THE ALPHA'S BROKEN PROMISE

Chapter 5: Hunted by Every Alpha

The night fell silent.

Hundreds of wolves stood beyond the shattered gates of Mooncrest Pack, their glowing eyes fixed on Lyra.

Each group wore a different crest.

The Crimson Fang.

The Ironclaw Pack.

The Frostveil Pack.

The Shadow Ridge Pack.

Even the legendary Nightfang Kingdom stood among them.

Enemies...

Allies...

Mercenaries...

Every powerful pack in the Northern Territories had arrived.

And every one of them wanted the same person.

Lyra.

A cold wind swept through the battlefield.

The leader of the Crimson Fang stepped forward, his crimson cloak billowing behind him.

He bowed his head.

"We have no quarrel with Mooncrest."

"Our business is with the Moon Princess."

Another Alpha laughed.

"Don't pretend to be honorable, Roderick. You're here to seize her power just like the rest of us."

The tension thickened.

Hands tightened around swords.

Wolves bared their fangs.

One wrong move...

And a war unlike anything the werewolf world had seen would begin.

Kael stepped in front of Lyra.

His powerful aura erupted, forcing several wolves to take an involuntary step back.

"No one touches her."

His voice was calm.

But every word carried the weight of an Alpha.

The Crimson Fang Alpha smiled.

"That's amusing."

"You rejected her."

"You have no claim over her."

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

Kael said nothing.

Because they were right.

According to ancient law...

A rejected mate belonged to no pack.

She was free.

Darius stepped beside Lyra.

"She's coming with me."

Kael's eyes flashed dangerously.

"No."

Darius met his gaze without fear.

"You don't get to decide."

"You lost that right the moment you rejected her."

The air between the two Alphas crackled with murderous intent.

Lyra looked from one man to the other.

"Stop it!"

Her voice cut through the tension.

"I'm not an object to be fought over."

Silence followed.

Then...

A slow clap echoed across the battlefield.

Everyone turned.

Selene emerged once again, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

"How touching."

"So many powerful Alphas..."

"...all willing to kill each other over one girl."

Lyra glared at her.

"What do you want?"

Selene's smile faded.

"The same thing everyone else wants."

She pointed directly at Lyra.

"Your blood."

Before anyone could react—

She pulled a silver dagger from her belt and hurled it.

Not at Lyra.

At herself.

The blade sliced across her palm.

Blood spilled onto the earth.

The ground began to shake.

"What is she doing?" one elder cried.

Selene laughed.

"I'm opening the gate."

Her blood seeped into the cracked altar.

Ancient runes burst into crimson light.

The earth split apart with a deafening roar.

A massive c***k stretched across the sacred grounds.

Something was climbing out.

A gigantic claw covered in black scales gripped the edge of the chasm.

Then another.

A monstrous wolf, twice the size of any Alpha, pulled itself from the darkness.

Its eyes burned like molten gold.

Its fur was black as midnight.

Around its neck hung chains carved with ancient runes.

The creature threw back its head and released a howl so powerful that the mountains trembled.

Every wolf in the clearing instinctively lowered their heads.

Every wolf...

Except Lyra.

The beast slowly turned toward her.

Its terrifying eyes softened.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, the monster knelt.

In a deep, rumbling voice, it spoke words that hadn't been heard in centuries.

"My Queen..."

"I have waited for you."

Before Lyra could answer, a chilling voice echoed from inside the open chasm.

"Then bring her to me."

A figure began to rise from the darkness.

He wore a crown forged from black bone.

His face remained hidden beneath a hood.

But when he looked up...

One glowing silver eye met Lyra's gaze.

And he smiled.

"Daughter..."