chapter 13
688 Words
Chapter 13: The Awakening of the Silver Flame
The battle raged beneath the crimson glow of the Blood Moon.
The Silver Crescent warriors fought with everything they had, but the Shadow Fang Clan refused to retreat. Their crimson-marked wolves seemed immune to pain, throwing themselves back into the fight no matter how many wounds they suffered.
Kael tore through three rogues in quick succession, his gray wolf stained with blood.
"Protect the civilians!" he roared through the mind-link.
But the rogues ignored the warriors.
Every one of them had the same objective.
Capture Lyra.
"There she is!"
"Take the First Luna alive!"
A dozen rogues charged toward her at once.
Lyra's heart pounded, but she didn't run.
She stepped forward.
The silver pendant around her neck blazed with dazzling light, brighter than it ever had before.
"I won't let you hurt my pack," she whispered.
She stretched out her hands.
The silver flames surrounding her erupted into the sky, forming magnificent wings of light behind her.
Gasps echoed across the battlefield.
Elder Miriam fell to her knees.
"The Wings of the First Luna..."
"They truly exist..."
The flames swept forward like a tidal wave.
Yet they did not burn the innocent.
Instead, they wrapped around wounded warriors, closing deep cuts and restoring their strength.
The Silver Flame was not a fire of destruction.
It was a fire of protection.
One rogue leaped through the flames, his claws aimed at Lyra's heart.
Before he could reach her—
A blur of black fur intercepted him.
Lucien.
His massive obsidian wolf caught the rogue midair and slammed him into the ground with enough force to crack the earth.
His crimson eyes blazed with fury.
"No one," his voice echoed through every wolf's mind, "touches my Queen."
The remaining rogues faltered.
Never in their lives had they witnessed an Alpha King unleash his full aura.
Many dropped to one knee, trembling uncontrollably.
Even Kael felt the crushing weight of Lucien's presence.
For the first time, Kael understood why legends spoke of the Shadow King with equal measures of fear and respect.
---
Then the sky darkened.
The crimson moon disappeared behind black clouds.
An unnatural chill swept across the battlefield.
The hooded figure watching from the cliffs slowly descended into the valley.
Every rogue immediately knelt.
"My Lord."
The stranger lowered his hood.
His skin was pale as ivory.
His long silver hair flowed in the wind, and his golden eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.
A jagged black mark stretched across the left side of his face.
Lucien's expression hardened.
"Malachar."
The newcomer smiled.
"It's been a long time, old friend."
"We were never friends," Lucien replied coldly.
Malachar laughed.
"Still protecting her after all these centuries?"
His gaze settled on Lyra.
"So..."
"This is Aurora reborn."
Lyra's breath caught.
Aurora.
The same name she had heard in her visions.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
Malachar bowed theatrically.
"I am the one who ended your last life."
Silence crashed over the valley.
"You..." Lyra whispered.
"I don't remember you."
"You will."
His smile widened.
"And when your memories return..."
"You'll remember the night your kingdom fell."
Lucien stepped in front of Lyra, shielding her from Malachar's gaze.
"You will not touch her again."
Malachar chuckled.
"Can you stop me this time?"
Without warning, dark energy exploded from his body.
The ground split apart.
A towering creature made entirely of living shadows emerged behind him, its glowing red eyes fixed on Lyra.
The warriors of Silver Crescent stared in horror.
No rogue...
No Alpha...
Had ever possessed such terrifying power.
Lucien slowly drew the ancient silver sword from his back.
The runes along its blade burst into brilliant light.
He pointed it toward Malachar.
"This ends tonight."
Malachar's smile faded.
"I've been waiting a thousand years to hear you say that."
Lightning split the heavens.
The two ancient enemies faced each other once more.
And Lyra realized that the betrayal she had suffered at Kael's hands was only the first chapter of a far greater destiny—one that had begun a thousand years ago and was finally catching up with her.
- Writer
