Rejected and Claimed by her Alpha Triplets-Chapter 284 - lost men

284

~Rowan’s POV

The night was fire and blood.

The sound of metal and roars filled the air as I swung my sword into another man’s chest. He screamed, dropped his weapon, and fell beside me. My breath came hard and rough. The pain in my chest burned, but I forced it down. I couldn’t feel weak now. Not when my brothers were fighting too.

"Rowan, behind you!" Kael shouted.

I spun just in time, blocking a blade that came for my neck. I growled and pushed forward, shoving the attacker to the ground and stabbing him in the throat.

"Thanks," I said quickly.

Kael gave a tight grin. "Don’t thank me yet. There’s more coming!"

He was right. From the shadows, more intruders rushed at us, masked men, covered in black. They were fast, ruthless. But we were faster. Damon was ahead of us, his claws slicing through two men at once. Even poisoned, he fought like the demon they called him.

"Push forward!" Damon roared. "Don’t let them surround us!"

His voice cut through the noise, strong and commanding. Even the guards nearby straightened up, forming tighter lines.

"Archers!" I yelled, turning toward the walls. "Form on both sides! Aim for the ones coming through the west gate!"

"Yes, Alpha!" the captain shouted.

The archers moved fast, climbing to the balconies. The sound of their bows being pulled echoed.

"Loose!" I ordered.

Arrows rained down, hitting the men trying to climb the palace wall. A few fell backward, their screams mixing with the sound of steel and growls.

Kael slashed through another enemy and spat on the ground. "Damn, there are too many of them!"

"We hold!" Damon growled. His voice was deeper now, his wolf still half out. "We don’t lose our home to cowards!"

Another explosion sounded behind us, near the stables. Fire flared up, lighting the courtyard in orange and red.

I gritted my teeth. "They’re trying to burn us out!"

Kael yelled, "Rowan! Tell the guards to cover the left wing. The fire will spread!"

"Do it!" I barked to one of the men nearby. "Take ten archers and stop that fire. Don’t let it reach the armory!"

The man nodded and ran off.

Damon slashed another man down and turned to us. "Form a defense circle here. Archers stay above, others in front, swordsmen behind. No one passes through."

Kael gave a quick nod. "Got it."

We moved fast. The guards formed a ring around us while some of the guards stood at the front line, teeth bared and ready. Arrows flew over our heads, hitting anyone who tried to break the formation.

"Hold!" Damon shouted. "Hold the line!"

The enemies crashed into us like a wave. I blocked, slashed, and kicked, blood splattered across my clothes. Kael fought beside me, his movements wild but strong. Damon stayed at the center, commanding every guard that came close.

"Rowan!" Kael yelled. "On your left!"

I turned, swung my sword, and cut through another man. "Got him!"

Kael grinned, though his face was streaked with blood. "Still alive, brother?"

"Barely," I muttered. "You?"

"Hurting," he said, swinging again, "but not dying."

I almost laughed, but there was no time. Another group of intruders jumped down from the wall.

"Archers, above!" I shouted. "Take them out now!"

The archers obeyed, loosing another wave. Arrows struck, and two men fell instantly. But more came after them.

Damon growled, his voice rough and deep. "Where the hell are they all coming from?"

I blocked another attack and said through clenched teeth, "It’s an organized raid. Someone sent them."

Kael’s eyes narrowed. "Then that someone will pay for this."

We pushed forward together, step by step, forcing the attackers back toward the garden. The ground was slick with blood. The smell of smoke stung my nose. I could feel my arms growing weak, but I didn’t stop swinging.

Damon barked another order. "Guards from the east! Cover the right flank! No one goes around us!"

"Yes, Alpha!"

Arrows kept flying. The archers above never stopped, even when the heat from the fire reached them.

Kael panted beside me. "They just keep coming! We can’t hold all night like this!"

Damon’s voice cut through the chaos. "Then we end it before sunrise!"

I saw the look in his eyes, pure determination. Even with poison burning in his blood, he fought like death itself. He ripped through the enemies, tearing, slashing, crushing. The sight of him made the guards fight harder.

"Keep pushing!" I shouted. "They’re breaking!"

We moved together, Damon leading the front, Kael and I covering both sides. We struck with everything we had left. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my breath coming short, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t letting them win.

Suddenly, one of the guards shouted, "Alpha! The south gate! They’re trying to breach it!"

Kael turned immediately. "I’ll go!"

"No!" Damon barked. "You stay with Rowan. I’ll send men there!"

He pointed at two guards. "Take ten guards. Block the gate! Kill anything that breathes wrong!"

The men ran off immediately.

The noise around us grew louder, swords clashing, wolves snarling, men screaming.

I yelled to the archers, "Focus fire on the courtyard! Take out the ones hiding near the statues!"

Arrows flew again, piercing through armor and flesh. Blood splashed on the stones. The intruders began to falter.

Kael grinned, eyes wild. "They’re losing ground!"

"Then don’t stop!" Damon roared. "Finish it!"

We pushed harder. I drove my sword through another man’s chest. Kael tore through two at once. Damon crushed another’s neck with his claws.

One by one, they started to fall. The ground was littered with bodies, smoke, and the smell of iron.

When the last few tried to run, Damon growled, "No survivors."

Our men chased them down, fast and deadly. Within minutes, silence filled the courtyard; only the crackle of fire remained.

I dropped to one knee, panting, blood on my hands.

Kael stood beside me, breathing hard. "We need to match the north wing now."

I heard the hoofbeats before I saw them, a hard, tired rhythm that cut through the after-smoke. Then the heavy gate opened and men poured in, armor dented, faces streaked with blood and ash.

At their head rode Captain Hald, the commander of our soldiers. He slid from his horse, breathing hard, and his hand went to his chest in a quick, rough salute.

"Your Majesties," he said, voice ragged. "Forgive us. We came as fast as we could."

"You’re late," I said flatly, but I did not yell.

Hald’s face fell. "We were set upon on the western road. They... they struck our column. We fought them off, but we lost men. I’m sorry. We should’ve been here sooner."