THE GUARDIAN'S BETRAYAL

CHAPTER 11

THE GUARDIAN'S BETRAYAL

“Your mother's killer is standing beside you.”

The words echoed inside Lyra's head.

She slowly turned towards Alaric.

The old man stood frozen, his wooden staff trembling in his hands. His silver eyes moved between Lyra and the enormous black wolf standing before the ancient throne.

For twenty-two years, he had presented himself as her protector.

He had bowed when her blood awakened. He had called her Queen. He had promised to guide her towards the truth.

Now that same truth was staring her in the face.

“Alaric,” she whispered. “Tell me the wolf is lying.”

The old guardian swallowed.

“Lyra, you must understand—”

“Answer me!”

Her voice struck the chamber like thunder.

The silver flames surrounding the throne grew brighter.

Alaric lowered his head.

“I never wanted your mother to die.”

It was not the answer she wanted.

Lyra stepped backwards.

“That's not what I asked.”

Kael moved closer, placing himself between her and the old man.

“You heard her. Explain yourself.”

Alaric looked at him.

“This has nothing to do with you, Alpha.”

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“Your secrets have brought us all here. I think it concerns everyone.”

Ronan remained near the entrance, his silver blade raised.

“Let him speak. I want to hear what excuse he has prepared after all these years.”

Alaric's expression hardened.

“You have no right to judge me, Ronan.”

“I have every right. I spent twenty-two years carrying the guilt of a crime you helped commit.”

Lyra's heart missed a beat.

“Helped?”

Ronan looked at her.

“Your guardian was the last person to see your mother alive before the sanctuary was sealed.”

Lyra turned towards Alaric.

“Is that true?”

The old man closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

The single word seemed to drain the air from the chamber.

Lyra's fingers tightened around her mother's pendant.

“What happened?”

Alaric looked towards the ancient throne.

“Your mother discovered that the Draven family had been using the blood oath to drain the power of the royal bloodline. She believed that if she could reach the original altar, she could end the curse before it consumed the packs.”

“And you helped her?”

“I did.”

“Then what went wrong?”

Alaric's eyes filled with something that looked like grief.

“I betrayed her.”

Silence followed.

Mira covered her mouth.

Kael's expression turned murderous.

Lyra felt something inside her collapse.

“Why?”

Alaric struggled to speak.

“Because Selene came to me with an offer. She promised that if I revealed the location of the sanctuary, the Dravens would spare you.”

Lyra stared at him.

“You traded my mother for my life?”

“I believed I could save both of you.”

“But you couldn't.”

“No.”

The word was barely audible.

Alaric dropped to his knees.

“I gave them the location. I thought they would take your mother prisoner. I never knew they intended to kill her.”

Ronan laughed bitterly.

“You knew exactly what they were capable of.”

Alaric's face crumpled.

“I know.”

Lyra looked away.

She had trusted him.

The man who had taught her about her ancestry, who had explained her powers, who had called her the rightful Queen.

All along, he had been part of the reason her mother died.

“Did you know I was alive?” she asked.

Alaric nodded.

“I found you after the attack. Your mother had hidden you inside the royal cradle. I took you away before the guards returned.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because I was afraid.”

“Of what?”

“That you would hate me.”

Lyra let out a hollow laugh.

“You were right.”

The old guardian bowed his head.

“I deserve your hatred.”

Before Lyra could respond, the black wolf moved.

Its enormous body circled the altar.

The guardian speaks only half the truth.

Everyone turned.

Lyra stared at the creature.

“What else is there?”

The wolf's red eyes fixed on Alaric.

He did not merely reveal the sanctuary. He carried the royal seal that opened its doors.

Alaric's face went pale.

Ronan stepped forward.

“The royal seal?”

The old man shook his head.

“No. That's impossible.”

Kael grabbed him by the front of his robes.

“Stop lying!”

Alaric struggled against his grip.

“Release me!”

Lyra raised her hand.

“Kael. Let him go.”

Kael reluctantly released him.

Alaric fell against the stone pillar.

Lyra approached slowly.

“Where is the seal?”

The old guardian looked at her wrist.

Then at the throne.

“I have carried it for twenty-two years.”

He reached beneath his robes and withdrew a small silver object.

It was a crescent-shaped key.

The moment Lyra saw it, her mark burned.

The ancient throne responded with a deep vibration.

Ronan stepped backwards.

“That's the royal seal.”

Alaric held it out.

“Your mother gave it to me before she died. She wanted me to keep it safe until you were old enough to claim your inheritance.”

Lyra stared at the object.

“You said you betrayed her.”

“I did.”

“Then why keep this?”

“Because even after everything I had done, I couldn't bring myself to destroy the last thing she trusted me with.”

Lyra reached for the seal.

Their fingers touched.

A vision exploded inside her mind.

She saw the sanctuary twenty-two years earlier.

Elara stood before the altar, holding a newborn baby.

Alaric was beside her.

A younger Selene entered with armed guards.

Behind her stood King Theron Draven.

Elara raised her sword.

“You promised me safe passage!”

Theron laughed.

“I promised you nothing.”

Alaric stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, please. Let me negotiate.”

Elara turned towards him.

“You brought them here.”

The pain in her mother's voice was unbearable.

Alaric lowered his head.

“Forgive me.”

Then Theron raised his hand.

A guard struck Elara from behind.

She fell.

The baby began crying.

Alaric rushed towards the child, but Selene blocked his path.

“Give her to me.”

“No.”

“You made a bargain with us.”

“I made a bargain to protect her!”

Selene drew her dagger.

“Then you have outlived your usefulness.”

The vision shattered.

Lyra staggered backwards.

Kael caught her before she hit the floor.

She pushed herself away from him.

Her eyes were fixed on Alaric.

“You were there when she was attacked.”

He nodded slowly.

“I was.”

“And you watched?”

“I tried to reach her.”

“But you failed.”

Alaric's tears finally fell.

“Yes.”

A deafening growl interrupted them.

The black wolf stood beside the throne.

The child was not the only one hidden that night.

Lyra turned.

“What do you mean?”

The wolf approached the altar.

Your mother carried a second secret. One that the Draven family never discovered.

A silver line appeared across the stone floor.

It led from Elara's name to a hidden compartment beneath the throne.

Lyra knelt and pressed her hand against the stone.

The compartment opened.

Inside lay a folded piece of parchment and a small golden locket.

She opened the parchment.

The handwriting was unmistakably her mother's.

There was only one sentence.

MY LITTLE MOON, IF YOU HAVE FOUND THIS, THEN THE BLOOD OF YOUR BLOOD IS STILL ALIVE.

Lyra frowned.

“Blood of my blood?”

Alaric looked at the parchment.

His expression changed.

“That's impossible.”

Ronan approached.

“What is it?”

Alaric's voice trembled.

“Elara had another child.”

Lyra's entire body went cold.

Another child.

She looked at the golden locket.

Inside was a tiny portrait of a baby boy with silver-grey eyes.

On the back were two words.

LUCIAN VEYNE.

“My brother?”

Nobody answered.

Kael stared at the photograph.

“Where is he?”

Alaric shook his head.

“I don't know.”

Lyra looked at him.

“You knew my mother had another child?”

“No. I swear it.”

The black wolf suddenly raised its head.

He is alive.

Lyra's heart began pounding.

“Where?”

The creature turned towards the throne room entrance.

In the house of the enemy.

A violent explosion shook the chamber.

The stone pillars cracked.

From somewhere above them came the sound of hundreds of wolves howling.

Kael reached for his weapon.

“We're under attack.”

Ronan moved towards the entrance.

“Not just any attack.”

A communication device on Kael's wrist suddenly activated.

Darian's desperate voice came through.

“Alpha! You need to get out of the castle immediately!”

Kael pressed the device.

“Report!”

“Selene has taken control of the council. She's declared you a traitor and issued an order for your execution.”

Kael's expression darkened.

“What?”

Darian continued.

“And there's something else. Someone has entered the castle claiming to be the rightful heir of the First Luna.”

Lyra froze.

“Who?”

A pause followed.

Then Darian whispered:

“His name is Lucian Veyne.”

Lyra stared at the golden locket in her hand.

Her brother was alive.

And he had come for the throne.