Chapter 21

Aria’s heart pounded as the sound of footsteps reverberated down the narrow stairwell. The dim lantern light flickered across the underground chamber, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. She gripped her dagger tightly, her knuckles whitening, and glanced at Caden. He stood resolute, his sword drawn, his broad frame positioned protectively between her and the stairs.

“Stay behind me,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble of calm authority.

She nodded, pressing her back against the cold wall, her eyes locked on the stairwell’s shadowed mouth. The air was thick with dust and tension, every creak of the steps amplifying her dread.

Three figures emerged from the darkness, their outlines stark against the faint glow. They were armed—two wielding swords, one hefting a brutal axe—and their eyes gleamed with fanatical fervor. The leader, a wiry man with a scar slashing across his cheek, sneered as he took in the scene.

“Well, well,” he rasped. “The wolfless alpha and his cursed bitch. Victor’s vision lives on, even if he doesn’t.”

Caden’s face remained a mask of stone, though Aria caught the subtle flex of his jaw. “Victor’s dead,” he said, his tone icy. “And you’re about to join him.”

The loyalists barked harsh laughter, the sound bouncing off the walls. “Big words for a man with no wolf,” the leader taunted. “You’re nothing now.”

Aria’s stomach twisted, but Caden didn’t waver. He stepped forward, sword gleaming. “Come find out.”

The fight exploded in an instant. The loyalists charged, steel clashing as Caden met them head-on. His blade danced with lethal precision, parrying and striking despite the odds. Aria’s breath hitched—he was fast, skilled, but two against one was brutal, and the third loyalist was circling toward her.

She scanned the chamber frantically. Shelves lined the walls, cluttered with vials and jars. She snatched a small bottle of swirling blue liquid and hurled it at the axe-wielder lunging for Caden. It shattered against his chest, unleashing a choking cloud of smoke. He stumbled, coughing, and Caden drove his sword through the opening, dropping him.

The leader roared, pressing Caden harder, while the third loyalist—a burly man with wild eyes, turned on Aria. She grabbed a heavy tome from a shelf and swung it with all her might. It slammed into his temple with a dull thud, and he staggered. Caden spun, finishing him with a swift slash.

The leader, now alone, snarled and lunged at Aria. She raised her dagger, but Caden intercepted, blocking the blow and driving his sword into the man’s chest. The loyalist crumpled, silence falling like a shroud.

Aria’s legs shook as she leaned against the wall, adrenaline fading. Caden turned to her, his gaze intense. “You hurt?”

“No,” she breathed. “You?”

He shook his head, then began scouring the chamber. “There’s got to be something here—something useful.”

Aria joined him, rifling through crates and shelves. In a locked box, she found a folded map, a red mark staining a northern mountain pass. “Caden, look.”

He took it, frowning. “Could be another of Victor’s stashes. Or something more.”

A groan interrupted them. The leader, still alive, coughed blood. Caden knelt, pressing his blade to the man’s throat. “What’s in the mountains?”

“The seer…” the loyalist rasped. “She knows… the blood of the first wolf…”

“What does that mean?” Caden pressed, but the man’s eyes dulled, his breath stopping.

Aria met Caden’s gaze. “A seer in the mountains. Could she be the curse-breaker?”

“Maybe,” he said, tucking the map into his belt. “We need to get back to the keep.”

They climbed the stairs, shoving aside a beam wedged against the trapdoor. Stepping into the mill’s dusty light, Aria felt a shiver of relief and unease. They’d survived, but the path ahead loomed larger than ever.

---

At the keep, they found Elder Mira in the library, hunched over ancient scrolls. She looked up, her sharp eyes narrowing as Caden handed her the map.

“We fought Victor’s loyalists,” he said. “One mentioned a seer and ‘the blood of the first wolf.’”

Mira studied the map, her fingers tracing the red mark. “The northern mountains are steeped in legend. There’s an old tale of a seer there, a guardian of lost knowledge. She might hold answers about the prophecy—or your curse.”

Aria’s pulse quickened. “Could she lift it? Restore Caden’s wolf?”

“Possibly,” Mira said cautiously. “But she’s elusive, and the journey’s dangerous. I’ll dig deeper into the archives. You two prepare—and watch your backs.”

---

That night, by the chamber’s fire, Aria and Caden planned. Rollan slept in his crib, his tiny chest rising and falling. The map lay between them, a silent challenge.

“I’ll go alone,” Caden said, his tone firm. “It’s too risky for you and Rollan.”

Aria’s eyes flashed. “No. This is my fight too—my bloodline, my curse. We’re stronger together.”

He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “I just want you safe.”

“And I want you safe,” she shot back. “We need each other, Caden.”

His gaze softened, a crack in his stoic armor. “I know. But losing you—or him…” He glanced at Rollan. “It’d break me.”

She took his hand, her voice steady. “You won’t. We’ll protect each other. Like always.”

He squeezed her fingers, vulnerability flickering in his eyes. “You make me want to be more, Aria. Even without my wolf.”

Her chest tightened. “And you gave me a home. A family. We’ll get through this.”

The fire crackled as he leaned in, his lips brushing hers in a soft, lingering kiss—a quiet vow amid the storm.

---

Morning brought Caden before the pack in the great hall. Warriors stood in ranks, their faces tense with whispers of doubt.

“I hear your concerns,” he began, voice ringing. “I’m wolfless, yes. But I’m still your alpha. My strength isn’t just my wolf—it’s my will, my oath to you.”

He paced, meeting their eyes. “We’ve beaten Victor, faced threats, and won. Now, new dangers rise. I’ll meet them, wolf or not, for this pack—for all of us.”

A grizzled warrior stepped forward. “We’re with you, Alpha.”

Caden nodded, gratitude flickering. “Then let’s ready ourselves.”

As the pack dispersed, Aria watched him, pride swelling. Together, they’d face the mountains, the seer, and whatever truths awaited.