CHAPTER 8: THE HEIR OF THE ALPHA
1676 Words
The courtyard of the Silver Crescent Pack had never been this quiet.
Not during coronations.
Not during funerals.
Not even during the winter when rogues had slaughtered half a patrol at the northern border.
Yet now, with the moon glowing overhead and every warrior, elder, and servant gathered outside the pack house, a heavy silence pressed down over the crowd like a storm waiting to break.
At the center of it all stood Selene Ravencrest.
Three years ago, she had fled this place in tears, her white ceremony gown stained with mud and blood, carrying the child no one knew existed.
Tonight, she returned in black.
Her dress flowed around her like shadow, fitted and elegant, with silver embroidery along the sleeves that shimmered under the moonlight. Her chin was lifted, her shoulders straight, and the trembling girl who once begged to be chosen was nowhere to be found.
Beside her stood her son.
Elias Draven was only three years old, but there was something unnervingly calm about him. He held his mother’s hand with one small fist while his golden eyes—eyes identical to Kael Draven’s—studied the pack members with solemn curiosity.
And standing at Selene’s side was the most feared male in the realm.
Lucien Varkos.
The Lycan King looked as though he had stepped from a nightmare. Tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome, he radiated lethal power. His silver gaze swept across the courtyard, daring anyone to challenge the woman and child under his protection.
At the top of the stone steps, Kael stood frozen.
His eyes were fixed on the little boy.
The little boy with his eyes.
His breathing turned ragged.
“That child,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Then louder.
“That child is mine.”
The words rolled through the courtyard like thunder.
Selene’s expression remained cool.
“You do not get to claim what you threw away.”
Kael descended the steps slowly, his boots striking the stone with measured force.
His wolf was going mad.
Mine.
Every instinct inside him roared with certainty. The scent. The eyes. The unmistakable bond tugging at his soul.
His son.
Three years.
Three years his child had existed in the world, and he had not known.
Pain twisted through him, followed by a wave of rage.
At himself.
At the lies.
At everyone who had stolen this from him.
Kael stopped a few feet away.
His gaze lifted to Selene’s face.
“You were pregnant.”
She met his eyes without flinching.
“Yes.”
The single word cut deeper than any blade.
Kael swallowed hard.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
For the first time, emotion flickered across her features.
“Because you rejected me before the entire pack and chose my cousin.”
Her voice remained steady, but every word struck with surgical precision.
“I was alone, hunted, and carrying your child. I owed you nothing.”
Kael opened his mouth, but no defense came.
Because she was right.
A tiny voice interrupted the tension.
“Mommy?”
Selene looked down immediately, her features softening.
Elias tilted his head toward Kael.
“Why is that man looking at me like he wants to cry?”
A ripple of nervous laughter moved through the crowd.
Kael’s throat tightened.
Selene brushed her fingers through Elias’s dark hair.
“Because some people realize what they lost too late.”
Kael dropped to one knee, bringing himself level with the boy.
His voice shook.
“What’s your name?”
Elias stared at him.
“Elias.”
Kael’s chest tightened further.
“That’s a strong name.”
Elias nodded proudly.
“King Lucien says I’m strong.”
Kael’s eyes lifted to Lucien, who stood with maddening calm.
“You let another man raise my son.”
Lucien’s mouth curved into a dangerous smile.
“I raised the child you didn’t know existed because you cast his mother aside.”
A growl rumbled from Kael’s chest.
Lucien’s silver eyes flashed.
The two powerful males stared at one another, the air vibrating with hostility.
Before either could move, a shrill voice shattered the moment.
“This is absurd.”
Vivianne Ashford stepped onto the front steps, wrapped in a pale blue gown that marked her status as Kael’s chosen Luna.
Or at least, the woman who believed she held that position.
Her face was carefully composed, but panic burned in her eyes.
She descended the steps with forced grace.
“Selene, after all this time, you return with a child and expect everyone to believe this story?”
Selene arched a brow.
“I don’t need anyone to believe it.”
Vivianne turned to Kael.
“She is lying.”
Kael did not look at her.
Vivianne’s voice sharpened.
“Kael.”
He still didn’t move.
His eyes remained on Elias.
Vivianne’s mask began to crack.
“This child could belong to anyone.”
Lucien stepped forward, his expression turning glacial.
“Say another word about the boy, and you will not live to regret it.”
Vivianne paled.
Selene squeezed Elias’s hand.
The little boy frowned up at Vivianne.
“She smells mean.”
Several warriors coughed to hide their laughter.
Vivianne’s cheeks flushed with humiliation.
“How dare you—”
Elias’s moonstone necklace began to glow.
Silver light pulsed around him, crackling softly in the night air.
The crowd gasped.
Vivianne took an involuntary step back.
The energy burst outward in a wave.
Vivianne was flung off her feet and landed hard against the steps.
Her scream echoed across the courtyard.
The glow vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Elias looked startled.
He stared at his hands.
“I didn’t touch her.”
Selene knelt immediately, cupping his face.
“It’s okay.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“Did I do something bad?”
Selene kissed his forehead.
“No, sweetheart.”
Kael watched them, awe and fear colliding inside him.
At three years old, his son possessed power strong enough to throw a grown werewolf several feet.
And if the old legends were true…
The implications were terrifying.
A cane struck the stone.
Once.
Twice.
The crowd parted as Elder Morwen emerged from the shadows.
His ancient eyes fixed on Elias.
The old elder looked as though he had seen a ghost.
“The prophecy,” he whispered.
A murmur spread through the pack.
Kael rose to his feet.
“What prophecy?”
Morwen ignored him.
He approached Elias slowly, reverence and fear mingling on his lined face.
“The child bears the mark.”
Selene’s eyes narrowed.
“You will stay away from my son.”
Morwen stopped.
His gaze shifted to Selene.
“So it is true.”
Lucien moved protectively closer to her.
“Explain yourself, old man.”
Morwen took a long breath.
“Generations ago, the Moon Goddess blessed a bloodline with the power to unite wolves and Lycans under one ruler. The heir of that line would awaken as a child and wield moonlight itself.”
His gaze returned to Elias.
“That child is the heir.”
The courtyard erupted in whispers.
Kael’s pulse thundered.
His son was not only his heir.
He was the heir to the Moon Throne.
Vivianne pushed herself upright, her hair disheveled and her face twisted with hatred.
“This is madness.”
Morwen’s eyes hardened.
“No. This is destiny.”
Kael turned to Selene.
“Is this why they wanted you gone?”
Selene’s silence was answer enough.
Kael’s jaw clenched.
“Who knew?”
Her gaze drifted to Morwen.
The elder did not deny it.
Rage exploded through Kael.
“You manipulated me.”
Morwen lifted his chin.
“I protected the pack.”
“You destroyed my family.”
For the first time, Morwen looked uncertain.
Kael’s power surged, making several wolves bow instinctively.
“You lied to me. You made me reject my mate.”
Vivianne’s eyes widened.
“Kael—”
“Silence.”
The single word cracked like thunder.
Vivianne recoiled.
Kael turned to Selene, anguish naked in his eyes.
“I was a fool.”
Selene held his gaze.
“Yes.”
The truth landed with brutal simplicity.
Kael looked at Elias.
At the little boy who hid behind Selene’s skirts but peeked out with curious golden eyes.
His son.
A child who had laughed, cried, taken his first steps, and spoken his first words without him there.
The realization hollowed him out.
“I can’t change what I did,” Kael said quietly.
“But I will spend the rest of my life making it right.”
Lucien let out a soft, humorless laugh.
“You assume she wants you.”
Kael met the Lycan King’s stare.
“I know she doesn’t trust me.”
His voice dropped, raw and unguarded.
“But he is my son.”
Elias looked up at Selene.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
The boy pointed at Kael.
“Is he my daddy?”
The question shattered what remained of Kael’s composure.
Selene’s expression softened.
She brushed a hand through Elias’s hair.
“Yes, baby.”
Elias studied Kael thoughtfully.
Then he offered a small wave.
“Hi, Daddy.”
Kael inhaled sharply, emotion crashing over him so hard he nearly staggered.
A smile trembled at his lips.
“Hi, Elias.”
The boy considered him for a moment.
“Are you nice now?”
A few warriors outright snorted.
Kael let out a broken laugh.
“I’m trying to be.”
Elias seemed to accept that answer.
He stepped closer to Selene and leaned against her leg.
Kael looked at his son as though he were the most precious thing in the world.
And in that moment, he knew one undeniable truth.
He would fight anyone—elders, rogues, even kings—to protect this child.
Even if Selene never forgave him.
Even if Lucien stood in his way.
Even if war consumed the realm.
Because Elias was his son.
And the heir had returned.
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