Dark obsession: chapter ten
864 Words
The Hidden Truth
A chilling silence settled over Moonhaven.
Cassian's final words echoed in every corner of the valley.
"The Shadow King has been waiting."
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Kael stared at the Raven leader, searching his face for any sign of deception.
"Tell me where he is," Kael demanded.
Cassian smiled faintly.
"If I knew, I wouldn't be standing here."
Damon stepped forward angrily.
"He's lying."
"No," Lucien said quietly. "He's telling the truth."
Everyone turned toward Lucien.
"You know something," Kael said.
Lucien sighed heavily.
"There are stories older than the werewolf kingdoms. Stories that most people believe are myths."
Seraphina nodded.
"But they are not myths."
She looked toward Lyra.
"They are your inheritance."
The group gathered inside Moonhaven's ancient library. Dust-covered books lined the towering shelves, and glowing crystals illuminated the room with a soft silver light.
At the center stood a massive stone table.
Seraphina placed an ancient scroll upon it.
"This scroll has been protected for over five hundred years."
She carefully unrolled it.
A map of the ancient werewolf kingdoms appeared, but there was something unusual.
In the center of the map was a kingdom that no longer existed.
"The Shadow Kingdom," Seraphina said.
Lyra stared at it.
"It was erased from history."
"Yes," Seraphina replied.
"The Shadow King once ruled this land alongside the Moon Queen. Together they kept balance between light and darkness."
"What changed?" Lyra asked.
Lucien answered.
"Power."
"The Shadow King wanted to rule every pack."
"He believed fear was stronger than trust."
"So the Moon Queen stopped him."
Kael folded his arms.
"She killed him?"
Seraphina slowly shook her head.
"No."
"He could not be killed."
The room became silent.
"What happened then?" Damon asked.
"The Moon Queen sealed him beneath Black Hollow Mountain using the combined power of the Alpha King and the Shadow Queen."
Lyra frowned.
"So if he's sealed..."
Seraphina looked at her sadly.
"Someone is trying to break the seal."
At that very moment, deep beneath Black Hollow Mountain, a hooded figure walked through an underground chamber filled with glowing red crystals.
Varek knelt before him.
"My King."
The Shadow King stood before a giant stone door covered in glowing chains.
The chains pulsed with silver light.
"The seal weakens," he said.
Varek smiled.
"The Shadow Queen has awakened."
"So has the Alpha King."
The Shadow King placed one hand against the ancient door.
"Exactly as I planned."
The chains cracked slightly.
A deep rumble shook the mountain.
"Soon..."
"I will finish the war that began centuries ago."
Back in Moonhaven, Lyra sat alone outside the library, trying to understand everything she had learned.
She had discovered that her parents had died protecting her.
She had learned she belonged to an ancient royal bloodline.
Now she was told that the fate of every werewolf rested on her shoulders.
It felt impossible.
Kael quietly walked over and sat a short distance away.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Kael broke the silence.
"When I was a child, my father told me something."
Lyra looked at him.
"He said a true Alpha isn't the strongest wolf."
"What is he then?" she asked.
"The one willing to carry everyone else's pain."
Lyra smiled sadly.
"Your father sounded wiser than both of us."
Kael chuckled softly.
"He was."
"I wish I had listened to him."
Lyra looked out across the crystal lake.
"I don't know if I can forgive you."
"I know."
"But..."
She hesitated.
"I'm willing to fight beside you."
Kael looked at her in surprise.
"Only because innocent people will suffer if we don't."
"I understand."
For the first time since their disastrous mating ceremony, they stood side by side without anger between them.
Not as lovers.
Not yet.
But as allies.
Suddenly, the peaceful moment was shattered by a loud scream from the palace.
"Help!"
Everyone rushed toward the sound.
Inside the throne hall, one of Moonhaven's guards lay unconscious.
The room was in chaos.
The ancient scroll that had been lying on the stone table was gone.
Seraphina gasped.
"No..."
Lucien examined the broken window.
"Someone was here."
Damon frowned.
"But every entrance was guarded."
Cassian, still imprisoned in silver chains, looked toward the shattered window.
"They're already inside."
"What do you mean?" Kael asked.
Cassian smiled grimly.
"The Ravens never attack alone."
"There is always..."
He paused.
"...a traitor."
Every person in the hall looked at one another.
Someone inside Moonhaven had betrayed them.
Before anyone could react, a loud explosion echoed from beneath the palace.
The ground shook violently.
Cracks spread across the marble floor.
A frightened guard burst into the hall.
"Elder Seraphina!"
"The Sacred Vault has been opened!"
Seraphina's face turned pale.
"Impossible..."
"There was only one thing inside that vault."
Kael drew his sword.
"What was it?"
Seraphina answered in a trembling voice.
"The Moonstone..."
"The only weapon capable of strengthening the seal that imprisons the Shadow King."
Outside, hidden among the trees, a cloaked figure held the glowing Moonstone in one hand.
The figure smiled beneath the hood.
"The first key is ours."
Then, without a sound, the mysterious thief vanished into the darkness.
End of Chapter Ten
- Writer
