged in the goblin’s skull twisted, then tore free with a wet snap. Only then did Mary fully grasp what had happened.
Staggering back in a daze, she watched as Addison swung the rope in a wide arc, the dagger whistling through the air before embedding itself in another goblin.