THE MONSTER IN THE ALPHA

CHAPTER 16

THE MONSTER IN THE ALPHA

“Did you really believe your brother was the only one I had been preparing?”

The voice came from Kael's mouth.

But it was not Kael.

Lyra stared into the black eyes of the man who had once rejected her before an entire temple.

His expression was unfamiliar.

The cold authority she remembered had disappeared, replaced by something crueler.

Something ancient.

“Kael,” she whispered.

The creature smiled.

“Such a familiar name.”

Kael's body jerked violently.

A low growl escaped his throat.

“Get… away…”

For a moment, his icy-blue eyes returned.

Lyra moved closer.

“I'm here.”

“Don't…”

His hands dug into the stone.

“Don't let it…”

The blackness swallowed his eyes again.

The creature rose slowly.

Every warrior in the chamber backed away.

Even Ronan lowered his weapon.

Alaric tightened his grip on his staff.

“The First King's blood memory is awakening.”

Lyra turned towards him.

“How do we stop it?”

“We must separate the memory from Kael's wolf.”

“Then do it!”

Alaric shook his head.

“It cannot be done by ordinary means.”

Lyra's patience snapped.

“I'm tired of hearing what cannot be done!”

Her voice shook the chamber.

Silver light spread from her feet.

The creature turned towards her.

For the first time, its smile disappeared.

“Careful, little Queen.”

Lyra raised her chin.

“You are not speaking to Kael.”

“No?”

“No. You are hiding behind his face.”

The creature laughed.

“His blood belongs to me.”

“His blood is not his choice.”

“His ancestors made that choice long before he was born.”

Lyra stepped closer.

“And I will not let you punish him for their sins.”

The creature tilted its head.

“How noble.”

It moved so quickly that nobody saw it cross the chamber.

One moment it stood beside the throne.

The next, its hand was around Lyra's throat.

“Let's see how noble you remain when I show you what your precious Alpha has done.”

A wave of darkness exploded.

Lyra's surroundings disappeared.

She was standing in a room filled with red light.

A younger Kael stood before an enormous mirror.

He looked perhaps seventeen.

His hands were covered in blood.

A woman stood behind him.

Selene.

“You must never show weakness,” she said.

Young Kael lowered his head.

“I understand.”

“Your father failed because he allowed himself to love.”

Kael looked at her.

“What happened to him?”

Selene's expression hardened.

“He became a vessel.”

The vision changed.

Kael was older.

Twenty-one.

He stood in a circular chamber surrounded by members of the Draven family.

A black symbol had been carved into the floor.

His father lay in the centre.

Alive.

Barely.

“Take my blood,” the older man whispered.

Kael looked horrified.

“Father?”

Selene approached.

“Your father has fulfilled his purpose. Now it is your turn.”

Kael stepped backwards.

“No.”

A guard seized him.

He fought.

But Selene placed her hand against his chest.

The black symbol ignited.

Kael screamed.

The vision shattered.

Lyra gasped.

She was back in the throne room.

The creature still held her throat.

“Do you see?” it whispered.

“His family has always known what he was.”

Lyra struggled against its grip.

“Release me.”

The creature smiled.

“He was prepared for this from birth. His rejection of you was not an accident.”

Lyra's eyes widened.

“What?”

“His mother knew your blood would awaken the prison. She needed him to reject you before the bond became complete.”

Lyra felt something cold move through her chest.

The rejection.

The ceremony.

Kael's fear.

Was everything connected?

The creature leaned closer.

“Your bond was supposed to be severed. But something went wrong.”

Lyra's silver mark began glowing.

The creature released her abruptly.

She fell to the floor.

A violent wave of light spread across the chamber.

Kael collapsed.

His body shook.

Then the black markings began retreating from his neck.

The ancient voice returned.

The bond was not destroyed.

Lyra looked towards the throne.

“What?”

It was redirected.

Her breathing became uneven.

“Redirected where?”

The ancient wolf's voice echoed inside her mind.

Into the prison.

A terrible silence followed.

Lyra looked at Kael.

He was still breathing, but his face was pale.

The black symbol beneath his collar had disappeared.

For now.

Alaric approached cautiously.

“You broke the possession.”

Lyra shook her head.

“No. I only stopped it.”

The old guardian nodded.

“Then we have little time.”

Ronan moved towards Kael.

“Can he be moved?”

“Not yet,” Alaric replied. “His wolf must regain control.”

Mira knelt beside Lyra.

“Are you hurt?”

Lyra touched her throat.

“I'll survive.”

Her eyes remained fixed on Kael.

She remembered the words the creature had spoken.

His rejection of you was not an accident.

She wanted to ask him what he knew.

But he was unconscious.

And she was not sure she wanted to hear the answer.

---

Several minutes later, Kael opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the ceiling.

The second was Lyra standing near the entrance.

He tried to sit up.

Pain shot through his chest.

“Don't move,” Alaric warned.

Kael ignored him.

“Lyra.”

She did not turn.

“Where is she?”

“Still here,” Mira answered.

Kael looked towards the entrance.

“Lyra, please.”

She slowly faced him.

“What?”

He swallowed.

“What happened?”

“You lost control.”

His expression tightened.

“Did I hurt anyone?”

“You tried to.”

Kael closed his eyes.

“Did I hurt you?”

Lyra hesitated.

“Yes.”

The answer seemed to wound him more deeply than the physical pain.

He looked away.

“I'm sorry.”

She let out a quiet breath.

“Do you know what your mother has been doing?”

Kael said nothing.

“Did you know your family was connected to the Hollow King?”

“No.”

“Did you know your father became a vessel?”

His eyes snapped towards her.

“What?”

Lyra studied his face.

She believed that he had not known.

But she also knew that ignorance did not erase responsibility.

“Your mother has been hiding the truth from you.”

Kael struggled to stand.

“I need to find her.”

“You need to stop giving orders.”

He froze.

Lyra stepped closer.

“You are not in control of this situation anymore, Kael. Neither am I. And until I understand what is happening, you will not make decisions on my behalf.”

His jaw tightened.

Then he slowly nodded.

“You're right.”

The words surprised her.

He continued.

“I don't expect you to trust me. I don't expect you to forgive me. But I will tell you everything I discover.”

Lyra looked away.

“Start by telling me what you remember about the rejection.”

Kael's expression darkened.

“The ceremony?”

“Yes.”

He took a slow breath.

“When the moonstone revealed you as my mate, my wolf recognized you immediately. I wanted to claim you.”

Lyra's chest tightened.

“But you rejected me.”

“I know.”

“Why?”

Kael looked directly into her eyes.

“Because my mother had warned me that the First Luna's heir would awaken something that could destroy the Draven bloodline. She told me that if I completed the bond, the ancient prison would recognize you as its key.”

“And you believed her?”

“I was afraid.”

Lyra stared at him.

“You humiliated me because you were afraid?”

Kael lowered his head.

“Yes.”

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she stepped backwards.

“Your fear does not excuse what you did.”

“I know.”

“And whatever happens between us now, you do not get to use the mate bond as a reason for me to stay.”

Kael's voice was quiet.

“I won't.”

Before she could respond, Lucian entered the chamber.

He looked at Kael, then at Lyra.

“We have a problem.”

Ronan raised his weapon.

“Another one?”

Lucian ignored him.

“The council has received a message from Selene.”

Kael straightened.

“What message?”

Lucian held out a small silver communication device.

A woman's voice emerged.

“By order of the Nightfall Council, Alpha Kael Draven is hereby stripped of his authority.”

Kael's face hardened.

The message continued.

“Until the royal bloodline is restored, all packs are to recognize Lucian Veyne as the rightful ruler of the Moonfall Dominion.”

Lyra turned towards her brother.

“What?”

Lucian's expression was unreadable.

Kael stepped forward.

“Did you arrange this?”

“No.”

“Then why is your name on the declaration?”

Lucian hesitated.

“I don't know.”

The device crackled again.

A second voice emerged.

This time, it was not Selene's.

It was a man's voice.

Deep.

Calm.

And unmistakably familiar to Alaric.

“Congratulations, my son.”

The old guardian dropped his staff.

His face turned completely white.

Lyra looked at him.

“Who is that?”

Alaric's lips trembled.

“No…”

The voice continued.

“You have done well, Lucian.”

Lucian stopped breathing.

The speaker laughed softly.

“It's time to come home.”

Alaric sank to his knees.

“King Theron…”

Kael's eyes widened.

“That's impossible. My grandfather has been dead for twenty-two years.”

The communication device went silent.

Then three words appeared on its small screen.

THE KING LIVES STILL.