"Well…" Lillian coughed slightly. "Yes, I am a werewolf Savior. Is there anything wrong with that?"
Miles opened his mouth wide and paced around for a bit. Lillian and Hudson looked at each other with questioning looks, then at Miles, who stopped abruptly in front of Lillian.
"There are a thousand things wrong with it! Are you telling me those bodyguards of yours are actual werewolves? And Dad? You taught me how to shoot guns because you were a vampire hunter – a werewolf hunter? Those stories you told me when I was young weren't fantasy? They were real? And Lillian, why are you the Savior of werewolves all of a sudden? Have you always been the Savior?" Miles asked rapidly, without leaving space to breathe.
Lillian and Hudson blinked, stunned by his speed.
"Even I didn't ask that many questions when I found out who I was," Lillian replied.
"You must tell them you can't be their Savior anymore. Forget about them and just live your life," Miles looked as if he was feeling anxious for Lillian.
"Actually, that's what I told myself before. But now I feel like it's going to be fun." Lillian walked on with a faint smile.
Miles followed while Hudson stayed behind. "So what are you going to do now?"
Lillian shrugged. "Nothing much. I'm just going to practice clay shooting—"
"No, I mean what are you going to do about that werewolf called Blaine, or whatever his name is?" Miles asked worriedly.
"Your father already promised to help. I'll stay home and await the results of the fight." Lillian exhaled.
"I thought you were going to fight alongside them," Miles said, relieved.
"Nah, not me." Lillian joked.
"Miles, you're coming with me to the fight – alongside the other hunters," Hudson said from behind.
"Me? Why me?" Miles turned, displeased.
Hudson pulled him aside and whispered, "If you want to impress her, help her. It looks like she's really worried."
Miles grinned. "Okay, I'll do it. It's just shooting some werewolves." Then his expression faltered. "But seriously, werewolves actually exist? I'm really finding it hard to believe."
"Of course. Why else would I want to help Lillian fight them?" Hudson placed his hand on Miles's shoulder as they walked toward the backyard.
---
The maids were already cleaning Hazel's study while Hazel paced anxiously in her bedroom.
Her second phone rang. She grabbed it. "Did you find them, Paul?" She listened, and her face lit up. "Okay. I'll be there soon."
She grabbed her dark long coat. As she was about to leave, Mirabel entered, looking furious. Mirabel raised her phone toward Hazel's face. A video played – James mentioning Hazel's name.
Hazel stared in shock, grabbed the phone, and deleted the video. "Lillian sent me this. Mira, don't worry. Keep writing your story. I have somewhere to be." She gave Mirabel her phone and walked past her toward the door.
"Why?" Hazel froze. "You keep trying to hurt Lillian. I don't care about her, but it should be me doing these things, not you. I am Lillian's rival, not you." Mirabel's voice was calm but angry.
Hazel turned slowly. "Mira, baby, it's for you. Focus on writing better stories. I'll handle the rest. I'm your mother – that's what mothers do." She hugged Mirabel. "You should grow without hurting people. That's what mothers want for their children." Hazel released her and left. Mirabel stood frozen like a statue.
---
At the castle, the pack exercised – intense routines.
Tiana stopped, breathing hard. "Am I the only one feeling anxious? Like we're going to lose?"
A pillow hit her head. "Don't jinx it. We're going to win. We must win." Tyler continued his one‑finger pushups.
"Actually, I feel like we're going to lose too," Bryan said, sitting on a couch.
Blaine stopped, put on his shirt, and the others gathered around.
"Don't be anxious for me. We'll fight with everything we have. But if we lose and they kill me… remember, you're not at fault." Blaine announced.
Everyone scattered in annoyance.
"I really feel like punching you right now," Shawn said.
"Why say that as if you know you're going to die?" Tony added.
"Blaine, don't tell me you're already planning to die." Diana's voice was sharp.
"Everyone relax. Stop thinking about tonight. The day is still young. Blaine is our brother – not by blood, but we will protect him. Won't we?" Luna's calm voice cut through. Everyone echoed, "We will!"
"And if you forget, remember Lillian will chew our heads off if anything happens to Blaine," Shawn added. Everyone chuckled.
---
Hazel arrived at a forest and stepped out of her car. Mr. Paul pointed to an abandoned wooden house.
They walked silently toward the door. Mr. Paul kicked it down. Before they could step in, the four brothers blocked them.
"Get out of my way. Let's talk," Hazel ordered calmly.
The brothers sneered. Alan grabbed Hazel's hand. Mr. Paul punched Alan, sending him to the floor.
The brothers attacked. Mr. Paul grabbed Caden by the neck and threw him across the room. Hazel dodged Aiden's punch, caught his hand, and broke it with one motion. The brothers had already transformed, but Hazel and Paul hadn't – yet.
Mr. Paul transformed, claws extended. Alan lunged at him, but Mr. Paul caught him. Hazel pointed her long claws at Alan's neck. He froze.
"You should have listened." Hazel withdrew her claws and walked further into the room.
Alan followed, face bold. "I know you're a vampire, and he's a were‑panther. What do you want?"
"I know you're after Blaine. You're attacking tonight." The brothers exchanged surprised looks. "I don't care about Blaine. I want you to kill the werewolves' Savior as well. If you succeed, we will take you under our wing."
"Why should we kill our Savior? You're the ones terrorizing us," Aiden said from behind.
"Stop pretending you care about other werewolves. I know you're more powerful than most. You can pair up and form a mega wolf – two potential monsters. No one will harm you if you kill Lillian. Every werewolf depends on her. Even if you kill her, you will be on top. You'll have vampire connections – the police, the Oval. If you leave evidence, we clean it up."
The brothers smirked.
"Everything you said makes sense. We'll get rid of Lillian," Alan said.
"Good. Lillian will likely be taken to this address." Hazel threw a paper to the floor. "Kill anyone who tries to stop you."
They nodded joyfully. Hazel left with Mr. Paul.
"We'll split. Aiden and Caden, you go to that address. Chase and I will fight Blaine. He'll die painfully." Alan grinned.
---
Night fell like a hammer.
The pack hid in the shadows, leaving Blaine at the forefront.
"If it isn't our traitorous brother," Alan said, walking closer with Chase.
"I heard you've been killing werewolves to find me. Haven't you ever thought about the lives you've taken?" Blaine stood his ground and spoke with confidence.
"Who cares? If it's fun, we do it again and again." Chase transformed, growling loudly.
The pack roared and rushed forward.
Bryan went first. Classic mistake – claws first, no plan. Alan caught his wrist mid‑swing, twisted, and threw him against a tree nearby. Bryan healed but stayed dazed.
Diana and Luna flanked Chase. Luna went low, Diana high. Chase dropped, swept Luna's legs, caught Diana mid‑air, and threw her into Tyler. Both crashed.
Tony and Shawn jumped on Alan. He met them head‑on – no dodging. He took a slash to the chest, grabbed Tony's jaw, headbutted him unconscious. Shawn took a knee that sent him skidding across asphalt.
Tiana was fast, but Chase was faster. He caught her mid‑pounce and slammed her down. She stayed down – smart.
Blaine roared and charged Alan. They collided like trucks. Claw for claw, snarl for snarl. Blaine tore open Alan's side. Alan grunted but didn't slow. He healed instantly.
They exchanged punches. Blaine landed more, but Alan found an opening and jabbed him in the jaw. Alan grabbed Blaine by the throat, lifted him, and slammed him into the ground. Blaine tried to rise, but Alan's claws sank into his chest.
Blaine growled in pain. The others tried to help, but Chase crouched and touched Alan's shoulder. The two merged into a massive mega wolf.
The pack rushed at it, but the mega wolf flung them against trees. Some coughed blood. Their healing slowed.
The mega wolf sat on Blaine and raked claws through his chest – again and again. Deep slash marks covered him. His red eyes flickered, then faded to human.
His eyes closed. He didn't get up.
---
End of Chapter 19
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Blaine is down. What happens next? Drop a Power Stone and add to library – Chapter 20 is coming fast.
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