Chapter 19 — The Alpha’s Curse
823 Words
Elara stared at the dark mark spreading across Cassian’s chest.
“What did you do to him?”
The First Alpha smiled.
“Nothing permanent.”
Cassian struggled to stand.
“Don’t listen to him.”
Elara rushed toward Cassian, but a wall of dark energy appeared between them.
“Let him go!”
“You misunderstand, Queen. I don’t want to hurt him. I want you to understand what your crown can do.”
The Moon Crown began glowing.
Elara felt its power responding to Cassian’s pain.
“You’re using him to control me.”
“Exactly.”
Elara’s fists tightened.
The First Alpha stepped closer.
“You were born to open the Moon Temple. You were born to carry the crown. And you were born with the ability to break my curse.”
“I won’t help you.”
“Then he suffers.”
Cassian shook his head.
“Elara, don’t.”
She looked at him.
His silver eyes were filled with fear—not for himself, but for her.
“Whatever happens, don’t give him the crown.”
The First Alpha laughed.
“Such loyalty.”
Suddenly, the temple doors exploded open.
Lysandra entered with the ancient wolves behind her.
“Step away from my daughter.”
The First Alpha turned.
“You should have stayed hidden.”
“I’ve hidden for twenty years.”
Lysandra raised her hand.
“I’m not hiding anymore.”
Silver energy filled the temple.
The First Alpha attacked.
The two powers collided, shaking the entire chamber.
Elara ran toward Cassian.
The dark barrier disappeared.
She grabbed his arm.
“Can you stand?”
Cassian nodded.
“Barely.”
Elara looked at the mark.
“We have to break the curse.”
Cassian shook his head.
“Not here.”
“Why?”
“Because he wants you to use the crown.”
Elara froze.
He was right.
The Moon Crown wasn’t simply reacting to Cassian’s pain.
It was drawing power from it.
The First Alpha wanted her to activate it.
Elara looked toward the battle.
Her mother was struggling.
“We need another way.”
Cassian looked at her.
“There is one.”
“What?”
“The bond.”
Elara frowned.
“The bond between us.”
He placed his hand over hers.
“The Moon Crown connected us when you awakened it. If the curse is tied to me, maybe the bond can transfer the energy.”
“You don’t know if it’ll work.”
“No.”
“That could hurt you.”
“I know.”
Elara shook her head.
“I’m not risking you.”
Cassian gave her a faint smile.
“You said you wanted to make your own choices.”
Elara looked into his eyes.
“I do.”
“Then choose.”
She closed her eyes.
The Moon Wolf awakened.
Silver light flowed from her body into Cassian’s.
The dark mark began fading.
The First Alpha suddenly stopped fighting.
“No!”
He rushed toward them.
Lysandra blocked him.
“You’re too late.”
The Moon Crown released a powerful wave.
The First Alpha was thrown across the temple.
Cassian fell against Elara.
The mark disappeared.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Cassian whispered,
“You saved me.”
Elara shook her head.
“We saved each other.”
The First Alpha slowly stood.
His eyes burned with rage.
“You still don’t understand.”
Elara faced him.
“Then explain.”
He looked at the Moon Crown.
“The curse isn’t the only thing keeping me alive.”
“What do you mean?”
He smiled.
“The Moon Kingdom itself.”
Lysandra’s face changed.
“Elara, don’t listen.”
“The kingdom was built from my power,” the First Alpha continued. “Every wall. Every ancient wolf. Every royal bloodline.”
Elara stared at him.
“If you destroy me, the kingdom falls.”
Silence.
Lysandra whispered,
“He’s telling the truth.”
Elara’s heart sank.
“What?”
“The First Alpha’s life force is connected to the ancient kingdom.”
“So if I kill him—”
“Everyone dies.”
The First Alpha smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Elara looked at Cassian.
He was silent.
For the first time, there was no easy answer.
She couldn’t kill the First Alpha.
She couldn’t let him remain free.
And she couldn’t sacrifice the kingdom.
The First Alpha turned toward the exit.
“I’ll give you three days.”
“For what?”
“To decide.”
He disappeared into the darkness.
Elara stood motionless.
Three days.
That was all she had.
Cassian touched her shoulder.
“We’ll find another way.”
Elara looked at him.
“And if there isn’t one?”
His expression remained steady.
“Then we’ll make one.”
Outside, the moon disappeared behind the clouds.
And somewhere beneath the kingdom, something ancient began to awaken.
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