The cavern fell silent after the whisper — a silence so deep it felt alive. The runes along the walls dimmed, then brightened again, pulsing like a heartbeat. The air grew heavier, thicker, humming with ancient power.
Jayden stiffened beside me. “Zendrea… stay close.”
Hayden moved in front of me instantly. “That wasn’t the ancient one.”
Kayden’s voice dropped. “It wasn’t Frederick either.”
Jonah shifted back, breathless. “I know that voice.”
My mother’s eyes widened, her silver hair shimmering in the cavern light. “Everyone… bow your heads.”
Jayden frowned. “Why?”
She swallowed hard.
“Because the first Alpha is here.”
The cavern trembled.
A soft blue glow appeared at the far end of the chamber — not harsh, not blinding, but warm. Ancient. Familiar. It spread across the stone like
