Chapter 12:When Strength Breaks
1373 Words
The room felt like it was holding its breath.
Not a single sound.
Not even the wind outside dared to move.
She stood frozen between her injured mother and the Alpha, her golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. The energy inside her hadn’t faded—it lingered, restless, alive… watching.
The Alpha stood a few steps away, calm as ever, as if the destruction around him meant nothing. Broken wood, shattered glass, the scent of blood—it didn’t affect him.
But his gaze…
His gaze was locked on her.
“You continue to surprise me,” he said slowly, his voice smooth, almost thoughtful. “First command… then healing.”Elera clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. “Don’t come any closer.”
A small smile touched his lips. “Or what?”
Before she could respond—
He stepped forward.
The movement was quick, protective, instinctive.
“You want her?” He said, his voice low, steady, dangerous. “Then you go through me.”
Elara’s breath caught. “keal—don’t—”
“Stay back,” he said without looking at her.
There was something different in his voice this time.
Not just determination.
Finality.
The Alpha exhaled slowly, like he was tired of the situation. “You still think you can stand against me.”
He didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
His stance said enough.
The air shifted.
Tension snapped tight—
Then broke.
The Alpha moved first.
It was so fast She barely saw it. One moment he stood still—
The next, he was in front of him
Their clash shook the room.
A sharp crack echoed as their strength collided, sending a shockwave through the floor.
She staggered slightly, her heart racing.
This wasn’t like before.
This wasn’t a fight.
This was dominance.
He struck first—fast, precise, powerful. But the Alpha blocked it effortlessly, countering with a force that pushed He back several steps.
Still, He didn’t stop.
He moved again—faster this time, sharper. His movements were fluid, instinct-driven, his eyes glowing brighter as he pushed closer to full transformation.
“keal don’t move!” he shouted.
But how could she not?
Her chest tightened as she watched them.
He was strong. She knew that.
But the Alpha…
He wasn’t even trying.
The Alpha caught Kael’s next strike mid-air.
Just stopped it.
Like it was nothing.
“Still reckless,” he said quietly.
Then—
He struck.
Hard.
Kael’s body jerked from the impact, the force sending him crashing across the room. He slammed into the wall with a heavy, sickening sound.
“Daughter!” her mother called weakly.
But She did not hear her.
Her eyes were locked on him
“Get up…” she whispered.
She pushed himself up, his movements slower now, unsteady. Blood stained his shirt, but he still stood.
Still faced the Alpha.
“I’m not done,” he said, his voice strained but firm.
The Alpha tilted his head slightly.
“That’s the problem,” he said.
And then—
Everything happened at once.
He lunged.
The Alpha didn’t dodge this time.
He met him head-on—
And ended it.
The strike was brutal.
A deep, tearing blow across Kael’s side.
The sound—
It wasn’t loud.
But it was enough.
Enough to stop everything.
He let out a sharp, broken cry as his body dropped instantly to his knees.
Then—
Silence.
Complete silence.
“Elera…”
Her name barely left his lips before he collapsed completely.
Something inside her broke.
Not cracked.
Not weakened.
Shattered.
“Keal!”
Her voice echoed through the room, raw, desperate.
She ran to him, dropping to her knees so hard it hurt—but she didn’t feel it.
All she saw was him.
Too still.
Too quiet.
Too pale.
“No… no, no, no…” her hands trembled as she reached for him. “You’re okay… you’re okay…”
But he wasn’t.
The blood.
It wouldn’t stop.
Her breathing turned uneven, panic rising like a wave she couldn’t control.
“Keal"look at me—please…”
No response.
Her chest tightened painfully.
The prophecy echoed again, louder this time:
One shall fall for the chosen to stand…
Her breath caught.
“No…” she whispered. “Not him… please not him…”
The Alpha’s voice cut through the moment.
“Now you understand.”
Elara’s head snapped up, her eyes blazing. “You did this!”
He didn’t deny it.
Instead, he stepped closer, calm as ever.
“This is what power looks like without control,” he said.
Her hands curled into fists. “Shut up!”
“You think you can protect them?” he continued. “Save them?”
He glanced at Kael’s unmoving body.
“You couldn’t even save him.”
The words hit deep.
Too deep.
she flinched.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
She believed him.
“No.”
Her voice was quieter this time.
But stronger.
She shook her head slowly.
“I won’t believe that.”
The Alpha watched her closely.
“Then prove me wrong,” he said.
A pause.
“Come with me… and I’ll teach you how to save him.”
Elera’s heart twisted painfully.
Her eyes dropped back to Keal
He wasn’t moving.
His breathing—barely there.
Her hands trembled again.
“You’re lying…” she whispered.
“Am I?”
She closed her eyes tightly.
She didn’t know anymore.
But then—
She remembered.
His voice.
You held on.
Her eyes opened again.
Clear.
Bright.
Certain.
“I’m not going with you.”
The Alpha’s expression hardened slightly.
“Even if he dies?”
Elara’s heart felt like it was being torn apart.
But she didn’t look away.
“I’ll save him,” she said.
Her voice didn’t shake this time.
“Without you.”
Silence.
Then—
The Alpha stepped back.
A slow, disappointed breath leaving him.
“So be it.”
And just like that—
He was gone.
She did not waste a second.
She turned back to him her hands already hovering over his wound.
“Keal… stay with me, okay? Just stay…”
Her voice broke.
“I don’t know how to do this again…”
Her mother’s weak voice came from behind her.
“Yes… you do…”
She swallowed hard.
Her hands trembled as she pressed them gently against the wound.
“I can’t lose him…”
“Then don’t,” her mother said softly.
she closed her eyes.
She reached for the power again.
But this time—
It didn’t come easily.
It felt heavier.
Like something was holding it back.
Or asking for something in return.
“Please…” she whispered.
A faint golden glow flickered in her hands.
Unstable.
Weak.
Kael’s breathing slowed even more.
“Elera…”
His voice was barely there.
Her eyes snapped open, tears spilling instantly.
“I’m here… I’m right here…”
“You… always say that…” he murmured faintly.
A tear fell onto his hand.
“Because it’s true…” she whispered.
The power surged again.
Stronger this time—but different.
It burned.
Not physically.
But inside.
Like it was pulling something from her.
Her breath hitched.
“It hurts…”
Her mother’s voice was quiet—but serious.
“Because this time… it’s costing you.”
Elera froze.
“What do you mean?”
Her mother met her eyes.
“Power like yours…”
A pause.
“Always demands something in return.”
Elera looked down at Keal again.
Then at her shaking hands.
Then back at him.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“I don’t care what it takes…”
The golden light flared again—brighter now.
Stronger.
Her body trembled as the energy flowed through her, deeper than before.
The pain grew.
But she didn’t stop.
“I’m not losing you,” she said.
The glow spread across his wound—
Slowly…
Very slowly…
The bleeding began to stop.
Elera gasped, her strength fading slightly.
But she held on.
Even as it drained her.
Even as the world around her blurred.
Because this time—
It wasn’t just power.
It was sacrifice.
- Writer
