Chapter Nine - The Alpha's Last Breath

Kael’s POV

For three days, Alpha Lucien had been trapped between life and death, not knowing if he was going to make it or not.

Three whole days.

Three days of watching his chest rise and fall beneath the blankets, three days of healers coming and going, and three days of waiting for him to open his eyes.

The healers had stopped giving us hope.

“He may wake from the coma,” the eldest healer had told me on the first day. “But if he does, don’t expect him to last until the end of the week.”

I had stared at him. “What are you saying?”

The healer lowered his gaze. “You should spend as much time with him as possible. He may wake up unexpectedly and want to pass pass a message. Do not wander far.”

Those words had been ringing in my head ever since.

I was to Spend as much time with him as possible, So I did.

I barely left his side. Whenever I had to attend to pack matters, I returned as quickly as I could.

The entire Ironcrest pack seemed to be holding its breath.

No one spoke loudly in the packhouse anymore, and no one laughed.

Even the warriors at the training grounds seemed to carry a heaviness in their movements.

Everyone knew that our Alpha was dying, and no one was ready for what came next.

That night, I stood beside the window of his room, staring into the darkness.

I had just finished speaking with the guards and was preparing to retire for the night when I heard it.

A sound so small I almost thought I had imagined it. It was a sneeze.

I froze, then I heard it again.

I spun around. “Alpha? Are you awake?”

His fingers moved beneath the blanket.

My heart jumped. I rushed toward the bed.

“You’re awake!”

His eyes remained closed, but his breathing had changed.

I grabbed the glass of water sitting on the nearby table and hurried to his side.

“Alpha, can you hear me?”

His eyelids fluttered. I nearly laughed from relief.

For three days, I had prayed for this moment. I helped him sit up slightly and held the glass to his lips.

He took a small sip, then another.

His breathing was weak and when his eyes finally opened, they were so tired.

Atleast they were open.

“Kael…” His voice was barely a whisper.

I smiled. “I’m here.”

His gaze remained on me. “You stayed.”

“Of course I stayed.” I adjusted the pillows behind him. “You scared us.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips. “Did I?”

“You’ve been unconscious for three days.” I frowned.

He closed his eyes briefly. “I see.”

I sat beside him. “You need to rest.”

He opened his eyes again. “No.”

His fingers searched for mine. I immediately took his hand.

His grip was weak. “Kael.”

“Yes, Alpha?” I moved closer.

“I don’t have much time.” He said weakly.

My smile disappeared. “Don’t say that.”

He looked at me quietly. “The healers know I don’t have much time.”

“They don’t know everything.” I insisted.

“I know my body.” He sighed.

“You’re stronger than this.” I peered at him.

A faint chuckle escaped him. “Still trying to command your Alpha?”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you alive.”

His smile faded. “Then listen to me.”

I immediately fell silent.

He squeezed my hand. “When I am gone…”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Kael.” His eyes softened. “You must listen.”

I looked away. I couldn’t bear hearing him speak like this.

“You’re still the strongest Alpha I’ve ever known,” I said quietly. “You survived wars. You survived challenges. You built Ironcrest into the strongest pack in the region.”

I looked back at him. “You’re not going to die now.”

His eyes glistened. “My boy…”

The words struck something inside me. He had never called me that before.

“I’m proud of you.” He smiled.

My throat tightened. “Alpha…”

“You have served this pack faithfully.” He paused to catch his breath. “And I know you will continue to do so.”

I nodded. “I will.”

His fingers tightened around mine.“Once I’m gone, you must search for Aria.”

My chest tightened. “She could be anywhere.”

“Then search everywhere.” His voice was weak but determined. “Across every territory. Every neighboring pack. Every place she might have gone.”

I swallowed. “I will find her.”

“When you do…” He paused. “Tell her.”

I looked at him. “Tell her what?”

His eyes filled with sadness. “Tell her what her stubbornness did to me.”

I couldn’t breathe for a moment.

“Alpha…”

“She needs to know.” His voice trembled. “Not because I want you to punish her.”

He closed his eyes. “But because she needs to understand that her choices have consequences.”

I lowered my head. “She’ll come back.”

“I know.” His eyes opened again. “I believe she will.”

There was something almost peaceful in his expression.

“She will return to Ironcrest one day.” I nodded. “And when she does, I’ll tell her.”

“Good.” He took a slow breath. “Tell her that I loved her until my final breath.”

My eyes burned. I looked away before he could see the emotion gathering there.

“I will.” I whispered.

“And tell her…” His voice weakened.

I leaned closer. “What?”

“That I forgave her.” He choked on tears.

My chest tightened. “You haven’t even left yet.”

He smiled faintly. “Then let me forgive her before I do.”

I squeezed his hand. “You’re not leaving.”

He looked at me for a long moment, then he smiled.

“My brave boy.” His breathing became slower. “Promise me something else. Protect Ironcrest, protect our people, and never allow grief to make you weak.”

I nodded. “I won’t.”

His eyes began to close. “And Kael…If Aria comes home…”

He paused. “Don’t let your anger destroy what could still be.”

I knew exactly what he meant. The promise I had made him days ago.

“I remember.” I nodded.

“Good.” His breathing became shallow.

I held his hand tighter. “Alpha?”

He opened his eyes one last time.“May the Moon Goddess watch over you.”

His voice was barely audible. “And may she watch over Ironcrest.”

He smiled, then his eyes closed.

I waited for him to keep talking, but he laid still.

“Alpha?” I leaned closer. “Alpha Lucien?”

I placed my fingers against his wrist but didn’t get a pulse.

My heart sank. I knew what had happened, I still waited.

Perhaps he would breathe again, perhaps his chest would rise, and perhaps this was simply another pause.

But it didn’t. Alpha Lucien Nightshade was gone. I remained seated beside him.

I didn’t cry, and I didn’t speak. I simply stared at the man who had been my Alpha for as long as I could remember.

The man who had trusted me with his daughter, and the man who had trusted me with his pack.

Now he was nothing but a silent body beneath the blankets.

I slowly rose from the chair. I pulled the blanket over him, covering his body respectfully.

His spirit needed to journey peacefully to the ancestors, So I stood there in silence.

I gave him that final moment.

Then I walked toward the door. A guard immediately straightened when he saw me.

“Sir?”

My voice came out low. “Go to the tower and ring the giant bell.”

His eyes widened but he understood immediately.

“The Alpha…” I nodded. “Has passed.”

The guard lowered his head. “Yes, sir.”

He hurried away while I remained in the doorway.

Then the first sound came. The giant bell of Ironcrest rang through the night.

The sound traveled across the entire territory so every wolf would hear it.

Every warrior, every servant, and every family knew that the sound carried one message.

Our Alpha was dead.

I closed my eyes. The pack would mourn and grieve tonight.

Tomorrow, they would look to me and somewhere beyond these borders, Aria was still living the life she had chosen.

She didn’t know her father was gone, she didn’t know Ironcrest had lost its Alpha, and didn’t know that the life she had abandoned had already begun changing without her.

And I had made a promise that I would find her no matter where she was and no matter how long it took.

I would bring her home, and fulfill her father’s wishes whether she liked it or not.

*****************

The bell had barely stopped ringing when Ironcrest began to mourn.

By morning, black cloth covered the entrance of the packhouse.

The warriors stood in silence, and servants moved through the halls with lowered heads.

Everywhere I looked, I saw the same expression.

Grief.

Alpha Lucien was gone and somehow, I was expected to keep everything standing and on guard.

I had barely slept since his death.

His final words continued to echo in my mind.

“Find Aria. Tell her what her stubbornness did to me. Tell her I loved her until my final breath.”

I had promised him that I would find her, but I didn’t know how or where to begin.

We had searched the neighboring territories before but every lead had ended in nothing.

Then, while I was seated in the Alpha’s study, someone knocked.

“Come in.”

The door opened slowly and a young woman stepped inside.

I recognized her immediately. She was one of Aria’s most trusted omegas.

The same woman I heard had secretly helped send Aria’s belongings and money after she disappeared.

She looked terrified.

She lowered her head. “ Kael.”

I studied her. “Why are you here?”

She swallowed. “There is something I need to tell you.”

I leaned back. “Then speak.”

Her hands trembled. “I know where Princess Aria is.”

My entire body went still. “You know where she is?”

She nodded.

“Where?” I asked.

She hesitated. “Crimson Snow Pack.”

Silence filled the room.

For several seconds, I simply stared at her.

“You knew?”

Her eyes filled with fear. “Yes.”

“How long?” I frowned.

“Since shortly after she left.”

My jaw tightened. “And you said nothing? Do you know that it counts as treason?”

“I was afraid. She asked me not to say a word. She was afraid that you would bring her back and her father would punish her.”

I stood, the chair scraped against the floor.

“She abandoned this pack while her father was dying, and you helped her hide. That doesn’t make you innocent.”

Tears gathered in her eyes. “I only helped her because she asked me to.”

“She is the Alpha’s daughter.” I pounded my fists on the huge desk. “She is the heir to Ironcrest and her father spent his final days believing she was gone. Do you know the amount of heartbreak he went through?”

Her lips trembled. “I know.”

I stared at her. “Then why?”

She lowered her head. “Because she loves him.”

I frowned. “Damon?”

She nodded. “She believes he is the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with.”

A bitter feeling settled in my chest.

So she had truly chosen him even after everything? Even after her father had arranged her future? Even after she knew what her absence could do to the pack?

She had still chosen Damon?

I looked away. The anger inside me was fighting with the promise I had made.

“I could send warriors to bring her back.”

The omega immediately looked up.“No.”

My eyes narrowed. “She needs to know her father is dead.”

“I know.” She quivered.

“Then why are you stopping me?” I raised a brow.

“Because if you force her to return, she’ll only resent you. Don’t use force please.”

I stared at her. “She already resents me.”

“Not like that.” Her voice trembled. “She is in love, Kael. She believes she finally has the freedom she always wanted.”

I scoffed. “Freedom? From who?”

“Yes.” She wiped the tears from her cheek. “Please don’t go there and drag her back.”

I was silent. She took a hesitant step forward.

“Send her a letter instead.”

“A letter?” I glared at her.

“Yes.” She looked at me pleadingly.“Tell her the truth. Tell her Alpha Lucien has passed away. Tell her when the burial will take place.”

I looked toward the window. The thought of writing to Aria felt strange.

She had left without a word, she had chosen another man, and now I was supposed to ask her to come home.

Not for me, but for her father.

I remembered Alpha Lucien’s final moments, his weak voice, his hand around mine, and his request.

I closed my eyes briefly. “I’ll consider what you said.”

“Thank you.”

I looked back at the omega. “You’re certain she will receive the letter?”

“I can make sure it reaches her.” She shrugged.

I studied her for a long moment, then I nodded.

“Fine.”

Relief crossed her face.

“But understand something.If she chooses not to come…”. I paused as my voice hardened. “The burial will continue without her.”

Her eyes widened. “You won’t wait?”

“I will not give her the opportunity to say goodbye.” I looked toward the door. “But I will not allow Ironcrest to remain in mourning forever because its heir chose another life.”

She lowered her head. “Yes, Kael.”

I sat back down. “Bring me paper.”

She hurried away. A few minutes later, she returned with everything I needed.

I stared at the blank page. For the first time since Aria left, I didn’t know what to say to her.

How could I put death into a letter? How could I tell her that the father she had run away from was gone?

I picked up the pen. My hand remained still for several seconds.

Then I began to write. I told her that her father was dead. I noticed that my writings felt so cold, and didn’t carry any life. I told her about his final days, when the burial would take place, his final request, and my coronation.

I didn’t accuse her or tell her that she had killed him. That wasn’t in my place to reveal.

Alpha Lucien had asked me to tell her what her choices had done, but he had also told me that he forgave her so I made sure she knew that too.

When I finished, I folded the letter and I handed it to the omega.

“Make sure she receives this.” I mumbled.

She nodded. “I will.”

“If she asks whether I want her to return…”. I hesitated. “Tell her the truth.”

“What truth?” She asked, wide eyed.

“That I am not asking her to return for me.” The words felt strange coming from my mouth. “I’m asking her to return for her father.”

She nodded. “Yes, Kael.”

Then she left and I remained alone in the study.

My eyes drifted toward the portrait of Alpha Lucien hanging above the fireplace.

I stood and approached it.

“You wanted her home.” My voice was barely a whisper. “I’ll give her the chance.”

I looked at the portrait. “But I can’t make her choose us.”

The room fell silent. Outside, the wind moved through the trees.

Somewhere beyond Ironcrest, Aria was living the life she had chosen.

She didn’t know her father was gone, she didn’t know that his final thoughts had been of her, and she didn’t know that the pack was preparing to bury its Alpha.

But soon, she would and then she would have to decide whether to remain with the man she had chosen, or return to the home she had abandoned.

I only hoped she would come back in time to say goodbye before her father’s bones touched the earth.