The Rejected Mate's Secret Heir

Chapter 17: The March of Vengeance

The heavy iron gates of the Bloodmoon Pack house rattled violently under the weight of the dark, gathering storm.

Inside the grand council hall, Elder Richard sat upon the high wooden throne, his trembling hands clutching a glass of dark wine. His face was pale and drawn, his eyes sunken with paranoia.

For three days, his attempts to rally the neighboring packs had failed miserably. Once news spread that Alpha Max had crushed the rogue mercenaries and protected the royal heir, no Alpha dared to align themselves with a traitor.

"My Lord!" a terrified council guard burst into the hall, stumbling onto the marble floor. "They are here! The royal garrison from Sunspire Keep has surrounded the main gates!"

Richard’s glass shattered on the floor, red wine spilling like blood across the white stone. "Where is Lady Freya? Tell her to mobilize the inner guards!"

Before the guard could answer, a thunderous explosion shattered the heavy oak entrance doors into a million splintered pieces!

BOOM!

A blinding wave of royal Alpha pressure surged into the hallway, crushing the breath out of every guard in the room. Weak council members dropped to their knees, clutching their heads in sheer agony.

Through the drifting dust and smoke, Alpha Max strode into the hall. He looked like the god of war himself, clad in heavy black leather armor, twin silver blades held loosely in his hands. His icy blue eyes burned with a dark, lethal fire.

Beside him walked Elena.

She no longer wore the humble gowns of a helpless outcast. She was draped in a striking coat of silver-and-black royal silk, her dark hair flowing wild over her shoulders. Her dark eyes glowed with a brilliant, supernatural silver light that radiated pure, ancient authority.

Behind them stood Commander Caleb and fifty elite Bloodmoon warriors, their swords drawn and ready for blood.

Elder Richard scrambled back against the high throne, his face contorting in pure terror as his eyes landed on Elena.

"Y-You..." Richard choked out, pointing a shaking finger at her. "Your wolf was sealed! How are you standing here?!"

Elena took a slow, deliberate step forward, her heavy leather boots clicking against the marble floor. The sheer, suffocating pressure radiating from her new silver aura made the air in the hall drop below freezing.

"Did you really think dark shadow magic could bury the bloodline of the Crescent Moon forever, Richard?" Elena’s voice echoed through the hall, carrying a double-layered resonance that sent shivers down the spines of the council members.

Richard gasped, his eyes widening in absolute horror. "The Crescent Moon... impossible! Arthur’s bloodline was wiped out!"

"You murdered my parents in their sleep," Elena said, her tone icy cold and devoid of mercy as she stepped closer. "You sealed my wolf, lied to this pack, and manipulated Max into casting me out into the snow so you could rule from the shadows."

Max’s jaw clenched, his silver blades humming with violent tension beside her. He looked at Richard with pure, murderous disdain. "Your treason ends today, Richard. There is no rogue army to save you, and no council to hide behind."

"Guards! Kill them! Kill them all!" Richard shrieked, scrambling behind the high altar.

A dozen loyalist guards, terrified of Richard’s dark secrets being exposed, drew their weapons and lunged toward Elena and Max.

"Elena, stay back—" Max started, moving to shield her.

"I’ve got this, Max," Elena interrupted softly.

Elena stepped in front of Max. She didn't draw a sword. Instead, she raised her right hand, her silver eyes blazing with absolute, unyielding power.

FLASH!

A violent shockwave of pure silver lunar energy erupted from her palm!

The blast slammed into the oncoming guards like a charging bull, disarming their steel swords and launching all twelve men backward through the air. They crashed heavily against the stone pillars, unconscious before they even hit the floor.

Silence fell over the council hall, heavy and suffocating.

Max stared at Elena, a dark, incredibly proud smirk spreading across his face. The council elders who had remained loyal to Richard dropped to their knees in absolute submission, bowing their heads toward Elena in terror and awe.

"Goddess help us..." an old council member whimpered. "She holds the Royal Lunar Blessing... she is a true Queen!"

Elder Richard fell onto his knees behind the throne, trapped with nowhere left to run. Tears of panic spilled down his withered cheeks as Max walked slowly toward him, dragging his silver blade along the marble floor with a terrifying, metallic screech.

"Please... Max! I did it for the strength of the pack!" Richard begged, groveling at Max’s boots. "She was a distraction! A wolfless female would have ruined your reign!"

Max stopped in front of him, his icy blue eyes staring down at the traitor like he was a disgusting insect.

"You didn't protect my reign, Richard," Max said, his voice dropping to a low, lethal whisper. "You made me break the heart of my true Queen. And for that... death is too merciful a punishment for you."

Max raised his hand, gesturing to Caleb. "Throw him into the deepest cell in the black dungeons. Chain him with silver iron. He will face a public trial before the entire pack tomorrow at sunrise."

"No! Max! Please!" Richard screamed as Caleb and two massive warriors grabbed his arms, dragging the sobbing old man away into the dark corridors.

As the echoes of Richard’s screams faded, the grand council hall fell into a quiet, victorious calm.

Max turned back to face Elena. He closed the distance between them, his large, warm hands gently reaching out to frame her face. His thumbs softly wiped away a smudge of ash from her cheek, his intense blue eyes searching hers with deep, burning devotion.

"You were incredible," Max murmured softly, his voice rough with emotion.

Elena looked up into his eyes, her breathing steady as her silver aura gradually receded back beneath her skin. For the first time in five long years, she felt a profound sense of peace settling over her soul.

"It's not over yet, Max," Elena whispered, her hand coming up to rest over his on her cheek. "Where is Freya?"

Max’s eyes darkened slightly, his protective instincts flaring back up. "Caleb’s trackers are searching the west wing right now. She won't escape us."

Before Max could finish his sentence, a frantic warrior ran into the hall, bowing deeply.

"My Lord! Lady Elena!" the warrior panted, his face pale with dread. "Lady Freya has been spotted near the high nursery tower!"

Elena’s heart stopped. Her blood ran cold in an instant.

The nursery tower... where Jaxon was resting under guard!

"Jaxon!" Elena gasped out, her dark eyes flashing back into glowing silver as pure, wild panic seized her chest.

Without waiting for Max or the guards, Elena whirled around and sprinted at supernatural speed toward the high tower.