Chapter 9 - THE FIRST WOLFThe crown touched Alora's head.
Everything disappeared.
There was no palace.
No army.
No Kael.
No High Priest.
Only darkness.
Then a heartbeat.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Alora opened her eyes.
She was standing in a field beneath a red moon.
A giant black wolf stood before her.
Its fur swallowed the light.
Its eyes were pure silver.
She could not move.
The creature lowered its head.
“You called me.”
Alora whispered:
“I didn't.”
“You did when you chose him.”
“Kael?”
The wolf's gaze changed.
“The king.”
Alora looked around.
“Where am I?”
“Between blood and fate.”
“What do you want?”
“What you promised.”
“I promised nothing.”
“You bought the king.”
She remembered the coin.
One copper coin.
The auction.
The sack.
The chains.
The moment she chose him.
The wolf nodded.
“One coin.”
Alora stared.
“That was you?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“The bond.”
The wolf stepped closer.
“You thought you bought a prisoner.”
Its breath chilled her skin.
“You bought a war.”
Alora's heart pounded.
“What happens if I open the Moon Gate?”
“The ancient king returns.”
“What ancient king?”
“The first.”
“And what does he want?”
“To finish what he started.”
“Which is?”
The wolf looked at the red moon.
“To erase mankind.”
Alora froze.
“No.”
“You asked what I wanted.”
“I want another answer.”
“You cannot.”
“I refuse.”
The wolf smiled.
For the first time, Alora realized it had been waiting for her refusal.
“Good.”
The world shook.
“You are not like the others.”
“What others?”
“Queens who obey.”
“Then let me leave.”
“You can.”
“How?”
“Choose your path.”
A doorway appeared.
On one side stood Kael.
Bleeding.
Broken.
Calling her name.
On the other stood her grandmother.
Healthy.
Smiling.
Alive.
Alora froze.
The wolf spoke.
“Choose.”
She looked at Kael.
Then her grandmother.
Her grandmother smiled.
“Come home.”
Tears filled Alora's eyes.
She stepped toward her grandmother.
Then stopped.
Something felt wrong.
Her grandmother had never called her “home.”
She always called her “little star.”
Alora turned.
The illusion smiled.
Its face cracked.
Blackness poured from its mouth.
Alora raised her hand.
“I choose no one.”
The wolf laughed.
The illusion shattered.
The field vanished.
Alora woke in the throne room.
Kael was lying on the floor.
The High Priest stood above him.
The Moon Gate was open.
Inside was nothing but darkness.
Then Alora heard a voice.
Not the High Priest.
Not Kael.
A third voice.
“Finally.”
Something stepped through the gate.
A giant claw.
Then a second.
Then a head.
The First Wolf emerged.
It was larger than the mountain itself.
Every soldier fell to their knees.
The High Priest smiled.
“Yes.”
The creature looked at him.
“You called me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The priest's smile faded.
“Because I need your power.”
The First Wolf stared.
Then laughed.
The sound shattered every window.
“You are a fool.”
The priest stepped back.
“What?”
“I don't serve priests.”
The wolf looked toward Alora.
“I serve the blood.”
The High Priest turned pale.
“No.”
Alora felt the bond ignite.
Kael opened his eyes.
“Alora.”
She ran toward him.
He grabbed her hand.
The instant they touched, the Moon Gate exploded.
The First Wolf howled.
The entire kingdom answered.
Every wolf in the mountain changed.
Their eyes turned silver.
The High Priest screamed.
“STOP!”
Alora turned.
He was trying to flee.
The wolves blocked every exit.
Kael stood.
His injuries were healing.
He looked at Alora.
“You did it.”
“No.”
She looked toward the giant wolf.
“I think it chose us.”
The priest fell to his knees.
“You don't understand.”
Alora approached.
“Then explain.”
The High Priest laughed.
Not with confidence.
With terror.
“The prophecy was never about saving the kingdom.”
He looked at Kael.
“It was about replacing it.”
Alora frowned.
“Replacing it with what?”
The priest pointed toward the Moon Gate.
“With a new world.”
The gate began widening.
Beyond it, thousands of golden eyes appeared.
Kael grabbed Alora.
“We need to go.”
“Why?”
“Because that isn't one wolf.”
He looked into the darkness.
“It's a pack.”
The ancient wolf smiled.
“Open the gate wider.”
Alora stepped back.
“No.”
The wolf's smile disappeared.
“Then the gate will open itself.”
The mountain began collapsing.
Kael pulled Alora toward the throne room exit.
Behind them, the First Wolf laughed.
And beneath the mountain…
May you like
something answered.
Something far bigger.
