Chapter 10 The Alpha's Mate
1439 Words
The underground cellar became deathly silent.
Only the sound of dripping water echoed through the ancient chamber while candle flames flickered weakly against the stone walls.
At the center of the room stood Lyra Nightbane frozen in shock.
The letters trembled in her hands.
Her entire world had shattered within minutes.
Vivian murdered her father.
The Moonborn bloodline was hunted nearly to extinction.
And worst of all…
Alpha Kael Draven’s bloodline helped destroy hers.
Pain twisted violently through her chest.
Betrayal.
Confusion.
Fear.
Then—
A slow clap echoed through the cellar.
Lyra turned sharply.
And saw Selene Blackwood stepping out from the shadows holding a silver dagger.
Beautiful.
Cold.
Smiling.
“You always were good at finding things you shouldn’t.”
Lyra immediately stepped backward.
“How did you find me?”
Selene tilted her head slightly.
“You’re predictable.”
The silver dagger glinted beneath the candlelight.
Lyra’s pulse quickened instantly.
“What do you want?”
Selene laughed softly.
“What I’ve always wanted.”
Hatred burned behind her eyes now.
“Your life.”
Fear crawled down Lyra’s spine.
But beneath the fear…
Something else stirred.
Anger.
Real anger.
Selene slowly descended the cellar steps toward her.
“You know,” she said casually, “Mother should’ve killed you years ago.”
Lyra’s chest tightened painfully.
Selene smiled wider.
“She tried.”
The room felt colder instantly.
“When your father died, Mother planned to get rid of you too.”
Lyra’s breathing became uneven.
“But Alpha Kael ruined everything.”
Selene’s expression darkened violently.
“He was supposed to want me.”
Jealousy twisted her face into something ugly.
“Not the weak little attic rat.”
Lyra gripped the letters tighter.
“You hate me that much?”
“Hate you?”
Selene laughed again.
“No.”
Her eyes darkened.
“I hate the way everyone suddenly looks at you.”
She pointed the dagger directly at Lyra.
“The warriors fear you.” “The rogues worship you.” “And Kael…”
Her voice sharpened dangerously.
“Kael would burn kingdoms for you.”
The realization poisoned Selene from the inside.
Because for the first time in her life…
She wasn’t the chosen one anymore.
Lyra slowly backed toward the stone table.
“You don’t understand what’s happening.”
Selene sneered.
“Oh, I understand perfectly.”
Then her smile became cruel.
“You’re the reason everything is falling apart.”
Suddenly—
She lunged.
Lyra gasped and stumbled backward as the silver dagger sliced through the air inches from her throat.
Selene attacked again immediately.
Fast.
Wild.
Violent.
Lyra barely dodged the second strike before crashing into the shelves behind her.
Ancient scrolls scattered across the floor.
“Stop!” Lyra shouted.
Selene slashed toward her again.
“You should’ve died with your mother!”
The silver blade cut across Lyra’s arm.
Pain exploded instantly.
Lyra cried out softly.
The moment blood hit the floor—
The crescent moon mark beneath her collarbone flared violently.
Silver light exploded across the cellar walls.
Selene froze.
Fear flickered across her face briefly.
Then anger returned stronger.
“Monster.”
Lyra stared down at her glowing skin breathing hard.
The silver energy spread across her fingers again.
Alive.
Powerful.
Dangerous.
Selene stepped backward slightly.
But then suddenly smiled.
“You know what’s funny?”
Lyra looked at her carefully.
“Kael fears you too.”
Pain stabbed deeper than the dagger wound.
Selene saw it instantly.
And enjoyed it.
“You saw the letters, didn’t you?”
Lyra’s breathing became uneven again.
“The great Alpha’s bloodline slaughtered yours.”
The mate bond pulsed painfully inside Lyra’s chest.
Confusion mixed with hurt.
Because despite everything…
Part of her trusted Kael.
And that terrified her.
Selene slowly circled her again.
“You actually started falling for him.”
Lyra stayed silent.
“That’s pathetic.”
Then Selene’s expression became darker.
“Do you really think a monster like Kael can love anything?”
Before Lyra could answer—
BOOM.
The cellar doors exploded inward violently.
A massive black wolf crashed through the stone entrance snarling with murderous rage.
Kael.
Selene screamed as the enormous wolf lunged toward her instantly.
Pure violence erupted through the cellar.
Selene barely dodged as Kael’s claws ripped through the stone wall behind her.
Dust exploded everywhere.
Lyra stumbled backward breathing hard.
Kael shifted mid-attack.
Bones cracked violently as his human form emerged.
Silver eyes glowing.
Fangs sharp.
Fury radiating from him like fire.
“Touch her again,” he growled dangerously, “and I’ll tear you apart.”
Selene looked genuinely terrified now.
But she still pointed the silver dagger toward Lyra desperately.
“She’s dangerous!”
Kael stepped in front of Lyra immediately.
Protective instinct completely dominant now.
Mine.
“I know exactly what she is.”
“You’re blind because she’s your mate!”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“And you’re alive only because she asked you to stop.”
Selene froze.
Because he was right.
Kael would’ve killed her already.
Without hesitation.
Lyra stared at him quietly.
His breathing remained uneven.
Rage still burned beneath his skin.
Not because Selene attacked him.
Because she hurt Lyra.
Kael slowly turned toward Lyra.
The moment he saw the blood on her arm—
Something inside him snapped.
His wolf surged violently forward.
Mine hurt.
Kill.
Kael grabbed Lyra’s injured arm carefully.
Silver energy flickered beneath her skin immediately at his touch.
The mate bond pulsed deeply between them again.
Strong.
Intimate.
Dangerous.
Lyra looked up at him softly.
“You came.”
The quiet words hit Kael harder than expected.
Because she sounded surprised.
Like nobody had ever come for her before.
Kael’s jaw tightened.
“Always.”
The answer slipped out before he could stop it.
Silence filled the cellar.
Even Selene looked stunned.
Because Kael Draven did not promise people forever.
Ever.
Suddenly—
The castle shook violently overhead.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Distant screams echoed above them.
Damon’s voice roared somewhere through the halls—
“Alpha! The rogues breached the inner gates!”
Kael cursed sharply beneath his breath.
The battle reached the castle interior.
Selene immediately seized the distraction.
She rushed toward Lyra again with the silver dagger raised high.
Everything happened too fast.
Lyra froze.
Selene attacked.
Kael moved.
Then—
Silver power exploded through the cellar.
The entire room shook violently.
Bookshelves shattered.
Candles burst.
Ancient symbols across the walls ignited with glowing silver fire.
Selene screamed as invisible force hurled her across the room.
She slammed into the stone wall hard enough to crack it.
Silence followed.
Everyone stared at Lyra.
Even she looked horrified.
Silver light surrounded her body completely now.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
The air itself vibrated around her.
Kael stared at her carefully.
Not afraid.
Never afraid.
But deeply aware now.
The prophecies were real.
The Moonborn bloodline lived.
And Lyra might become more powerful than anyone alive.
Slowly, Lyra looked toward Kael.
Fear filled her eyes.
“What am I becoming?”
Kael stepped toward her without hesitation.
The silver energy around her reacted instantly.
Softening.
Welcoming him.
Mine.
Kael gently cupped her face.
And despite the chaos…
Despite the battle raging above them…
Despite the terrifying power flooding the cellar…
Everything else disappeared for a moment.
Only them remained.
“You’re mine,” Kael said quietly.
The mate bond exploded violently.
Lyra’s breath caught.
Heat rushed through her entire body.
Kael’s silver eyes darkened intensely.
Then—
In front of the ancient Moonborn cellar…
Beneath glowing silver fire…
The feared Alpha finally spoke the words his wolf had screamed since the moment he saw her.
“You are my mate.”
Silence consumed the room.
Even Selene looked horrified.
Because those words meant everything.
Protection.
Claim.
War.
Death to anyone who touched her.
Kael turned slowly toward Selene.
And suddenly his face became terrifying again.
Cold.
Merciless.
Alpha.
“Tell Vivian this carefully.”
His voice echoed through the cellar like a promise of destruction.
“If she ever comes near Lyra again…”
Silver flashed in his eyes.
“I will bury the entire Blackwood bloodline.”
Fear spread across Selene’s face instantly.
Because she believed him.
Everyone would.
Suddenly—
A female voice echoed through the cellar walls.
Soft.
Ancient.
Powerful.
“The Blood Moon rises.”
The silver fire around the room intensified instantly.
Then the ancient symbols across the cellar floor began glowing beneath Lyra’s feet.
Kael immediately pulled her closer protectively.
The ground trembled violently.
And slowly…
A massive stone throne began rising from beneath the cellar floor.
- Writer
