Chapter 16: The Lycan’s Claim

The warning bell echoed across Moonhaven.

Dong!

Dong!

Dong!

Panic spread through the peaceful valley.

Villagers hurried their children into underground shelters while warriors rushed toward the western gate with swords and bows in hand.

The air that had once carried the scent of wildflowers was now thick with fear.

Inside the cottage, Lyra’s heart pounded.

“A… Lycan?”

The frightened guard nodded.

“He isn’t alone.”

“There are hundreds of Blood Hunters behind him.”

Arnold immediately grabbed his sword.

“Karl.”

Karl looked at him.

“We settle our differences later.”

Arnold’s voice was calm but firm.

“Right now, we defend Moonhaven.”

Karl nodded once.

“For the village.”

“For Lyra.”

The two men rushed outside.

Lyra instinctively followed them.

“No.”

Arnold turned sharply.

“Stay here.”

“I won’t hide while everyone else risks their lives.”

Karl looked at her.

“It’s too dangerous.”

She met his gaze without flinching.

“My entire life, people made decisions for me.”

“I’m done hiding.”

Karl saw something in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

Strength.

The frightened servant girl was slowly disappearing.

In her place stood someone willing to fight for those she loved.

At the western gate…

Hundreds of Moonhaven’s warriors lined the stone walls.

Beyond the valley stood an army dressed in black armor.

Blood Hunters.

Each carried crimson banners embroidered with a black wolf’s head.

The ground trembled.

Slowly…

A massive black horse emerged from the center of the enemy ranks.

Mounted upon it was a man unlike anyone Lyra had ever seen.

He was over six feet tall.

His long silver hair flowed behind him like liquid moonlight.

Dark armor covered his powerful frame, and a black cloak billowed in the wind.

His piercing blue eyes surveyed Moonhaven without fear.

The entire battlefield fell silent as he dismounted.

Even the Blood Hunters lowered their heads in respect.

Karl frowned.

“Who is he?”

Arnold’s expression darkened.

“I hoped I’d never see him again.”

The stranger stopped a few yards from the gate.

His deep voice carried effortlessly across the valley.

“I am Lucien Draven.”

“The last Lycan General.”

“I have not come to wage war.”

His icy gaze settled on Lyra.

“I have come for the Princess of Lunaris.”

Every eye turned toward Lyra.

Her breath caught.

“I… I’m not a princess.”

Lucien’s expression softened for the briefest moment.

“You don’t remember.”

“But you will.”

Victor stepped forward from behind Lucien.

He pointed directly at Lyra.

“Hand her over.”

“And no one else dies.”

Moonhaven’s warriors answered by raising their weapons.

Arnold stepped onto the battlements.

“My answer is no.”

Victor laughed.

“Then you’ll all perish.”

Lucien slowly raised one hand.

Victor immediately fell silent.

The Lycan General looked at Arnold.

“I respected your father.”

“I respected his loyalty.”

“Do not force me to spill his son’s blood.”

Arnold drew his sword.

“My father died protecting the royal family.”

“And I’ll honor him by doing the same.”

Lucien closed his eyes briefly.

“So be it.”

Without warning…

A flaming arrow shot into the sky.

It burst above the battlefield like a crimson star.

Victor smiled.

“Attack!”

The Blood Hunters charged.

Hundreds of warriors stormed toward the gates with terrifying speed.

“Hold the line!” Arnold shouted.

Moonhaven’s archers released a storm of arrows.

Dozens of hunters fell.

But even more surged forward.

The gates shook violently beneath the first impact.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Karl shifted into his enormous black wolf.

His thunderous roar echoed through the valley as he leaped from the walls into the middle of the enemy ranks.

Blood Hunters scattered beneath his crushing strength.

His claws tore through armor.

His fangs flashed beneath the moonlight.

The Alpha King had entered the battle.

Moonhaven’s warriors erupted in cheers.

“Alpha Karl!”

“Drive them back!”

Arnold also shifted.

Unlike Karl’s jet-black wolf, Arnold’s wolf was enormous with striking silver-gray fur and brilliant golden eyes.

The two powerful wolves fought side by side.

For the first time…

The Alpha and the mysterious guardian stood united.

Watching from the walls, Lyra felt her heart race.

She had never seen such a battle.

Steel clashed.

Wolves roared.

The earth trembled beneath hundreds of warriors.

Then…

Lucien moved.

He didn’t run.

He simply took one step forward.

The ground beneath his feet cracked.

With the next step…

He vanished.

A deafening explosion erupted in the center of the battlefield.

Karl and Arnold were thrown backward by an invisible force.

Both crashed into the ground.

The entire valley fell silent.

Lucien stood between them without a single scratch.

He hadn’t even drawn his weapon.

Karl slowly rose to his feet, breathing heavily.

“What…”

“…is he?”

Arnold’s face turned grim.

“A true Lycan.”

Lucien looked past both men and met Lyra’s frightened eyes.

His voice was calm, carrying neither hatred nor anger.

“Princess Lyra.”

“You were stolen from your kingdom as a child.”

“I swore an oath to your mother that if you ever lived…”

“…I would find you.”

He extended his hand toward her.

“Come with me.”

“I will return to you everything that was taken.”

Lyra stood frozen.

Part of her wanted to believe him.

Another part remembered the Blood Hunters surrounding him.

Before she could answer

A sinister laugh echoed across the battlefield.

Everyone turned.

Standing atop a distant cliff was a cloaked figure wearing a golden mask.

He slowly applauded.

“How touching.”

His voice dripped with amusement.

“The princess…”

“The Alpha…”

“The guardian…”

“And the Lycan…”

“All gathered in one place.”

He raised a black crystal into the air.

“It saves me the trouble of hunting you one by one.”

The crystal pulsed with crimson light.

The sky darkened unnaturally.

High above the battlefield…

A blood-red eclipse began to swallow the sun.