The Summer Moon
Chapter 99 -

Malia

"You're here to what?" Liam was the first to react, stepping forwards with a growl. Taking his place at Ty's side, I glanced back briefly at Alana who was now stiff as a board obviously on the edge of having her own nervous breakdown. "You can't, Ty-" He began but Ty placed his hand on Liam's chest as if to pull him back.

"Jordan I am the alpha of this pack now, you have no place here," Ty's voice was cold as he spoke but I had to feel proud of him. Thinking back to how far Ty had come as an alpha, I knew the boy he was only a month ago would have given Jordan the pack back in an instant, but Ty as stronger now, a better alpha than anyone could have ever asked for.

"Little brother I think you forget that I was the alpha to be of this pack for much longer than you. These are my warriors, my pack members, and you are just some filler until my grand return," Jordan took a threatening step forwards and my heart pounded, but Ty didn't back down. His stance was firm, his gaze unwavering on Jordan but I knew from the thoughts in Ty's mind his own doubt was creeping in. This pack had been so resistant to accept Ty as alpha, because everyone had always loved Jordan so much. Of course, they didn't know how evil his plans for the pack were, but that didn't matter right now. The warriors needed to side with Ty before this battle began.

Then out of no where Derek came into the room, his stance coming next to Ty, opposite of Liam. "We are not with you anymore. We will stand behind our true alpha, Tyrese,” Dereks voice rang clear through the room and my own anxiety calmed as Ty's doubts shifted away. His doubt quickly replaced with pride, realizing his pack was finally truly accepting him as an alpha, and they had his back no matter what was ahead of them.

Looking back up to Jordan, my body shivered once more. His gaze had turned colder than before, his eyes narrowed as they locked in on his brother and I could only imagine the terrible thoughts running through his mind. If Jordan had been holding this hope the whole time that the pack would be his to take back upon his return, seeing them back Tyrese would be a turning point for the battle ahead of us.

"I hope you're preparing for war then, if you even know how. This pack will be mine," Jordan snarled then turned and shifted, leaping forwards towards Ty who stumbled back in a flash, his arm snaking around me to hold me against his back for protection. Liam and Derek shifted as well, cornering Jordan, giving him no choice but to leap through the window behind us. I cringed turning my eyes back from the glass as it shattered across the floor. Then Ty was turning to face me, pulling my head into his chest. As my eye lids lifted I was met with his eyes burning into mine. Pure panic ran through them, his mind a jumbled mess of wondering what to do, what to expect, who to call.

"Ty," I reached up and brushed my hand to his cheek. You've got this. I told him and myself over and over again in my thoughts, and I knew he did. Our pack was a family now, we would tell everyone. We would get all the help we could and protect each other

The next few hours passed in a rush as the warriors and Ty planned their battle strategies. To me, Ty had delegated ensuring all pack members and townspeople were prepared and ready to protect the young and vulnerable. So Alana and I spent the remainder of the morning driving around town, warning everyone to stay in their homes. To the townspeople, we lied and said a storm was coming and thanks to the worries that filled my mind the dark clouds were already rolling in in the distance.

For those that didn't have shelter, I offered Ty and I's home as a safe place for people to hide. Just moments before the battle began a group of us huddled in the basement of our home, my hands held Alana's tightly as we gazed out the back window towards the trees. Just as he had promised, Ty's thoughts were running clear through my mind and I could feel his nerves rise as the rogues approached in the woods. There were more rogues than any of the previous battles, but Ty remained confident that they can handle it. The warriors would keep the rogues distracted, while Ty and Liam would focus on replaceing and killing Jordan. After his threats on the pack, there was no other choice. And even if Ty was choosing to hide this from his pack, I knew he was hurting over this.

"Malia," Ty's voice came into my mind, and I could sense his emotions running wild. Only moments from the beginning of the battle as the guilt in his stomach built up and I could feel his mood falling. "Malia, I can't kill my brother," the words came out broken and made my heart ache in my chest. Of course he couldn't, Ty was never that type of person. Family and his pack had always meant more to him than anything, and now here we were with a dilemma that no one could solve. Jordan was family, a part of Ty's pack, and this would never be the right move in Ty's mind. But I couldn't help him with this, there was no right answer anymore and I found myself at a loss for words. So I whispered back to him the only thing I knew for certain.

"I love you, and you are an amazing alpha. I know that no matter what happens today you will make the right decision for our family and for your pack," and with that Ty seemed to settle a little. His mind focused in, ready for what was ahead of us and I did the same. Alana and I took our seats on the floor beside the windows, our eyes on the door in front of us as we reminded ourselves of our exit strategy.

The battle began and Ty's mind went quiet as he focused in on one thing only, replaceing Jordan. Ty weaved through the trees trying to catch his scent, Liam following close behind him. Then suddenly I was pulled from Ty's thoughts as I heard a large crash upstairs.

"Lia what's wrong?" Ty's voice came through strong and I quickly shook him away.

"I'm okay, everything fine," I reminded him, urging myself to stay calm so that Ty didn't get distracted. Today of all days he needed to be focused on the battle ahead of him. I could take care of myself, I'm sure it was nothing. But then it came again and Alana squeezed my hand tighter.

"I'm going to go check it out okay," I whispered to her, taking a deep breath followed by a brave step forwards. I crept up the stairs slowly, hearing the shuffling of dishes in the kitchen. It couldn't be a wolf moving dishes, I was fine, maybe someone just showed up here looking for a safe place to stay. I kept assuring myself hoping for the best, then as I stepped into the room.

"Mom?" My jaw nearly dropped wide open as I met eyes with my disapproving mother for the second time in 24 hours. Her body was crouched against the kitchen floor, as she dug through a drawer of dishes, and on her reddened face I could see the faint lines of wet tears marks on her face. "What are you doing?" I asked slowly, unsure if I should dare step any closer to her.

"Do you hear the wolves out there? We're not safe. We need to protect ourselves. Do you have anything made with silver that we could use as a weapon? I won't let anything happen to us Malia, we're going to make it through this but you have to help me," she mumbled on, her voice becoming more hushed as she continued. Her gaze shifted back to the drawer, shuffling around more dishes, checking more cabinets for whatever she was looking for. My mind drifted back to the night she stabbed Ty, Even with her best intentions of protecting me I hadn't forgiven her for what happened, not even close. But she had saved me from Jordan's hold.

"What are you doing here mom? Why were you with Jordan? They kidnapped me, how could you be part of that?" I asked her the questions that were burning my mind. Taking a moment before she answered my mother took a deep breath then patted the floor beside her, gesturing me to take a seat. Slowly I came to sit on the cold tiles, awaiting an answer.

"When I was 12, my father - your grandfather, went out one night and never came home. He was attacked and killed by wolves in the woods. I've hated werewolves since that day, but then I fell in love with your father. I didn't know he was a werewolf until well into my pregnancy with you, but I was so in love that I had convinced myself maybe they weren't so bad. Then along came Savanah, your father was leaving us. I was hurt and scared, fearing that the wolves would turn on me, so we left. I never wanted this life for you, but it was wrong for me to keep you from it if this is where you are happy. I know that now. And I know it probably doesn't mean much, but I truly am sorry for attacking Ty, I hope he will give me another chance to make a better impression," my mothers hand came to fall on mine, squeezing it gently. Suddenly everything was becoming more clear, my moms fear of the wolves, the reason we left, the whole incident with Ty. So I squeezed her hand back, I appreciated her apology and getting her perspective even if I wasn't ready to forgive her yet.

"So I flew out here to give this big speech, only to be intercepted by that man and when I realized his horrible plans I knew I had to help you. He wanted my help, and I can be a pretty good actor when I need to be. I couldn't stop him from kidnapping you, but I could make sure you escaped and Ty would realize who the real enemy was. Please Malia I promise I am only here to help," she pleaded with me, her tear ducts filling with water as her eyes went wide, and I just knew she was telling the truth. Even if in this moment only, I could trust her.

"Then tell me something," I spoke next, ready to finally hear the answers I needed to hear from only her. "Are we witches?" She looked over me slowly then nodded her head and I released the breath I had been holding. Ty had been right. I was a witch. So was my mother. So was my grandmother, and her mother before her.

My mother's next words surprised me. "I didn't choose to live in this supernatural world, but I still know a lot, and if this is the life you are choosing I would be honoured if you would let me train you," my mother smiled at me now and even if this was just a first step in rebuilding out relationship, I gratefully accepted.

Together my mother and I returned to the basement, and I introduced her to the crowd of people. Then just as we were about to take our seats a loud howl broke through the air and my entire body froze up. That was Ty. In an instant I was on my feet and running through the back door and towards the sound. Unable to hold myself back I could finally feel my wolf coming forwards and I ran at full speed into the trees, the wind practically carrying me as it pushed me forwards. "Ty!" I screamed rushing to his side as he leaned back against a tree, blood soaking his chest from a large scratch across his back and another on his leg. 2 rogue wolves and a third wolf I recognized as Jordan hovered above him, while in the distance Liam was losing a fight against another set of rogues. We were out numbered.

"Stay away from him!" I screamed and Jordan turned to me, his dark eyes threatening as he stepped closer. Ty snarled and I watched as shifted into his wolf once more but I knew he was too weak to fight much longer. The rogues growled back towards him then as if my body were on fire I felt the wind rush through the air as I focused all my anger on Jordan. My eyes narrowed on him, and just as my mom had reminded me yesterday I let it all in. Finally remembering what my grandma had said, what I needed to remember; I was a storm to be reckoned with.

The sky turned dark in an instant and I watched as the rogue wolves began to cower under the howling winds. Rain began to pour down and the rumbling thunder grew louder as the lightening came closer and closer. A bolt struck down to the nearby ground making it shake and the rogues ears moved straight back, leading them to retreat back into the woods. Leaving Jordan now abandoned, alone in this battle.

Another bolt flashed through the sky, this time catching the tree next to Jordan, a fire igniting it's branches. Just a little bit closer and I would hit Jordan, I told myself but then an electric wave caught my hand and I looked down to see Ty wrapped his hand around mine. His eyes looking up to me with pride as if to say thank you, but I knew this wasn't how he wanted things to end.

"It doesn't have to be this way Jordan," Ty said over the rain and Jordan shifted back to his human form. His eyes still racing around the forest in panic. Ty slowly stood to his feet and reached out to help him but he stepped forwards, towards his brother, on his own. "You don't have to do this anymore. Come back to the pack house, we can talk calmly, sort this out. And when you are ready you can rejoin the pack," Ty offered and for a moment I watched Jordan's eyes lighten. Just as I thought he was going to agree then suddenly turned dark again, narrowing his cold gaze once more on Ty. I grabbed Ty's arm pulling him back but in an instant Ty's dad was bursting through the trees, lunging forwards at his son. "Dad no!" Ty screamed but he was already too late, for William's hand plunged a silver knife through his sons chest, a steady stream of tears flowing down his own cheeks. Jordan's eyes turned cold as he fell to the ground, the knife clearly piercing his heart. Ty bolted to his side, helping his body to the ground. He pulled the knife out, pressing his hands over the wound but the damage was already done.

"He lost his mate son, the madness had already taken over. There was nothing we could have done to save him," William's voice was hushed as he spoke to Ty and I knew he was suffering his own type of pain right now. Tears rushed down my cheeks as I felt Ty's emotions rush forwards mourning the final loss of his brother.

"You don't deserve what happened to you," Ty whispered, a tear rolling down his cheek as he hovered over Jordan's lifeless body.