Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THE ALPHAS FELLThe storm arrived before sunset.
The sky turned black.
Every pack in the eastern territories lost contact.
Then came the screams.
Not from one village.
From dozens.
Alpha Adrien stood on the fortress wall, staring toward the horizon.
The clouds moved against the wind.
Something was traveling inside them.
The Alpha King was dying.
Nora's mother stayed beside him.
Celeste had disappeared.
Rex was recovering in the healing hall.
And Morrison was gone.
But one thing remained certain.
The Gate was open.
Nora joined Adrien on the wall.
"Do you hear that?"
Adrien listened.
Nothing.
Then...
A heartbeat.
Deep.
Massive.
Coming from beneath the earth.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The whole fortress shook.
Adrien grabbed Nora.
"Get inside."
"No."
"Nora."
"I'm not hiding anymore."
Her silver eyes brightened.
"I spent eighteen years running."
She looked toward the storm.
"I'm done."
Adrien smiled.
"Then we're done running."
They descended into the courtyard.
Hundreds of warriors gathered.
Seraphine stepped forward.
"I will lead the Northern wolves."
Adrien looked at her.
"You said your people hated us."
"They did."
"And now?"
Seraphine bowed.
"The prophecy was never about destroying the Southern packs."
"What was it about?"
"Uniting them."
A terrible howl sounded in the distance.
Every wolf fell silent.
A creature emerged from the forest.
It looked like a wolf.
But it was larger than a horse.
Its fur was black.
Its eyes were empty.
And around its neck hung dozens of Alpha insignias.
Nora whispered:
"It has been hunting Alphas."
Adrien raised his sword.
"Formation!"
The creature charged.
The battlefield exploded.
Claws tore through shields.
Warriors were thrown into walls.
Nora unleashed a wave of silver light.
The creature staggered.
Adrien attacked.
For one moment, they pushed it back.
Then it smiled.
Actually smiled.
And spoke.
"You taste like him."
Adrien froze.
"Who?"
"Your brother."
Nora's eyes widened.
"What did it mean?"
Adrien looked at her.
"I don't know."
The creature attacked again.
Nora stepped between them.
A silver barrier formed.
The beast slammed into it.
Cracks spread.
Nora screamed.
Adrien grabbed her.
"Don't use too much power!"
"I can't stop!"
The barrier shattered.
Adrien flew backward.
When he opened his eyes, Nora was gone.
"NORA!"
He searched the battlefield.
Then he saw her.
She stood beside the creature.
But she wasn't fighting.
She was staring at something in its chest.
A glowing mark.
The same mark that had appeared on her body as a baby.
Adrien ran toward her.
"Move!"
Nora turned.
Tears filled her eyes.
"It's not attacking me."
"What?"
"It's guarding me."
The creature lowered its head.
Adrien approached carefully.
The beast allowed him near.
Nora touched its forehead.
A vision hit them both.
They saw a woman.
Their mother.
Holding two babies.
Nora.
And another child.
A boy.
Adrien's breath stopped.
The woman whispered:
"They can never know he survived."
Adrien stared at Nora.
"Who is that?"
Nora was crying.
"I don't know."
Then the creature turned toward the Alpha King.
Everyone followed its gaze.
The dying king stood at the fortress entrance.
He looked at the vision.
His face broke.
"No..."
Adrien stormed toward him.
"You knew."
The king couldn't speak.
Adrien grabbed his collar.
"Who was that baby?"
The king closed his eyes.
"Your brother."
Adrien froze.
"What?"
The king whispered:
"He never died."
Nora stared.
"Then where is he?"
A voice answered from behind them.
"Right here."
Adrien turned.
Celeste stood on the stairs.
And beside her was a young man.
He looked exactly like Adrien.
Same eyes.
Same face.
Same scar.
Only his eyes were black.
Celeste smiled.
"Meet your brother."
The young man looked at Adrien.
Then at Nora.
May you like
And said:
"I've been waiting eighteen years to kill you."
