Chapter 136: No Victory Without Sacrifice 

Killian’s POV 

“So, how did it turn out?” 

I recognized the voice as Leonidas’s. I was in no mood for conversation. Especially not with Exyson will song agony inside my head. It felt like my entire body was being torn apart 

“What do you think, Leonidas? Apologizing to the lover you already executed. Beaten fraglied with staney 

sweet tone. 

The one–eyed Beta winced. “Yeah, I can see that. But did she forgive you?” 

“She did. Isn’t she just the kindest soul?” 

A soft chuckle slipped from his lips. He stared straight at the settlement below from the high ground 

“You haven’t changed a bit. Still the gentle, tender–hearted girl, Leonidas said, reminiscing 

“I don’t think it’s normal. She should hate me, I answered bitterly 

I wiped my face in exhaustion. It would’ve been easier if she did. But, as always, everything about that gir defies logo for just don’t understand. 

“That’s the difference between us and Ruby, my King” 

Leonidas reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and placed it between his lips. A fame spated a telo raks curling above him. 

“I suppose that’s why she was reincarnated into a better life. Though I don’t believe in that stuff. Gods or Site, hey bre toying with people’s lives,” he said. 

I frowned. It wasn’t until Leonidas brought it up that I truly started thinking about all of this. Yes, something about it fet off Life rarely moves so smoothly. From the information I’d gathered, Ruby was living a life twice as blissful as what anyone could call ‘happy. Unlike her past. 

Everything comes at a price. 

A cold shiver ran down my spine. No. I didn’t want my suspicions to be true. That angel–hearted woman had suffered more than enough. I could only hope that, this time, fate wasn’t playing another cruel joke on her life. 

I will accept the pain of losing her in this life. But never again will I stand by and watch her drown in sorrow 

Leonidas patted my shoulder. “Grieve for as long as you need. You have every right to. But remember this. You’re not alone” 

A mocking laugh escaped me as I took the cigar he offered. 

“How sweet of you, Beta.” 

Leonidas, ever tactful, smoothly changed the topic. I appreciated that. I’d had enough of this heartbreak nonsense. I was genuinely happy that Leonidas had finally found his true mate: Sean. It was about time that bastard retired from his playboy 

career. 

Many women were heartbroken now that Leonidas was taken, and more so because his partner was a man. What disgusted me was that people still held onto their prejudice. If they had complaints or hatred, they should take it up with the Moon Goddess. She’s the one who fated Leonidas and Sean to be soulmates. 

“What do you think I should get him as a gift? He’s probably sulking because I’ve been away too long.” 

I rolled my eyes at the clinginess. “Anything he likes.” 

“Be more specific, Killian,” he grumbled. 

“Beta, I am your king,” I replied, my headache flaring. “Let me remind you for the thousandth time. Second, I’m a heartbroken man still crawling through the ruins of love and relationships. You’re asking advice from-” 

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air from afar. My instincts kicked in, and my red eyes scanned the surroundings Leonidas felt it too. He sniffed the air, and the ebony black in his eyes shifted to gold. 

“Your Majesty?” 

“Yes. We’re under attack. Move!” 

And then, the sky itself seemed to rip open. We ran a fact as we could. By the time we reached the outpost, it had already become a field of death. 

Successfully unlocked! 

I saw the vampires first. Pale, shrieking creatures with pivoustameu anys, nurling themselves against the outpost walls like a tide of death. Behind them, the orcs surged forward, massive and feral, their roars shaking the earth, crude swords catching the blaze of firelight. 

Rage boiled inside me. Damn it! Weren’t they supposed to have retreated back to the Underworld by now?! 

1/3 

Chapter 136: No Victory Without Sacrifice 

“Sound the alarm!” 

My scream echoed across the battlefield. My hand transformed into a massive claw, my voice cutting through the chaos. Many fierce warriors rose again, fueled by hatred. Too many had already fallen. The grief was still fresh. For these two cursed races to attack now, while our people were still mourning, was nothing short of a foolish mistake. 

Leonidas appeared by my side in an instant, a sword drawn where he’d gotten it, I didn’t know. It didn’t quite suit him, considering he was a Lycan like me. He grinned like a man possessed. 

“Looks like round two has begun, Your Majesty.” 

I clenched my teeth. “I’ll need more than wine and a vacation after this.” 

“You’re not alone in that, Your Majesty.” 

We fought our way toward the heart of the encampment. Wolves shifted mid–charge, soldiers rallied, and blades from other allied races flashed in the chaos. The earth churned with blood and mud. The air rang with the clash of steel and the cries of the dying. 

I spotted Rosalyn in the distance, clutching a small child in her arms, her face pale with fear as Mikael guided her toward the safety of the tents. 

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The only thing on my mind was her safety and her family’s. 

“Get them out of here!” I shouted to the nearby warriors. “Evacuate the women and children first!” 

“NOW!” 

The vampires howled in fury as we pushed them back into a corner. Arrows rained down like a black storm, wolves lunged, and slowly, inch by bloody inch, we began to reclaim ground. The tide of battle paused, then began to turn in our favor. 

“Move them to the western ridge!” Jayden’s voice cut through the chaos as he reached me, blood smeared across his face.” We’ve cleared a path. It’s our last shot!” 

I nodded. “Do it. All of you!” 

Displacement and Despair. 

I watched them evacuate. Families torn from their homes, their lives crammed into wagons, children sobbing, the wounded being dragged along. It felt like a dagger to the chest. No king ever wants to see his people flee like frightened prey. Not even a tyrant like me. 

I clenched my fists. This wasn’t about survival anymore. If this war dragged on any longer, civilians or humans would start to notice. And only the gods knew what would happen then. They would be exposed, and worse, this world would be swallowed by darkness. 

Jayden turned to me, his gaze sharp. “We can’t keep doing this, Killian. Every time we rebuild, they come back stronger. Sooner or later, we’ll fall.” 

“I have one idea. But it’s extremely risky.” 

He didn’t need to explain the whole damned thing. I could feel it deep in my bones. 

Jayden exhaled slowly, his voice grim. “We end this. With your idea or some other way. We wipe them out. Every last one of them.” 

Leonidas cursed under his breath. 

“And how exactly do you plan on luring them all to one place? You two have discussed this before.” 

Jayden’s expression darkened instantly. He clearly didn’t want to make his brother a martyr. And neither did I. 

“We did. But that plan needs revisiting,” he countered. 

“We’re running out of time, Jayden. That’s why I’ll do it,” Mikael said, stepping into the circle, his face pale. “I’ll draw them out. Lure them into the open. You finish it.” 

“No!” 

Rosalyn’s voice shattered the tension. 

“I won’t allow it! Don’t go. Please, Mikael!” 

I turned to see her standing there, that parentless baby clutched in her arms, her hair in disarray, eyes blazing. She was terrified and furious. 

“You can’t,” Rosalyn said, her voice trembling. 

“Mikael, you have to stay. With me.” 

“You promised me,” she whispered, tears clinging to her lashes. “We just had Elias. The twins. We all need you.” 

I could feel it every word. The love, the pain, the desperation. Even Leonidas lowered his head in silence. But above all the 

Chapter 136. No Victory Without Sacrifice 

emotions tangled in the air, one thing pierced through my heart more than anything else 

The way Ruby loved Mikael. 

“I won’t let you do this,” Rosalyn sobbed. 

But war does not wait for peace of heart. And I knew, in the silence between them, that he would go. 

“Forgive me, my love. I’ll try to come back to you as soon as I can, okay?” 

His thumb gently wiped away her tears. He kissed her with every ounce of feeling be had before turning away. Rosalyn clutched the innocent child tightly to her chest, her sobs breaking something inside me. Jayden’s expression shifted. His brother and his Beta was about to become a living bait. He looked shattered. 

“I’ll take his place,” Jayden said hollowly. 

I understood what he meant before anyone else did. When Jayden fell, Mikael would be the one whose name was written to have the final chance at survival. 

Mikael. 

I should have stepped in. But the end of a war dulls everything except instinct. Battle is pure slaughter. 

Mikael sprinted forward, a lone figure in the open, his voice rising, luring them out. And it worked. The monsters poured from the forest, blinded by hunger and bloodlust, chasing him straight into the trap. 

But as we closed in, we were too late. 

An orc’s blade slashed him down, bringing him to his knees. Mikael collapsed, blood staining the grass, his last breath leaving with Rosalyn’s name on his lips. Jayden stood over him, his face broken beyond repair. 

“I’m sorry, brother.” 

My blood roared in my ears. He had done it for the survival of his pack. But God, at what cost? I turned to see Rosalyn screaming, running toward us, her world shattering all over again. And I had failed to protect her from the miserable. 

♡ 

0 Likes 

Subscribed