Chapter 17 — The First Attack
1099 Words
The warning bells began ringing before Elara could even process the warrior’s words.
Thousands.
The First Alpha had crossed the boundary with an army.
Every wolf in the Moon Kingdom rushed toward the gates. Warriors grabbed their weapons while messengers raced through the streets. The peaceful kingdom Elara had entered only minutes earlier suddenly became a fortress preparing for war.
Lysandra turned toward the guards.
“Seal the eastern gates.”
“Already done, Your Majesty.”
“Move the civilians into the inner city.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Elara watched her mother command everyone with effortless authority.
This was the woman she had spent her entire life believing was dead.
This was her mother.
And this was her kingdom.
Cassian stepped beside Elara.
“You should stay inside.”
Elara looked at him.
“No.”
“Elara.”
“I’ve spent my whole life being protected from the truth. I’m not hiding now.”
Cassian sighed.
“I knew you’d say that.”
“Then stop asking.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“You’re stubborn.”
“You’re just noticing?”
Before Cassian could answer, the ground shook.
A massive explosion erupted near the outer wall.
People screamed.
The warriors immediately formed defensive lines.
Elara looked toward the mountains.
A black wave was moving through the snow.
The First Alpha’s army.
Thousands of wolves descended toward the kingdom.
At the front stood the First Alpha himself.
Even from a distance, Elara could feel his presence.
Ancient.
Cold.
Furious.
His voice carried across the battlefield.
“Give me the Queen!”
No one moved.
Lysandra stepped onto the wall.
“You will not have her.”
The First Alpha laughed.
“You still believe you can protect her?”
Elara walked forward.
Her mother turned.
“Elara, don’t.”
Elara continued until she stood beside her.
The First Alpha’s eyes immediately found her.
“There you are.”
Elara stared back.
“You crossed an entire kingdom for me.”
“I crossed centuries for you.”
“What do you want?”
“The crown.”
Elara touched it.
“You’ve had centuries to take it.”
“I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
The First Alpha’s expression changed.
“Because only the true heir can awaken its full power.”
Elara felt the Moon Wolf stir.
“And now that I have it?”
“You can open the ancient gate.”
Lysandra suddenly looked terrified.
“No.”
Elara turned.
“What gate?”
Her mother said nothing.
“Mom.”
“The First Alpha cannot reach the place he wants without you.”
“What place?”
“The Moon Temple.”
The First Alpha smiled.
“Your mother finally tells you something.”
Elara’s eyes narrowed.
“What is inside the temple?”
“The beginning.”
His voice echoed through the mountains.
“And the end.”
Suddenly, he raised his hand.
The army charged.
“DEFEND THE KINGDOM!” Lysandra shouted.
Thousands of wolves surged forward.
The battle began.
Elara watched as warriors collided with the enemy.
Cassian shifted beside her.
His enormous silver wolf leaped over the wall.
Elara’s heart jumped.
“Cassian!”
He looked back once before disappearing into the battle.
Elara’s Moon Wolf growled.
Go.
Elara closed her eyes.
Silver light surrounded her.
Her wolf emerged.
She landed among the warriors.
The moment her paws touched the ground, the ancient wolves gathered around her.
They moved like a single force.
Elara charged.
An enemy wolf lunged.
She dodged and knocked it aside.
Another came from behind.
An ancient wolf intercepted it.
The battlefield became a storm of claws, howls, and magic.
Then Elara saw Cassian.
He was fighting three powerful wolves at once.
One attacked from the side.
“Cassian!”
He turned too late.
Elara sprinted toward him.
She slammed into the attacker.
Cassian spun around.
“Elara!”
She shifted back.
“Are you okay?”
He stared at her.
“You came after me.”
“Obviously.”
“You could’ve been hurt.”
“So could you.”
He shook his head.
“You’re impossible.”
“And you’re welcome.”
A roar shook the battlefield.
They both looked toward the mountains.
The First Alpha had entered the kingdom.
Lysandra stood in his path.
“You will not pass.”
He raised his hand.
Dark energy surrounded her.
Elara’s eyes widened.
“Mom!”
She ran.
The First Alpha launched the energy.
Elara raised her hand.
The Moon Crown flashed.
The attack disappeared.
Everyone stopped.
The First Alpha stared at her.
“You’re stronger than I expected.”
Elara stepped forward.
“You’re not touching her.”
He smiled.
“Then come and stop me.”
He vanished.
Elara felt a presence behind her.
She turned.
The First Alpha stood directly in front of her.
He grabbed her wrist.
The Moon Crown blazed.
A shockwave threw him backward.
He stared at Elara.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
“You’ve already opened the crown.”
Elara frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
“You don’t remember.”
“Remember what?”
He smiled.
“When you were a child, you opened the Moon Temple.”
Elara froze.
“That never happened.”
“It did.”
He stepped backward.
“And when you remember what happened inside, you will understand why your mother was so desperate to hide you.”
Before Elara could respond, the First Alpha disappeared into the darkness.
The battle slowly quieted.
The enemy army retreated toward the mountains.
The kingdom had survived.
But Elara couldn’t celebrate.
She turned toward her mother.
“What happened when I was a child?”
Lysandra looked away.
“Elara—”
“No.”
Her voice shook.
“You promised to tell me the truth.”
Lysandra closed her eyes.
“You opened the temple.”
“What did I see?”
Her mother looked at her.
“You saw the Moon Goddess.”
Elara’s breath caught.
“And she spoke to you.”
“What did she say?”
Lysandra hesitated.
“She told you that one day, you would have to choose between saving the werewolf kingdom…”
She paused.
“…and saving the person you love most.”
Elara looked toward Cassian.
He was standing several feet away.
His eyes met hers.
Neither spoke.
Because they both understood the meaning of the prophecy.
The First Alpha wasn’t trying to destroy the kingdom.
He was trying to force Elara to make a choice.
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