Chapter 198: Preparations.
*~Hazel’s POV~*
Boom! I went back to where I came from
My heart was pounding so loud it echoed in my ears. My eyes flew open, lungs gasping for air.
I shot upright just as I saw Lilith leaning over me. Aurora was right beside her, clutching her own arms tightly as she stared at the triplets’ bodies, hope flickering in her eyes. But when none of them moved, that flicker faded.
Lilith spoke first. "Did you see them? Did the spell work?"
She pinched the bridge of her nose when I didn’t answer immediately. Aurora stumbled backward, her voice breaking.
"Oh my god... so they’re not here. Why? Why?"
She nearly collapsed, but Lilith caught her.
"Calm down," Lilith said. "She hasn’t said anything yet. Don’t jump to conclusions."
"I saw them," I said finally, my voice barely a whisper.
Both of them turned sharply. "What?" Aurora blinked.
"Yes," I nodded. "I saw them. They’re alive. They’re well. But they refused to come back."
"What do you mean they refused?!" Aurora cried, eyes wide with disbelief.
"I tried," I whispered, voice tight. "I tried everything. I begged. I fought. But they’re protecting me—and our babies. They said if they return, nature will come for me and the twins. So they made their decision. They’re choosing to sacrifice themselves to nature."
Lilith exhaled deeply, her face falling into somber understanding.
"So they’re choosing death... for all of us," she murmured.
"Yes," I said. "But I have another idea. Where is Alice? She said she saw Dahlia’s location, right?"
Lilith and Aurora shared a confused glance.
I stood up slowly, energy rushing back into my limbs.
"We’re not sacrificing the triplets," I said. "We’re sacrificing the vampires."
Both women looked at me like I’d just spoken in another language.
"What are you saying?" Lilith asked cautiously.
"If we can separate the vampires from Dahlia," I explained, "we force the entire bloodline away from her—pull them into the open. Once we do that, we hand them over to nature. It’s not about killing them one by one. It’s about handing over the lineage."
"But Hazel," Aurora said, brows furrowed, "your twins are part of that bloodline. And Cyrius too. How would that even work?"
"My babies have vampire blood, yes," I nodded. "But they’re not full vampires. They’re Crescent-Witch-Wolf hybrids. Losing their vampire side won’t kill them. It’ll just weaken them... enough that nature no longer sees them as a threat.
"And Cyrius?" Lilith asked, still hesitant.
"He wasn’t born a vampire. Magic made him one. If nature takes the vampire side, he’ll lose that—nothing more. His wolf will remain."
Lilith slowly led me to the bed and sat me down, her hands shaking slightly as she held mine.
"Are you really sure about this?" she asked. "Hazel... this is dangerous. What you’re suggesting—it means going after Dahlia without the triplets. That woman is nearly invincible. Even with them, it’s a suicide mission."
"I’m sure," I said, staring her in the eye. "We don’t have a choice. The triplets won’t return unless nature takes something. And I’m not letting that something be them. Or my twins. So it has to be the vampires."
Lilith hesitated. "But going to her without them—Hazel, it’s very risky."
I squeezed Lilith’s hand. "Then we’ll find a way to make it not risky. You, Aurora, and Alice—you’re all powerful witches. You and Alice also have Crescent blood. I’m Crescent too, and now I have the entire pack under my control. I am the Alpha."
My voice didn’t tremble. Not this time.
"Mother... I believe we can do this. The only thing we can’t afford right now is doubt. Doubt is the beginning of defeat. The women who begin to fear have already begun to lose. We need to stand strong. We cannot falter. Are you with me?"
Lilith swallowed thickly. Then she nodded.
Alice stood. "Let me get my sister."
She rushed out. Not even a full minute later, Aurora returned beside her.
"You’re back," I said softly.
Alice’s eyes immediately drifted to the triplets’ bodies. She took a sharp breath.
"They’re not back."
"No," I replied. "They refused to come. And I doubt they’ll still be in the location where you first saw them. Dahlia moves frequently—too frequently to track. But I don’t believe she’ll be far."
"Good," I said. "I’ve already called Leon. He’s arranging the men."
I looked at everyone in the room. "So... who’s going with me?"
Lilith didn’t hesitate. She stood and grabbed my hand.
"Wherever you’re going," she said firmly, "I’m going. I won’t let you face that monster alone."
I nodded and turned to Alice and Aurora. They both nodded silently, ready to fight.
But I turned to Aurora.
"You’re not coming."
"What?" Her eyes widened. "Why not?"
"Because I need someone to stay with my babies. And with the High House," I said gently. "When we leave, I’ll be taking every powerful figure we have. You’ll be the only strong protector left behind. I know it sucks. I know it’s hard. But I hope you understand."
She blinked back tears. Then nodded.
She turned to Alice and me. "Please... please come back alive. I just found you, sister. Losing you again would be like losing my life. Don’t do that to me."
Alice smiled and gently touched Aurora’s cheek.
"Aren’t you sweet?" she whispered. "Don’t worry. I’ll be back. I haven’t even gotten the chance to know you properly. You think I’d miss that? I’ll be back."
She turned to me. I nodded.
Then we moved.
We descended to the ground floor. Leon had already gathered the warriors. The front doors swung open. I stepped out into the open, and everyone stood at attention.
They weren’t expecting a speech. But I gave them one anyway.
"I’m proud of you," I said loudly. "Every single one of you—thank you. Thank you for coming here. Thank you for being willing to risk everything."
I took a breath. "In this war, promise me one thing: be your brother’s keeper. Don’t fight for your own life. Fight for the one next to you. Trust each other. Put your life in their hands, and fight like hell for theirs. If we do that—if we fight together—we don’t lose."
They all nodded. Quiet but firm.
"In the next hour, we leave," I said. "Be prepared."
The crowd broke into scattered groups, preparing weapons, shifting into gear, readying their minds for battle.
I turned to Leon, and he turned to me at the same time.
"We’ll be leaving soon," he said. "We don’t have the strength to take every wolf, but we have enough. And wolves... run faster than anything."
"Exactly," I nodded. "Have them shift into their forms. Speed will be key."
I turned to Alice. "Is Dahlia’s location far?"
Alice narrowed her eyes. "From where I saw her last, it would take about two hours on foot. But in wolf form? They’ll get there in thirty minutes."
"Are you shifting too?" she asked.
I shook my head. "No. We’ll be taking the carriage. Let the wolves go ahead. We’ll meet them there."
Leon nodded in agreement. "I really hope this plan works."
Just then, Klaus stepped out—already dressed in full armor. We all turned and busted out laughing.
"You’re really this serious, sir?" Leon teased. Klaus twisted his lips. "Argh. C’mon, let’s go."