Marked By The ShadowFang Alpha

# **📘 CHAPTER 10 — “The Alpha Who Stands Alone”**

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Thunder cracked across the sky as if the world itself sensed what was coming.

Kael pushed himself off the bed, ignoring the pain ripping through his body. Shadows swarmed around him, warning, preparing, sharpening like invisible blades.

Aria grabbed his arm.

“You’re still hurt—”

“I don’t care.”

His voice was cold steel.

“No one touches you. Not while I’m breathing.”

Rowan stood stiffly near the door.

“They’ll be here in minutes.”

Aria looked between them, her heart rattling against her ribs.

“Why are the Elders coming? What do they want from me?”

Kael’s jaw clenched.

“They fear what we are.”

Aria shook her head.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did the one thing they fear the most,” Kael said quietly. “You touched a Shadow Wolf’s heart.”

Aria’s breath caught.

Rowan whispered, “That bond makes him stronger than any Alpha alive. And that terrifies them.”

Kael’s shadows thrashed violently at the reminder.

Aria stepped in front of Kael, her palms on his chest.

“You’re not going to fight them alone.”

His eyes darkened.

“You stay behind me.”

“No.”

“Aria—”

“We face this together. I won’t hide while everyone tries to tear you apart.”

Something in Kael’s expression cracked—admiration, fear, love, all blending into one dangerous emotion.

Then—

**THUD. THUD. THUD.**

A heavy knock shook the door.

Rowan stiffened.

“They’re here.”

Kael’s voice turned lethal.

“Let them in.”

Rowan opened the door a crack—but the Elders pushed their way inside.

Three of them.

Cloaked.

Silent.

Smelling of magic older than any pack.

Their eyes glowed with cold judgment as they looked at Kael.

Elder Marius stepped forward.

The oldest.

The cruelest.

The one who had always feared Kael the most.

“Shadow Wolf,” Marius said, his voice echoing like a death sentence. “You have broken the sacred law.”

Kael straightened.

“What law?”

“You formed a bond with a human girl,” Marius said sharply. “A forbidden act.”

Aria stepped forward before Kael could react.

“I bonded with him. It wasn’t forced. I chose it.”

The Elders stared at her as if she were something dirty.

“A human does not choose,” Marius hissed. “You are weak. Fragile. You cannot control him.”

Kael growled, shadows flaring.

Aria stepped closer.

“Kael doesn’t need to be controlled.”

Marius turned to her, eyes narrowing.

“You speak boldly for someone who holds the fate of a curse in her hands.”

Aria swallowed but kept her chin up.

“I won’t let you take him.”

The second Elder, Lira—cold, calculating—stepped forward.

“You misunderstand, girl. We are not here to take him.”

Kael’s shadows recoiled.

Lira’s lips curled.

“We are here to take *you*.”

Aria froze.

Kael moved so fast Rowan didn’t even see him.

He was suddenly in front of Aria, shadows breathing like a living beast around him.

“You touch her,” Kael said, voice deep and deadly, “and you die.”

Marius laughed—a chilling, ancient sound.

“You are unstable, Shadow Wolf. The girl is making you worse.”

“That girl,” Kael growled, “is the only reason I’m still alive.”

The Elders exchanged glances.

Lira spoke softly, “Which is exactly why she must be removed. If she continues the bond, your shadows will grow beyond control.”

“They already are,” Aria snapped. “But he still protects everyone.”

Marius shook his head.

“You don’t understand the curse, child. No one bonded to a Shadow Wolf has ever survived.”

Aria’s breath stopped.

Kael flinched like he’d been struck.

“What?” she whispered.

Marius continued, “The bond ties his darkness to your soul. Slowly, it will drain your energy… your life… until you wither.”

Kael’s shadows exploded behind him in a violent storm.

“Stop talking.”

But Marius didn’t.

“You will die, girl. And when you do, the beast inside him will break free and destroy us all.”

Aria shook her head violently.

“No. I don’t believe you.”

Lira raised her hand, revealing an ancient scroll sealed in black wax.

“This is the prophecy,” she said. “Written centuries ago.”

Kael snarled. “Burn it.”

“It says,” Lira continued loudly, ignoring him,

*‘When the heart of light binds the wolf of shadows, either salvation or ruin will rise. But the light will fade first.’*

Aria’s knees weakened.

She felt Kael’s hand grip her waist instantly, steadying her.

Holding her.

Almost crushing her with fear.

“No,” he breathed. “No… Aria…”

She turned to him.

“Kael, look at me.”

His eyes were wild.

Terrified.

Broken.

“They think you’ll kill me,” she whispered. “Is that why you were afraid of the bond?”

Kael’s voice cracked.

“Yes. I can’t lose you.”

“And you won’t,” she said fiercely.

Marius scoffed.

“You see? Foolish. Emotional. Weak. She clouds your judgment.”

Kael’s head snapped toward him.

“You call her weak again,” he growled, “and I’ll tear your throat out.”

Lira stepped back slightly.

Fear flickered in her ancient eyes.

Marius lifted his arm.

“Stand down, Shadow Wolf.”

Kael didn’t move.

His shadows roared behind him.

Aria placed her hand against Kael’s chest.

“Kael… breathe.”

His body trembled.

Her touch steadied him instantly.

Marius saw it—and his eyes darkened.

“That bond must be severed,” he commanded. “Tonight.”

Kael’s roar shook the entire house.

“**OVER MY DEAD BODY.**”

Marius smirked.

“So be it.”

He lifted his staff—dark magic gathering at the tip.

Aria reacted before she could think.

She stepped in front of Kael.

Kael’s heart stopped.

“ARIA!”

But it was too late.

Marius released the spell—black, burning power shooting straight at her.

Kael lunged forward—too slow.

The spell struck Aria in the chest.

Her breath left her body.

Her knees buckled.

Darkness swallowed her vision.

She collapsed into Kael’s arms.

“NO!” Kael screamed, catching her before she hit the ground.

His shadows spun wildly—fury, pain, devastation ripping through him.

Aria tried to speak, her voice barely a whisper.

“K… Kael…”

His eyes glowed with pure, murderous darkness.

“Stay with me, Aria. Don’t you dare leave me.”

Her fingers curled weakly around his shirt.

“I… trust… you…”

And then her eyes fluttered closed.

Kael’s world shattered.

He lifted his head slowly—shadows rising like a storm.

When he spoke, the room trembled.

“You just cursed your own fate,” he growled at the Elders.

“Because the next breath you take… will be your last.”

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