Dark obsession: chapter five
909 Words
Secrets Beneath the Moon
The forest fell silent after Varek's escape.
Only the crackling remains of the ruined cabin disturbed the stillness. Broken beams smoldered, and the scent of smoke drifted through the cold night air.
Lyra stood frozen, her eyes fixed on Alpha Kael.
He had rejected her before the entire kingdom.
Yet he had also risked his life to save her.
She didn't know which hurt more.
Kael took a cautious step toward her.
"Lyra..."
She immediately stepped back.
"Don't."
Her voice was calm, but the pain behind it was unmistakable.
"You made your choice that night."
Kael lowered his gaze.
"I know."
"No, you don't."
Tears filled Lyra's eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
"You stood in front of everyone and rejected me like I meant nothing. You didn't ask me a single question. You looked at a mark on my shoulder and decided I was a monster."
Kael had no defense.
Every word she spoke was true.
Before he could answer, Lucien walked between them.
"She needs rest."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"And you expect me to trust a stranger?"
Lucien met his gaze without fear.
"I expect you to remember that if I hadn't found her first, Varek would already have taken her."
Damon, who had just arrived with the warriors, quietly whispered, "My Alpha... he's right."
Kael sighed.
"What do you want?"
Lucien looked toward the eastern mountains.
"There is a sanctuary hidden beyond the Silver Peaks."
"No rogue wolf can enter."
"No ordinary Alpha can find it."
"It's the only place where Lyra can learn the truth about who she is."
Kael frowned.
"I'm coming."
Lucien shook his head.
"No."
"I wasn't asking."
Lucien's crimson eyes flashed.
"If you come now, every enemy watching you will follow."
Kael remained silent.
He knew Lucien was right.
The Alpha King could never move unnoticed.
His presence alone would expose Lyra's hiding place.
Before dawn, Lyra, Lucien, and Kael reached the edge of the forest where two paths separated.
One led back to Blackthorn Pack.
The other disappeared into towering snow-covered mountains.
Lucien pointed toward the mountains.
"Our journey begins there."
Lyra hesitated.
She looked at Kael one last time.
"So... this is goodbye?"
Kael swallowed hard.
"For now."
She nodded without another word and turned away.
Watching her disappear into the mist hurt far more than Kael expected.
His wolf growled inside his mind.
"Bring her back."
"I can't."
"She's our mate."
"I know."
"Then stop letting fear decide for you."
For the first time, Kael wondered if rejecting Lyra had been the greatest mistake of his life.
The climb into the Silver Peaks was long and exhausting.
Steep cliffs surrounded them, and icy winds howled through narrow mountain paths.
After hours of walking, Lyra finally asked the question that had been burning inside her.
"Who are you really, Lucien?"
He smiled faintly.
"I wondered when you'd ask."
"My parents knew you."
"They trusted you."
"You know about the prophecy."
"So tell me."
Lucien stopped walking.
"There was once a fifth royal bloodline."
Lyra frowned.
"I thought there were only four."
"There were."
He looked toward the sky.
"Until the Shadow Bloodline was erased from history."
"What happened?"
"Centuries ago, the Shadow Clan protected balance between light and darkness."
"They weren't evil."
"They were guardians."
"But jealous rulers feared their power."
"So they betrayed them."
"The clan was hunted almost to extinction."
Lyra listened in stunned silence.
"Your mother..."
Lucien continued softly,
"...was the last Shadow Princess."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"My mother was... royalty?"
Lucien nodded.
"And your father was the strongest warrior of the Moon Guard."
"They fell in love despite the danger."
"They knew enemies would hunt their child."
"So they hid you."
Lyra's eyes filled with tears.
"They died protecting me..."
"They did."
"And they believed one day you would restore what had been destroyed."
Lyra lowered her head.
"I don't feel like someone who can save anyone."
Lucien smiled gently.
"Neither did your mother."
Far away, inside the dark fortress hidden beyond the Dead Woods, Varek knelt before a massive stone throne.
The room was illuminated only by blue flames.
A hooded figure sat upon the throne.
His face remained hidden in darkness.
"You failed," the figure said.
Varek lowered his head.
"The Alpha interfered."
"And the Shadow Heir has awakened."
Silence filled the hall.
Then the hooded figure laughed.
"Excellent."
Varek looked up in confusion.
"My lord?"
"The game has finally begun."
The figure slowly rose.
His glowing silver eyes appeared beneath the hood.
"Prepare the Ravens."
Varek's expression changed.
"The assassins?"
"Yes."
"They will strike where Lyra least expects."
"And this time..."
"...Alpha Kael won't arrive in time."
Meanwhile, as the sun began to rise over the mountains, Lyra and Lucien finally reached a hidden valley.
A magnificent crystal lake shimmered beneath the morning light.
Ancient white wolves wandered peacefully through the grass.
At the center of the valley stood a breathtaking palace carved entirely from silver stone.
Lyra stared in amazement.
"It's beautiful."
Lucien smiled.
"Welcome..."
"...to Moonhaven."
Before they could take another step, an elderly woman dressed in white robes emerged from the palace gates.
Her glowing violet eyes rested on Lyra.
For several long moments, she said nothing.
Then she smiled warmly.
"The last Shadow Princess has finally come home."
Lyra's breath caught.
For the first time in her life...
She felt as though she truly belonged somewhere.
End of Chapter Five
- Writer
