Chapter 5 Struggling to survive

Melissa POV The air was calm and frigid in the early morning. Something was off; I had a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. There had been rumours of an impending attack for days, which had made the pack anxious. But nobody anticipated it happening so quickly. Abruptly, I heard someone shout in the distance. With my pulse pounding, I ran toward the sound. Dennis was standing close to the forest's edge, his face blanched with astonishment and his chest heaving. His arm was covered in blood, but it wasn't his. "What took place? Breathlessly, I rushed to his side and asked.

Dennis clenched his jaw, rage blazing in his eyes. "Raven... He attempted to kill me. My heart fell. "Are you serious?" Dennis whispered, "Serious as death," as he wiped the blood from his arm. "I got duped by one of my men. An ambush occurred. I would not be alive if I hadn't been faster. I looked around to see if there were any more warning indications. But it was silent for the moment. Far too silent. "He refuses to quit, Melissa," Dennis remarked quietly. "Raven wants me to get out of his way, and he won't give up until he does." With my head whirling, I put a touch on his arm. "We must take action. We must put an end to him. Dennis expressed his frustration with a shake of his head. "I have no idea how far this goes. Nobody can I trust." Knowing the truth but not knowing how to tell him, I bit my lip. I needed to wait for the appropriate opportunity to disclose Raven's entire scheme, especially the part where he intended to destroy both packs in addition to Dennis. But Dennis was tense enough already. Does he think I'm serious? I met Damon later that day in the woods, out of sight of curious onlookers. To get ready for what lay ahead, I had to train. Although my powers were increasing, I still didn't have much control over them. Damon had pledged to assist me in using my power. Damon remarked, "You're getting stronger every day," as he observed me concentrating on forming an energy barrier with my hands. But Melissa, you're not just a pretty face. All you have to do is release it. I exhaled, feeling the electricity flicker between my hands before fading away. "It is insufficient. I will never be able to protect anyone if I can't control it. Damon took a step forward, his eyes intense. "You'll succeed. He stopped, softening his eyes, saying, "I know you will. "You underestimate your power. It's not only your strength, anyway. You are the one. Unsure of how to react, I blinked. I had never heard anything like it in Damon's voice before. "Damon, I" He reached out to touch my arm softly before I could continue. You are important to me, Melissa. More than you realize. My chest constricted as his words lingered in the atmosphere. I didn't know how to react. My heart was bewildered, even though Damon had always supported me. Particularly with everything going on right now. "I... I backed away and whispered in a low voice, "I need to focus. "Right now, there's too much on the line." With a hint of disappointment in his eyes, Damon nodded. "I comprehend. Don't forget that I am available to you. All the time. I was unable to wait much longer that evening. In the common area of the pack home, I discovered Dennis sitting by himself. When I got closer, he looked up, his countenance reserved. I started, sitting across from him, "I need to tell you something." "Raven is the subject." Dennis's jaw became tense. Melissa, I've already deduced that he is a traitor. He attempted to murder me. I leaned forward and said, "There's more." "Raven's not pursuing you alone. His goal is to subjugate both groups. He and Selena have been conspiring, and their goal is to depose you. Dennis narrowed his eyes and gazed at me. "How are you aware of this?" "I heard them," I blurted out. Lucas has also been looking into this. The reason my parents died was due to Raven. He has been attempting to harm us both for a very long time. Dennis balled his hands into fists. "Why didn't you inform me earlier?" I said, "I didn't know how to." "And I wasn't sure if you would accept me." He got up and paced the room angrily. "This is crazy. My beta version... working against me the entire time," he halted and turned to face me. "Why should I trust any of this information? How can I be certain that you're not just attempting to control me?" I sprang to my feet, rage swelling in my voice. Dennis, why would I lie about this? My goal is to rescue you! Fine, if you don't believe me, then at least act now, before it's too late. Dennis fixed his unreadable gaze on me for a considerable amount of time. The turmoil was seen in his eyes. He struggled to balance his pride with the enduring attraction of our mate bond. Dennis murmured, "I don't know what to think anymore." "But I have to stop Raven if he is truly planning something." By the time of the attack, night had fallen. I hurried outdoors when I heard cries echoing through the air and saw mayhem breaking out everywhere. Dozens of rogue wolves, their eyes wild and full of wrath, were invading the pack's territory. With my heart racing, I muttered to myself, "Raven's behind this." I could see his scheme coming together in front of my eyes. Before making his decisive strike, he had dispatched the rogues to eliminate the Moonvalley Pack to weaken us. I dashed into the heart of the fighting, attempting to assist where I could. Fear and the smell of blood filled the air as the wolves charged each other in the clearing, biting and snarling. I watched Dennis use his quick reflexes and strength to repel two renegades. But the sheer volume of assaults was too much for even him to handle. "Hey, Melissa!A voice called out to me from behind. Damon materialized at my side, resolve gleaming in his eyes. "We must force them to retreat!" "I understand," I answered, my hands trembling from adrenaline and dread. "But they're so numerous." "Make use of your power," Damon said. "You are more powerful than any of them. The pack can be saved. I hesitated, feeling a twinge of terror in my chest. Amidst the pandemonium, I was uncertain about my ability to maintain control over my power. What if I unintentionally injure someone? Then I witnessed Dennis collapse to his knees as if a lone wolf had snipped at his back. With my heart pounding, I lifted my hands instinctively. Several of the rogues were knocked to the ground as a wave of strength erupted out of my body and the energy shot through me like a lightning bolt. The wolves surrounding me stopped, gaping in disbelief at what I had done. Damon smiled. "I knew you were capable of it." But before I could reply, the night was broken by a deep, icy howl. I looked over and saw Raven standing at the edge of the clearing, anger glimmering in his eyes. Dennis was standing next to him, securely grasped in his arms. Raven yelled, "You've interfered for the last time, Melissa," with a tone full of venom. You now have an option. Give in to me, or witness Dennis's demise." My throat tightened around my breath. I still had the power within of me, waiting to be let go. However, if I used it, I would demonstrate my newfound strength. Raven would not only kill Dennis if he discovered the truth; he would also pursue me. My heart pounded as I stared at Dennis, struggling against Raven's grip. The decision weighed heavily on me. Should I save Dennis and expose my power, or stay hidden and risk losing him forever? Time was running out, and I had to choose now.