Chapter 22_ Blood Before Dawn
1274 Words
The cold edge of the sword pressed harder against Viera's throat.
A thin ribbon of crimson rolled down her neck.
The Red Claw warrior tightened his grip on her shoulder, forcing her onto her knees before everyone.
"Drop your sword," he barked. "Or she dies."
The entire royal chamber seemed to freeze.
Commander Megan's crimson eyes locked onto the blood trailing down Viera's skin.
His breathing stopped.
"Midnight Blade..." Viera whispered, her voice shaking.
Their eyes met.
She smiled through tears.
A broken… Painful… Proud smile.
"Don't look at me."
"Megan..."
"Protect your Alpha."
"Protect our son."
The words pierced deeper than any blade ever could.
His wolf howled inside him.
Every instinct demanded he tear the warrior apart.
Every oath demanded he stand beside Alpha Kael.
For the first time since earning the title of Midnight Blade...
Commander Megan hesitated.
Just one heartbeat.
One heartbeat was all Alpha Darius needed.
"There."
Darius vanished.
He moved like darkness itself.
His sword flashed straight toward Megan's exposed chest.
Too fast…… Far too fast.
Megan saw it too late.
So did Rogan.
So did every warrior present.
But another pair of eyes had already accepted what was coming.
Alpha Kael Blackthorne.
His wolf was fading.
The poison had reached his very core.
Every heartbeat burned.
Every breath felt like fire inside his veins.
His aura still crushed enemies around him...
Yet he knew.
There would be no dawn for him.
Not anymore.
But there could still be one...
For Midnight.
For Seraphine.
For the heir.
For the brother , fate had placed beside him.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"Forgive me..."
Before Megan could react
Kael stepped between them.
SHHKK!
Steel buried itself deep into flesh.
Silence…… Absolute silence.
Darius' sword had pierced Alpha Kael.
Blood splashed across the polished stone floor.
"...Alpha?"
Megan's voice cracked.
The world slowed.
Kael staggered backward.
Even with a sword through his body...
He remained standing.
The poison was devouring him.
The blade had completed what the poison had begun.
Yet his golden eyes still carried the authority of an Alpha.
Darius slowly withdrew his sword.
A grin spread across his face.
"So..."
"The mighty Blackthorne finally falls."
Kael looked directly at him.
Even dying...
His gaze remained fearless.
"You..."
"...will never own my kingdom"
His knees weakened.
Megan caught him before he struck the ground.
"My Alpha!"
His voice echoed through the palace.
He lowered Kael carefully into his arms as though the Alpha were made of fragile crystal.
"No..."
"No..."
"No!"
Blood soaked Megan's hands.
He pressed desperately against the wound.
"As your Beta..."
"I forbid you from dying!"
Kael smiled weakly.
"Still..."
"...giving me orders?"
Megan's tears finally escaped.
"I failed you."
"I failed Midnight."
"I failed everyone."
"No."
Kael struggled to raise one trembling hand.
It rested gently against Megan's cheek.
"You..."
"...never failed me."
"You became..."
"...the brother I never had."
Megan lowered his head.
His shoulders trembled violently.
"I should have died instead."
Kael slowly shook his head.
"No."
"My death..."
"...buys theirs."
His breathing became uneven.
"Megan..."
"My Alpha..."
"Listen carefully."
"I'm listening."
"If I have ever commanded you..."
"...obey me now."
Megan clenched his jaw.
"I swear it."
Kael's fading eyes searched his.
"My Luna..."
"My heir..."
"Protect them."
"Even if..."
"...Midnight itself must burn..."
"...promise me..."
"...they live."
Without hesitation,
Megan placed one blood-covered hand over his heart.
"I swear."
"With my last breath..."
"With every drop of my blood..."
"No force under the moon will touch your heir while I still stand."
"I give you my life."
Kael closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Peace settled across his face.
"That..."
"...is why..."
"...I chose you."
Nearby...
Viera collapsed onto her knees.
"No..."
"No..."
"This wasn't supposed to happen..."
Her tears poured endlessly.
Everything had been her idea.
Every desperate plea.
Every argument.
Every hope that Commander Megan could save both his son and his Alpha.
She had believed Alpha Kael was invincible.
She had believed he would destroy every Red Claw warrior even if Megan opened the gate.
She never imagined...
Alpha Darius had planned far beyond that.
The Red Claw warrior holding her laughed cruelly.
"Look at you."
"Your tears killed your own Alpha."
Viera screamed.
"Shut up!"
"I said shut up!"
The warrior struck her across the face.
She fell sideways.
Still clutching the tiny vial containing the remaining antidote for little Raegan.
Far beneath the royal quarters...
Inside the hidden refuge...
Ramona paced anxiously.
Luna Seraphine held her newborn son close against her chest.
Baby Kaelen slept peacefully.
Little Raegan whimpered weakly.
The dark veins beneath his skin pulsed once more.
Ramona's face paled.
"No..."
"It's time."
Seraphine looked up immediately.
"What is it?"
"The antidote."
"It should have been given again."
Silence.
Every woman froze.
"The antidote is with Viera..."
Ramona whispered.
Fear spread through the chamber.
The other Omega clutched her chest.
"What do we do?"
"If we leave..."
"...they'll find us."
"If we stay..."
"...Raegan may not survive."
Seraphine looked down at the tiny warrior struggling for breath.
Then at her own newborn son.
Two children.
Two futures.
One impossible choice.
"No child dies while I still breathe."
She rose to her feet.
Immediately, Ramona blocked her path.
"My Luna!"
"You cannot!"
"You just gave birth!"
"You carry Midnight's future!"
"I also carry Midnight's heart!"
Seraphine replied.
"If Commander Megan loses his son..."
"...he loses part of himself."
Ramona's own tears fell.
"We still need you alive."
Ramona knelt down and whispered.
"The Alpha would never forgive us."
At the mention of Kael...
Seraphine suddenly stopped.
Her hand instinctively pressed against her chest.
She felt it.
Something...
Deep inside their mate bond.
Weakening…… Breaking.
Her breathing became uneven.
"Kael..."
Back inside the royal chamber...
Commander Megan slowly laid Alpha Kael against one of the ancient Blackthorne pillars.
Then...
He stood.
The tears disappeared.
So did every trace of hesitation.
Only the Midnight Blade remained.
His aura erupted.
The entire palace shook.
Even wounded Red Claw warriors instinctively stepped backward.
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"There he is."
"The monster I've heard about."
Megan drew his sword.
Its black steel reflected the blood covering the floor.
His voice was frighteningly calm.
"You wanted Midnight."
"You wanted my Alpha."
"You have both."
He slowly pointed his blade toward Darius.
"But now..."
"You answer to me."
Even Rogan, barely standing after their earlier clash, felt a chill race through his spine.
This...
Was not the same Commander Megan.
This was grief given form.
This was loyalty transformed into wrath.
Before anyone could move..
A faint vibration echoed through the chamber.
Darius looked toward one of his scouts.
The scout lowered his head respectfully.
"My Alpha."
"It has been found."
A slow smile appeared on Darius' face.
"So..."
"The key truly exists."
Without another word, he turned toward an ancient Blackthorne wall hidden behind the royal throne.
Its surface was carved with forgotten runes that glowed faintly beneath centuries of stone.
Only the blood of the Blackthorne Alpha could awaken what lay beyond.
Darius stretched out his hand toward the ancient seal.
His eyes burned with ruthless ambition.
"Tonight..."
"I claim everything the Blackthorne bloodline has prote
cted for generations."
Behind him...
Commander Megan tightened his grip on his sword.
And somewhere beneath the palace...
Luna Seraphine suddenly gasped.
The sacred mate bond trembled.
For the first time since becoming Alpha...
Kael's presence began to fade.
And all across Midnight Pack...
Every wolf stopped where they stood.
They lifted their heads toward the night sky.
Their hearts tightened with a grief they could not yet understand.
The night itself seemed to hold its breath.
To be continued…
- Writer
