chapter 4
1201 Words
Chapter 4 — The Dark Throne
The laughter beneath the castle would not stop.
It echoed through the stone walls like a living nightmare, deep and ancient, vibrating beneath Aurelia’s feet.
Everyone in the hallway froze.
The wolves lifted their heads, growling uneasily.
Even Kael looked tense.
Aurelia’s chest tightened as the silver mark on her wrist burned hotter. She clutched it painfully, gasping.
“It hurts,” she whispered.
Kael immediately grabbed her arm.
The second he touched her, the pain eased slightly.
But the voice beneath the castle only laughed louder.
“She’s calling you,” Kael said darkly.
Aurelia looked up sharply. “Who is?”
His jaw tightened.
“Selene.”
Fear crawled down her spine.
“No. She’s dead.”
Kael’s golden eyes locked onto hers.
“Then explain why the dead are obeying you.”
Aurelia had no answer.
The bowed wolves slowly backed away from her, whimpering softly as if they sensed something terrible approaching.
Then the castle trembled again.
A deafening crack split through the hallway.
The floor beneath them shattered.
A servant screamed as she nearly fell into the darkness below, but Kael caught her instantly with one hand and shoved her toward the guards.
“Get everyone out!” he roared.
The Alpha King’s command thundered through the castle.
Chaos exploded.
Servants fled.
Guards dragged nobles toward the exits.
The wolves ran through the halls snarling anxiously.
But Aurelia couldn’t move.
Because from the darkness beneath the broken floor…
Something was climbing upward.
Long black claws gripped the stone.
A figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
Tall.
Terrifying.
Wrapped in darkness itself.
Its glowing silver eyes locked directly onto Aurelia.
The entire hallway went deathly silent.
The creature smiled.
“My queen,” it whispered.
Kael stepped protectively in front of Aurelia immediately.
“Back away,” he growled.
The creature laughed softly.
“You still protect her after everything your bloodline did to ours?”
Aurelia frowned.
“Ours?”
The creature’s eyes never left hers.
“We were once the Moon Queen’s guardians.”
More dark figures appeared behind it.
Not beasts this time.
Warriors.
Ancient soldiers dressed in black armor covered in silver runes.
Dead soldiers.
Aurelia’s pulse raced.
“What are they?”
Kael’s voice turned cold.
“The Shadow Guard.”
The warriors dropped to one knee before Aurelia.
“We have waited centuries for your return, Your Majesty.”
“No,” Aurelia whispered shakily. “You’re making a mistake.”
The leader slowly removed his hood.
A scarred face appeared beneath the shadows.
But his eyes…
Silver.
Exactly like hers.
“You carry Selene’s soul,” he said quietly.
Kael’s entire body tensed.
“That’s impossible.”
The Shadow Guard leader looked toward Kael calmly.
“You know the prophecy, Wolf King.”
Aurelia turned toward Kael instantly.
“What prophecy?”
Kael remained silent.
“Tell me!”
The Alpha King looked furious.
Not at her.
At the situation.
Finally, he spoke.
“When the Moon Queen returns… the Beast King will either save the world beside her…”
His voice darkened.
“Or die by her hand.”
The hallway fell silent.
Aurelia stared at him in shock.
The visions flooded back instantly.
Kael kneeling before her.
Silver chains around his throat.
Blood.
Fire.
Death.
“No,” she whispered.
The Shadow Guard leader stepped forward.
“The bond has already begun.”
Kael growled low in his throat.
“You will not come near her.”
The leader smiled coldly.
“You cannot stop destiny.”
Suddenly, Aurelia’s mating mark blazed painfully.
Silver magic exploded around her again.
The walls cracked violently.
The Shadow Guards bowed their heads instantly.
Kael grabbed Aurelia before she lost control completely.
“Focus on me,” he ordered roughly.
But the voice inside her mind was growing stronger now.
Come to me.
Claim your throne.
Aurelia trembled violently.
“I can’t stop it.”
Kael pulled her against his chest firmly.
“Yes, you can.”
His heartbeat thundered against her ear.
Strong.
Steady.
Real.
The darkness inside her mind hesitated slightly.
Kael lowered his forehead against hers.
“Listen to my voice.”
Aurelia closed her eyes tightly.
The silver fire weakened a little.
The Shadow Guard leader watched carefully.
Then his expression shifted suddenly.
Fear.
He looked behind Kael.
“My king…” one guard whispered shakily.
Kael turned.
And for the first time since meeting him…
Aurelia saw genuine horror on the Alpha King’s face.
A massive black gate had risen from beneath the castle floor.
Ancient symbols glowed across its surface.
Chains wrapped around it tightly.
But the chains were breaking.
One by one.
Boom.
Another chain snapped.
The sound shook the entire castle.
The Shadow Guards immediately lowered their heads.
“He awakens,” they whispered.
Aurelia’s heart pounded.
“Who is behind that gate?”
Nobody answered.
Then a deep voice echoed from behind the gate.
A voice so powerful it made the walls tremble.
“Selene…”
Aurelia froze.
The voice sounded almost human.
Almost.
But there was something monstrous beneath it.
Something ancient.
Hungry.
The gate shook violently.
Kael pulled Aurelia behind him instantly.
“You need to leave.”
“No,” Aurelia argued. “I’m not running anymore.”
“Aurelia—”
“I’m tired of everyone hiding things from me!”
Silver fire sparked around her fingers again.
The Shadow Guards watched her with devotion.
Kael watched her with concern.
And somehow that hurt more.
“You think I’m becoming a monster too,” she whispered.
Kael’s expression changed instantly.
“No.”
“Then why do you look at me like that?”
For a moment, the terrifying Alpha King looked almost conflicted.
Then slowly, he reached up and touched her face gently.
“Because I’m afraid.”
Aurelia’s breath caught.
“Of me?”
Kael’s thumb brushed softly across her cheek.
“Of losing you.”
The words shattered something inside her.
Before she could respond—
BOOM.
The gate exploded.
Darkness poured into the hallway like a tidal wave.
Everyone screamed.
Kael wrapped his arm around Aurelia instantly, shielding her body with his own as black energy tore through the castle.
The wolves howled in agony.
The Shadow Guards dropped to their knees.
Then a figure stepped through the darkness.
Tall.
Massive.
Beautiful in a terrifying way.
Black horns curved from his head while glowing silver cracks spread across his pale skin. His eyes burned like frozen moons.
The creature looked directly at Aurelia.
And smiled.
“My queen,” he said softly.
Kael snarled beside her.
The creature’s smile widened.
“You chose a wolf over a god?”
Aurelia’s blood ran cold.
Kael stepped fully in front of her now, claws extending from his hands.
“You will not touch her.”
The creature laughed.
“You still do not understand, Beast King.”
Silver fire flickered wildly around Aurelia again.
The god-like creature stared at her possessively.
“She was always meant to belong to me.”
The castle shook violently.
Kael’s eyes turned fully gold.
And Aurelia realized with horror—
A war had just begun.
- Writer
