Chapter 9: The Siege
565 Words
The first roar shook the entire palace.
Alina jumped to her feet as another horn echoed outside.
Then came the screams.
The battle had begun.
She ran to the window and looked down.
The palace courtyard was chaos.
Guards rushed across the walls. Wolves leaped through the darkness below. Torches burned across the forest, surrounding the castle from every side.
There were too many.
The northern packs had come for war.
A loud crash echoed somewhere below her room.
Alina stepped back from the window.
Kael had told her to stay here.
But she didn’t feel safe.
Not alone.
Another scream cut through the night.
Then—
The chamber door burst open.
Alina spun around.
A maid rushed inside, pale and shaking.
“You have to come with me,” she said.
“What?”
“The King ordered it. The lower halls are safer.”
Alina hesitated for only a second before following her.
The palace corridors were filled with panic. Guards ran past them. Servants hurried in every direction.
The sound of fighting grew louder.
“They broke through the outer gate,” the maid whispered.
Alina’s heart pounded.
They turned down a narrow hallway.
Then suddenly—
The maid froze.
Someone stood at the end of the corridor.
A man.
Tall.
Dressed in black.
His golden eyes locked onto Alina.
And he smiled.
The maid gasped.
“No…”
The stranger took a step forward.
“There you are.”
Alina backed away instantly.
“Who are you?”
“The one sent to bring you back.”
Fear rushed through her.
Magnus.
This had to be one of his men.
The maid grabbed Alina’s arm. “Run!”
They turned—
Too late.
The man moved faster than either of them could react.
He appeared in front of them in a blur.
The maid screamed as he threw her aside.
She hit the wall hard and collapsed.
“No!” Alina cried.
The man grabbed her wrist.
“You’re coming with me.”
Alina struggled desperately.
“Let go!”
He tightened his grip.
“You’ve caused enough trouble.”
Suddenly—
A deep growl filled the corridor.
The man froze.
Alina’s breath caught.
Kael.
He stood at the other end of the hall.
His eyes glowed like fire.
And he looked furious.
“Take your hands off her,” he said.
The man laughed nervously.
“You’re too late.”
Kael stepped forward.
“No,” he said quietly.
“You are.”
Then he shifted.
Bones cracked.
Power exploded through the corridor.
In seconds, a massive black wolf stood where the King had been.
Larger than any wolf Alina had ever seen.
Terrifying.
Beautiful.
The rebel released her instantly.
Too late.
Kael lunged.
The corridor shook with the force of it.
The man barely had time to scream.
Then silence.
Alina stood frozen.
Her heart racing.
The huge black wolf turned toward her slowly.
Golden eyes locked onto hers.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then the wolf stepped closer.
Closer.
Until it stood right in front of her.
Alina should have been terrified.
But somehow…
She wasn’t.
Slowly, she lifted her trembling hand.
The giant wolf lowered his head.
And when her fingers touched his fur—
The mark on her neck burned.
Strong.
Alive.
As if the bond between them had just become something even deeper.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD