The wolf who knelt

Chapter Nine

The Wolf Who Knelt

The 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 circling protectively around the wounded wolf.

Kael's black wolf let out a furious roar that shook the entire clearing.

The sound alone sent birds flying from the trees.

Another gunshot rang out.

This time Kael moved.

His massive black form shot into the darkness like a shadow, disappearing between the trees as he hunted the shooter.

Ariana barely noticed.

She was already beside the silver wolf.

The enormous creature struggled to remain standing.

Blood dripped steadily onto the snow-covered ground.

Tears filled Ariana's eyes.

"Please don't die."

The silver wolf looked at her.

Those pale silver eyes were filled with something she couldn't understand.

The wolf slowly lowered itself onto the ground.

Then something impossible happened.

The giant creature bowed its head before her.

Every wolf in the clearing immediately followed.

Dozens of wolves.

All bowing and kneeling to Ariana.

The sight stole her breath.

"What are you doing?"

Nobody answered.

The silver wolf's voice entered her mind again.

Because you are our Queen.

Ariana shook her head.

"No."

You are the daughter of Selene Lunareth.

"No."

The rightful heir of the Moon Crown.

"I said no!"

Pain exploded through her skull.

Another memory surfaced.

A grand hall.

Silver banners hanging from marble walls.

Hundreds of wolves kneeling.

A small girl standing beside a beautiful woman.

"One day this kingdom will belong to you."

The woman smiled warmly.

"You must protect our people."

The vision vanished.

Ariana nearly collapsed.

The silver wolf nudged her hand gently.

You remember.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Only pieces but enough to hurt.

Enough to know that everything she believed about herself had been a lie.

Suddenly, branches snapped nearby.

The wolves immediately became alert.

Growls filled the clearing.

Ariana looked up.

Kael emerged from the darkness.

Human again.

Blood stained his hands.

His expression was terrifying.

"The shooter escaped."

The silver wolf growled softly.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"You."

The wolf stared back without fear.

Ariana stepped between them.

"Stop."

Neither moved.

Kael looked at the blood spreading across the wolf's fur.

"Who are you?"

The silver wolf's body shimmered.

Ariana gasped.

The giant wolf slowly transformed.

Within moments, a man knelt where the wolf had been.

Ariana stared in shock.

He looked around thirty.

Long silver hair reached his shoulders.

His silver eyes matched the wolves surrounding them.

Blood soaked through his dark clothing.

Despite his injury, he bowed his head.

"My Queen."

Ariana froze.

Kael looked ready to punch something.

"What is this?"

The silver-haired man slowly raised his head.

"My name is Lucien."

His voice sounded weak.

"I was Captain of the Moon Guardians."

Ariana frowned.

"The Moon Guardians?"

"The royal protectors of House Lunareth."

Kael crossed his arms.

"Interesting. Considering House Lunareth was supposedly destroyed years ago."

Lucien's expression darkened.

"Destroyed doesn't always mean dead."

Silence followed.

Ariana's heart pounded.

She had questions…Soo many questions.

"Tell me the truth."

Lucien looked at her.

And for the first time since meeting him, genuine sadness appeared in his eyes.

"We failed you."

Ariana swallowed hard.

"What happened to my family?"

Lucien closed his eyes briefly.

"The kingdom fell."

"I know that part."

"Your enemies betrayed you."

Ariana took a shaky breath.

"And my mother?"

Lucien hesitated too long.

Ariana immediately noticed.

"My mother what?"

The silver-haired warrior slowly looked up.

"Queen Selene did not die the night the kingdom fell."

The forest became silent.

Even the wind seemed to stop.

Ariana's eyes widened.

"What?"

Kael's expression hardened.

Lucien nodded once.

"She survived."

Ariana's knees nearly gave out.

No.

That wasn't possible.

Her mother was dead.

She had always believed her mother was dead.

The image of the woman from her memories flashed through her mind.

The laughter, the warmth and the love.

Alive?

"You're lying."

Lucien shook his head.

"I wish I was."

Ariana stared at him.

Hope and fear battled inside her chest.

"Then where is she?"

Lucien's expression became grim.

"We don't know."

The hope shattered instantly.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"After the attack, she disappeared."

Kael frowned.

"For twenty years?"

Lucien nodded.

"We searched everywhere."

Ariana felt dizzy.

Too many emotions.

Too many revelations.

They were just too much.

Then another question hit her.

"If my mother survived... who attacked us?"

Lucien's face darkened immediately.

"Someone who wanted the Moon Crown."

Kael stepped forward.

"Name them."

Lucien looked directly at him.

"There was a traitor inside the kingdom."

Ariana's stomach tightened.

"A traitor?"

"Someone trusted."

The warrior's jaw clenched.

"Someone who opened the gates."

Another memory flashed through Ariana's mind.

A man standing beside her mother.

Smiling.

Then handing soldiers the castle keys.

Ariana gasped.

"I saw him."

Lucien immediately looked at her.

"You remember?"

"Only for a second."

The warrior became visibly emotional.

"The memories are returning faster."

Kael didn't seem pleased by that information.

Before anyone could speak again, one wolf suddenly howled.

A warning.

Every wolf in the clearing became alert.

Lucien's expression changed instantly.

"They found us."

Kael looked toward the forest.

"Who?"

Lucien struggled to stand.

"The people hunting Ariana."

The surrounding wolves growled.

Then shadows began appearing between the trees.

Not one.

Not Five.

Not even ten.

But twenty.

Armed figures slowly emerged from the darkness.

Their faces hidden beneath black hoods.

Ariana's heart stopped.

There were too many.

One hooded figure stepped forward.

Then removed his hood.

Ariana's breath caught.

She knew that face.

Not from this life but from her memories.

The same man who betrayed the castle.

The same man who handed over the keys.

The same man responsible for the fall of House Lunareth.

The man smiled.

"Ariana."

Her blood turned cold.

The stranger's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"After twenty years..."

He took another step forward.

"...I've finally found you."