LOGINChapter Thirty-TwoThe Queen's SecretThe chamber exploded with voices.Questions, accusations and disbelief.Everyone was speaking at once.Everyone except Selene.The Queen stood perfectly still.Tears filled her eyes.Her hands trembled at her sides.And that silence terrified Ariana more than anything else.Because if the Shadow Wolf was lying, her mother would have denied it immediately.She would have fought back.She would have called it a monster and told everyone not to listen.Instead...She looked guilty."Ariana."Selene's voice cracked.The sound made Ariana's stomach twist."No."The single word left Ariana's mouth before she could stop it.The Queen froze.Ariana stared at her.For years she had searched for answers.For years she had been told half-truths and secrets.Every time she discovered one truth, another lie appeared behind it.She was tired, so tired."Tell me he's lying."Silence.The chamber became so quiet that even the distant groaning of the ruins could b
Chapter Thirty-OneThe Voice in the DarknessThe chamber stood frozen.The Moon Crown hovered above the throne, bathing the ruins in silver light.Beneath the shattered floor, darkness churned like a living thing.The enormous red eyes of the Shadow Wolf glowed from the abyss.The ancient voice of the Crown still echoed through the chamber."Seal the Shadow.""Or claim its power."Ariana stared at the darkness.Her answer came immediately."We seal it."Malrik laughed.The sound bounced off the ruined walls."Of course you would."Ariana turned toward him."You think I'm going to trust something locked beneath a kingdom for centuries?""No."The warlord smiled."I think you're making a decision without knowing the truth."Kael stepped beside her."We've heard enough truth from you."The Alpha King's voice was cold.Malrik didn't seem bothered.Instead, he pointed toward the abyss."Then ask it."Silence followed.The suggestion should have sounded ridiculous.Yet nobody dismissed it.
Chapter Twenty-TwoThe King's TrialThe underground passage stretched endlessly before them.Silver torches burned along the walls, casting pale light across ancient stone.Ariana walked at the front of the group.The glowing mark on her wrist had not stopped shining since they entered the hidden section of the palace.Every step seemed to pull her deeper into a place she somehow remembered and didn't remember at the same time.Beside her, Kael remained alert.His eyes constantly scanned the corridor.After everything they had faced recently, nobody trusted quiet places anymore.Especially not ancient royal ruins."This place feels strange," Ronan muttered.Lucien glanced at him."Strange how?"Ronan scratched his beard."Like someone's watching us."Several warriors immediately looked around.Nothing moved, nothing appeared.Yet Ariana understood exactly what he meant.The palace felt alive.As though it knew they were here.As though it had been waiting.For her, for Orion, for the
Chapter ThirtyWhat Sleeps BeneathThe chamber shook so violently that several warriors lost their footing.Cracks spread across the floor like spiderwebs.Dark energy poured from them.Not anything connected to the Moon Crown.This power felt wrong.The royal guardians immediately moved.Their glowing eyes locked onto Malrik, their weapons rose as one.The ancient voice echoed throughout the chamber."The Seal has been disturbed."Malrik smiled, a real smile this time.The smile of a man finally getting exactly what he wanted.Ariana's stomach twisted.Whatever was happening...It was bigger than the Crown, bigger than the kingdom.Maybe bigger than anything they had faced before.Kael stepped forward."What is beneath these ruins?"Malrik laughed."You don't know?"The warlord looked genuinely amused.Then his gaze shifted toward the throne.Toward the Moon Crown.Toward the ancient symbols carved into every wall."They told you about the Crown."His smile widened."But not why it w
Chapter Twenty-SixThe Enemy ArrivesThe chamber erupted into motion.Every warrior immediately reached for a weapon.The wounded scout struggled to remain standing.Blood stained his shirt and dust covered his face.The fear in his eyes told everyone this wasn't a false alarm.This was real.Malrik had found them, after years of hiding, after years of searching.He had finally found them.Kael grabbed the warrior's shoulders."How many?"The scout swallowed."Hundreds."The room fell silent."Hundreds?" Ronan repeated.The scout nodded."Maybe more."Nobody liked that answer not even a little.Another explosion shook the ruins overhead.Stone dust rained from the ceiling.Ariana felt the ground tremble beneath her boots.The battle had already started.Kael's expression hardened."Get everyone ready."The command echoed through the chamber.Warriors immediately rushed toward the staircase.Lucien was already barking orders.Ronan followed him.The royal chamber transformed into a war
Chapter Twenty-FiveThe Crown's ChoiceThe royal chamber stood completely still.The ancient voice had only spoken a few words, yet those words carried enough weight to change everything.The heir has been chosen.Ariana stared at the glowing Moon Crown.Beside her, Orion remained silent.For the first time since meeting him, she couldn't read his expression.Maybe because she was feeling the same thing.Fear...Not fear of the Crown.Not fear of power.Fear of what would happen after the choice was revealed.The Crown pulsed again.Silver light spread across the chamber floor.Ancient symbols glowed brighter.The throne trembled, then the voice returned."The bloodline stands united once more."The light moved slowly like flowing water.Everyone watched as silver energy left the Crown and traveled across the floor.Toward Ariana, toward Orion then toward both of them.Lucien frowned."That isn't supposed to happen."Ronan immediately looked concerned."I don't like hearing that."Neit
Chapter FourteenThe Truth About The ValesAriana barely slept that night.Every time she closed her eyes, memories chased her.Her mother's smile, the palace gardens.Silver banners dancing beneath the moonlight.Then suddenly…Her stepmother's face.Cold and cruel.Ariana sat upright in bed befor
Chapter ThirteenThe Hidden CrownThe grand hall remained frozen as silver light glowed around Ariana.Even the strongest warriors looked shaken.The air itself felt different.Ariana stood in the center of the room, breathing hard.The strange energy inside her slowly settled.The silver light fad
Chapter NineThe Wolf Who KneltThe gunshot echoed through the forest.For one terrifying second, everything stood still.Then chaos exploded.The silver wolf staggered backward as blood stained its pale fur.Ariana screamed."No!"The surrounding wolves immediately sprang into action, growling and
Chapter EightBlood on the Council Floor“The council is dead.”The words slammed into Ariana hard enough to steal her breath.Martha stood immediately. “What?”Kael’s expression remained cold, but tension radiated from him heavily.“All five members.”Ariana stared at him in horror. “How?”“We don







