Outside the gallows, around the main areas of the kingdom, the growling of an enraged woman could be heard.

”Where is it? Where is she!”

“Again looking for something which doesn't belong to you, Nazareth?”

Nazareth shifts her attention where the caustic voice came from. It doesn't take even a minute for her rage to rise even more once she was eye to eye with the latter. “Master Zebulon.” Nazareth hisses.

The man scoffs subtly at Nazareth's calling as he responds, “At least, you still tend to pay respect with your words if not with your act.”

A mocking chuckle then comes from Nazareth's mouth before her voice can be heard. “No matter how unfair I'm treated, I always know how to react, how to act, how to protect my clan from the cheaters' attack.”

“Hmm… Are you certain about the cheating part? I mean, I doubt if you are aware of the actual meaning of cheating. But then again, I am convinced as well of you having pretty much an idea about it since you're the master of it.” Zebulon purrs in a scornful manner. And by judging the offended face of Nazareth, it seemed to have worked the way Zebulon wanted even.

“And you're, master of the Aurelius, which claims to believe in honesty, have evaded my clan, my culture, and me. What will be your take on this?”

Zebulon raises one of his eyebrows at the lady's statement. “You have dictated the battle, which you're getting and you're technically already on it. What else?”

“It wasn't me to dictate this but the destiny to fate this.” Nazareth snaps.

“Well destiny has also called for many other things but you seem to only care about the ones which cater you. Which is not surprising by any means. Anyway, why are you so eager for an infant? Has your power gone down to a path that you're now only able to fight a child? Or are you frightened to a pitch of the fact that she's going to end you overwhelmingly soon that you want to end her right away?”

Well, neither Zebulon was entirely wrong nor was he entirely right. It was true that Nazareth wished to end Azura right away. But the reasons that Zebulon had listed weren't true in any way. Specifically not the one about her being scared. At least according to Nazareth, she wasn't scared. However, the look on her face said otherwise.

And Nazareth was so ready to prove her take but before any noise she could make, another voice which sounded to be Alexios' tone, sparked in.

“Subtle your enthusiasm, Nazareth. You will have to wait a little bit for Azura to dreadfully distinguish you.” Alexios glances confidently at Zebulon after his statement to which the latter smiles back in pride.

However, Nazareth was nowhere near having it all. Besides, she had enough. “Borealis!” Nazareth screams furiously before her tone settles down a little as she screeches. “Finish them. Finish Aurelius.”

Right after Nazareth's order, the henchmen of Borealis start shifting into their wolf forms. Aurelius fighters along with Alexios and Zebulon also turn as wolves.

Alexios' wolf semblance had a golden shade of fur coat with a blend of greyish tone on some certain areas. His eyes were ash grey just like the blended grey tone on his coat.

On the other hand, the appearance of Zebulon's wolf shift was just massive. Just like the size of his form. He was larger compared to the regular hybrids. But that can be a reason for him being way much older than them. Yes, he was ancient among them and had been mastering his juniors for centuries.

Besides, his looks also demonstrated his background. He was a pure white wolf with pure blue eyes and the wrinkles of old age could even be sensed through his fur folds. But the strength and capability he had, was still just mastered amongst all. Since he was the reason that most of them were even able to be in the battlefield.

Nazareth just grunts in reaction being in her human form. She motions her pack as they growl and start running towards their rivals.

Alexios howls along to empower his pack as they also run ahead until both of the clans collide. They start howling and mauling each other. Claws digging into fur until it reaches the flesh and tears it apart.

When some of the wolves start attacking Nazareth, she just uses her spear to defend herself and defect them. For a couple of moments she keeps brawling them one after one. Until she gets off guard when the alpha wolf crouches over her. She tries stabbing her spear into him, only to have it broken by the wolf's slash. Alexios was way excessively hovered that Nazareth had to release her claw and scratch him.

Once Alexios was off of her, she took a breath of slight relief before surging back in position to face him. Alexios howled at her as she lowered herself and a coat of red fur began covering her body. She got on her four feet as she screamed in her wolf form. Her fur was the same as her hair. Blood red with an elegant spark. Her proportion was also larger than Alexios' and many others. But not more than Zebulon's. However, her spirit was undoubtedly above and beyond.

Nazareth was so close to quivering Alexios. However, something takes her attention to the other side. It was the scent. Scent of Diana and probably some signals that she had just given birth to an alpha.

That shifts Nazareth's focus from Alexios to the direction from which the scent was coming. Alexios realises where the lady was heading to. He begins looking for Zebulon but he is nowhere to be seen. And he couldn't even keep his act of worrying when he gets attacked by some Borealis wolves. Now he must take care of himself before he thinks about anything or anyone else. He just wished for Diana and hopefully his entire pack's safety even if he knew that it was impossible for them to be saved that day.

______

Several Aurelius wolves tried their best to prevent Nazareth from reaching the queen. But she knocked all of them down in just a blink that one could not even a moment to think. Soon after, the smell increased enough to know that she was right there.

However, she was rather welcomed by Zebulon instead of Diana. Nazareth wanted to meet Diana the most at this moment. She had enough of the Zebulon.

“Do you not get tired of losing or has losing become your passion, master?” Nazareth growls in an annoyed tone.

“Well I'm not sure about myself, but you seem a little tired already.” Zebulon grunts smoothly.

Nazareth sighs before she looks up again at Zebulon. “Well I'm tired of just nitpicking you, master. Now I guess it's time to completely knock you off.”

The man chuckles vaguely at the latter's remark while remarking himself. “Been hearing this ever since.”

And that was literally enough that Nazareth could have. She didn't waste another moment as she dashed out to Zebulon. The man lifted his claws as motion that he was ready to fight. Nazareth crouches over the other wolf but he defends himself. Zebulon then does the same but Nazareth also gets to escape the attack. They both then sprint back at each other. Attacking, dodging and leaving several light scratches and bruises over each other's fur.

Until Zebulon seizes the moment and gashes Nazareth's jaw, making the skin under the fur tear a little and blood spilling over it. Because of the shade of Nazareth's fur, the blood couldn't be seen clearly, but could be felt. Nazareth felt it clearly. Way too clearly.

“Nazareth!”

Zebulon would have been torn apart by this moment if Nazareth wasn't taken aback by the familiar feminine voice that called her name. “Diana…” Nazareth grunts subtly as she looks at the queen of Aurelius.

Zebulon on the other hand, was both shocked and surprised to see Diana standing bravely in her place when she had just been in labour a few moments ago. She also had blood rolled over her waist to the bottom area through the robe. He couldn't even imagine how much pain she was going through and still she was here from her whole will.

“Diana… You shouldn't be…” Zebulon says in a concerned manner to the latter.

The queen just smiles as she starts walking towards Zebulon. Nazareth decides to just observe the moment at the moment. “I have to be. It has to be and we both are aware of it precisely–” Diana couldn't keep a hold on her speech when her lips stayed still with a gasp. Zebulon was stunned to see that Nazareth had slashed Diana's back with her sharp wolf nails.

Zebulon went furious at the sight as he howled his heart out. “Nazareth!” He was so ready to barge at the fierce red wolf but was stopped by Diana.

“Master, no! She's deliberately doing this to make you break the law of destiny. No one can stop her right now. But Azura can. And for that, she needs you. Aurelius needs you. Please, leave, master. Please…” Diana cries in pain as she tries her best to make Zebulon understand.

Although Zebulon was already aware of it, even better than Diana, he couldn't take over his emotions especially at the thought of losing Diana and Alexios. Which was bound to happen anyway.

And just as Zebulon was sweeping over his emotions, he was snatched to reality instantly when he hears Diana yelping in pain because of another hit by Nazareth. He knew that the pain must be so intense that one would probably scream their soul. But Diana… Was just Diana.

“Diana!” Zebulon growls.

“Master!” Diana screamed and only that one word was enough for Zebulon to understand Diana's message. All her statements were hidden behind her tearful eyes. All her requests were placed in her movements. The last expression of her that Zebulon could witness was her smile that she beams while nodding. Zebulon nods back to her before he moves backward and turns his back. The next thing that Diana knew, Zebulon was finally gone. She takes a reliving breath.

While Nazareth on the other hand, was taking a breath of frustration as she seemed so close to running behind Zebulon. However, a pair of sharp nails were gripped in her hack. She groans in slightly subtle pain as she looks behind.

“Weren't you tired of nitpicking on master Zebulon, Nazareth? How about we have a real battle right here?”