Semua Bab Marked by the enemy alpha: Bab 91 - Bab 100

The Mooncrest skies were overcast, cloaking the land in a gray stillness that mirrored the tension gripping the pack. Aria stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the training grounds, her cloak fluttering in the rising wind. Below her, warriors sparred in silence, their movements sharp, precise, but subdued. No shouts. No laughter. Just the hard thud of fists and the metallic clash of weapons. The confrontation with the High Council was only days away, and Kael remained imprisoned, his fate suspended by threads woven of politics, fear, and centuries-old laws. Every passing minute felt like a noose tightening around his neck—and around hers. She had fought battles, faced enemies with bloodstained claws, and endured heartbreak and betrayal. But nothing tore at her more than the knowledge that Kael—her mate, her other half—sat alone in a silver-walled prison beneath her home, abandoned by the very system she was born into. The prison beneath the council’s hall was fortified with s

The Mooncrest pack grounds were shrouded in an eerie quiet that morning. The kind of silence that lingered before a storm. A storm Aria could feel in her bones. She stood alone on the overlook that faced the eastern border, the morning breeze lifting strands of her dark hair. The scars from the recent Council confrontation still tingled faintly under her tunic, a reminder of how close they’d come to losing Kael—to losing everything. Below, warriors trained in tighter formations, their movements more precise than before, more desperate. Word of the Crimson Fang Pack’s imminent strike had spread like wildfire, and for the first time, Mooncrest and Darkveil stood as one in defense. Behind her, the heavy tread of boots approached. Aria didn’t need to turn to know it was Elandra. “They’re mobilizing,” Elandra said simply, her voice grim. “Scouts spotted Crimson Fang banners not five miles from the border.” “How many?” Aria asked, gripping the stone ledge. “Too many.” Aria’s heart bea

The dawn light filtered gently through the towering stained-glass windows of the Mooncrest Temple, casting fractured rainbows across the ancient stone floor. Despite the peace that had been declared the night before, the temple felt heavy with unspoken tension, as if the air itself was charged with anticipation and uncertainty. The sacred hall, once a place of cold judgment and unwavering tradition, was now a crucible for change — fragile, yet filled with the possibility of a new future. Aria sat quietly on the edge of the council chamber’s marble bench, her fingers tracing the delicate carvings etched into the wood. The events of the Trial by Moonlight played over in her mind — the ghosts they had faced, the fire leap, the solemn words of the elders. The verdict was clear: their bond was divine, blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. Yet, beneath that sacred judgment lurked shadows of doubt and resistance, whispering that this victory was only the beginning of a longer, harder battle.

The skies above Mooncrest were awash with crimson and ash, the remnants of twilight bleeding into the encroaching darkness. The Trial by Moonlight had ended, but its echoes still rang in every stone, in every breath taken by those who bore witness. The Council’s acceptance of Aria and Kael’s bond had shaken the ancient foundations of tradition—and yet, beneath the surface of celebration, unease festered. Aria stood atop the western watchtower, the cool breeze tugging at her cloak. Her silver eyes scanned the dark horizon, where mountains loomed like slumbering titans. The scent of pine and distant rain curled in the air, but something darker clung to the wind. Something old… something coming. “You can feel it too,” Kael said softly behind her. She turned, watching him approach, his steps silent despite the weight he carried. The Council had unchained his body, but not all their doubt. Whispers still followed him in the halls—about his bloodline, about what his union with Aria truly

The fire burned higher than the trees. A wall of crimson and gold lit up the northern sky as Kael and Aria emerged from the shadowed path leading from the temple ruins. Behind them, the echoes of ancient truths still whispered through the stones, and before them—the night screamed with chaos. Smoke rolled in thick columns over Mooncrest Valley, where the Crimson Fang had finally made their move. Villages once hidden beneath the moon's protection were ablaze. The warning bells howled from distant towers, carried on wind that tasted of ash and blood. Aria’s breath caught in her throat. “They didn’t wait,” she whispered, hand instinctively going to her dagger. “They launched their attack before the council could rally the packs.” Kael’s jaw clenched, his golden eyes glinting like twin suns. “They knew we’d be distracted by the Trial. They took advantage of the Council’s division.” “And we played right into it,” Elandra said grimly, appearing beside them. Her hood was thrown back, re