Taylor growled, instantly jumping on Harry, who lunged back. They clashed head to head, both of them an equal match. There was a crackling of thunder, and the rain started to pour furiously, as both the wolves fought. Taylor lunged and clawed, attacking viciously. The only thought in his mind was to save Rose, no matter what.
Yet, Rose’s pain-filled whimpers distracted him and Harry used this to his advantage. He slashed Taylor through his chest, Harry’s sharp claws penetrating through his body. His chest tore, blood spilling out, yet Taylor fought back. He fought for Rose who was slowly losing the battle for her life.
The thunder roared, as the rain poured even more furiously. Taylor managed to get his teeth around Harry’s leg, and he bit it hard. He clenched his jaw tight around it, as Harry howled in pain. He pulled with all his might and managed to tear his limb from his body. Harry howled, lying in a pool of his blood, but he still got up.
Driven by his desire for revenge, he refused to give up. He lunged at Taylor, who met him head to head, and for a moment the two mighty beasts fought. Neither could get the upper hand; both were injured and equal in match.
Then Taylor heard Rose’s breath hitch. Her eyes were closed, and her heartbeat was so weak he could barely hear it.
“Rose!” he shouted, but the momentary distraction cost him. Harry lunged, and his teeth sank into Taylor’s throat. Taylor felt himself freeze as Harry’s jaw tightened around his neck. Taylor knew that one powerful snap of those jaws would kill him.
He made one last feeble attempt to twist and sink his claws into Harry’s stomach. The suddenness of it made Harry drop him and fall back, howling in pain. Taylor’s throat was bleeding heavily, and he could barely stand from the blood loss. Yet, he got up, purely because of the will power and the desire to save Rose.
“It doesn’t have to end like this, Harry,” Taylor said.
“Yes, it does. You made me a laughing stock! You chose that slut over our friendship. The only way I can ever recover my reputation now is to kill you. Both of you,” Harry said. “This ends in death.”
He lunged at Taylor, and they both clashed again. Taylor’s vision was starting to dim from the blood loss, and when Harry slashed through his stomach, he collapsed. As he lay there, the light dimming in front of his eyes, he saw Rose. She was completely unconscious, and Taylor couldn’t hear her heart beating anymore.
Harry walked over and placed his paw on Taylor’s throat. “I wish you hadn’t brought this on yourself. But you made your choice. And you chose her,” Harry said.
Taylor looked over at Rose, feeling his heart swell with pain. He had just found her, and they were both going to die. He had failed her. He had failed his Rose; she would spend the last minutes of her life in agony and pain.
Taylor didn’t know where he found the energy to get up. He knew he couldn’t give up, not while Rose was suffering. He lunged at Harry and the two clashed once again. The rain continued to pour, and Taylor fought, fuelled only by his will and his love for Rose.
Taylor stuck his claws into Harry’s chest and tore it open.
“No one made you a laughing stock. No one humiliated you. It’s your ego that couldn’t take it. It’s your ego that did this to you,” Taylor said. He managed to sink his teeth into Harry’s neck and bit, sinking his sharp teeth into his flesh. His mouth flooded with blood, and Taylor clenched his powerful jaws. There was a deafening crack, loud enough to be heard despite the thunder. Harry went limp, his lifeless body hanging from Taylor’s jaws, his eyes vacant.
Taylor threw him down, running over to Rose. He didn’t have enough energy to stay as a wolf anymore and he shifted back. He picked her up, her body barely weighed anything. His neck was bleeding, and he somehow managed to stumble towards the forest. He had picked up the antidote from Harry’s body and he somehow managed to reach the healers house.
He didn’t get to see if Rose survived though, because just as he reached the healer’s, he blacked out.
Chapter 20
Rose
Rose stood at the clearing, surrounded by her friends and the pack. Taylor stood in front of her, a charming smile on his face. Things had finally worked out for the both of them. Taylor still carried injuries from his battle with Harry, and Rose was still recovering from the poisoning.
Rose had forfeited the championship, mainly because she was too weak to fight, and Taylor had won the championship. A huge ceremony was held, where he was officially given the rank of the captain of the army. With a huge army under him, he had become serious in life. He now spent his days developing plans for the latest armours, working with Dominque on battle strategies and training the army.
Now, they had finally decided that it was time. They stood in the clearing in front of the ritual master, who was holding up the golden thread of binding.
“Do you, Taylor, take Rose as your mate as decreed by the moon spirit? You can never break this sacred bond. To do so will be the highest sin. You have been entrusted with Rose’s heart, which you must protect as your own,” the ritual master said.
Taylor nodded, smiling happily at Rose.
The ritual master turned to Rose and said, “Do you, Rose, accept Taylor as your mate? Keeping in mind the sanctity of the bond you will be in?”
Rose smiled at Taylor and nodded.
“Rose, you initially turned away from Taylor at the ritual. Hence, I need to ask you again, are you sure? There is no turning back after this. Taylor will be your mate for life,” the ritual master said.
“Yes. I am sure. I wasn’t earlier, but now that I know Taylor, I can’t imagine being with anyone but him. He is my soul mate,” Rose said.
The ritual master smiled and held up the golden thread, which he tied around Taylor’s wrist, before taking Rose’s wrist and tying it as well. He held up their hands, joined together by the thread and said, “Rose and Taylor. Mates before the moon spirit. Eternally bonded.”
Loud cheers rang out, and Rose could hear Delma whistling. The ceremony ended, and she and Taylor walked hand in hand. Everyone rushed to greet them and congratulate them, and this was followed by a night of dancing and eating.
