Chapter Seven: The Blood Moon King's Awakening
1006 Words
The ancient stone gate groaned as it slowly opened.
A blast of freezing air swept through the Valley of Spirits, extinguishing every glowing flower in its path.
Kael tightened his grip on the Moon Blossom.
His wolf growled deep inside him.
Danger.
The darkness beyond the gate seemed alive, moving like thick smoke. Then, two glowing crimson eyes emerged from the shadows.
A deep, ancient voice echoed across the valley.
"So... the heir of Lucian Nightfang has come."
Kael stood his ground.
"You know my father?"
A tall figure stepped into the moonlight.
He wore black armor covered in ancient runes, and a long crimson cloak flowed behind him. His silver hair reached his shoulders, and his eyes burned like fire.
"I knew him long before you were born."
Kael instinctively reached for his sword.
"Who are you?"
The stranger smiled.
"I have had many names."
He spread his arms.
"But history remembers me as..."
"The Blood Moon King."
The earth trembled beneath Kael's feet.
Every werewolf cub had grown up hearing stories about the Blood Moon King—a tyrant who had once ruled every werewolf kingdom before the Moon Goddess stripped him of his power and imprisoned him.
"You should be dead," Kael said.
The king laughed.
"I was never dead."
"I was merely... waiting."
---
Miles away...
Inside the Silver Claw healing lodge...
Lyla's condition worsened.
The poison had spread to her neck.
Her breathing was becoming slower.
The healer examined her once more before looking at Alpha Rowan.
"She has less than a day."
Rowan's face fell.
"No..."
"The Moon Blossom is her only hope now."
Mira sat beside Lyla's bed, refusing to leave.
She brushed a strand of hair from Lyla's face.
"You always told me never to give up."
Her voice trembled.
"So don't you dare give up now."
For the first time since Lyla had collapsed, her fingers twitched.
Very slightly.
---
Back in the valley...
The Blood Moon King slowly descended the stone steps.
"You carry the Moon Blossom."
Kael nodded.
"I do."
"You intend to save the Silver Claw girl."
"I do."
The king smiled.
"How noble."
Kael frowned.
"What do you want?"
The smile vanished.
"You."
Silence filled the valley.
"The prophecy speaks of the child born from the union of Black Moon and Silver Claw."
Kael's heart skipped.
"The Moon Goddess told you."
"I already knew."
The king walked closer.
"That child possesses the power to either restore my kingdom..."
His crimson eyes glowed brighter.
"...or destroy it forever."
Kael gripped the flower tighter.
"You'll never touch that child."
The king laughed.
"You speak as though fate can be changed."
He raised one hand.
Dark energy exploded from his palm.
Kael barely managed to dodge.
The blast shattered a massive boulder behind him.
The entire valley shook.
---
Kael shifted into his enormous black wolf.
With a thunderous roar, he charged.
The Blood Moon King remained perfectly still.
At the last second, he caught Kael by the throat with one hand.
The Alpha struggled.
The king lifted him effortlessly into the air.
"So powerful..."
He smiled.
"...yet still so young."
Kael twisted free, landing several meters away.
He attacked again.
This time using speed instead of strength.
He circled his opponent before lunging.
His claws struck the king's armor.
Sparks flew.
But the armor remained untouched.
The Blood Moon King countered with a single punch.
Kael crashed into a tree hard enough to split it in half.
Pain shot through his body.
He had never faced anyone this powerful.
Suddenly...
A brilliant silver light filled the valley.
The white guardian wolf, Arkan, appeared.
"So the seal has finally weakened."
The Blood Moon King smiled.
"Guardian."
"You've grown old."
Arkan stepped between Kael and the king.
"My duty has never changed."
"You cannot defeat me."
"No."
Arkan looked toward Kael.
"But he can."
Kael struggled to his feet.
"How?"
Arkan looked at the Moon Blossom.
"The flower is more than a cure."
"It is a blessing."
He touched the blossom with his nose.
The silver petals began to glow brighter.
"The Moon Goddess grants her chosen Alpha one gift."
The flower dissolved into countless particles of silver light.
They surrounded Kael.
His wounds healed instantly.
His strength returned.
His black fur shimmered with silver markings.
Even his golden eyes glowed brighter than before.
The Blood Moon King's smile faded.
"So..."
"The Moon Goddess has chosen."
Kael felt power flowing through every part of him.
Not power born from anger.
But from hope.
---
Meanwhile...
Hidden among the trees overlooking the valley...
The hooded leader of the Shadow Fang watched everything unfold.
The white-haired woman stood beside him.
"My Lord..."
"Should we intervene?"
He slowly lowered his hood.
Moonlight revealed a familiar face.
Kael froze.
"You..."
The man smiled.
"It has been many years."
Kael whispered the name in disbelief.
"Alpha Rowan's brother..."
The man nodded.
"Yes."
"My name is Malachi Ashwood."
Kael's heart raced.
Lyla had once told him that her uncle had died before she was born.
But here he was.
Alive.
Leading the Shadow Fang.
Malachi smiled coldly.
"They told everyone I was dead."
"It made betrayal much easier."
Kael's mind reeled.
"If you're Lyla's uncle..."
"I am."
"And I am also the one who murdered her parents."
The words echoed through the valley.
For a moment, even the Blood Moon King looked surprised.
Kael's wolf snarled.
"You destroyed your own family."
Malachi shrugged.
"They stood between me and power."
He turned toward the Blood Moon King and bowed.
"My king."
"It is almost time."
The ancient ruler smiled.
"The prophecy unfolds exactly as it should."
Far away, in the Silver Claw Pack, Lyla's eyes suddenly opened.
She sat upright with a gasp.
Her wolf howled inside her.
She didn't know why.
But she knew one thing with absolute certainty.
Kael was in terrible danger.
Without waiting for anyone to stop her, she pulled the healing bandages from her shoulder and climbed out of bed.
Ignoring the pain, she whispered,
"Hold on..."
"I'm coming."
- Writer
