Semua Bab Bound by Blood, Fated to the Two Alphas : Bab 181 - Bab 190

RONAN'S POVThe ravine was darker than I'd expected.We moved through the shadows like we'd practiced this dance our whole lives. Three bodies. One mind. The bond hummed between us, steady and sure.Kael took a point down the center path. His footsteps were silent on the rocky ground.I kept to the left, close enough to feel the connection burning warm in my chest. Far enough to flank whatever was waiting.Through the bond, I felt Elara's concentration. She was our compass. Our anchor.The beast's scent grew stronger with every step."It's close," I whispered.*I know,* came Kael's mental response. *Can you feel where?*I paused. Let my senses expand through the connection.There. A wrongness in the air about fifty yards ahead. Hidden behind the fallen rocks.*Got it,* I replied.We moved closer. The synchronization was perfect now. No hesitation. No doubt.Just the three of us, moving as one.The attack came fast.The beast erupted from its hiding spot with a roar that shook loose st

RONAN'S POV "Look at that."Kael pointed through the ash-thick air. Something dark rose from the gray wasteland.I wiped dust from my eyes. A stone obelisk stood ahead. Tall as three wolves standing on hind legs. Ancient symbols covered its surface."More ruins," Kael muttered. His voice was still shaky from yesterday's whispers.We approached slowly. My wolf senses picked up something strange. Magic. Old magic that made my fur want to stand on end.The obelisk was black stone. Not gray like everything else here. The silver ash would not stick to it. Symbols glowed faint blue along its sides."Can you read it?" Kael asked.I walked closer. The ancient pack script was worn but readable. My father taught me the old tongue when I was a pup."It's a prophecy," I said. My throat felt tight."What kind?"I traced the symbols with one finger. They felt warm under my touch. Alive."One must bleed where the moon meets ash," I read aloud. "The worthy shall pay with crimson. Only through sacrif

KAEL'S POV The power hit me like a charging bull. My body flew backward across the plateau. My back slammed against the rough stone. Pain shot through my ribs. Stars exploded behind my eyes. For a moment I could not breathe. Could not think. The pack bond screamed warning through my blood.When my vision cleared, I saw something that made my wolf howl in terror. Elara was floating above the altar. The liquid moonlight had risen from the cracked obsidian. It swirled around her like hungry serpents. Silver light wrapped her arms. Her legs. Her throat. She was drowning in divine power. Her eyes rolled back white. Her mouth opened in a silent scream."Elara!" I scrambled to my feet. My ribs protested but I ignored them. The moonlight was pulling her higher. Away from us. Away from the solid ground that kept her anchored to this world. "She's being consumed!"Ronan was on his knees beside the altar. Blood trickled from his nose. The power surge had hit him too. But his eyes were clear. Fo

ELARA'S POVMorning came and I saw Ronan's arm was really bad now.The black lines had gone past his elbow. They were moving under his skin like something alive was crawling inside him.He was trying to hide it while we packed our things. He kept his sleeve down and moved slowly. But I saw his hands shaking. I saw him wince when he thought nobody was watching."Ronan," I said. "Show me your arm.""It's fine.""No it's not. Show me now."I grabbed his wrist before he could move away. He didn't fight me. Maybe he was just too tired.I pulled his sleeve up and my stomach turned.The black lines were everywhere now. They spread across his skin like tree branches. The places where they met looked gray and dead."How long have you been hiding this?" I asked."Since the cave.""That was three days ago!" I stared at him. "Why didn't you tell us?""Because there's nothing you can do.""That's not your choice to make." I looked at the claw marks on his arm. They were completely black now. The s

KAEL'S POVI took the middle tunnel without looking back at the others, the air changed immediately. It got colder, heavier and this wasn't like what Elara probably faced in her tunnel. This felt real and if dangerous.Rocks started falling from above without warning. I dodged left fast. A big one crashed where I'd been standing just seconds before.More rocks fell. Faster now. Bigger. I ran forward hard, jumping over cracks forming in the ground beneath my feet.Shadow traps appeared from the walls around me. Black tendrils reaching out trying to grab me. I cut through them with my blade quickly. They hissed loud and retreated back into the darkness.My muscles burned already from the effort. This wasn't a test of the mind like what Elara probably got. This was a pure physical challenge. Combat and raw instinct only.The tunnel finally opened into a large chamber. I stopped running, breathing hard and heavy.Weapons covered every wall I could see. Swords, axes, spears, daggers. All o