THE LAST COMMAND
1537 Words
The castle was quiet.
Too quiet.
After the members of the Blackthorn Pack had finally returned to their homes, only a few guards remained in the main courtyard. The ministers had gathered in a private chamber, speaking in low voices about the condition of their Alpha.
But inside the Alpha's chambers, Dominic Blackthorn was awake.
His breathing was weak.
His face was pale, and the strength that had once made him one of the most feared Alphas in the region seemed to have disappeared.
Yet his eyes remained sharp.
He knew his time was running out.
The door opened slowly.
Damon Ravencroft entered.
Behind him stood two senior ministers.
Dominic looked at them.
“You came.”
Damon bowed.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Dominic tried to sit up, but the physician immediately stepped forward.
“You should remain lying down.”
Dominic ignored him.
“I don't have time to lie here.”
The physician exchanged a worried glance with Damon.
Dominic turned toward the ministers.
“Close the door.”
Damon did so.
When the door was locked, Dominic looked at each of them carefully.
“I want Harel brought here.”
Damon hesitated.
“Alpha, the physician said—”
“I know what the physician said.”
Dominic's voice was weak, but his authority had not disappeared.
“Bring my son.”
Damon nodded.
“As you wish.”
Minutes later, footsteps approached.
The door opened.
Harel entered.
He immediately noticed the tension in the room.
“Father.”
Dominic looked at him
“Come closer.”
Harel walked to the bed.
“How are you feeling?”
Dominic gave a faint smile.
“You already know the answer.”
Harel looked away.
He didn't want to accept what was happening.
Dominic studied his son for several seconds.
Then he reached toward the table beside his bed.
There was a small wooden box sitting there.
Dominic pushed it toward Harel.
“Take this.”
Harel picked it up.
“What is it?”
“Something that belonged to your grandfather.”
Harel opened the box.
Inside was a silver ring bearing the Blackthorn crest.
He stared at it.
“I have seen this before.”
“You should have.”
Dominic's voice softened.
“It has belonged to the Alpha of this family for generations.”
Harel looked at the ring.
“Why are you giving it to me now?”
“Because soon, it will belong to you.”
Harel immediately shook his head.
“No.”
Dominic frowned.
“Don't say no to me.”
“I don't want to hear this.”
“You must.”
Harel's eyes became wet.
“You're my father.”
“And I will always be your father.”
Dominic reached for his son's hand.
“But I am also your Alpha. And as your Alpha, I need you to listen.”
Harel remained silent.
Dominic took a slow breath.
“When I am gone, the pack will need someone to lead them.”
“You will recover.”
Dominic looked at him sadly.
“You have always been stubborn.”
“And you taught me to be.”
For the first time that night, Dominic smiled.
Then the smile disappeared.
“There is something else you must understand.”
Harel looked at him.
“The Blackthorn Pack has enemies.”
“Every pack has enemies.”
“These are different.”
Dominic lowered his voice.
“Some of them are inside our territory.”
Harel's expression changed.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that not everyone who bows before the throne is loyal to it.”
Harel looked toward the ministers.
Damon remained silent.
“Who?” Harel asked.
Dominic shook his head.
“I don't have enough evidence.”
“Then how am I supposed to know whom to trust?”
“You won't.”
Harel frowned.
“Then what should I do?”
“Watch.”
Dominic's eyes hardened.
“Listen carefully. Watch what people do when they think nobody is looking. Do not trust words alone. And never allow anyone to convince you that loyalty is proven by obedience.”
Harel nodded slowly.
Dominic then looked toward Damon.
“Bring the ministers closer.”
Damon and the other ministers stepped forward.
Dominic's voice became formal.
“I am giving my final command.”
The room became completely silent.
“If I die, Harel Blackthorn is to succeed me as Alpha of the Blackthorn Pack.”
Harel stared at his father.
The ministers bowed their heads.
Damon spoke first.
“It will be done.”
Dominic continued.
“No council member, minister, royal representative, or member of another pack is permitted to change my decision.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“And the coronation must take place according to Blackthorn law.”
Damon nodded.
“Understood.”
Dominic looked at Harel again.
“Do you understand?”
Harel swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Say it.”
“I understand.”
Dominic leaned back against the pillows.
“Good.”
The room remained silent.
Then Harel noticed something strange.
His father's hand was trembling.
“Father?”
Dominic looked at him.
“Promise me something.”
“What?”
“If anything happens to me, don't immediately trust the official explanation.”
Harel's brow furrowed.
“Why?”
Dominic looked toward the window.
The moonlight fell across his face.
“Because sometimes the truth is hidden behind the first story people tell.”
Harel felt a chill.
“Are you saying someone wants you dead?”
Dominic did not answer immediately.
That silence was answer enough.
Harel stepped closer.
“Who?”
Dominic opened his mouth.
Before he could speak, a sharp pain crossed his face.
He grabbed his chest.
“Father!”
The physician rushed forward.
“Everyone move back!”
Harel stepped aside as the physician and his assistants surrounded Dominic.
Dominic struggled to breathe.
Harel stood frozen.
For several terrifying seconds, he thought his father was going to die in front of him.
Then Dominic's breathing slowly stabilized.
The physician turned toward Harel.
“You need to leave.”
“No.”
“Alpha—”
“I said no.”
Dominic raised a weak hand.
“Harel…”
Harel immediately turned toward him.
“Go.”
“But—”
“Go.”
Harel reluctantly stepped toward the door.
Before leaving, he looked back.
Dominic was staring at him.
There was something in his father's eyes that Harel would never forget.
Fear.
Not fear of death.
Fear of what would happen after his death.
Harel left the chamber.
Damon followed him into the corridor.
For several moments, neither man spoke.
Then Harel turned.
“What isn't my father telling me?”
Damon's expression remained calm.
“Your father is very ill.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Damon looked at him.
“Sometimes an Alpha carries burdens that his son should not have to carry.”
“I am his son.”
“And one day, you may carry those burdens yourself.”
Harel stared at him.
“Is there something you know?”
Damon paused.
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Harel noticed.
He said nothing.
Instead, he walked away.
That night, Harel could not sleep.
He kept thinking about his father's words.
Don't trust the official explanation.
Some enemies are inside the territory.
Watch.
He eventually left his room and walked toward the library.
He needed answers.
Perhaps his father's old records would explain what was happening.
He searched through documents for nearly an hour.
Nothing.
Then he found an old journal belonging to Dominic.
Harel opened it.
Most of the pages contained ordinary notes about pack affairs.
But near the end, the entries became shorter.
More secretive.
One sentence caught Harel's attention.
There is a traitor among us.
Harel's heart began beating faster.
He turned the page.
The next few pages had been removed.
He searched through the journal again.
Nothing else.
Then he heard footsteps behind him.
Harel immediately closed the journal.
He turned.
Damon stood at the library entrance.
“You're awake late.”
“So are you.”
Damon smiled faintly.
“The Alpha's condition concerns all of us.”
Harel held up the journal.
“Did you know my father kept this?”
Damon's eyes moved toward it.
“Yes.”
“Did you know he believed there was a traitor?”
Damon became silent.
Harel took a step forward.
“Who is it?
“I don't know.”
“That's the second time you've said that tonight.”
“Because it is the truth.”
Harel studied him.
Then he closed the journal.
“Good night, Minister.”
He walked past Damon.
But as he disappeared into the corridor, Damon remained standing in the library.
His expression changed.
He looked toward the journal.
Then he whispered to himself,
“Dominic should never have written that.”
And somewhere in the darkness beyond the library window, a figure stood watching the castle.
Watching Harel.
Waiting.
Because Dominic Blackthorn had just given his son the throne.
And with that decision, Harel had unknowingly become the next target.
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