Chapter 3
1122 Words
Morning arrived without birdsong.
A pale mist drifted through the western forest, wrapping the ancient trees in silence.
Dew clung to every blade of grass, and the embers of Naomi’s fire had turned to cold ash.
Naomi had not slept.
She sat against the roots of an enormous oak, Kaelyn resting peacefully in her arms.
The little girl looked as though she carried no burden at all.
But Naomi knew better.
She looked at the child, then at the ancient Book of Legends lying beside her.
Queen Natasha’s words echoed endlessly inside her mind.
“When she turns eighteen, she will hear the kingdom calling.”
What kingdom?
Zuru no longer belonged to the wolves.
The Alpha bloodline had been erased.
Or so everyone believed.
Naomi wrapped the blanket more tightly around Kaelyn.
“We cannot stay here.”
The forest had protected them long enough.
But nowhere remained safe forever.
Far away
Inside the Royal Palace of Zuru
The throne no longer belonged to the House of Wolves.
Heavy black banners hung from stone walls where silver once shimmered proudly.
The throne itself had changed.
The wolf carved into its back had been broken away.
In its place stood the crest of a black serpent.
King Lusious sat upon the throne.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
His scarred face carried neither joy nor mercy.
He stared silently across the hall while nobles celebrated around him.
Music played.
Wine flowed.
Laughter echoed beneath the high ceiling.
Yet Luscious remained unmoved.
A servant approached carefully.
“My King…”
Luscious didn’t answer.
“The nobles wish to begin the victory feast.”
Silence.
Then
“Leave.”
The servant hurried away.
Luscious slowly stood.
His boots echoed through the empty throne room.
He stopped before the shattered remains of the old wolf crest.
For several moments
He stared.
Then he spoke quietly.
“You’re still alive.”
No one answered.
Yet he knew.
He had searched every hidden passage beneath the palace.
Every cave, every forest.
Every abandoned village.
Nothing.
That frightened him more than victory.
A bloodline could survive.
An idea could survive.
But together
They could destroy kingdoms.
The palace doors suddenly opened.
A captain entered, kneeling immediately.
“My King.”
Lusious didn’t turn.
“Speak.”
“We found another village loyal to the wolves.”
Lusious folded his hands behind his back.
How many?
“Only twenty-seven.”
Alive?
The captain nodded.
“They surrendered.”
Silence.
Then Lusious asked,
Did they swear loyalty?
“They refused.”
Lusious closed his eyes.
For one brief second
He remembered another battlefield.
The pack master, Nathan.
Bleeding.
Still standing.
Still refusing to kneel.
Lusious opened his eyes again.
“They made their choice.”
The captain lowered his head.
What are your orders?
Lusious spoke without emotion.
“Burn the village.”
The captain hesitated.
“There are children.”
Lusious looked directly at him.
“So there will be fewer wolves tomorrow.”
The captain swallowed hard.
“Yes, my King.”
He left.
The throne room became silent once more.
Deep within the western forest
Naomi had finally reached an abandoned cabin hidden beneath towering pines.
Its roof faded.
The windows were broken.
The walls leaned slightly with age.
Perfect.
No one would think to search there.
Naomi pushed the old wooden door open.
Dust floated through the air.
Cobwebs stretched across the corners.
The place had been abandoned for years.
She smiled faintly.
“It will do.”
She carefully laid Kaelyn upon a small bed made of dried leaves and old blankets.
The little girl remained asleep.
Naomi began cleaning.
Hours passed.
Broken chairs became firewood.
Old shelves were repaired.
Rainwater was collected.
Wild herbs were turned from the ceiling.
By sunset
The forgotten cabin had become a home.
A lonely one.
But a home nonetheless.
That night
The forest changed; the wind disappeared.
The insects stopped singing.
Even the trees seemed to be listening.
Naomi noticed immediately.
She stepped outside.
Moonlight bathed the forest in silver.
Everything stood perfectly still.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Then
A long howl echoed through the mountains.
Not loud.
Not threatening.
Lonely.
Ancient.
Naomi’s face drained of color.
“No”
The howl came again.
Closer this time.
She hurried inside.
Kaelyn was awake.
Wide silver eyes stared toward the window.
Not crying, not afraid.
Watching.
As though she recognized the sound.
Naomi quickly lifted her into her arms.
“It cannot be”
The howl stopped.
Silence returned.
But Kaelyn continued staring into the darkness beyond the trees.
Then
She smiled.
Elsewhere
Far beyond the northern mountains
Hidden beneath cliffs untouched by men
A pair of golden eyes slowly opened.
A huge wolf emerged from the darkness of an ancient cave.
His fur was lined with silver despite his age.
Scars covered his massive body.
He had survived wars long forgotten.
For decades
He had remained hidden.
Waiting, watching.
Believing every member of the royal bloodline had died.
Then tonight
He felt it.
A Soft Faint.
But unmistakable.
The Alpha Blood.
His breathing became uneven.
“It lives”
He rose to his feet.
The cave trembled beneath his weight.
Outside
Dozens of wolves appeared from the darkness.
Old, young.
Some scarred by battle.
Others born after the fall of Zuru.
Every one of them looked toward their ancient leader.
One stepped forward.
“Elder Romans”
The old wolf never looked away from the distant southern sky.
“The blood has awakened.”
The younger wolves exchanged confused glances.
“That’s impossible.”
Romans slowly turned.
His golden eyes burned with hope for the first time in decades.
“Nothing is impossible.”
He lifted his head.
“The heir lives.”
Silence swept through the pack.
Disbelief.
Then one by one
Every wolf bowed.
Not to Romans, but to the future.
Back inside the cabin
Naomi finally managed to calm herself.
She placed Kaelyn back upon the bed.
The child yawned softly before drifting back to sleep.
Naomi watched her for a long time.
“So”
She whispered.
“They felt you.”
She walked toward the ancient Book of Legends.
For weeks she had obeyed Natasha’s final command.
Do not open it.
Tonight
Her hand drifted above the silver cover.
She hesitated.
Then slowly pulled it back.
“No.”
“My Queen”
“I gave you my word.”
She extinguished the lantern.
Darkness filled the cabin.
Outside
Hidden between the trees
A lonely figure watched the house from the shadows.
Only glowing amber eyes could be seen beneath a dark hood.
The stranger remained completely still.
Watching.
Then, without making a sound
The figure disappeared into the night.
Unaware that the hunt had begun once again.
- Writer
