Transmigrated: The Lycan King's Pet-Chapter 399 Grief & Sacrifice

His name tore from the depths of my soul.

Time seemed to stand still, the only thing I could hear was the pounding of my heart against its cage.

I froze in my spot as realization dawned on me. ’He used the bullet on him... he f**king used the moment on him.’

My mind refused to believe it, ’it can’t be true... this can not be real.’

The sound of the gunshot still echoed faintly in the air. My breath hitched, afraid that if I took a breath, time might start moving fast again.

My eyes lingered on Damon as his body collapsed to the ground. His form flickered helplessly between his wolf and his human form, struggling to decide what it was allowed to be.

Blood poured out beneath him, spreading all over him, soaking into the charred earth.

Alpha Lucas’ laughter tore through the air, snapping me out of my daze.

The sound cut through me worse than a bullet ever could. It was loud and free and full of joy and satisfaction. He threw his head back, laughing like this moment was the moment he had been waiting for so long.

"I told you," he said, his voice clear and proud as it carried across the battlefield. "I told you I would take the hope you had from you."

Something inside me broke completely. All the fear I had been swallowing, all the pain I had been forcing myself to survive, all the helplessness I had tried not to feel came crashing down at once.

My chest burned so badly I thought my heart might tear itself apart. My vision blurred, and a rage I had never known before surged through my veins, wild and uncontrollable.

"Layla," I screamed, my voice desperate and raw.

Power slammed into me like a wave, fierce and untamed. My eyes burned as they changed to purple with golden rings spinning deep within them.

The binds holding me cracked loudly, then shattered completely.

Pain ripped through my body as my bones broke and rearranged, and claws protruded from my fingers, my fangs elongated out of my mouth.

Layla burst free with a snarl that tore through the air. She launched straight at Alpha Lucas, her claws slashing across his face before he could even react. His blood sprayed warm against her fur, and his cry followed, sharp with shock and fury.

"Layla, go to Damon," I said in fear.

Damon was everything that mattered to me.

Layla turned and ran towards him, her paws pounding against the ground as my heart screamed his name over and over again.

When she got to his side, her gaze saddened, she walked slowly towards and nudged him gently, whining as she tried to make him move, to make him breathe, to make him stay.

Her strength was fading too fast, slipping away like sand. She could not hold the form anymore. I shifted back, collapsing beside him on my knees. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

His body shuddered and forced itself back into his human form as well. The wound in his chest was horrible. The bullet had torn through him, lodging inside his chest.

His body tries to heal, fighting so hard, but it could not. Blood kept spilling out, I inhaled sharply, pressing my hand against his wound to stop the blood flow.

"Damon," I whispered, my voice shaking so badly it barely sounded like mine.

His hand found mine. It was weak and cold, but he lifted it with effort and pressed it against his cheek, smearing his blood across my skin. His eyes were glossy with pain, but they never left my face.

"I failed you," he whispered. "I failed you and our child."

"No," I cried, shaking my head as tears poured down my face. "No, you didn’t, you never failed me. Not once."

His body convulsed as he gasped for air, blood spilling from his mouth. Tears slipped silently down his face, heavy and painful, as his fingers tightened weakly around mine like he was afraid to let go.

I pulled him closer, cradling him against my chest, sobbing so hard it felt like my heart was being ripped apart piece by piece. A wail tore out from my throat, raw and broken, echoing across the battlefield.

The pain shot through all my body, the grief was like madness, in the same way as falling in love.

But I’d rather be mad for love, than grief... but is there really a line between them? If there was, it was as thin as a strand of hair.

"Don’t you dare leave me," I begged. "Please. Stay with me... Just stay... please... Damon!"

Behind me, Alpha Lucas laughed again, louder than before.

"My years of planning have finally paid off," he said, his voice thick with triumph. "Bring me his head."

The werewolves behind suddenly let out growls, before running towards us.

Everything slowed for a moment.

It was like time itself wanted me to see everything before it ended. My vision stretched across the battlefield, and suddenly I could see it all.

I saw Theo surrounded by werewolves, outnumbered and bleeding, still fighting even as his body shook from exhaustion. I did not know why I could see him, but it felt like the whole world had opened its eyes through mine.

I saw Seraphina and Uncle Zeir struggling to hold back the Greater Evil, they were tired, their magic flickering like dying flames. I saw bodies everywhere. I saw lives lost. I saw the land burned to ash and soot...

...The world was dying.

Tears slid down my cheeks as the truth settled deep inside me. I knew then, there was no more running from it.

This was it.

I lowered my head and pressed a soft kiss into Damon’s hair, breathing him in like I could somehow keep him with me that way.

His dark hair which resembled the night was covered in blood, I ran my fingers through it. Those eyes as dark as the depth of the sea were still as beautiful as ever.

"I love you," I muttered, pressing another kiss on his forehead.

His hand reached for me, desperation flooding his eyes as realization hit him too. His lips trembled, and though there were so many things he wanted to say, only one word escaped him.

"No."

I pulled away slowly, every part of me screaming in protest. My legs shook as I stood and stepped in front of him just as the werewolves rushed forward, their eyes burning with bloodlust.

My magic was gone. I could feel the emptiness clearly now... however, I was still the seed.

’So much for a second chance... however it was worth it, no matter how short-lived it was.’

"Layla," I whispered. "If there is a next life, let’s meet again."

Her voice came back soft and warm, already fading. "It was nice meeting you, Ember. I hope we meet again."

My fingers curled into claws as I glanced back one last time. Damon was crawling toward me, dragging himself through his own blood, his eyes filled with fear and love and unbearable pain.

"I love you," I said softly. "Now and forever."

Tears streamed down my face as I turned away, my shoulders shaking with sobs. I placed a trembling hand over my belly.

"I’m sorry," I whispered. "Mommy wasn’t able to protect you."

Then I plunged my claws into my chest, tearing through my flesh and bone. I forcefully ripped out my own heart.