Chapter 8 - THE SECOND HEIRAdrien collapsed to one knee.
The black wolf inside him clawed against his mind.
It whispered one word.
POWER.
He had spent his entire life suppressing it.
He had believed his wolf was unusually strong.
He had never understood why.
Now he knew.
He wasn't entirely of Adrien's father's blood.
He was the black heir.
The balance to Nora's silver blood.
The creature approached.
"Kill Nora."
Adrien shook his head.
"No."
The black wolf roared.
His eyes turned dark.
Nora stirred.
"Brother?"
Adrien looked at her.
Her voice broke through the darkness.
"You promised."
"What?"
"You promised when we were children."
She smiled weakly.
"You said you'd always come for me."
Adrien's eyes returned to normal.
"I will."
The creature screamed.
The floor cracked.
The chamber began collapsing.
Celeste grabbed Nora.
"Run!"
Adrien stayed behind.
The creature attacked.
He caught her wrist.
Power exploded between them.
She smiled.
"You finally awakened."
Adrien gritted his teeth.
"I awakened for her."
He threw her into the wall.
She stood again.
Impossible.
Uninjured.
Then she whispered something.
"Ask your father what happened the night he killed the Northern wolves."
Adrien froze.
His father was dying nearby.
He reached him.
"Father."
The Alpha King opened his eyes.
"I am sorry."
"What happened that night?"
The king struggled to speak.
"We didn't kill them."
Adrien stared.
"Then who did?"
The king looked toward Morrison.
"The prophecy..."
His voice faded.
"Morrison changed it."
Everyone turned.
Morrison laughed.
"I did what had to be done."
Adrien stepped forward.
"You orchestrated the massacre."
Morrison smiled.
"I made sure the two heirs would grow up divided."
"Why?"
"Because together, you can destroy the ancient Luna."
He looked at Nora.
"And I need you both."
Nora's mother screamed.
"He wants your blood."
Morrison nodded.
"Blood of the silver heir."
He looked at Adrien.
"And blood of the black heir."
"Combined, your blood opens the Gate."
"What gate?"
Morrison pointed toward the symbol on the floor.
"The Gate of the First Wolf."
Silence.
"If opened," he continued, "I become immortal."
Adrien laughed.
"You killed thousands for immortality."
Morrison smiled.
"I waited eighteen years."
He pulled a blade across his palm.
The floor began glowing.
Nora screamed.
"Stop him!"
Adrien charged.
Too late.
The ancient symbol opened.
A black vortex appeared.
The creature stepped backward.
She was smiling.
Morrison looked victorious.
Then the vortex swallowed him.
His scream echoed.
The chamber went dark.
The creature whispered:
"He thought he was controlling the Gate."
She laughed.
"He never understood what lives inside."
Adrien grabbed Nora.
"Run."
They escaped through the collapsing chamber.
Outside, the Northern army was waiting.
Seraphine was kneeling.
Every wolf was kneeling.
Adrien looked at Nora.
"Why are they bowing?"
Seraphine lowered her head.
"Because the Gate has opened."
Adrien looked toward the mountains.
A black cloud rose over the horizon.
Something enormous moved inside it.
Then Nora whispered:
"That's not the First Wolf."
Adrien looked at her.
"Then what is it?"
She stared at the storm.
Her face turned white.
"My mother's prophecy was wrong."
"What do you mean?"
Nora took his hand.
"It isn't coming for us."
May you like
She swallowed.
"It's coming for the world."
