All Chapters of The Alpha King's Shadow: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

That night, Selene dared not sleep. She stitched her work under the flickering candlelight. Her ears stayed alert for any scrape of claws against the window. But the whisperer did not show up. Aurek did instead.The door slammed open. The king filled the doorway, shoulders broad, eyes wild and untamed.Selene let her sewing drop right to the floor. She got to her feet in a scramble. Her knees buckled on their own. Her head bowed down low."Look at me," Aurek said in a command. She raised her eyes slowly. She trembled all over. He walked in with long strides. He shut the door after him. For that one moment, he just stared at her. His chest went up and down fast. It seemed like he fought some inner battle.At last, he spoke. His voice came out low like a growl. "Last night you put wolfsbane right at my table. Tonight, I catch you stitching away in secret. My wolf tears at me inside. It wants to claim you bad. Tell me why."Selene's lips opened a bit. But the vow burned hot in her throat

The Whisperer grinned even though it did not have a mouth. Doubt started to grow fast in their minds. Loneliness and despair fed it like water on seeds.It went after the youngest one first. That was Lucian. His playful side had held up even when he turned into a swan. The Whisperer told him the worst lie possible.She is not suffering for you, it hissed. She picked this path herself. She could stop it anytime. She could just talk. But she stays quiet. That means she does not care anymore.Lucian's golden feathers shook a little. His heart used to float lightly. Now it dropped heavily like a rock.Once the Whisperer stopped talking, the marsh lost its safe feeling. Shadows hung thick there. Doubt and fear pushed into every feather. They weighed on those breakable hearts.The brothers moved around restlessly. Their calls came out sharp and sad. They flapped their wings hard against the fog.Way off in Ironhold, Selene sat alone in her room. Her needle went steadily through the cloth. B

The creature waved a shadowy hand. You share blood with her. It's distant, but real. Her mother's line and yours used to be the same. We can use that connection to make a mirror. You will see what she sees. A wave of satisfaction went through Veyra. And the cost, she asked.The Whisperer grinned, even without a mouth. Blood, naturally. Yours. And seeing comes with a price. Memory. You will lose something dear to you.Veyra let out a soft laugh. Then I lose nothing. Start it.The ritual kicked off with a whisper, then a cut. Dark blood poured into the silver bowl. Runes lit up red. The Whisperer drew symbols in the air. They floated like burning moths. Then they dropped into the bowl. The liquid shifted, became clear. It showed not the queen's face, but a room lit by candles. High up. The chamber where Selene was.In the mirror, Veyra spotted the girl's pale face. Her hands shook. Silver fabric glowed faintly. Triumph surged in her chest. So she sews at night, Veyra said quietly. Wonde

Aurek pulled out his sword. The blade caught a faint shimmer from his wolf aura. Stay close, he told her.Selene gave a nod. But that magic tugged at her hard. It pulled her right toward the well in the middle of the square. The stuff inside the well was not regular water. It was like a shadow turned to liquid. It rippled even without any wind. She leaned in a bit closer. Her reflection stared back, but twisted. Her eyes leaked silver like blood.She jerked away fast.Aurek, she whispered. Don't drink it. Don't touch it at all.He turned to look at her. His face had a frown. What are you seeing?Blood magic. The old kind. Deep stuff. Not from wolves at all.A scream cut through the air before he could say anything back. They both spun that way. A man came stumbling out of a doorway. His eyes were rolled back, white. Black veins crawled over his skin. His mouth opened up. A voice came out that wasn't his. It rasped. The queen watches.Then the man lunged right at them.Aurek met him ha

She recalled how his pulse had skipped under her hands that time she pulled him back. His heart had kicked into gear thanks to her magic. He had no clue what she did. All he knew was he was still breathing."Eat something," he said softly. He passed her a piece of dried meat. She grabbed it. She did not even taste it, though. The wind picked up again. The mist got thicker. It swirled around their boots. It brought a soft whisper with it. He'll see you soon.She went stiff. Aurek glanced up. "What is it?""Nothing," she said. It was a lie. Her voice came out too even. It did not sound like her.He looked at her face. Then he scooted closer to the fire. "You are still cold."She was not cold. The air felt hot on her skin. Like a fever almost. But she let him put his cloak over her shoulders. That weight helped settle her heart.They sat quietly. The forest seemed to listen too.Then the fire shook. It went out completely.Darkness hit the clearing hard. Selene felt her wolf side rise up