Chapter 26
595words
The dark energy slowly dissipated, and the blood-red sky returned to normal.
But everything on the battlefield had changed.
Where the ancient altar once stood, there was now only a massive, deep crater.
The bottom was empty.
No stones, no runes, no trace of anything.
The rebel leader was gone.
Ariana was gone.
And Byron.
They had all turned to dust, completely obliterated by that destructive energy.
As if they had never existed.
The war was over.
The remaining forces of the northern rebels quickly scattered after losing their leader.
The combined armies of the Silver Moon and Ridge packs had won a decisive victory.
But no one cheered.
No one celebrated.
Eight hundred elite warriors gathered silently around the crater, removing their helmets and bowing their heads.
They were paying tribute not to the Alpha who had fallen, but to the wolf who had found his redemption in the end.
Even though most of them disliked Byron.
Even though they knew he had made unforgivable mistakes.
But in his final moments, he had chosen to sacrifice his life to protect their Queen.
That alone was enough to earn the respect of every warrior.
"Sandra..."
Elias knelt beside me, his voice trembling as he tried to comfort me.
"It's over now, Sandra. The ones who hurt you... they're gone."
I didn't answer him.
I just knelt at the edge of the crater, staring silently into the void.
I didn't cry.
My tears had already run dry.
Now, my heart wasn't broken. It was just... empty. A hollow ache where a storm used to be.
"Queen," my father came to my other side, gently placing a hand on my shoulder. "We should go. Your mother is waiting for you."
Mother.
Right. I had almost forgotten.
This all started to save her.
"How is she?" I finally spoke, my voice hoarse.
"She's safe," my father answered. "Our medical team found her before the battle started. The rebels only injected her with a sedative, not poison. She's awake now."
I nodded and slowly stood up.
But I didn't leave right away.
I looked at the crater one last time.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept through the canyon.
And on the wind, it carried a faint scent.
The scent of cedar.
Byron's scent.
Even though he was gone, even though his body had turned to dust, that unique scent still lingered in the air.
It was the last trace of him left in this world.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Letting that scent fill my lungs one last time.
"Goodbye, Byron," I whispered to the wind. "For everything else, I may never forgive you. But for this... thank you."
The wind gradually died down, and the scent of cedar faded with it.
When I opened my eyes again, the air was empty.
Byron was truly gone.
I turned around, ready to leave this battlefield.
Elias immediately stood and took off his own cloak, draping it over my shoulders.
It was warm and carried his familiar scent of pine.
"Sandra," he said gently, his voice full of careful concern. "It's over."
I looked into his eyes, which were filled with worry and love.
This man, this true protector, had been by my side from the very beginning.
No deception, no betrayal, no harm.
Only pure, selfless protection.
"Yes," I nodded. "It's over."
He hesitated, then offered gently, "Let's go home."
I gave the empty crater one last, long look, then turned away for good.
"Yes," I said, my voice steady. "Let's go home."
