Chapter 12 - The Heart That StoppedDamian was forced to choose between saving his unborn child and saving the kingdom.Alora collapsed.
Damian caught her.
"No."
She couldn't breathe.
"Something's wrong."
Her pulse disappeared for three terrifying seconds.
The unborn child was silent.
Damian's wolf shattered beneath the panic.
"HEALER!"
There was no healer close enough.
Alora grabbed his shirt.
"Don't let him take me."
"I won't."
The First Alpha watched.
He did nothing.
Kael looked confused.
"This wasn't supposed to happen."
The creature slowly approached.
Each step cracked the stone.
He knelt before Alora.
Placed one clawed hand near her stomach.
Damian raised his sword.
"Touch her and die."
The ancient Alpha stared at him.
"You still believe strength protects your mate."
Damian's eyes narrowed.
"What do you want?"
"My daughter."
Damian froze.
"What?"
The creature looked at Alora.
"The child."
Kael's face changed.
"You said the child would free you."
"It will."
Then the creature looked at Damian.
"But not in the way you think."
Alora's pulse returned.
The baby's heartbeat followed.
Damian stared in disbelief.
The First Alpha stood.
"The child is not mine."
A stunned silence.
"The child is yours."
Damian's breathing slowed.
"Then why call her your mate?"
The creature smiled.
"Because I was your first ancestor."
Damian understood.
The true-mate bond had been passed through generations.
The creature recognized the bloodline.
Not the actual mating bond.
Kael had misunderstood the prophecy.
Everything he had done...
all the murders...
all the kidnappings...
had been based on a lie.
Kael attacked.
Damian fought him.
Their wolves tore across the temple.
Kael was stronger.
But Damian had something Kael did not.
A reason to survive.
Alora rose.
She placed her hand on Finn.
His silver eyes flashed.
Then Wren's eyes glowed.
The twins connected.
The Moonbound stopped moving.
Every wolf in the valley froze.
Finn looked toward Damian.
"Father."
Damian stared.
"What did you do?"
Finn smiled.
"I told them to stop."
Kael turned.
"No!"
For the first time, fear crossed his face.
The twins had joined their powers.
Finn commanded.
Wren healed.
Together, they controlled the Moonbound.
Kael lunged toward them.
Alora stepped between them.
Her wolf emerged for the first time.
It was not white.
It was silver.
The First Alpha lowered his head.
"The guardian has awakened."
Kael whispered:
"Impossible."
Alora looked at him.
"You should have read the whole prophecy."
Then she attacked.
One strike.
Kael fell.
But before Damian could finish him, Serafina stepped forward.
"Wait."
Damian turned.
She pointed at Kael's chest.
"He's not alone."
Kael smiled through blood.
"Too late."
A dark mark spread across his skin.
The First Alpha's face changed.
"The curse."
Damian frowned.
"What curse?"
Kael laughed.
"The one your father placed on us."
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Then Kael died.
And the curse jumped into Damian.
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