I'm not sure how long I stay like that, holding Thane's cold corpse in my arms, but the cacophony of wolves clashing all around us dies down as Iron Claw wolves surrender due to the death of their Alpha.

Killian puts his hand on my shoulder. "Ares..." His voice is gentle, strained.

"Don't," I say, my voice hollow.

Thane was died. He died for me.

This was all my fault.

Axel and Lucas walk up, covered in blood. Axel looks at Thane in despair, his throat bobbing.

"Luna," Lucas says quietly. "What do you want us to do next?"

Even after Thane's death, the world still rotates on it's axis like nothing happened.

The battlefield is quiet. I look around and see bloody corpses everywhere, blood painting the ground red. Iron Claw wolves are on their knees in complete submission as Blood Lake warriors hold knives to their throats, waiting for an order.

"Where is the Beta of Iron Claw?" I ask stoically. Even after having my heart shattered into a billion pieces, still, I must hold everything together as I fall apart.

"Dead," Axel answers, his eyes still not leaving Thane's face. "You killed him during battle."

"The Gamma?"

"Dead," Killian says softly. "He was killed by..." His voice trails off.

"Find a fucking ranked wolf in Iron Claw that hasn't been killed," I order, and Lucas and Axel nod once before turning away.

And then I remember that the Alpha of Blue Moon is dead. He never had an heir. Never got the chance.

"Axel," I call out, and he turns to face me. "Find Leo. He's about to go through the Transformation. Make sure he isn't alone for it. Bring the Gamma and Delta to him."

Axel nods in understanding. I had no doubt that Leo already knew Thane was dead, felt their bond crumble in an instant. He wouldn't go through the Transformation alone, not like Thane had to.

"Ares, the eclipse..." Killian says hesitantly. "We don't have much time left."

Still, the world keeps on spinning while I stay frozen in place.

I don't move.

Not until Lucas returns, holding a badly beaten male by the ear. "Luna, this is the Delta of Iron Claw."

I look at Thane's face one last time. I would give anything to see his cocky smirk one last time.

I put Thane gently on the ground, finally pulling my hand out of the wound. I'm covered in his blood. And there's so much of it.

I stand up, walking slowly to the Delta of Iron Claw, who looks at me in terror. "You will pledge your allegiance for allowing you and what remains of your pack to live."

The wolf nods desperately. "Yes, Luna," He says, even though it wasn't a question. "I swear my loyalty to Blood Lake and Blood Lake alone."

"No," I say, my voice harsh. "To Blood Lake, Crimson Shadow, and Blue Moon."

His eyes widen. "I swear my loyalty to Blood Lake, Crimson Shadow, and Blue Moon. Iron Claw will never take arms against them again."

He groans in pain, and I see his claws and canines descending.

"You're about to become the Alpha," I tell him, my voice apathetic. "It's going to hurt."

He shifts into his wolf, and back into human form. "Somebody keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't kill anyone," I say to whoever may be listening, and some of the Blood Lake warriors nod and surround him.

And then the Seer approaches.

"You," I hiss at Katrina. "I'm going to tear out your throat."

Katrina is calm. "Remember our deal, Ares."

I'm going to have to do things you won't understand.

Many people have to die for Cain to live.

"I'm going to slaughter you," I tell her, my voice guttural.

I lunge for her, but pause when Killian steps in front of her.

"Don't," Killian threatens darkly, and I see his claws extend.

I snarl. "Killian, get out of my way or I'll kill you too. I don't mind spilling more Alpha blood today."

"I know where Cain is," Katrina says quietly. "I can take some of your wolves there while you and Killian go to Selene."

"You've known where he was the whole time?" I bellow, and almost everyone on the battlefield cowers in fear.

Katrina's eyes widen and she shakes her head. "No. All I knew was that he was going to be taken. Whoever took him has magic barriers around the location that was messing with my Sight. I... I had to find something of sentimental value to Cain in order to locate him. While you were gone, I was looking for it."

She holds up a small fur pelt.

I narrow my eyes at it. "I don't even know what the fuck that is, and I've definitely never seen it before. How could it hold sentimental value to him?"

Katrina glances at the pelt before looking back to me. "He made it for your pup," She says quietly.

My blood turns to ice.

"After we found you at Wilson's, we didn't know if the baby would survive," She says, her voice cracking. "He slaughtered a bear on our way back and took a patch of fur so that once the baby was born, he could swaddle him in the small pelt. There's more of them on the top shelf of your closet. Dozens."

Cain.

He never gave up on our pup either.

"Go," I choke out. "Take Axel, Lucas, and whatever warriors can walk. Go get him back."

Katrina nods. I may kill her another day, but not today.

Katrina gathers Lucas, Axel, and about two dozen warriors. Killian opens a portal for them and they go to rescue my mate.

Before Axel steps through the portal, he turns to look at me. "Promise me you'll come back," He says quietly.

"I promise," I say, already knowing it's likely the last thing I say to him.

And the sky gets darker.

"Ares, the eclipse," Killian says urgently. "We have to do this now."

I nod, wiping Thane's blood off my hand and on to my cloak.

Aren't black cloaks and masks in style?

No, they're actually so last season.

I swallow thickly at the memory.

"Let's go kill the Moon Bitch," I tell him, and we step through the dark portal and into the Palace of the Gods.

***

Palace of the Gods indeed.

There are white marble floors, solid gold furniture, and... The Moon Bitch.

She has long hair as dark as the night, and smooth porcelain skin. She's tall, taller than I expected, and looks even taller in her flowy white dress.

"Pretty dress," I lie to her. "Shame I'm going to spill your blood all over it."

She laughs, and it's a gentle sound, like the wind. "Ares Alstott, I've been waiting a long time for this day."

I chuckle mirthlessly. "Could have fooled me. Seems like you tried everything to stop this day from happening."

A shadow passes over her face. "Ah, yes. As it turns out, you're not as easy to kill as I would have liked. Wilson really dropped the ball on that one, didn't he?"

"Perhaps I will dismember your limbs inch by inch as I had done with him," I suggest, liking the idea.

"Really?" She looks surprised. "You're not even going to ask if I pushed him to kill you?"

"I don't care." The truth.

"How's Cain?" She asks, and the question catches me off guard. "Oh, right. He's about to be killed by your half-brother."

"Sebastian?" I ask in confusion. What the hell did Sebastian have to do with this?

She sighs. "A shame, really. I always did particularly like Cain. An even bigger shame that he ended up being mates with you. You're welcome for sending Wilson to you. It saved your relationship."

I blink.

She sighs. "Fine, I'll explain, since you're about to die anyways. Wilson living turned out to be a huge problem for me. You were traumatized from the experience, and had nightmares as a result of him still being alive. The nightmares pushed you away from Cain, and since I needed you to be in love with him, that was an issue. So, I came to him in a dream and told him that you would be at that club that night, alone, and it was the perfect time to kill you. Obviously, the three of you subdued him easily, and you got to confront your demon and kill him and boom: No more nightmares. Of course, I hadn't planned on my brother taking over your dreams instead. A miscalculation on my part."

Her explanation only confuses me. "Why would you want Cain and I to be together?"

"Because I needed you to be away from Thane. I was worried that if you got close to him, he would give you the dagger," She sighs. "I was right. Sorry about him, by the way. That looked painful."

My skin turns hot with rage. "Lucky he gave me the dagger before he died," I pause. "Well, not lucky for you." I can't show my anger, that I'm weakened by Thane's death. Never show weakness to anyone, especially not to your enemy.

Selene turns to look at Killian, who hadn't yet said a word. "You," She spits. "You should have chosen your mate. How does it feel knowing that your other half died because of you?"

Killian shrugs. "I don't lose sleep over it."

He's playing the same game I am. Cold indifference, showing no cracks in our armor.

Our blatant apathy pisses off Selene. If only Thane were here. I'd never seen anyone look as constantly bored as he did.

"Enough chatting," I say. "Nobody gives a shit about your grand plans to ruin our lives to save your own pathetic one. I will enjoy your death immensely."

She smiles at Killian, ignoring me. "I'm afraid you'll have to sit out on this fight, pup. You'll have to stay in between the dimensions in order to keep the portals to both worlds open. The eclipse is almost over, and you'll be trapped here forever if the portals close."

I hadn't known that, and judging by Killian's face, he didn't either.

Killian grinds his teeth. "Make it painful, Ares," He tells me, and I nod. He opens a portal, giving me one last look before he steps inside. The portal remains after he's gone, but I can't see him once he's in between the dimensions.

And I summon the dagger, moonstones gleaming in the light.

Selene shakes her head. "I really should keep better track of that thing next time."

I'm not dumb enough to throw it at her. No, I need to keep the dagger in my hands in order to make sure that I don't lose it.

Selene pulls a dagger out of her dress.

"What? No magical powers?" I snort. "This is going to be a painfully boring fight."

She grins. "Ah, yes, well, the stars demand equality for this battle. Believe me, there's nothing more I want than to smite you, but a stabbing will do."

I grin. Pause. And lunge at the Goddess of the Moon.

She's ready for my attack, and dodges it nimbly, swinging her own blade at me. I duck, and kick at her feet, but she's already moved backwards.

"You know," She says in between slashes, none grazing me. "You're really at a disadvantage here. I've seen every single one of your fights, know all of your moves, all of your mistakes, all of your weaknesses."

I grin cruelly at her as I punch her across the face with my left hand. She wasn't expecting such a brutal, obvious attack. It's a move Cain would have used against me.

"I don't have any weaknesses."

She laughs, avoiding my next punch. "That's the problem with all mortals, and you especially, Ares Alstott. Your hubris will be your downfall."

"That would be unfortunate," I agree, and she slashes my cheek with her blade. It burns. Silver.

She slashes at my left eye, deep. I already know that even if I survive this fight, I won't be able to see out of it. Probably wouldn't even be able to salvage it at all, the knife cut right through the middle.

It hurt, but I have spent my entire life at the hands of a blade. I would die by one too.

"I miss your scars," Selene admits. "You looked much more threatening with them. Fighting with you now is like fighting with a doll."

More punches get thrown, and I don't cut her with the knife. She slashes me numerous times, and I wonder if she's toying with me, or genuinely trying. I left plenty of open spots for her to deliver a lethal blow.

"Well," I pant. "Not everyone can be a billion-year-old hag. I commend you for your efforts," I tell her, kicking in her knee.

Selene snarls, and her eyes glow. She fakes a swing to my left, and when I go right, she plunges her dagger into my stomach.

"You put up a good fight, Ares Alstott," She says as she twists the blade, and I groan. "I'm glad you're Lucille's bastard descendent. You've made the last two decades more exciting for me than I could have ever hoped for."

I pant, blood pouring out of both my eye and my stomach. She has indeed made my death painful.

I try to slash her with the dagger, but she smacks it out of my hand, sending it flying across the room.

She shakes her head sadly. "You mortals will never learn. Tell Thane I said hello."

And she puts both of her hands on the dagger and pushes it up, driving towards my heart.

Nobody:
Absolutely no one at all:
Me: *kills off every main character*

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