Episode 10: The Alpha Arrives
696 Words
The battlefield was silent.
Too silent.
The kind of silence that came before death.
Zara stood frozen as darkness covered the sky.
The Crimson Reaper watched her with amusement.
"You still believe he will save you?"
Zara said nothing.
But deep inside...
She felt him.
The bond.
That strange invisible thread that connected them.
For years, she had wondered why she still dreamed of him.
Why did her heart still react whenever his name was mentioned?
Why does some part of her never truly let go?
Now she understood.
The bond had never disappeared.
It had only been sleeping.
Waiting.
The Crimson Reaper stepped closer.
"Your Alpha abandoned you."
His words struck deep.
"He chose his pride over you."
Zara's fingers tightened around the silver sword.
"Stop."
"He let you suffer alone."
The flames around the blade grew stronger.
"He forgot you."
Zara's eyes flashed.
"No."
Everyone turned to her.
Her voice was no longer weak.
It carried power.
"He made mistakes."
The Crimson Reaper looked surprised.
"But he is coming."
She lifted the sword.
"And this time, he will not run."
A loud roar suddenly shook the forest.
Not a wolf.
An army.
The trees exploded as hundreds of wolves entered the clearing.
Black fur.
Silver armor.
The symbol of the Black Mountain Pack.
Everyone froze.
Even the Blood Wolves.
At the front stood Alpha Caden.
His eyes found Zara instantly.
For three years...
He had imagined this moment.
He had imagined her angry.
He had imagined her crying.
He had imagined her hating him.
But he had never imagined seeing her alive.
Standing in front of him.
Stronger than before.
Different.
His wolf became completely still.
Luna.
The word echoed inside him.
Zara stared back.
Her heart betrayed her.
Because even after everything...
Seeing him still hurt.
Caden took one step forward.
"Zara."
Her name.
The same way he used to say it.
Before everything broke.
She looked away.
"Why are you here?"
The question was quiet.
But everyone heard it.
Caden stopped.
Because he deserved it.
"I felt you."
Her expression changed slightly.
"You felt me?"
He nodded.
"The bond woke up."
Zara laughed softly.
But there was no happiness in it.
"Three years later?"
Pain crossed his face.
"I know."
"You didn't feel me when I was alone?"
The battlefield went silent.
Caden had no answer.
Because the truth hurt.
He hadn't.
Not because he didn't care.
But because he had buried everything.
Buried her.
Buried himself.
The Crimson Reaper suddenly laughed.
"Beautiful."
Everyone looked at him.
"A broken Alpha and a forgotten Luna."
His eyes turned cold.
"The Shadow King will enjoy watching this."
Caden immediately moved between him and Zara.
His wolf roared.
"You will not touch her."
The Crimson Reaper smiled.
"There he is."
He looked at Caden.
"The powerful Alpha who couldn't protect his own mate."
Caden's expression darkened.
But he didn't attack.
Not yet.
Because something was wrong.
The ground beneath them started shaking.
The Crimson Reaper looked toward the mountains.
And for the first time...
Fear appeared on his face.
"No."
Valeria noticed.
"What happened?"
The Reaper slowly stepped backward.
"The awakening is happening too soon."
Caden looked at him.
"What awakening?"
The answer came from beneath them.
A deep voice.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Terrifying.
"I have returned."
The entire forest shook.
The Blood Wolves dropped to their knees.
The Black Mountain warriors struggled to stand.
Zara felt the silver energy inside her react violently.
The sword in her hand burned.
Then a vision entered her mind.
A throne.
Covered in darkness.
A man sitting upon it.
A crown made of shadows.
And those eyes.
Red.
Cold.
Endless.
The Shadow King.
He looked directly at her.
And whispered.
"Welcome home..."
"My daughter."
Zara gasped.
The sword fell from her hand.
Everyone stared.
Caden caught her before she hit the ground.
His arms wrapped around her.
For one second...
Neither of them moved.
Then Zara whispered.
Barely audible.
"My father alive?"
Caden looked toward the darkness.
And for the first time in his life...
Alpha Caden Black felt fear.
Because the greatest enemy they had ever faced...
Was not coming for the kingdom.
He was coming for Zara.
- Writer
