The Alpha Forbidden heir

EPISODE 11 : THE HIDDEN SANCTUARY

The convoy left the city behind before sunrise.

Towering buildings gave way to winding mountain roads, and soon the last traces of civilization disappeared into the distance. Dense forests stretched for miles on either side, their ancient trees forming a thick canopy that blocked out most of the morning light.

Asher sat quietly beside the window.

The further they drove, the more restless he became.

He had spent nearly twenty years believing he was an ordinary student. Now he was leaving everything he had ever known behind, following a man who claimed to have protected him since childhood.

Lucas noticed the distant look in his eyes.

"You've been quiet."

Asher let out a small laugh.

"I've had a lot to think about."

"I can imagine."

After a brief silence, Asher finally turned to him.

"Why me?"

Lucas looked ahead at the road.

"Because you were born into a life that others feared."

"That's not what I mean."

Lucas glanced at him.

"Then what do you mean?"

"If my parents knew they were in danger..." Asher's voice faltered. "Why didn't they run?"

Lucas's expression became solemn.

"Because a king and queen don't abandon their people."

The answer lingered in the air.

Asher looked down at his hands.

He wasn't sure he could ever be that brave.

The convoy continued climbing higher into the mountains until the road narrowed into a path barely wide enough for a single vehicle.

An hour later, the lead car stopped.

The guards stepped out first, carefully scanning the surrounding forest before signaling that the area was secure.

Lucas opened the door.

"We're here."

Asher climbed out and stared in amazement.

Hidden deep within the mountains stood an enormous estate surrounded by towering cliffs and waterfalls. Ancient stone walls encircled the property, while silver banners bearing the crest of a wolf fluttered in the breeze.

The place looked less like a mansion and more like a fortress.

"You live here?" Asher asked.

Lucas nodded.

"For now."

The massive iron gates slowly opened.

Several men and women dressed in black uniforms lined the entrance.

The moment Lucas stepped forward, they bowed respectfully.

"Welcome home, Your Majesty."

Lucas acknowledged them with a slight nod before turning to Asher.

"They've been waiting to meet you."

The words made Asher uneasy.

"I don't want anyone bowing to me."

"They're not bowing because they were told to."

Lucas's voice remained calm.

"They're bowing because they believe you are worth protecting."

Asher didn't know how to respond.

As they entered the estate, he noticed how different everything felt.

The architecture resembled the palace from his dreams.

Silver pillars.

Wide marble hallways.

Moon-shaped carvings etched into every doorway.

Each step awakened another faint sense of familiarity.

It was as though the building itself remembered him.

A cheerful voice suddenly broke the silence.

"So this is the famous prince."

A young woman with long auburn hair hurried down the staircase with a bright smile on her face.

She stopped in front of Asher and folded her arms.

"I expected someone taller."

Asher blinked in surprise.

Lucas sighed.

"Vivian."

"What?" she asked innocently.

"I'm only being honest."

She extended a hand toward Asher.

"My name is Vivian Ashcroft."

"I'm the estate physician."

"And before you ask..."

She smiled mischievously.

"No, I don't usually tease patients on their first day."

Despite everything that had happened, Asher found himself smiling.

"It's nice to meet you."

Vivian looked at the silver mark on his wrist.

Her smile faded.

"So..."

"It's true."

Lucas nodded once.

"It awakened during the attack."

Vivian became unusually serious.

"Then we don't have much time."

"What do you mean?" Asher asked.

She looked at him carefully.

"That mark isn't just a symbol."

"It's a beacon."

"The stronger your power becomes, the easier it will be for your enemies to find you."

Asher instinctively covered the mark with his sleeve.

"So I can't hide anymore."

"You can."

Lucas answered before Vivian could.

"But only if you learn to control it."

Asher looked at him.

"And if I can't?"

Lucas met his eyes.

"Then they'll keep coming."

Silence settled over the entrance hall.

A servant approached Lucas and bowed.

"My King."

"The council has arrived."

Lucas's expression hardened.

"Already?"

"They insisted they could not wait."

Lucas looked toward Asher.

"It seems your arrival has attracted more attention than I expected."

"What council?"

"The leaders of the allied Beast Clans."

Asher frowned.

"They're here to meet me?"

Lucas didn't answer immediately.

Finally, he nodded.

"They're here to decide whether the last prince deserves to live."

Those words struck Asher harder than any blade.

He had survived the attack at Noctis Crown Academy.

But now he was about to face people who would judge his fate before they even knew who he was.

Somewhere beyond the walls of the estate, hidden among the towering trees, a lone figure watched through a pair of binoculars.

A cold smile spread across his face.

"So this is where you've been hiding all these years..."

He slowly reached into his pocket and removed another black crystal.

This time, he did not crush it.

Instead, he whispered into it.

"The prince has entered the sanctuary."

A voice answered from within the crystal.

"Excellent."

The stranger's smile widened.

"Shall we begin the siege?"

The voice laughed quietly.

"No."

"Let him believe he's finally safe."

The crystal fell silent.

The stranger slipped it back into his pocket and disappeared into the forest, leaving only the wind to whisper through the trees.

Inside the estate, Asher took a deep breath before following Lucas toward the council chamber, unaware that every step he took was carrying him closer to the truth... and deeper into a war that had already claimed everything he once called home.