Chapter 105: The Battle Begins Anna POV

Every breath was tinged with the weight of what lay ahead, and the night air was heavy with stress. The rebels' bodies were tense with expectation as they stood at the forest's edge, concealed by the thick undergrowth. The clearing where Oliver's fortress stood in the distance was stricken with weird shadows as moonlight seeped through the treetops. 

To steady myself, I shifted my weight and clenched my fingers into fists. I thought the others could hear how loudly my heart was beating. 

I heard a sharp crack to my left. I snapped my head in the direction of the sound, every muscle in my body tensing up.

Beside me, Lucas stiffened, his hand already reaching for his blade. Maia froze, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows. 

Out of the darkness came two bright golden eyes. 

For a painful moment, I mistakenly believed it to be one of Oliver's scouts. Then the figure moved closer, a solitary, gaunt wolf with ribs showing through its matted coat. Tail tucked, it blinked at us before creeping back into the trees. 

I let out a sigh of relief, but the group's tension remained high. 

"False alarm," Maia mumbled, shaking her head. "But we might not be that lucky next time." 

She was right. 

Before chaos broke out, this was the last peaceful moment we would have. 

I looked back toward the stronghold, where the walls were framed by long, jagged shadows from the burning fires. It looked the same as when I had fled—cold, unforgiving, a cruel prison wrapped in stone. 

But this time, I was returning as a formidable force rather than a victim. 

Lucas moved next to me. He whispered, "We can still back out," low enough that only I could hear. "You don’t have to do this, Anna." 

I looked up into his fierce eyes. His worry was genuine, almost tangible. But I shook my head. "Yes, I do." 

We were silent for a long moment. His jaw tightened as he finally let out a quick exhale. "Then let’s end this." 

I nodded. 

I made a small hand gesture to the rebels. The time had come. 

We divided into two groups and advanced quickly. Before the guards could raise the alarm, the first wave silently scaled the walls. Lucas and I were part of the second group that stormed the front gates. 

I struck the first enemy before they could even react. A raw, untamed surge of power poured through me, and I swung my wrist to send the warrior flying into the stone wall. He collapsed on the ground, motionless. 

From within the stronghold came shouts. 

The battle had begun. 

With bodies colliding and weapons clanging, the rebels poured in. Snarls and shouts filled the air. 

I didn't think twice. I plunged into the chaos, dodging a sword that was aimed at me. A warrior attacked, and I met him with a burst of energy so intense he was thrown backward, crashing into two others. 

Despite the intoxicating power, I couldn't afford to lose control. Not now. 

Beside me, Lucas was a blur, his claws cutting through foes with deadly precision. His movements were calculated and deliberate—until I saw the danger. 

"Lucas, behind you!" 

He was too slow to turn. 

One of Oliver's elites, a massive warrior, charged at him with a blade raised for the kill.

Without thinking, I reacted.

I held out my hand, and the air crackled. I felt a rush of energy, and an invisible force yanked the warrior back. With a sickening thud, he hit the ground. 

Lucas turned back to me, his eyes wide, his chest heaving. 

The battlefield momentarily faded. The sounds of combat dimmed, and it was just us. 

An unspoken promise passed between us. 

Then the moment shattered with a deafening roar. 

A towering figure emerged, and the battlefield seemed to part for him. 

Oliver. 

His presence demanded immediate stillness as his golden eyes burned with rage. 

The fighting ceased. 

Even the rebels, who had been locked in fierce combat, paused. 

Oliver snarled, "You should have stayed gone, girl," his voice gravelly. Dark amusement flickered in his eyes as he glanced at Lucas. "And you. The traitor returns." 

Lucas's entire body stiffened like a coiled spring as he growled low in his throat. "I didn’t come back for you." 

Oliver's grin widened. "No, I doubt you did. But that doesn’t matter. Because neither of you will leave this place alive." 

With all eyes on me, I took a step forward, feeling their weight. 

I said steadily, "I'm not the same omega who ran from you. And I’m sure as hell not afraid of you anymore." 

Oliver laughed, his voice low and menacing. "We’ll see about that."

Then he lunged without warning. 

The battle erupted again, but this time it was more than chaos. It was war. 

Oliver moved faster than I remembered. His claws tore through the air, missing me by inches. 

I fought back, sending a shockwave that sent him back.

I thought I was in control. 

Then he recovered, too quickly. 

He closed the distance with terrifying speed, slamming his fist into my side. Pain exploded in my ribs, and I was thrown back, hitting the ground hard. 

"Anna!" Lucas's voice was sharp with fear. 

I ignored the pain and pushed myself to my feet. I couldn't afford to be weak. Not now. 

Oliver smirked. "Is that all you’ve got?" 

I wiped the blood from my lip. "Not even close." 

The ground shook beneath us. 

The dust was stirred by a howling wind that swept across the battlefield. Both Oliver's troops and the rebels stumbled, their gaze darting around in bewilderment. 

My power then spiked. 

Inside me, the energy coiled fiercely and relentlessly. And I didn't hold back this time. 

I let it out with a cry. 

Warriors were knocked off their feet as the blast ripped through the battlefield. Oliver braced himself, his eyes expanding slightly, almost out of curiosity rather than fear. 

I steadied myself by clenching my fists. I could feel it now, the wholeness of my potential.  

But Oliver wasn't finished. 

He stepped forward through the debris, a smile on his face as if nothing had happened. 

Then—he moved. 

Too fast. 

He was in front of me before I could respond, his hand firm on my throat. 

Air was out of my lungs. 

"Impressive," he said softly, cocking his head downward. "But you’re still not strong enough to defeat me." 

I clawed at his grip, my vision blurring. 

No. 

This wasn't how it would end. 

I summoned my strength once more, pushing past the pain and the fear— 

Then I felt it, as everything turned black. 

A surge. 

Stronger than before. 

Unstoppable. 

This time, Oliver felt it too. 

For the first time, I saw it in his eyes. 

Fear.