Chapter 12 - The First Bloodline
1507 Words
The chamber trembled.
Ancient dust fell from the ceiling as hundreds of Lucian werewolves emerged from the shadows.
Their crimson eyes burned in the darkness.
Luna stood beside Kael.
For the first time since returning to Lunaris, she understood the true scale of the danger.
The Bloodfang had wanted her power.
The Moon Eaters had wanted her blood.
But the Lucians wanted something far older.
Her claim to the ancient throne.
Elder Rowan—or whatever his true identity was—stood at the center of the chamber.
His body had begun to change.
His silver hair darkened.
His skin became pale.
Ancient markings appeared across his arms and face.
He no longer looked like the elderly guardian Luna had trusted.
He looked like something from another age.
Kael raised his sword.
“You've been hiding your true form.”
Rowan smiled.
“I have been hiding much more than that.”
His body suddenly transformed.
Bones cracked.
His shoulders widened.
Dark fur spread across his body.
Within seconds, an enormous werewolf stood before them.
Unlike the Bloodfang, his fur was almost silver-black.
His eyes were crimson.
A strange crown-like marking appeared above his forehead.
Luna stared.
“He's an Alpha.”
Kael shook his head.
“No.”
His voice was tense.
“He's something older.”
Rowan growled.
“I am Lucian.”
The chamber shook.
“The first bloodline.”
---
The Lucian army attacked.
Kael moved instantly.
His silver sword flashed through the darkness.
Luna raised her hands, summoning a shield of moonlight.
The first wave of werewolves crashed against it.
BOOM!
The barrier cracked.
Luna gritted her teeth.
“They're too strong!”
Kael fought beside her.
“Don't try to stop all of them.”
“What should I do?”
“Find Rowan.”
Luna looked toward the center of the chamber.
Rowan was walking toward the ancient symbols beneath the floor.
Selene shouted:
“Luna! He's going to awaken the First Moon Throne!”
“What happens if he does?”
“He'll gain control over every ancient werewolf bloodline!”
Luna's eyes widened.
“He could control the entire kingdom.”
“Not just Lunaris.”
Selene looked terrified.
“Every werewolf in the world.”
Luna understood.
Rowan wasn't trying to conquer one kingdom.
He wanted to restore the ancient Lucian empire.
She ran.
Kael followed.
A Lucian warrior blocked their path.
Kael struck him aside.
Another attacked.
Luna raised her hand.
Silver energy knocked the creature into a stone pillar.
Kael looked at her.
“Your control is improving.”
“I'm learning quickly.”
“You'll have to.”
They reached Rowan.
He stood before an enormous circular symbol.
At its center was an empty throne carved from black stone.
Rowan raised his hand.
Blood dripped from his palm.
The ancient symbols began glowing red.
Luna felt the air change.
“Stop!”
Rowan looked at her.
“You're too late.”
The throne began to rise from beneath the floor.
Ancient stone moved.
Roots tore apart.
The chamber shook violently.
Luna felt a powerful force pulling toward her.
The Moonfang pendant around her neck began glowing.
Rowan smiled.
“Exactly.”
Luna looked down.
“What?”
“The throne recognizes you.”
Kael stepped forward.
“Then why is it responding to you?”
Rowan's smile widened.
“Because I don't need to sit upon it.”
He looked directly at Luna.
“I need the rightful heir to awaken it.”
Luna's blood ran cold.
“You've been using me.”
“Yes.”
Rowan pointed toward the throne.
“Only a Moonfang can awaken the First Throne.”
“And then?”
“You will place your hand upon it.”
“What happens after that?”
Rowan's eyes glowed crimson.
“The throne will recognize you as its rightful ruler.”
Luna frowned.
“Then what do you gain?”
Rowan smiled.
“The Lucian bloodline will be recognized as the ancient guardians of the throne.”
Kael suddenly understood.
“You're not trying to take the throne.”
Rowan turned toward him.
“No.”
His smile became darker.
“I am trying to control the person who sits upon it.”
Luna stepped backward.
“You want to control me.”
“Not control.”
Rowan corrected.
“Guide.”
“You're lying.”
“Perhaps.”
He raised his hand.
The ancient symbols beneath Luna's feet illuminated.
Luna suddenly felt her body become heavy.
She couldn't move.
“Luna!”
Kael rushed toward her.
A wall of dark energy appeared between them.
Kael struck it with his sword.
Nothing happened.
“Let her go!”
Rowan ignored him.
“Your blood remembers the throne.”
Luna struggled.
“I won't obey you.”
“You don't have to.”
The throne began glowing.
“Your blood will obey for you.”
---
A vision overwhelmed Luna.
She saw an ancient kingdom.
Not Lunaris.
Something older.
Thousands of werewolves stood beneath a black moon.
At the center stood a young woman wearing a silver crown.
Beside her stood a powerful Lucian warrior.
The two bloodlines had once ruled together.
Then came war.
The Moonfangs rose.
The Lucians were driven into hiding.
Luna watched the ancient kingdom burn.
Then she saw something unexpected.
A pact.
The first Moonfang queen and the first Lucian king stood together.
They placed their hands upon the First Throne.
A voice echoed through the vision.
Moonfang shall hold the crown.
Lucian shall guard the throne.
Luna opened her eyes.
She understood.
“The Lucians were never meant to rule.”
Rowan's expression changed.
“What?”
“The pact.”
Luna looked directly at him.
“You were guardians.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Your ancestors broke the pact.”
“Maybe.”
Luna's silver eyes began glowing.
“But you broke it first.”
Rowan roared.
Dark energy exploded through the chamber.
The barrier surrounding Luna shattered.
Kael grabbed her.
“Run!”
They escaped into the corridor.
Rowan's voice echoed behind them.
“You cannot run from your blood!”
---
They reached an abandoned chamber.
Kael shut the stone door.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Luna leaned against the wall.
“He was right about one thing.”
Kael looked at her.
“What?”
“The Lucians are older than the Moonfangs.”
Kael nodded.
“But older doesn't mean stronger.”
Luna looked at him.
“What if he's right about the throne?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if I'm supposed to sit on it?”
Kael stepped closer.
“Then you decide what kind of queen you become.”
Luna looked into his eyes.
“You really believe in me.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
Kael smiled faintly.
“Because you've already proven everyone wrong.”
Luna laughed softly.
Then the smile disappeared.
“Kael.”
“Yes?”
“If I lose control...”
“You won't.”
“But if I do?”
Kael took her hand.
“Then I'll bring you back.”
Luna looked down at their hands.
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Their eyes met.
For a moment, the chaos outside seemed distant.
Luna whispered:
“I'm glad you're here.”
Kael's expression softened.
“I'm glad I found you.”
Their faces slowly moved closer.
Then a distant roar shook the chamber.
Kael sighed.
“Bad timing.”
Luna smiled.
“Very.”
---
They returned to the main hall.
The battle had changed.
The Lucians were no longer attacking randomly.
They were moving toward the ancient throne chamber.
Elder Rowan stood at the center of the army.
He raised his hand.
Every Lucian stopped.
“Moonfang.”
His voice echoed through the kingdom.
Luna stepped forward.
Rowan looked at her.
“The throne is calling you.”
Luna shook her head.
“No.”
Rowan smiled.
“Then watch what happens when you refuse.”
He raised his hand.
The ancient symbols beneath the castle began glowing.
Across Lunaris, every werewolf suddenly dropped to their knees.
Bloodfang.
Silverfang.
Moonfang.
Even the warriors who had never sworn allegiance to the Lucians.
All of them felt the ancient power.
Luna gasped.
“What did you do?”
Rowan smiled.
“I awakened the First Throne.”
The entire kingdom shook.
And then something impossible happened.
A voice echoed from beneath Lunaris.
“The heir has returned.”
Everyone froze.
The voice continued.
“But the throne will accept only one bloodline.”
Luna looked at Rowan.
Rowan looked at her.
Then the ancient throne split in two.
One side glowed silver.
The other burned crimson.
Elder Rowan's smile disappeared.
A third voice echoed through the chamber.
“Choose.”
Luna stared at the divided throne.
One path belonged to the Moonfangs.
The other belonged to the Lucians.
And Luna realized that her choice would determine the fate of every werewolf in the world.
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