جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

The palace gates closed behind Kael with a heavy groan.He didn’t look back.The cold night air bit at his skin as he walked down the deserted stone road leading away from Black Fang Kingdom. The cheers and laughter from the Moon Bond Ceremony had faded, but the humiliation still echoed in his ears.“The prince rejected his own mate.”“An omega that weak has no place beside a king.”“How pathetic.”Each cruel word struck deeper than the last.Kael tightened his grip on the small travel bag slung over his shoulder. It held little more than a change of clothes and a few silver coins—everything he owned.He had nowhere to go.For years, he had endured endless ridicule from the nobles, servants, and even distant relatives who had taken him in after his parents’ deaths. He told himself it didn’t matter.As long as he had his fated mate.As long as there was someone the Moon Goddess had chosen for him.Tonight, that fragile hope had been shattered.A sharp pain spread through his wrist.Kae

Kael stumbled backward, his heart hammering against his ribs.The silver ring clung tightly to his finger.No matter how hard he pulled, it refused to move.“What… what did you do to me?” he demanded.Rowan shook his head.“I did nothing, Your Highness.”“The Moon Crown recognized its rightful owner.”Kael stared at the glowing gemstone embedded in the ring.It pulsed like a heartbeat.“This can’t be happening.”“I’ve lived as an ordinary omega my entire life.”“I’m not a prince.”“I’m certainly not the heir to a fallen kingdom.”“You are,” Rowan said quietly. “Even if you don’t believe it yet.”Before Kael could argue, a sharp pain shot through his head.He cried out, dropping to one knee.Fragments of memories flashed before his eyes.A magnificent palace bathed in silver moonlight.A woman with long silver hair smiling as she placed a kiss on his forehead.A man in royal armor lifting him into his arms.Then—Fire.Screams.Blood stained across white marble floors.A soldier shouti

The underground sanctuary trembled.Dust rained from the ceiling as the stone monument split apart with a deafening crack.Kael instinctively stepped behind Rowan.“What is happening?”Rowan’s grip tightened around his sword, but he didn’t draw it.“I don’t know.”“For twenty years, no one has entered this sanctuary.”The crack widened.A brilliant silver light burst from the monument, forcing both men to shield their eyes.Then…Silence.The light slowly faded.Standing where the monument had once been was a man dressed in ancient silver armor.His long white hair flowed to his waist, and his glowing silver eyes held neither warmth nor hostility.He looked beyond Rowan.Straight at Kael.For several heartbeats, no one spoke.Then the armored man slowly knelt.“My king.”Kael’s breath caught.“Not again…”“I’m not a king.”The stranger remained kneeling.“The Moon Crown has acknowledged your blood.”“You are the last sovereign of the Moon Kingdom.”Kael shook his head.“I don’t even k

The pack leader stepped fully into the crown chamber.He was older than Kael had expected.Silver streaked his dark hair, and a jagged scar crossed his face from his left temple to his jaw. His eyes burned with a hatred so deep that even the ancient crown seemed to react to it.Behind him, the wounded wolves gathered at the broken doorway.Lysander moved in front of Kael.“Step away from the prince.”The pack leader laughed bitterly.“Still protecting them after all these years?”Rowan’s hand tightened around his sword.“Darius.”Kael looked between them.“You know him?”Rowan didn’t answer.That silence frightened Kael more than the attack.Darius noticed.“Ask your guardian what happened,” he said. “Ask him why your mother ordered my family to die.”Kael’s chest tightened.“My mother?”“Your mother was not the innocent queen they described in those old songs.” Darius took another step forward. “She made a bargain with the Crimson Court. She promised them the blood of my entire blood

No one moved.Lucien stood in the shattered doorway, his black coat covered in dust and blood.His golden eyes were fixed on Kael.Not Rowan.Not Darius.Not the crown.Kael.For the first time since the Moon Bond Ceremony, Lucien looked afraid.Kael slowly rose to his feet.“You came here.”Lucien’s jaw tightened.“I had no choice.”A bitter smile touched Kael’s lips.“You always have a choice.”The words struck Lucien harder than expected.His eyes flickered.“I know.”The shadow laughed.“How amusing.”Lucien stepped into the chamber.“The rejected mate returns to save the heir.”Kael’s expression hardened.“You don’t know anything about us.”“I know more than you think.”The shadow turned toward Lucien.“And you…”The black eyes narrowed.“You carry the mark of the one who rejected fate.”Lucien’s hand closed over his burning wrist.“What do you want?”“Your life.”The room went silent.Kael’s eyes widened.“No.”Lucien looked at him.“Why not?”“Because this has nothing to do wit