chapter 34

The Alpha's Wrath...

The clash of steel rang through the corridor like thunder.

Elsie barely saw Rowan move.

One moment, he was standing in front of her.

The next, his sword collided with Victor's, sending a shockwave through the stone hallway. Cracks spread across the marble floor beneath their feet.

Victor laughed.

"So this is the famous Alpha Rowan."

"I expected more."

Rowan said nothing.

His silver eyes remained fixed on Victor's every movement.

The silence unsettled Victor more than any insult could.

With a growl, Victor lunged again.

His sword came down in a deadly arc, but Rowan sidestepped effortlessly.

Before Victor could recover, Rowan's elbow slammed into his ribs.

The commander staggered back.

"You've gotten stronger," Victor admitted, wiping a streak of blood from the corner of his mouth.

"You talk too much," Rowan replied coldly.

Victor smiled.

"And you still hide your emotions."

Behind Rowan, Frank had arrived with a squad of Nightcrest warriors.

"My Alpha!"

"I've secured the west wing."

Rowan never looked away from Victor.

"Take the Luna."

Frank hesitated.

"But—"

"Now."

Frank knew better than to argue.

He turned to Elsie.

"My Luna."

Reluctantly, Elsie nodded.

She knew staying would only distract Rowan.

As Frank began escorting her away, she looked back one last time.

Their eyes met.

Rowan gave the slightest nod.

A silent promise.

I'll come back to you.

She nodded in return before disappearing down the corridor.

Victor watched the exchange with amusement.

"How touching."

"You've fallen for her."

Rowan tightened his grip on his sword.

"What if I have?"

Victor laughed.

"Then I've already won."

Elsewhere in the palace...

Jessica raced through the servant corridors, her breathing uneven.

She glanced behind her.

Frank was no longer following.

Good.

She smiled to herself.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

She reached an abandoned storage room and pushed the door open.

Waiting inside was the servant with the Crimson Fang tattoo.

"Report."

"The commander has engaged Rowan."

Jessica nodded.

"And the Luna?"

"Escaping with the Beta."

Jessica's smile faded.

"That won't do."

She reached beneath her cloak and removed a small crystal vial.

Unlike the poison before, this liquid shimmered silver.

"What is that?" the servant asked.

Jessica smiled.

"Moonbane."

"One drop weakens a werewolf."

"Three drops prevent shifting."

She looked toward the palace windows.

"For a Moonborn..."

Her smile widened.

"...we'll soon find out."

Meanwhile...

Frank hurried Elsie through an underground passage beneath the palace.

"This tunnel leads outside the eastern wall."

Elsie frowned.

"What about Rowan?"

"He'll join us."

"But—"

"My Luna."

Frank stopped walking.

"Trust him."

"He has survived battles against Alphas far stronger than Victor."

Elsie nodded reluctantly.

She wanted to believe him.

Suddenly...

A sharp pain pierced her chest.

She stumbled.

"My Luna!"

Frank caught her before she fell.

Again...

The whisper.

"Don't leave..."

"The tree..."

"Return..."

Images flashed before her eyes.

The Moon Shrine.

The silver tree.

Blood.

There is so much blood.

Then...

She saw Rowan.

On his knees.

A sword pierced his chest.

"No!"

Elsie cried out.

The vision disappeared instantly.

Frank looked alarmed.

"What happened?"

Her breathing became ragged.

"I saw..."

She struggled to speak.

"I saw Rowan..."

Frank frowned.

"A vision?"

She nodded.

"He was dying."

Frank's expression turned grim.

Without another word, he drew his sword.

"We're going back."

Back in the palace corridor...

Victor's breathing had become heavy.

His crimson cloak was torn.

Blood dripped steadily from a wound across his shoulder.

Across from him...

Rowan looked almost untouched.

Only a shallow cut marked his cheek.

Victor laughed bitterly.

"I understand now."

"What?"

"Why everyone fears you."

He coughed blood.

"But you're still holding back."

Rowan remained silent.

Victor's grin widened.

"You're afraid."

"Afraid that if you unleash your full strength..."

His blue eyes gleamed.

"...she'll discover what you really are."

For the first time...

Rowan's expression changed.

Victor noticed.

"There it is."

"The truth."

"You've never been an ordinary Alpha either."

The temperature in the corridor suddenly dropped.

The candles flickered violently.

Victor instinctively stepped back.

"No..."

He whispered.

"You're actually going to use it?"

Rowan slowly raised his sword.

His silver eyes began glowing.

Not gold this time.

They burned with brilliant white light.

The air trembled.

Stone cracked beneath his feet.

Far away...

At the Moon Shrine...

The ancient silver tree suddenly burst into radiant light.

Every wolf in Nightcrest lifted its head toward the sky and howled.

Even the wounded warriors on the battlefield froze.

Frank stopped in the tunnel.

His face lost all colour.

"He can't be..."

Elsie looked at him.

"What is it?"

Frank whispered the words he had prayed never to say.

"The Alpha Seal..."

"He's breaking it."

Back in the corridor...

Victor's smile disappeared completely.

For the first time in decades...

The Commander of the Crimson Fang felt fear.

Real fear.

As Rowan slowly lifted his glowing eyes...

His voice echoed through the palace like the growl of an ancient god.

"You threatened..."

"...my wife."

The corridor exploded with blinding white light.