The Alpha Who Chose The Outcast

Chapter Five — The Queen's Choice

I woke beneath the mountain.

Kael was beside me.

Blood covered his forehead, but he was conscious.

"Where are we?"

"I don't know."

I stood.

The cavern around us was enormous.

Ancient symbols covered the walls.

At the center stood a stone throne.

A silver crown rested on it.

Kael stared.

"That's the Blood Moon throne."

I walked toward it.

The moment I touched the crown, memories flooded my mind.

Queens.

Wars.

Packs kneeling.

A kingdom destroyed by betrayal.

Then I saw my mother.

She was standing beside the throne.

And beside her was the elder.

They were arguing.

My mother was holding a baby.

Me.

The vision changed.

The elder attacked.

My mother fought back.

My father appeared.

He carried me away.

Then my mother looked at him.

Protect her.

The vision ended.

I fell to my knees.

Kael crouched beside me.

"Now you know."

"My mother didn't abandon me."

"No."

"And my father protected me."

"Yes."

I looked at him.

"Then why did you help me?"

Kael didn't answer immediately.

"Because your mother saved my life when I was a child."

I was surprised.

"She did?"

"She stopped my father from killing me."

He looked away.

"I owed her."

A distant roar echoed through the cavern.

The elder had found us.

Kael stood.

"We need to go."

"No."

He stared at me.

"I'm done running."

I picked up the crown.

"I spent eighteen years being told I was weak."

The silver light surrounded me.

"I was told I was broken."

The cavern shook.

"I was told I didn't have a wolf."

My eyes flashed silver.

"But they were wrong."

A howl erupted from my chest.

It wasn't human.

It wasn't ordinary.

It was the howl of something ancient.

Kael stared at me.

Then he smiled.

"Finally."

The elder entered the cavern.

Hundreds of wolves followed him.

"You really believe you can defeat me?"

I stepped forward.

"No."

He laughed.

"I know I can."

The battle began.

But I didn't fight alone.

Every wolf in the cavern suddenly lowered its head.

Even the elder's wolves.

His face went pale.

"No."

I looked at him.

"Your mistake was thinking the Blood Moon controls wolves through fear."

The crown floated above my head.

"It doesn't."

I raised my hand.

"It gives them a choice."

The wolves turned.

They attacked the elder.

He screamed as his army abandoned him.

Within minutes, the battle was over.

The elder was on his knees.

Kael approached him.

"You lost."

The elder looked at me.

"You have no idea what you've awakened."

I stepped closer.

"Then I'll learn."

He smiled.

"There's another kingdom."

My blood ran cold.

"Another?"

"The Blood Moon wasn't the only royal bloodline."

He laughed.

"The dark king has been waiting for you."

Then he disappeared into the shadows.

Kael looked at me.

"Lyra."

I turned.

"What?"

"We need to leave."

"Why?"

His expression was serious.

"Because the elder wasn't lying."

I looked toward the mountain entrance.

For the first time, I understood.

Saving my pack wasn't the end of my story.

It was the beginning.