Chapter6
819 Words
Chapter 6: The King's Protection
The journey north resumed before dawn.
Dark clouds covered the sky as Kael's royal convoy moved through the snow-covered mountains. The events of the previous night weighed heavily on everyone's minds.
Selena sat quietly inside the carriage.
She couldn't stop thinking about the vision.
The Blood King.
The Moon Throne.
The ancient war.
None of it made sense.
Yet somehow she knew it was real.
The mark on her wrist continued glowing softly beneath her sleeve.
Every pulse felt like a reminder that her old life was gone forever.
Across from her sat Kael.
The Lycan King had remained silent for most of the journey.
His expression was unreadable.
But Selena noticed one thing.
His eyes never strayed far from her.
As though he expected danger to appear at any moment.
Finally, she broke the silence.
"You're worried."
Kael looked up.
"I'm cautious."
"That's not the same thing."
For a moment, the king seemed surprised.
Then a faint smile appeared.
"You notice more than most people."
Selena crossed her arms.
"You're avoiding the question."
The smile disappeared.
"The Blood King should remain imprisoned."
"But?"
Kael's golden eyes darkened.
"But ancient powers are waking."
A chill ran through her.
"The Shadow Wolves."
"Yes."
"The prophecy."
"Yes."
"The crown."
Another nod.
Selena swallowed.
"And me?"
This time Kael remained silent.
His gaze settled on her face.
Intense.
Unwavering.
"The moment the crown appeared," he finally said, "everything changed."
Before she could ask what he meant, the carriage suddenly stopped.
The horses whinnied nervously.
Outside, warriors shouted.
Kael instantly stood.
His wolf surfaced.
Danger.
Selena felt it too.
A powerful pressure filled the air.
The king opened the carriage door.
"What happened?"
One of the guards approached.
"My King."
The warrior looked frightened.
"There is someone ahead."
Kael frowned.
"Who?"
The guard swallowed hard.
"We don't know."
That answer alone was alarming.
There were few beings powerful enough to frighten Lycan warriors.
Kael stepped outside.
Selena followed.
The mountain path ahead was empty.
At least at first glance.
Then she saw him.
An old man stood in the middle of the road.
Alone.
Motionless.
Snow fell around him.
Yet none of it touched him.
The flakes dissolved before reaching his body.
Selena felt goosebumps rise along her skin.
The stranger slowly opened his eyes.
Silver eyes.
Exactly like hers.
Kael's expression instantly changed.
Shock.
Real shock.
The old man smiled.
"I was wondering when you would find her."
The king stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The stranger ignored him.
Instead, he looked directly at Selena.
Tears suddenly appeared in his eyes.
"My child."
Selena froze.
Her heart skipped.
The words felt familiar.
Warm.
Painful.
As though she had heard them long ago.
"I've waited so many years."
The old man's voice trembled.
Selena's mark began glowing.
Bright.
Brighter.
Brighter.
The silver crown briefly appeared above her head.
The stranger smiled.
"There she is."
Kael immediately moved in front of her.
Protective.
Dangerous.
"You know her."
The old man nodded.
"I knew her mother."
Everything stopped.
Selena's breath caught.
"My mother?"
The stranger's smile faded.
"She was the last Moon Queen."
The world seemed to tilt beneath her feet.
"What?"
Kael stared at the old man.
"You shouldn't be here."
"No."
The stranger sighed.
"But neither should she."
The old man reached into his robe.
Every warrior instantly raised their weapons.
Yet he merely pulled out a silver pendant.
A crescent moon surrounded by stars.
The moment Selena saw it, tears filled her eyes.
She didn't know why.
But something inside her recognized it.
"This belonged to your mother."
The old man held it out.
Selena slowly stepped forward.
The pendant touched her hand.
A flash of light erupted.
A memory appeared.
A woman singing softly.
Gentle hands brushing a little girl's hair.
A warm embrace.
Love.
Pure and unconditional.
"Selena."
The woman smiled.
"I love you."
The vision shattered.
Selena fell to her knees.
Tears streamed down her face.
For years she had believed she had no memories of her mother.
Now she remembered.
Even if only for a moment.
The old man's eyes softened.
"The Moon Goddess is returning your memories."
Kael's expression became serious.
"Why now?"
The stranger looked toward the dark horizon.
"The same reason ancient monsters are awakening."
Thunder echoed in the distance.
The old man tightened his grip on his staff.
"The war is closer than any of you realize."
The sky suddenly darkened.
A terrifying roar shook the mountains.
Every warrior turned.
Far away, beyond the snowy peaks, a massive pillar of red light shot into the heavens.
The ground trembled.
Birds fled.
Even the clouds twisted unnaturally.
The old man's face lost all color.
"No."
Kael clenched his fists.
"What happened?"
The stranger looked horrified.
One sentence escaped his lips.
"The first seal has broken."
Far beneath the earth, ancient chains shattered.
And in the darkness, the Blood King smiled.
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