The Alpha King's Warning
949 Words
Lyra's heartbeat thundered in her ears as she stared at the two impossibly beautiful—and impossibly terrifying—men facing each other beneath the crimson moon.
The dark-haired stranger stood protectively before her, his broad shoulders tense, the silver blade in his hand catching the eerie red light. His golden eyes never left the pale man standing atop the rocky cliff.
The white-haired stranger smiled with unsettling calm, as though the tension in the air amused him.
"You've become slower, Kael," he said, his crimson eyes gleaming. "Seven centuries of war, and you're still trying to solve every problem with a sword."
The man called Kael tightened his grip on the blade.
"And you're still alive, Lucien. A disappointment I intend to correct."
Lyra's mind reeled.
Kael... Lucien... Alpha King... Vampire...
None of it made sense.
She forced herself to stand despite the sharp pain in her ankle.
"Stop!" she shouted, her voice trembling. "Who are you people? What is happening?"
Neither man answered immediately.
Instead, they looked at her.
Not just with curiosity—but with recognition.
As if they had been searching for her.
Lucien stepped gracefully from the cliff, landing without a sound several meters away. His movements were unnaturally elegant, almost floating rather than walking.
"You don't remember," he murmured, studying her face. "Of course you don't."
Kael's expression darkened.
"You've said enough."
"I've barely begun."
Before another word could be exchanged, a chilling howl echoed through the forest.
Then another.
And another.
The woods came alive.
Golden eyes glowed between the trees.
Dozens of them.
Lyra's breath caught.
"Wolves..."
"No," Kael said grimly. "Not wolves."
The creatures emerged from the darkness.
They were larger than any wolf she had ever imagined, their bodies scarred from countless battles. Thick black fur covered their massive frames, and their claws carved deep grooves into the earth.
One stepped forward.
Unlike the others, it walked on two legs.
Its glowing eyes settled on Lyra.
Then it spoke.
"The Blood Moon has awakened."
Lyra's knees weakened.
The creature... had spoken.
Kael cursed under his breath.
"Rogues."
The pack surrounded them.
At least thirty monstrous werewolves blocked every escape.
Their leader bared rows of razor-sharp teeth.
"Our Alpha commands that the girl be delivered alive."
Lucien laughed softly.
"Your Alpha has poor timing."
The rogue growled.
"Kill the vampire."
Everything happened at once.
The forest erupted into chaos.
The rogues charged.
Kael met them head-on.
His sword flashed like silver lightning, cutting through the first attacker. Another lunged toward him, only to be thrown backward by a devastating punch that shattered a tree trunk.
Lyra watched in stunned disbelief.
No human could move like that.
No human could fight monsters with such effortless strength.
A rogue broke through the battle line and raced toward her.
She screamed.
Before it could reach her, Lucien appeared between them in the blink of an eye.
His crimson eyes burned brighter.
"Sleep."
The werewolf froze.
Its body stiffened.
Then it collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
Lyra stared.
"You... you didn't even touch him."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"There are many ways to kill."
Another rogue attacked from behind.
Without turning around, Lucien caught its throat.
His fingernails lengthened into black claws.
With one swift motion—
The creature fell.
Lyra stumbled backward.
She should have been terrified of the vampire.
Instead...
She felt strangely safe near him.
The realization frightened her even more.
Kael noticed.
His jaw tightened.
"Stay away from her."
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
"I wasn't aware she belonged to you."
"I said..."
Kael's golden eyes flashed.
"...stay away."
A powerful wave of energy burst from his body.
Every rogue in the clearing dropped to one knee.
Even the trees bent beneath the invisible force.
Lyra gasped.
"What... was that?"
Lucien sighed.
"The Alpha King's Aura."
Kael ignored him.
"Lyra."
She blinked.
"You know my name?"
"I know far more than your name."
His voice softened for the first time.
"You are in terrible danger."
She shook her head.
"I don't understand any of this."
"You don't have to."
"I do!" she snapped, surprising even herself. "Monsters are trying to kidnap me! You called yourself an Alpha King! He's a vampire! Tell me what's happening!"
Silence lingered.
Finally, Kael spoke.
"There are two worlds."
He pointed toward the forest.
"The one humans believe exists."
Then he gestured toward the crimson moon.
"And the one hidden beneath it."
"You've lived your entire life between both."
Lyra frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means," Lucien answered quietly, "you were never human."
Her heart stopped.
"No..."
"You carry the blood of two ancient races."
"No."
"The prophecy has begun."
"No!"
"I don't believe you!"
The pendant around Lyra's neck suddenly became hot.
Pain exploded through her chest.
She cried out, collapsing onto the ground.
Silver light burst from the ancient pendant.
The crest engraved upon it began to glow.
A wolf.
A bat.
A crimson moon.
The light spread across Lyra's body like flowing water.
The rogues stared in horror.
One whispered,
"It... it's real."
Another backed away.
"The Blood Moon Heir..."
Even Kael looked stunned.
Lucien's confident smile disappeared.
The earth began to tremble.
Far beneath the forest, something ancient stirred from a thousand-year slumber.
Deep within forgotten ruins, sealed stone doors slowly opened.
A pair of glowing blue eyes blinked awake.
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"She has awakened."
Outside, the crimson moon blazed brighter than ever.
Kael instinctively stepped in front of Lyra.
Lucien's gaze shifted toward the distant mountains.
For the first time in centuries...
The Alpha King and the Vampire Prince felt the same emotion.
Fear.
Because whatever had just awakened...
Was far more dangerous than either of them.
- Writer
