chapter 5
1147 Words
Chapter 5 — The True Queen
The castle trembled beneath Aurelia’s power.
Silver flames spiraled around her body like a storm unleashed, illuminating the shattered hallway in ghostly light. The air itself seemed to bend around her.
Everyone stared in horror.
Servants.
Guards.
Nobles.
Even the royal wolves backed away with frightened whimpers.
Aurelia barely recognized herself.
The power inside her felt endless.
Ancient.
Hungry.
The ancient king slowly released Kael from his grip.
The Alpha King dropped hard onto the broken marble, blood staining the floor beneath him. He coughed violently, struggling to breathe.
Aurelia’s chest tightened painfully at the sight.
The mating bond pulsed again.
She could feel his pain as if it were her own.
The ancient king watched her carefully, silver eyes glowing with fascination.
“There she is,” he murmured. “The queen reborn.”
“I’m not your queen,” Aurelia snapped.
But the voice that came from her mouth sounded layered somehow.
Human.
And something else.
The creature smiled wider.
“You carry Selene’s soul. Her magic. Her blood.”
Silver fire exploded violently around Aurelia again.
Visions flashed through her mind—
A woman crowned in moonlight.
Armies kneeling.
Cities burning beneath silver skies.
Kael screaming her name.
Aurelia gasped and stumbled.
No.
Those memories weren’t hers.
But they felt real.
The ancient king stepped toward her slowly.
“My name is Morvath,” he said softly. “And I have waited centuries for your return.”
Kael forced himself to stand despite the blood pouring from his wounds.
“Stay away from her.”
Morvath barely glanced at him.
“You are weaker than the last Wolf King.”
Kael’s golden eyes burned dangerously.
“Try me.”
Aurelia saw the rage beneath his calm.
The protectiveness.
The desperation.
He would die fighting this creature for her.
And somehow…
That terrified her more than the monster itself.
Morvath extended his hand toward Aurelia.
“Come with me willingly, little queen.”
The silver mark on her wrist burned hotter.
Something inside her wanted to obey.
Wanted to walk toward him.
Kael noticed instantly.
“Aurelia,” he warned sharply.
His voice cut through the strange haze in her mind.
She looked toward him.
Blood covered his face.
Yet even injured, he was watching her like she mattered more than his own life.
The darkness inside her hesitated.
Morvath’s expression darkened slightly.
“He cannot protect you forever.”
Aurelia lifted her chin stubbornly.
“I never asked him to.”
Kael looked at her sharply.
Then, despite everything happening around them—
He smirked.
The arrogant wolf actually smirked.
“You hear that?” he said roughly. “She’s already defending me.”
Aurelia stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet you still chose me.”
Heat rushed through her chest.
Morvath’s silver eyes narrowed dangerously.
“The mating bond weakens her,” he growled.
Kael stepped beside Aurelia now despite his injuries.
“No,” he said coldly.
“It makes her stronger.”
The ancient king’s expression turned murderous.
The castle shook violently again.
Dark energy exploded from Morvath’s body, slamming through the hallway like a storm. Guards were thrown backward. Walls cracked apart.
Aurelia nearly lost her footing.
Kael grabbed her waist instantly.
“Careful.”
The simple touch sent warmth flooding through her body.
Too much warmth.
The mating bond reacted violently to his closeness now.
Kael felt it too.
His grip tightened slightly.
Golden eyes darkened.
For one dangerous second, the chaos around them disappeared.
Aurelia became painfully aware of how close his face was to hers.
How his breath brushed her skin.
How his hand rested possessively against her waist.
Then Morvath roared furiously.
Silver chains burst from the floor, shooting toward Kael.
Aurelia reacted instinctively.
“Stop!”
Her power exploded outward.
The chains froze midair instantly.
Everyone stared.
Aurelia’s silver eyes glowed brighter as the chains slowly crumbled into dust.
Morvath looked impressed.
“She learns quickly.”
But Aurelia barely heard him.
Because another voice had appeared inside her mind.
Not Selene.
Kael.
Run.
Aurelia froze.
She could hear his thoughts through the bond.
Morvath is too powerful.
Kael’s face remained calm, but she could feel the truth beneath it.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
Aurelia’s heart twisted painfully.
You’re injured, she thought back instinctively.
Kael’s eyes widened slightly.
He heard her.
The mating bond had opened completely now.
Morvath noticed their expressions instantly.
“No,” he snarled.
Darkness erupted around him violently.
The floor beneath their feet shattered apart.
Aurelia screamed as she fell—
But Kael grabbed her hand instantly.
They crashed onto a lower level beneath the castle, landing hard against ancient stone.
Dust filled the air.
Above them, the sounds of battle echoed faintly.
Kael groaned in pain beside her.
Aurelia immediately crawled toward him.
“You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s definitely not nothing.”
Kael looked down at the blood soaking through his side and sighed.
“I’ve had worse.”
Aurelia stared at him.
“Why are men always like this?”
Despite the situation, Kael laughed softly.
The sound startled her.
It was rare.
Real.
And unexpectedly warm.
Then his expression turned serious again.
“We need to move.”
Aurelia looked around slowly.
They were deep underground now.
Ancient tunnels stretched endlessly through darkness. Strange silver symbols covered the walls, glowing faintly.
Cold air brushed against her skin.
And somewhere nearby…
Something was breathing.
Kael stood carefully, wincing slightly.
Aurelia immediately moved beside him to help support his weight.
The Alpha King looked down at her hand on his arm.
“You should be running from me right now,” he said quietly.
Aurelia frowned.
“Why?”
“Because everyone else eventually does.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
Loneliness.
She heard it clearly beneath his calm voice.
Aurelia looked at him differently then.
Not as the terrifying Alpha King.
Not as the arrogant wolf ruler.
Just… a man carrying too much pain alone.
“You really think I’m afraid of you?” she asked softly.
Kael’s golden eyes locked onto hers.
“You should be.”
Before Aurelia could answer, growling echoed through the tunnels.
Low.
Monstrous.
Kael immediately pulled her behind him protectively.
Shadows moved in the darkness ahead.
Then glowing silver eyes appeared one by one.
Dozens of them.
Aurelia’s pulse raced.
The creatures from before slowly emerged from the shadows, bowing their heads as they approached.
“My Queen,” they whispered.
Kael’s body tensed.
But the creatures ignored him completely.
One stepped forward carrying an ancient silver crown covered in black thorns.
Aurelia’s blood ran cold.
The creature knelt before her.
“The throne awaits your return.”
The crown began glowing.
And deep inside Aurelia’s mind—
Selene laughed.
- Writer
