Callista sat in the grand chamber, her mind racing with the revelation she had just received. The prophecy. Her destiny. The weight of it all pressed against her chest like an immovable boulder. She could feel the magic within her trembling, as though it, too, was uncertain of what was to come.
Sabrina watched her closely, her expression unreadable. "You have a choice, Callista. But time is not on your side."
Before she could respond, a sharp pain pierced through her heart. She gasped, clutching at her chest. A voice echoed in her head, weak but unmistakable.
Callista… It was Lucien.
Her breath caught. The mate bond was calling to her, stronger than ever before. She shut her eyes, trying to focus. And then she saw it—a vision of fire and blood. The Blue Moon Pack was under attack.
"No," she whispered, horror dawning upon her.
The warlock standing beside her stepped forward. "You see it, don't you? This was their plan all along. Keeping you here was a distraction."
Callista turned to Sabrina, fury igniting in her eyes. "You used me."
Sabrina merely smiled. "You needed to see where your loyalties lie. Now you know."
The pain in her chest intensified, and she felt Lucien's strength waning. If she didn't act now, it would be too late.
With newfound determination, Callista embraced the mate bond completely. The rush of power that followed was unlike anything she had ever felt before. Energy surged through her veins, her magic burning brighter than ever. The pull toward Lucien was unbearable.
She lifted her hands and began chanting. A powerful gust of wind surrounded her, swirling with ancient energy as she cast a spell to reveal what was happening to Lucien's pack.
The sight before her stole her breath. The pack was in ruins. Witches roamed the battlefield, their magic striking down werewolves left and right. The warriors of the Blue Moon Pack fought bravely, but they were outmatched. And in the center of it all, Lucien stood—bloodied, weakened, but still fighting.
It was her fault. She had been too hesitant, too blinded by doubt. The mate bond was crucial, and by rejecting it for so long, she had unknowingly drained Lucien's strength.
Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them away. There was no time for regret. She had made her decision.
She turned back to Sabrina, her voice trembling with rage. "You will regret this."
Sabrina only smirked. "We'll see."
Without another word, Callista summoned every ounce of magic within her and tore through space itself. The room around her blurred, and in an instant, she was gone.
When she opened her eyes again, she was standing in the middle of the battlefield.
The fight came to a halt. Gasps echoed through the clearing as witches and werewolves alike turned to look at her. Callista stood tall, power radiating from her very being. And then, her gaze met Lucien's.
He staggered toward her, his lips parting in disbelief. "Callista…?"
She clenched her fists, magic crackling at her fingertips. "I'm here."
A deadly silence hung over the battlefield before she took a single step forward, her voice ringing out for all to hear.
"This war ends tonight."