Chapter 9: A Promise Never Made

The silence that followed Lyra’s departure was deafening.

Karl stood motionless on the riverbank, his silver eyes fixed on the path where Lyra and Arnold had disappeared.

The sound of the rushing river faded beneath the storm raging inside him.

His wolf paced restlessly.

Go after her.

Karl didn’t move.

Bring her back. She’s our mate.

“I lost that right.”

The words came out barely above a whisper.

His wolf fell silent.

For the first time…

Even it had no argument.

“My Alpha?”

One of the warriors stepped forward cautiously.

“What are your orders?”

Karl slowly turned away.

“We’re returning to Blackwood.”

The warriors exchanged confused glances.

“Shouldn’t we bring the human back?”

Karl’s silver eyes turned icy.

“Did she ask to come back?”

“No… Alpha.”

“Then no one follows her.”

The command stunned everyone.

Even Beta Damien looked surprised.

He had expected Karl to force Lyra back to the pack.

Instead…

He was letting her leave.

As they walked through the forest, Damien caught up with Karl.

“You’ve changed.”

Karl didn’t answer.

“You would’ve never allowed someone to speak to you like that.”

Karl continued walking.

Finally, he spoke.

“She wasn’t wrong.”

Damien blinked.

“You admitted it.”

“I failed her.”

Those three words carried more weight than any apology.

Damien had known Karl for nearly fifteen years.

Never once had the Alpha admitted fault.

Until now.

Meanwhile…

Lyra and Arnold continued their journey west.

The forest gradually changed.

The towering pine trees gave way to ancient oaks with thick silver bark.

Strange blue flowers bloomed along the path.

Birds with shimmering white feathers perched on branches overhead.

“It’s beautiful,” Lyra whispered.

Arnold smiled.

“This forest is protected.”

“Protected?”

He nodded.

“Very few people know it exists.”

She looked around curiously.

“I’ve never seen trees like these.”

“They’re called Moon Oaks.”

“My mother planted many of them.”

Lyra smiled.

“She must have loved nature.”

Arnold’s expression softened.

“She believed every living thing deserved a place to belong.”

Lyra lowered her gaze.

“I wish someone had believed that about me.”

Arnold looked at her for a long moment.

“Maybe they already do.”

She frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Before he could answer

A deafening roar echoed through the forest.

The ground trembled.

Flocks of birds burst into the sky.

Arnold’s smile disappeared instantly.

“No…”

He looked toward the mountains.

“They’re here.”

Several miles away…

A group of nearly fifty rogue wolves charged through the forest.

Unlike the ones Karl had fought…

These rogues wore black iron collars engraved with strange crimson symbols.

Their eyes glowed unnaturally bright.

Leading them was a giant wolf with snow-white fur and one piercing blue eye.

He shifted into a tall, muscular man covered in scars.

His voice was deep enough to shake the air.

“Spread out.”

“Search every inch of the forest.”

A rogue bowed.

“And if we find her?”

The scarred man smiled.

“Bring her to me.”

“Alive.”

The rogue frowned.

“I thought our orders were to kill her.”

“They’ve changed.”

The man’s single blue eye gleamed.

“Someone is willing to pay far more…”

“…to have the girl alive.”

Back at Blackwood Manor…

Selena stood in her chambers, staring at a map spread across her desk.

A servant entered nervously.

“My Lady…”

“What?”

“The Alpha has returned.”

Selena smiled.

“Finally.”

“But…”

The servant hesitated.

“He came back alone.”

Her smile faded.

“What do you mean?”

“He didn’t bring the human back.”

Selena slammed both hands onto the table.

“Impossible.”

She had expected Karl to drag Lyra home.

That would have made getting rid of the girl much easier.

Instead…

He had let her go.

Something was changing.

And Selena hated change.

Deep inside the Sacred Moon Temple…

High Priestess Elara stood before the ancient altar once again.

The silver flames suddenly turned crimson.

Her face drained of color.

“No…”

She whispered.

“The Blood Hunters…”

She quickly unrolled another ancient scroll.

Her trembling fingers traced a line written in faded silver ink.

“When the Royal Moon Mark awakens… the hunters will rise. They do not serve justice. They serve the highest bidder.”

Elara closed her eyes.

“It has begun.”

“If they find the child first…”

“The kingdoms are doomed.”

Late that evening…

Arnold and Lyra reached the edge of a high cliff overlooking a breathtaking valley.

Nestled below was a hidden town unlike anything Lyra had ever seen.

Stone houses with silver rooftops reflected the setting sun.

Crystal streams wound through green meadows.

Children laughed as they played beneath glowing lanterns.

It looked peaceful.

Safe.

Lyra’s eyes widened.

“What place is this?”

Arnold stood beside her.

A gentle smile crossed his face.

“My home.”

She looked at him in surprise.

“You live here?”

“I do.”

He hesitated for only a second before continuing.

“And if you’ll allow it…”

“You can stay here for as long as you need.”

Lyra stared at the valley.

For the first time since the Blood Moon Ceremony…

She felt something she thought she had lost forever.

Hope.

But neither of them noticed the hooded figure watching from the opposite cliff.

Hidden beneath a black cloak, the stranger slowly lowered a spyglass.

“So…”

He muttered with a sinister smile.

“We found you at last.”

He turned to the army of rogue hunters gathered behind him.

“Prepare yourselves.”

“By tomorrow…”

“The girl belongs to us.