Claimed by a vampire prince

Chapter 8: The Master's Order

Victor's POV

Fools.

Every one of them.

They thought I hated Emerald because she was weak.

They believed I enjoyed making her scrub floors, carrying heavy buckets until her hands bled, and sleeping in a room unfit for a servant.

How little they knew.

I walked through the dark corridor beneath the manor, the torch in my hand barely lighting the ancient stone walls.

The hidden passage ended at a heavy iron door.

I knocked three times.

Silence.

Then the door creaked open on its own.

A cold breeze swept past me.

I stepped inside.

The chamber was vast, its walls carved with symbols older than the Blue Moon Pack itself.

Black candles burned with unnatural flames.

At the far end of the room stood a tall figure wrapped in a hooded cloak.

His face remained hidden in the darkness.

Even after twenty years...

I had never seen his face.

I lowered my head immediately.

"My Master."

The figure remained silent.

The air around him was suffocating.

Finally, he spoke.

His voice was deep, calm... and terrifying.

"Has the girl awakened?"

I swallowed.

"Not completely."

"Liar."

The single word made my knees weaken.

"The prince has found her."

I clenched my fists.

"Yes."

"And the seal?"

"I believe it has begun to weaken."

The room fell silent again.

Then the mysterious man laughed softly.

"I warned you twenty years ago."

"You should have killed her when she was a child."

Cold sweat rolled down my back.

"My lord, I tried... but Alpha Luke hid her before I could reach her."

The man slowly turned toward the window overlooking the forest.

"I underestimated Luke."

His voice carried no anger.

Only disappointment.

"He died protecting the secret."

I hesitated before asking, "What are your orders now?"

The hooded figure raised one hand.

A black mist gathered above his palm.

Within it appeared the image of Lucian and Emerald entering the hidden chamber beneath the Alpha's office.

"They found the journal," he said.

My eyes widened.

"How is that possible?"

"There is nothing hidden from me."

Fear settled deep inside my chest.

"What should I do?"

The man finally looked in my direction.

Though I still couldn't see his face...

Two glowing silver eyes shone beneath the hood.

"Burn the manor if you must."

"Destroy every record."

"Kill anyone who remembers."

"And the girl?"

He was silent for several moments.

Then he smiled.

"No."

"She must stay alive."

I frowned.

"But why?"

"Because only the last heir of the Moon Bloodline can open the Gate of Shadows."

A chill ran through my body.

The Gate of Shadows.

I had heard that name only once before.

It was forbidden.

A legend whispered only among the oldest wolves.

"My lord..."

"Does it truly exist?"

His smile widened.

"It does."

"And when Emerald opens it..."

"The world will belong to me."

My heart pounded.

For twenty years, I believed I was serving a powerful man.

Now I realized...

I had been serving someone who wanted to conquer both the wolf packs and the vampire kingdom.

As I left the chamber, one thought echoed through my mind.

If Lucian discovered who my master truly was...

A war greater than any before would begin.

And this time...

Neither wolves nor vampires would survive.