Chapter 13: The Alpha's Judgment
892 Words
The cellar fell silent.
Only the flickering torchlight danced across the stone walls as Ava and Alpha Victor faced one another.
For years, Ava had lowered her eyes whenever she stood before the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack.
Tonight...
She stood tall.
Moonfang glowed softly in her hand, its silver runes illuminating the darkness.
Victor studied her for a long moment before laughing.
"So the helpless omega finally found the courage to look me in the eye."
Ava's voice remained calm.
"I didn't find courage."
"I stopped letting fear control me."
Victor's smile faded.
Behind him, Blood Fang warriors raised their weapons.
Kael stepped beside Ava, his aura filling the room like a gathering storm.
"If you value your lives," the Lycan King said coldly, "lay down your weapons."
None of them moved.
Victor sneered.
"You may be the Lycan King, but this is my pack."
Kael's silver eyes flashed.
"Not anymore."
---
With a furious roar, Victor shifted into his wolf form.
His massive gray wolf crashed through a wooden table as he lunged toward Ava.
"Princess!" Rowan shouted.
Ava didn't retreat.
Instead, she stepped to the side just as Kael had taught her during their journey.
Victor's claws missed her by inches.
Moonfang flashed.
A shallow cut appeared across Victor's shoulder.
He staggered back, stunned.
"You've improved," he growled.
Ava raised her sword again.
"I've had a good teacher."
Kael smiled faintly.
---
Around them, chaos erupted.
Blood Fang warriors attacked.
The Lycan soldiers met them head-on.
Steel clashed against steel.
The underground chamber echoed with the sounds of battle.
Damian found himself face-to-face with one of his father's captains.
"You betrayed the pack," Damian said.
The captain laughed.
"The pack was weak."
"Malachar offered us a future."
Damian's answer was swift.
His sword knocked the captain's weapon aside before striking him across the chest.
The traitor collapsed.
Damian looked around.
This wasn't the future his father had promised.
This was destruction.
---
Meanwhile, Victor circled Ava like a predator.
"You should have stayed gone," he snarled.
"No," Ava replied.
"You should have protected your people."
Victor attacked again.
This time Ava met him head-on.
Moonfang collided with Victor's claws, sending sparks across the room.
Victor's strength forced her backward.
She stumbled.
For a brief moment, memories flashed before her eyes—
Being called worthless.
Being forced to eat alone.
Being rejected before the entire pack.
The old Ava would have fallen.
The new Ava stood her ground.
"I am not your victim anymore."
A burst of silver energy erupted from Moonfang.
Victor was thrown backward into a stone pillar.
Cracks spread across the wall.
Every warrior stopped fighting.
They had never seen such power.
---
Victor slowly climbed to his feet.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
He stared at Ava with a mixture of anger...
And fear.
"So the stories are true."
"The royal blood has awakened."
He reached inside his cloak and removed a small black crystal.
Kael's expression changed instantly.
"No!"
"Don't use it!"
Victor laughed.
"You think I care about the consequences?"
He crushed the crystal in his hand.
Dark smoke exploded through the cellar.
Victor screamed.
His body began to grow.
Bones cracked.
Black veins spread across his skin.
His eyes turned completely crimson.
The transformation was unnatural.
General Rowan stepped back in horror.
"Blood Stone magic..."
"It's corrupting him."
Victor's monstrous form let out a deafening roar that shook the Alpha House.
The ceiling trembled.
Wooden beams splintered.
Ava gripped Moonfang tightly.
Kael moved beside her.
"We fight together."
She nodded.
"Together."
The monstrous Alpha charged.
Kael met him first, crashing into Victor with tremendous force.
The impact shattered stone walls.
Victor retaliated with terrifying strength, throwing Kael across the room.
The Lycan King slammed into a pillar but quickly rose again.
"Ava!"
"Now!"
Understanding his plan, Ava sprinted forward.
Moonfang blazed with brilliant silver light.
She leaped high into the air.
"For my family..."
The sword descended.
"...and for everyone you've hurt!"
Moonfang struck Victor's chest.
A blinding flash of silver filled the cellar.
Victor roared in agony.
The dark magic surrounding him shattered like broken glass.
The monstrous form collapsed.
Victor returned to his human shape, falling heavily to the floor.
He coughed violently.
His strength was gone.
Blood Fang warriors stared in disbelief.
Their leader had fallen.
Victor looked up at Ava.
For the first time...
His arrogance was gone.
"You've... become stronger than I ever imagined."
Ava lowered her sword.
"This didn't have to happen."
Victor gave a bitter smile.
"I chose ambition..."
"...over honor."
Before anyone could move, a black-feathered arrow shot through a cellar window.
It struck Victor in the chest.
His eyes widened.
The Blood Fang warriors froze.
A hooded assassin stood on the rooftop outside.
"Traitors are never forgiven," the assassin said before disappearing into the night.
Victor gasped for breath.
Damian rushed to his father's side.
"Father!"
Victor grabbed his son's arm with surprising strength.
His voice was barely a whisper.
"The... Sun Temple..."
"Don't let..."
"...Malachar..."
Before he could finish, his hand fell limp.
Alpha Victor was dead.
Silence filled the ruined cellar.
The battle had ended.
But Victor's final warning revealed a terrifying truth.
Malachar was already moving toward the next ancient relic.
And if he reached the Sun Temple first...
The war would enter a far deadlier phase.
- Writer
