Heirs, 48

(POV: Renata)

"Scarlett, step away from her," Deniel orders at my side, his firm voice echoing in the tense air.

"Deni," she exclaims with a glimmer of happiness, "What are you doing here? Did you come to honor me?" She asks with a smile. "I brought my girl, but please, Renata, return to your human form, and I'll overlook the fact that you just killed two of my men."

Deniel looks at her seriously, responding, "You've got it all wrong, Scarlett. We didn't come here to honor you; we came to stop you."

I take a deep breath and decide to return to my human form, attempting to open a dialogue with her. I step behind Deniel and rapidly begin my transformation while he gently extends his jacket to cover my naked body.

"Scarlett," I say, stepping out from behind him and walking towards her, looking her in the eyes. "Look around," I point to the chaotic scene surrounding us, where people were senselessly hurting each other. "Many are getting hurt here; this is a real massacre. Don't you see that your anger is blinding you? This can end very badly."

"Daughter, I've dreamt of this vengeance for many years, and I won't give it up now," she replies, looking around. "I feel fulfilled, and when I finally kill her," she points at Lina, "we'll be the queens of this disgusting race. We'll be happy."

"Please, give it up. Don't harm my family, don't harm my people," I plead, seeing anger sparking in her eyes. Without warning, she slaps me across the face, which stings like hell.

"Don't touch her," Deniel steps forward towards Scarlett, pushing her away from me. "Are you okay, my love? I won't let anyone hurt you," he hugs me and kisses my face, which must be very red after the blow.

"My love?" she asks from a distance, staring at us.

"Yes, Deniel and I are mates," I clarify. "We're together, we'll build a family, and I would like you to be a part of it, to meet our future children, Mother," I try to get her attention. "I still love you very much. Let's forget all this resentment and move forward."

"Together? Children?" she asks, shocked. "You and Deniel? This must be a joke," she says with anguish.

"It's not a joke, Scarlett," Deniel responds seriously. "Renata and I are together."

"I would never be a part of this," she points to us disdainfully. "How ungrateful you are, Deniel. I'm here, full of love to give you, and you choose my daughter of all people? No! I mean, the daughter of that wretch," she points again at Lina. "You, Renata, are no longer my daughter. I disown you. You've taken from me the man I love, just like your mother did years ago."

"I was never yours, Scarlett," Deniel retorts.

"You'll suffer the same consequences as all these scum will," she says malevolently. "I hope you enjoy your last moments of life, little girl," she mocks, staring at my wrist. "It seems you haven't consummated this so-called union. What a shame. You'll die without experiencing life's pleasures, and if I can't have this man, neither will you."

"Mother?" I call out in shock.

"Don't call me mother, you wretch," she starts approaching. "You won't have the love of my life!"

Everything happens quickly. Before I realize it, Scarlett is fighting with Deniel, who positions himself in front of me to protect me. My feet feel stuck to the ground, unable to move, while my mind is filled with sadness and hurt.

I look around and see the wolves gaining the upper hand in the battle. While I'm distracted, I'm thrown aside and slam my back against a tree, groaning in pain.

When I look back up, I see Deniel lying on the ground, trying to recover, visibly dazed. Every part of me urges me to react.

"Deniel, you're getting too old for this," Scarlett taunts, stepping over him and quickly approaching me.

"He's mine, you brat," Scarlett lifts me by the neck.

"Mother," I plead, tears streaming from my eyes.

"I'm not your mother; you betrayed me, and if I can't have him, neither will you," thick tears start rolling down my eyes as agile and fierce Renata finds herself cornered in this moment.

I start coughing and gasping for air. I see my brothers getting up and transforming again, and just seeing them okay brings some relief. Before they can reach us, they are intercepted by other vampires, but their fury is so great that the vampires are torn apart within seconds.

"Rideo," Deniel utters, and Scarlett starts screaming in pain after letting me go. I collapse to the ground, massaging my sore neck.

"Are you okay, little wolf?" Deniel asks, concerned by my side.

"I'll be fine," I say with a strained voice.

"Give up, Scarlett," he pleads, watching her groan a few meters away from us. "This will only lead you to the depths. You raised her as your daughter."

"I'll kill her along with her mommy," she replies, convinced and filled with rage.

Then she rushes towards us again, and the two engage in an insane physical fight, filled with punches and kicks. I'm paralyzed on the ground, feeling hurt and sad.

"It's no use, Deni, you won't save her," I hear Scarlett say before rushing towards me at full speed.

However, Deniel is faster and steps in between us, thrusting a gold dagger into her chest.

"Mother," I whisper, sorrowful.

"Forgive me, Scarlett," Deniel pleads. "But I couldn't let you harm the love of my life."

"In the end, Lina beat me," she says softly, looking at where the dagger is embedded.

"Your anger, your resentment led you to this moment," Deniel says sadly.

"I love you, Deni," she speaks, a tear rolling down her eyes. "Love makes us blind; I just wanted your love."

"You had my affection, Scarlett," he says, and she looks at me for a few seconds before her body instantly burns and turns to ashes.

I cover my mouth, holding back the sharp scream that lodges in my throat, and Deniel kneels beside me, holding me tightly.

"I had no choice, my little one," he whispers.

"I know," I say with a choked voice. "I'm sorry it ended this way."

"Me too."

"My parents," I say, breaking the embrace. "Let's go; they need us."

After the endless battle against Scarlett's army, the wolves prevail. In the end, only a few fires remain, lit to burn the bodies.

I step onto the stage and kneel beside Lina. Her face is swollen, but there's no more blood. I stroke her face and mentally ask for forgiveness.

"Let's take her inside, all those affected by Scarlett's magic.

I'll prepare a tonic to relieve the effects," Deniel says.

I get up and let them take Lina away. Nicollas is also carried in. I look at my brothers and run towards them, hugging them tightly.

"It's over," we say together, relieved.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened," I say, reading their expression.

"It's not your fault," Lucca says.

"It is," I take a deep breath, "But I'll explain more calmly."

"It's okay, Lena," Luan kisses my forehead. "Now I'm going to take my girl inside and then you're going to explain this thing about you being a wolf."

"A giant she-wolf," Lucca adds.

I shake my head, smiling, and Luan walks into the house with Lucia in his arms. Lucca stays with Isabela, and I look around, relieved that everything ended well. I look at Scarlett's ashes and pray that the moon goddess will welcome her to a good place. She made a lot of mistakes, and even though she tried to kill me, I still love her and forgive her for everything.