Bound To The Alpha King

Chapter 8 The Secret Beneath the Tower

Aurora stood completely still as Selene words echoed through the underground chamber The answer is inside your own bloodline She looked down at the silver ring in her hand and then slowly raised her eyes toward Selene What does that mean Selene took a careful breath Your father trusted my family because he believed the royal bloodline had been corrupted from within Aurora felt a cold shiver move through her body Corrupted by who Selene looked at Keal before answering Someone who has been sitting close to the throne for years Keal expression immediately hardened Who Selene shook her head Not here We need to leave before they find this chamber Aurora stepped forward You said my father is alive Where is he Selene looked at her with sadness He is being held beneath the city Aurora heart began racing Why have you not rescued him Because the place where he is being held is protected by a blood seal that only you can break Aurora looked at her necklace Then why did you wait until now Selene gave a faint smile Because until tonight you were not strong enough Keal stepped between them How do you know she is ready Selene looked at him Because she awakened the Moon Crescent and survived the awakening Keal remained silent Aurora looked from one of them to the other I am going to find my father Keal immediately answered Then I am coming with you Aurora looked at him You do not have to Keal eyes became serious I know But you are my mate and I will not allow you to walk into danger alone Aurora heart skipped at the word mate She quickly looked away before he could notice the effect his words had on her Selene turned toward the passage Follow me There is another entrance beneath this tower They moved deeper into the chamber and Selene pressed her hand against an ancient stone wall A hidden doorway opened revealing a narrow staircase that descended into darkness Aurora looked down How far does it go Selene answered Far enough that the city above will never hear us Keal moved first followed by Aurora and Selene The further they descended the colder the air became Strange silver markings appeared along the walls and Aurora could feel her wolf responding to them Suddenly a voice whispered through the darkness Aurora stopped Did you hear that Keal turned toward her Hear what My name Aurora whispered Selene stopped as well That is the blood seal speaking to you Aurora frowned What does it want Selene looked at the markings It wants to know whether you remember Aurora closed her eyes and another memory appeared She was six years old again Her father was kneeling before her holding her shoulders while tears filled his eyes He was speaking quickly Aurora remember this place Remember the tower Remember the woman with the silver crown And most importantly remember Keal Aurora opened her eyes Why did my father tell me to remember Keal Selene looked at her because your father knew that one day you would need him Aurora turned toward Keal He looked just as confused as she was I had never met you when I was six Keal said Aurora shook her head But my father knew your name Keal expression changed Then there was something he knew about our families that we still do not understand They continued down the stairs until they reached a massive metal door Unlike the ancient tower everything about the door looked modern It had a digital security panel beside it Selene entered a sequence of numbers but the system rejected it She tried again and the screen flashed red Keal stepped forward Let me try Selene moved aside Keal entered a different sequence The screen remained red Aurora stared at the panel without understanding why but something inside her told her to touch it She placed her hand against the screen The entire system immediately turned silver and the door unlocked Keal looked at her Aurora whispered I did not do that The door opened by itself Selene looked at her You did exactly what you were meant to do They entered a huge underground facility filled with computers security cameras and reinforced doors Aurora stared around in disbelief Someone had built an entire hidden facility beneath the city Keal immediately became alert This is not an old pack hideout Selene shook her head No It belongs to the Black Fang Aurora looked at the monitors Several screens displayed information about different packs around the country and one screen showed her photograph Aurora moved closer They have been watching me for years Keal looked at the screen His jaw tightened Your entire life has been monitored Aurora felt anger rising inside her All those years They knew who I was and they still allowed me to suffer Keal turned toward her That ends now Aurora looked at him I do not want protection if it means being locked away I want answers Keal nodded Then we will get them together Selene suddenly pointed toward one of the monitors Look Aurora turned and saw a live video feed A man was sitting inside a dark room His face was older than the photograph but Aurora recognized him instantly Her breath caught Dad She rushed toward the screen Elias Vale was alive He looked exhausted but his eyes were unmistakably his Aurora placed her hand over her mouth as tears filled her eyes Dad Selene lowered her voice He cannot hear you through this system Aurora stared at the screen Elias suddenly lifted his head as if he had sensed something He looked directly toward the camera and spoke Aurora If you can see this then they have found you The video continued Your mother and I tried to protect you but the royal bloodline was never the real danger The person you must fear is the one who controls the Alpha Council Aurora looked at Keal The Alpha Council Keal eyes narrowed His father had once ruled over the council and several current members had been there since before Keal became Alpha King Elias continued There is someone among them who has been waiting for your awakening Do not trust anyone who claims to know the full prophecy The screen suddenly went black Aurora stepped backward What happened Selene rushed toward the control panel Someone cut the connection Keal looked toward the security doors They are coming Selene turned We have less than a minute Aurora heard footsteps approaching from the corridor The Black Fang had found them again Keal moved toward Aurora and took her hand Stay behind me Aurora shook her head This time no She looked down at the silver light beginning to glow around her fingers I am done hiding Keal stared at her Then stand beside me Aurora moved beside him Selene reached for a hidden weapon while the security doors began to shake Someone was trying to force them open Aurora felt her wolf rise inside her with a strength she had never experienced before and a voice echoed through her mind The bloodline remembers The doors suddenly burst open and several masked wolves rushed into the facility Keal stepped forward Aurora raised her hand and the entire room filled with silver light The attackers stopped in shock And behind them stood a figure Aurora recognized from one of the photographs in her father file The current head of the Alpha Council The man smiled at her and spoke calmly Welcome home Queen Aurora