The Breach
1572 Words
CHAPTER THREE
The Breach
The forest was quiet. Too quiet.
Commander Rowan lifted a hand. The six wolves behind him stopped immediately.
Moonlight spilled through the towering pines, silvering the ancient stones that marked the edge of the Veil.
Nothing moved.
Not even the wind.
Rowan’s brows drew together.
“The birds.”
One of the younger scouts looked around.
“What about them?”
“There aren’t any.”
One by one, the others lifted their heads.
They heard it too.
No owls.
No insects.
No rustling leaves.
Just silence.
Rowan crouched, brushing his fingers across the forest floor.
The scent clung stubbornly to the earth.
Old blood.
And something else.
“Rogue.”
A low growl rippled through the patrol.
Just then, a branch snapped behind them.
“Move!”
A dark shape exploded through the trees.
One scout barely had time to turn before claws tore through his chest, throwing him into the undergrowth.
Another howl answered from deeper within the forest.
Then another.
They weren’t being surrounded.
They were being hunted.
“Wedge formation!”
The remaining wolves closed rank immediately.
Steel flashed.
One guard shifted mid-stride, bones cracked.
Muscle stretched. A massive wolf burst forward where a man had stood only a heartbeat earlier.
Another drew a silver-edged blade.
Rowan met the first rogue head-on.
The clash echoed through the trees.
Steel clashed against claws.
A wolf slammed another into a tree hard enough to splinter bark.
Someone screamed.
Warm blood splashed across Rowan’s boots, disappearing into the tanged roots beneath his feet.
Then one rogue suddenly broke away.
He sprinted toward the veil.
Rowan’s eyes widened.
“No!”
He cut down the rogue in front of him and turned-
Too late.
The second rogue reached the ancient standing stones.
The veil shimmered.
The rogue disappeared.
Silence.
Rowan’s stomach dropped..
A rogue had crossed into the human world.
It had never happened before.
The other wolves ran away, as though they had accomplished their mission.
Getting closer, Rowan noticed something caught on one of the standing stones.
A small piece of black fabric embroidered with the royal crest.
He frowned and pocketed it without a word.
Then, one hand holding against the deep gash in his side.
Rowan turned to a scout.
“Ride.”
The scout blinked.
“My Lord-“
“NOW!”
He shifted before he even finished turning.
Moments later, the silver wolf vanished between the trees, carrying news that would change both worlds.
Voices echoed through the council chamber long before the scout reached its doors.
“Mercy has made them bold.” The younger prince, Darius said calmly, lazily tracing the rim of his goblet from his seat beside the King.
“But Prince Darius, these young wolves are only the family left behind by these rogues, I believe they should be given a chance to prove their loyalty” said Morbius, the King’s trusted advisor.
“So how do you suppose we deal with this threat when they are being sheltered and protected right under our noses?”
Moonlight spilled across the polished floor as the chamber erupted into overlapping voices.
Morbid rose slowly, one hand rested on the council table.
“I propose-“
The doors slam open.
Everyone turned.
The scout stumbled.
Dropped to one knee.
Blood dripped onto the polished floor.
“Your Majesty, forgive me, I am here.. to relay a message…from the border” he said shaking with terror.
“What is it, boy? Speak clearly.” Said Morbius.
“A wolf has crossed the Veil.”
The room froze.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, they weren’t like the rogues we’d fought before,they were huge, but they didn’t seem to want to kill us, they distracted us and then one of them crossed the veil”, he continued.
“Do you speak the truth, boy? Has Commander Rowan seen all this?” The king spoke for the first time.
“Yes, my King.”
“Guard!”
“Your majesty.”
“Gather some wolves and wait for orders.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“How is this possible? The Veil has existed for
centuries.” One elder said, turning to his faction.
“What could a wolf possibly have to do with a
human…” Another added.
The court began to murmur among
themselves.
The scrape of the King’s chair against the
stone floor silenced the chamber before he
spoke.
“Where is Cassien?”
“Your Majesty, he is at the training grounds.”
Answered Morbius.
“Father- “ Darius stopped himself. “Your
Majesty, Cassien is not here, he won’t
understand, Allow me to investigate.”
“Cassien knows those grounds much better
than you do.” said the King.
Darius inclined his head ”As you wish,Your
Majesty."
The king looks at his trusted advisor.”Bring me
my son.”
The two wolves circle each other, growling.
The pack watched as the beta lunged to swipe
the Alpha’s legs.
The Alpha anticipated the move. He
sidestepped the rush using the Beta’s own
momentum to drive a heavy shoulder into his
ribs.The impact sent him skidding across the
gravel.
No one growled or cheered, watching intently
to absorb tactics from the two best fighters.
The Beta recovered instantly. He snapped at
the Alpha’s thick scruff, burying his muzzle in
dense fur.
The Alpha roared, a deep chest-rattle and
twisted violently to break the hold.
They collided again, paws scrambling for
traction,a blur of grey and black fur. The beta
reared up, flashing his teeth in a warning snap
that sliced only air.
The Alpha dodged, threw his weight sideways
and pinned the Beta flat against the earth.
He hovered, his jaws clamped tightly on the
Beta’s throat. He did not bite down. The Beta
went still, flattening his ears in submission.
The wolves shift back and Cassien offered his
hand for the Beta.
He took it without hesitation.
“That’s all for today.” Someone called.
The Alpha grabbed a pair of trousers from the
corner, pulling them over long bronzed legs.
Walking toward the gathered wolves, Cassien’s
gaze swept across the crowd. When he spoke,
his voice was a low, smooth baritone that
vibrated right through the clearing.
“Silas’ opening rush was flawless,” Cassien said,
fastening his belt. “But he committed his
weight too early. Who saw the tell?”
A young fighter near the front swallowed
hard. ”His left shoulder dipped before the
lunge, Alpha.”
“Correct,” Cassien said, walking in their
midst, the crowd naturally parted to give him
room, drawn by the magnetic pull of his aura.
“Against an enemy, that dip costs you your
life. In this pack, we do not telegraph, we
execute.”
“Class is dismissed.”
Walking back to Silas, his gaze softened just
enough to offer a single, firm nod of approval.
“My prince, it was an honor to spar with you.”
The Beta bowed.
Placing a hand on his shoulder,he says. “Great
job today, Silas, you did well.”
Morbius, who had been watching from afar
came closer.
“My prince.” he bowed.
“The trainees fought well today.”
Cassien accepted the waterskin, took a long
drink, then wiped the sweat from the back of
his neck before asking ”What does my father
want this time?”
Morbius responded, “You were not at the
meeting today, young prince. The King was
furious.”
“And who will protect the kingdom while
everyone sits around and discusses politics.”
Cassien looked at the one man his father
trusted the most in this world.
“What does my father want?” he asked again.
“My prince, something terrible has happened,
The Veil has been crossed by a rogue. His
Majesty seeks an audience with you
immediately, that is all I know.”
The waterskin slipped slightly in his hand.
Just enough for a few drops to splash across
the training ground.
No one else noticed.
Cassien did.
“The Veil?”Cassien spoke. “So that means the
human world is-“
“At risk,my prince”
Cassien was in deep thought about this, those
emotions which had been buried for so long
came rushing at him.
Cassien’s jaw tightened. “Let’s go.”
Back at the palace, the chamber was empty,
save for the King as Cassien walked through .
“You sent for me,Your Majesty.”Cassien
bowed.
“We will discuss your absence from the council
meeting later.”
The King studied Cassien for a long moment
before speaking again.
“For now, you will take Commander Rowan’s
report yourself. I want to know how a rogue
crossed The Veil.”
“As you command.” Cassien said with a bow.
The King walked to the enormous window
overlooking Lunareth.
For a moment, he seemed much older.
“If the Veil has been compromised…”
Cassien understood.
“You leave before sunrise.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
Walking through the palace corridors.
His expression changed.
The Calm mask disappeared.
He looked troubled.
His gaze drifted toward the distant mountains.
Beyond them..
The human world.
Five years.
Five years since he’d sworn never to cross the
Veil again.
Five years since he’d buried every memory of
the girl he’d failed to protect.
And now…
The Veil had been breached.
- Writer
