Se connecterChapter 186: The Champion ReturnsElena povI watched Cassius raise his sword.Behind him, hundreds of wolves tensed up. Veterans, guards, soldiers. All ready to kill.Dominic's warriors raised their own weapons in response. The Alphas who had chosen to stand with Theron shifted into defensive positions.Once the first blood was spilled, nothing would stop this. Western wolves would slaughter Western wolves, and whoever won would inherit a broken kingdom.David and Cassius would have already succeeded, no matter what.I moved before I could think about it.Kieran caught my wrist immediately. His grip was iron. "Elena.""If the fighting starts, they have already won." I met his eyes. "You know I am right."His jaw worked. For a heartbeat I thought he'd pull me back anyway.Then he released my wrist and walked beside me instead.We finally came out in the open. Domincs eyes widened for a moment The whispers started almost immediately."The Avatar.""That's Elena.""The Continental Cham
Chapter 185: The Brink of Civil WarElena's POVWe ran.Through the corridors filled with wounded wolves.Theron led the way, Marcus and Kieran flanking him, while I struggled to keep pace behind them. The guard who had found us ran ahead, checking corners and signaling when paths were clear.The sounds of conflict grew louder. Shouting. Metal clashing against metal. The snarls of wolves on the edge of transformation.We burst through a side entrance into the main courtyard, and the scene before us froze everyone in place.Dominic stood at the center of a massive circle, surrounded on all sides.His pack warriors formed a tight formation around him… maybe fifty wolves, all armed, all ready to fight for their leader. Their faces were grim but determined, weapons drawn, eyes scanning the opposite army.On one side, the palace guards formed disciplined ranks. At least two hundred soldiers in royal armor, their weapons reflecting the afternoon sun. These were the wolves who should have be
Chapter 184: The King Locked OutElena's POVChaos erupted outside the palace gates.Some of the soldiers on the battlements immediately recognized Theron and began shouting for the gates to be opened. Others refused, their bows still drawn, their faces twisted with uncertainty and fear. The Royal Guard… the elite warriors sworn to protect the king with their lives… had split into factions."Your Majesty is alive!" one guard shouted from the eastern tower. "Open the gates!""We have our orders!" another yelled back. "Nobody enters until Commander David approves it!""David doesn't outrank the king, you fool!""How do we know it's really him? They said he was dead. This could be an imposter, a trick to breach the palace!"I watched in horror as Theron's own guards argued with each other, weapons half-raised, torn between loyalty and the orders they had been given.Theron remained perfectly still, his face carved from stone. But I could see the fury building in his eyes, controlled and
Chapter 183: Home to FireElena's POVI should have felt relieved.The Gathering was finally behind us. Darius had been imprisoned awaiting judgment. My identity had been revealed to the whole 4 kingdoms. The conspiracy that had nearly torn the Western kingdom apart has been dismantled.I was exhausted. Every bone in my body ached, and the bruises from the tower still throbbed beneath my clothes despite the healers' work. All I wanted was to reach Theron's capital, collapse into a proper bed, and figure out what being Princess Amara's daughter actually meant for my future.The Western delegation moved steadily along the forest road. Theron rode at the front with his commanders. Marcus, Elise and the girls traveled with the main group. Kieran stayed close to me, his presence a constant comfort as we journeyed home.Home. Strange how I had started thinking of the Western capital that way.As the convoy wound through the trees, I began recognizing landmarks from my first arrival with Kie
Chapter 182: Judgement 2Elena povThe hall remained silent for a long moment after the doors closed.Then Elise stepped forward from where she had been standing. She approached me slowly, her hands clasped in front of her, her expression uncertain."Elena," she said quietly. "May I speak with you?"I glanced at Kieran, who gave me an encouraging nod, then back to Elise. "Of course."We moved to a quieter corner of the hall, away from the others. Elise twisted her hands together, clearly struggling with what to say."I wanted to apologize," she finally said. "Again. I know I have already said it, but... I need you to understand. I am so sorry for acting hostile and disgraceful acts.."Elise…""Please, let me finish." She took a shaky breath. "You never wanted to replace me or push me aside. You were just trying to survive in a place that was hostile to you from the moment you arrived. And instead of helping you, instead of being the sister you deserved, I made it worse. I am so sorry
Chapter 181: JudgmentElena's POVThe Grand Hall had never been so silent.Three days had passed since the tower. Three days of healers fussing over my injuries, three days of listening to kieran and marcus whispering under hushed tone while I recovered. Now I stood in the center of that vast hall, watching as the remaining rulers of the four courts assembled to deliver judgment.King Theron sat on his throne, his expression carved from stone. To his right, Alpha Frostbite occupied the seat designated for the North, his pale eyes cold and merciless. The Alphas from the Southern courts and the five judges flanked them. Every region was wholly represented except the Eastern region.Everybody in the hall had their eyes on the culprit.Darius who was knelt in chains before them.He looked nothing like the polished, arrogant man who had orchestrated an attack on the Continental Gathering. His clothes were torn and dirty. His face was bruised from his capture. But his eyes... his eyes stil







