The First Attempt

The city did not sleep that night.

How could it?

By sunset, rumors had spread through every street, tavern, marketplace, and noble estate.

The Silver Guardian had returned.

The ancient prophecy was awakening.

A mysterious child had been recognized by the wolves.

No one knew the full truth.

But everyone knew something extraordinary had happened.

And dangerous men always paid attention when extraordinary things happened.

Especially Lord Cassius.

---

Seraphina stood beside the window of her chamber, watching the moonlight spill across the palace gardens.

Below, guards patrolled the grounds.

More guards than usual.

The Queen Mother had quietly doubled security after the incident at the gates.

Not that it made Seraphina feel better.

Her instincts remained restless.

Uneasy.

As though danger lurked just beyond sight.

Behind her, Aiden slept peacefully.

Curled beneath a thick blanket.

Unaware that half the kingdom was already whispering about him.

Kael leaned against the wall near the door.

Silent.

Watchful.

Protective.

"You should rest."

Seraphina glanced at him.

"You first."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Fair."

Neither moved.

Neither slept.

The silence stretched.

Then—

Aiden suddenly sat upright.

Seraphina spun around.

The boy's eyes were open.

Wide.

Focused.

But not awake.

"Mama?"

His voice sounded distant.

Strange.

Almost dreamlike.

Seraphina rushed to his side.

"Aiden?"

The child looked toward the window.

Toward the darkness outside.

Then whispered:

"Someone is coming."

The room went cold.

Kael immediately pushed away from the wall.

"What did he say?"

Before Seraphina could answer—

Glass shattered.

A black-clad figure crashed through the window.

Everything happened at once.

The assassin rolled across the floor.

A blade flashed silver in the moonlight.

Seraphina grabbed Aiden.

Kael drew his sword.

Steel met steel.

The clash exploded through the chamber.

The assassin was fast.

Faster than any ordinary killer.

His second strike nearly reached Aiden.

Kael intercepted it at the last second.

Sparks flew.

Furniture splintered.

The room descended into chaos.

"Guards!" Seraphina shouted.

The assassin ignored everyone except the boy.

That alone told her everything.

This wasn't robbery.

This wasn't random violence.

This was targeted.

Deliberate.

Someone wanted Aiden dead.

The assassin lunged again.

Kael blocked.

But this time the force of the blow sent him stumbling backward.

The killer moved immediately.

Straight toward Aiden.

Seraphina stepped in front of her son.

Fear vanished.

Only a mother's instinct remained.

"You will not touch him."

The assassin raised his blade.

And attacked.

Aiden screamed.

Silver light exploded from his body.

The chamber shook.

The assassin froze.

His blade stopped inches from Seraphina's throat.

For one impossible second, he couldn't move.

Couldn't breathe.

Couldn't even blink.

The silver light wrapped around him like chains.

Then the assassin was hurled backward.

Violently.

His body smashed through the far wall.

Stone cracked.

Dust filled the air.

Silence followed.

Absolute silence.

Seraphina stared.

Kael stared.

Even Aiden stared.

The boy looked horrified.

"I didn't do that."

The words came out small.

Scared.

Confused.

Then footsteps thundered through the corridor.

Guards burst into the room.

Weapons drawn.

Followed closely by Queen Mother Evangeline.

The moment she saw the destruction, her face drained of color.

"What happened?"

Kael pointed toward the broken wall.

"Assassin."

The Queen Mother's expression hardened instantly.

"Alive?"

A guard checked.

Then nodded.

"Barely."

"Good."

Her voice turned icy.

"Bring him to the dungeons."

The guards dragged the unconscious killer away.

Only after they disappeared did Evangeline turn toward Aiden.

The boy immediately hid behind Seraphina.

The Queen Mother's expression softened.

"Are you hurt?"

Aiden shook his head.

"No."

But his voice trembled.

He was frightened.

Seraphina wrapped an arm around him.

The Queen Mother looked at the shattered room.

Then at the silver scorch marks still glowing faintly across the floor.

And finally at Seraphina.

"Cassius."

The name hung heavily between them.

Neither woman doubted it.

Not for a second.

---

Far beneath the palace, Killian moved through forgotten tunnels.

His strength was slowly returning.

Not fully.

Not yet.

But enough.

Enough to fight.

Enough to survive.

Enough to kill.

Morwen walked beside him carrying a lantern.

"You feel it."

Killian nodded.

The bond pulsed painfully in his chest.

His son.

Something had happened.

Something dangerous.

The connection was growing stronger.

Every hour.

Every minute.

The awakening prophecy had changed everything.

Aiden's power was emerging.

And with it came new risks.

Killian's jaw tightened.

"I need to reach them."

"You will."

Morwen sounded calm.

Far too calm.

The old healer stopped suddenly.

Killian frowned.

"What is it?"

She pointed ahead.

The tunnel ended at an ancient stone door.

Covered in silver runes.

The forgotten entrance to the royal crypts.

Beyond it lay the palace.

Beyond it lay Seraphina.

Beyond it lay his son.

Morwen smiled faintly.

"From here, you're on your own."

Killian stared at the door.

Then pushed it open.

Moonlight flooded the tunnel.

Fresh air.

Freedom.

War.

The Alpha King stepped through.

Alive.

Unseen.

And very angry.

---

Meanwhile, Lord Cassius stood inside his private chambers.

Waiting.

A servant rushed inside moments later.

Breathless.

Terrified.

"My lord."

Cassius already knew.

The expression on the servant's face told him everything.

The mission had failed.

"Report."

The servant swallowed hard.

"The assassin was captured."

Silence.

Deadly silence.

Then Cassius laughed.

Softly.

Dangerously.

The servant immediately looked even more frightened.

"Interesting."

Cassius walked toward the balcony.

The city lights glittered below.

Beautiful.

Fragile.

Soon to be his.

Or so he had believed.

Now things were becoming complicated.

The child had survived.

The prophecy was gaining attention.

And the Queen Mother was becoming suspicious.

None of that mattered.

Not yet.

Because Cassius still held one advantage.

One secret.

One weapon no one knew existed.

Slowly, he opened a hidden drawer.

Inside rested a black crystal.

Dark energy pulsed within it.

Alive.

Hungry.

Ancient.

A smile spread across his face.

"The boy was only the first step."

The crystal glowed brighter.

And somewhere deep beneath the kingdom, something monstrous began to wake.

Something even older than the prophecy itself.

Something that had been imprisoned for centuries.

And it had just heard Cassius calling its name.