Ch. 3: Wolves of the Dominion

Dawn crept over the ridge like a bruise spreading across the sky.

Kaelira walked a few paces behind Zevran, her boots crunching frost-bitten earth. The forest was quieter now, but not calm — the air carried that heavy, humming silence that came before storms or bad news.

Taren rode slumped over Zevran’s warhorse, barely conscious, his breath fogging in shallow bursts.

The Lycan King hadn’t spoken since the battle.

Fine by her. The fewer words she wasted on him, the less likely she was to bite them.

Still, his silence pressed at her like a weight. Zevran’s presence filled the space between them — controlled, watchful, the kind of power that didn’t need to announce itself because everything else bent around it.

She hated how her pulse kept tracking his movements, how her wolf, Ardyn, stirred whenever he got too close.

You keep looking at him, Ardyn purred lazily in her head.

I keep making sure he’s not about to kill us.

You’d smell it if he was.

Kaelira scowled. Then what do you call this?

Curiosity.

Her wolf’s chuckle rippled through her mind. Or attraction. Hard to tell the difference with your blood like this.

Kaelira shut her out.

⸻

By midday, the forest broke open to a valley blanketed in fog. Ruins clawed up from the mist — stone pillars etched with moon sigils, remnants of a temple half-swallowed by time.

Zevran slowed his stride. “This way.”

Kaelira caught up, her breath visible in the cold. “Where exactly is ‘this way’? Because if you’re planning on another surprise attack, I’d like to put on clean boots first.”

He didn’t look back. “You’ll know soon enough.”

“You’re a delight.”

“I’ve been told.”

The faintest smirk tugged at his mouth, and something inside her twisted in response.

They reached a staircase carved into the hillside, every step worn smooth by centuries. At the base stood an arched gate, sealed by glowing lines of runes.

Kaelira’s stomach dropped. She recognized the pattern instantly — the same as the one that had flared when she’d broken Taren’s bindings.

Zevran gestured to the symbols. “The Dominion’s outer seal. Only those bound to the moon may enter.”

“And you think it’ll open for you?”

“I know it will.”

He stepped forward, pressing his palm to the stone.

Light rippled across the runes — then recoiled, flaring red.

Zevran’s eyes narrowed. “That’s new.”

Kaelira folded her arms. “Maybe it doesn’t like being lied to.”

He turned his head slightly. “Try it.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

“The runes reacted to your blood once. Perhaps they’ll obey again.”

“I’m not your key.”

“No,” he agreed, “but you are the lock.”

The words hung heavy between them. He said it like a fact, not a compliment.

Kaelira sighed, stepping forward. “If this gets me killed, I’m haunting you.”

“Wouldn’t be the first ghost I’ve met.”

“Then I’ll make sure I’m the loudest.”

She pressed her hand to the runes.

For a heartbeat, nothing happened — then her mark burned to life. The seal flared white, the ancient stone groaning as it split open. The air rushed inward, carrying a scent that made her skin crawl.

Blood. Old, dried, and layered with incense and ash.

Zevran’s jaw tensed. “They’ve been using this place again.”

“Who?”

“The High Lunar Dominion.” His tone darkened. “My ancestors built it to contain what the witches created. But someone’s reactivated the forges.”

Kaelira frowned. “Forges? As in weapons?”

“As in wolves,” he said grimly. “Ones remade in silver and moonfire.”

Her stomach turned. “That’s what Taren meant… when he said they were experimenting.”

Zevran nodded once. “We’ll find proof.”

They descended the stairwell. The temperature dropped fast — air so cold it felt wet. Shadows slithered between columns, whispering as they passed. Kaelira’s wolf bristled.

When they reached the main chamber, torchlight flared to life automatically — and Kaelira froze.

Hundreds of runic circles covered the floor, etched in silver dust. Inside each one lay bones — twisted, deformed, scorched black.

She swallowed hard. “Gods…”

Zevran’s voice was quiet but steady. “The Dominion was supposed to have abandoned these rituals centuries ago.”

“Looks like they missed the memo.”

He moved to the nearest circle, crouching to study the markings. “These sigils— they’re newer than the ruins. Someone’s continuing the research.”

Kaelira crouched beside him, tracing one symbol lightly. “What does this one mean?”

He hesitated. “It’s not a rune. It’s a name.”

She leaned closer. “Whose?”

His eyes flicked to her, then back to the floor. “Yours.”

Her breath caught. “You’re lying.”

“I wish I were.”

She stared at the carving — Kaelira Voss, written in curving, unfamiliar script. Her chest tightened. “Why would my name be here?”

Zevran stood, scanning the walls. “Because someone expected you to come.”

Before she could answer, movement flickered in the corner of her eye.

A shadow detached itself from the far wall — long-limbed, crawling, whispering in a dozen voices at once.

Kaelira reached for her dagger. “Company.”

Zevran drew his blade, silver glinting. “Don’t engage. It’s a Specter.”

“Define ‘don’t engage.’”

“Don’t let it touch you.”

“Yeah, that’s not reassuring!”

The Specter lunged.

Kaelira spun aside, blade slashing through air that wasn’t air. The creature shrieked — the sound of bone scraping metal. Zevran’s sword burned silver as he swung, cutting through the Specter’s torso. The thing scattered like smoke, but its fragments still whispered.

Kaelira’s mark seared in response. Instinct took over. She raised her palm and shouted — not a word, but something deeper. The runes across the floor flared gold, and the Specter’s fragments burned away in a rush of light.

When the silence settled, she was shaking.

Zevran sheathed his sword slowly. “You used the seal’s energy.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“Intent doesn’t matter,” he said softly, stepping closer. “Power always finds its way.”

Kaelira looked up, meeting his eyes — silver and unreadable. “So what now?”

“Now,” Zevran said, turning toward the glowing runes that spelled her name, “we find out why the Dominion built an altar to you.”