Episode 3: The Alpha’s Pursuit
1039 Words
The massive black wolf landed between Lyra and the rogue, its growl vibrating through the forest like thunder.
The rogue hesitated.
Then, without warning, it attacked.
Kael moved with terrifying speed.
His jaws clamped around the rogue’s throat before it could take another step.
A sickening crack echoed through the trees.
The rogue’s body hit the ground.
Dead.
More rogues emerged from the darkness, their crimson eyes glowing with bloodlust.
“There are too many!” one of the cloaked guards shouted.
Elias drew a silver blade from beneath his cloak.
“Protect Lyra!”
The battle erupted.
Steel clashed.
Wolves snarled.
Branches splintered as warriors collided beneath the moonlight.
Lyra stood frozen.
Everything had happened so quickly that her mind struggled to keep up.
Only hours ago, she had been preparing to find her mate.
Now she was watching strangers fight—and die—for her.
A rogue charged straight at her.
She instinctively stumbled backward.
Before it reached her, Kael intercepted it, tearing the beast away with savage force.
Blood stained the forest floor.
The Alpha King’s black wolf stood over her, breathing heavily.
His golden eyes never left hers.
For a brief moment, everything else disappeared.
It was the same gaze that had shattered her heart.
Lyra’s chest tightened.
“No,” she whispered.
Kael took a cautious step toward her.
She stepped back.
“No.”
Another step.
Another retreat.
Her voice trembled.
“Don’t come near me.”
The wolf stopped.
Pain flickered in those golden eyes.
A pulse of heat shot through the broken mate bond.
Even rejected, the connection hadn’t disappeared completely.
Lyra hated that she could still feel him.
Hated that some part of her still recognized him.
Kael lowered his head slightly, almost as though asking for forgiveness.
She looked away.
“You lost that right.”
A roar shattered the silence.
Three enormous rogues burst through the trees.
Unlike the others, these creatures were unnaturally large, their fur streaked with black veins that pulsed like living shadows.
Elias’ expression darkened.
“Shadow Rogues.”
“What are those?” Lyra asked.
“They shouldn’t exist.”
The lead rogue smiled.
Actually smiled.
“Well,” it rasped, “the princess has finally been found.”
Lyra’s blood ran cold.
“You know who I am?”
“Oh, we’ve been searching for you since you were an infant.”
Its grin widened.
“Our master will be pleased.”
It lunged.
Before anyone could react, Lyra’s body moved on instinct.
Silver light exploded from her hands.
A brilliant wave of energy slammed into the rogue.
The creature flew backward, crashing through three trees before disappearing into the darkness.
Silence.
Even the remaining rogues stared at her.
Lyra slowly looked at her own hands.
“What… did I just do?”
Elias smiled despite the danger.
“The royal bloodline has awakened.”
The surviving rogues exchanged nervous glances.
“Retreat!”
Within seconds, they vanished into the forest.
Only the sounds of heavy breathing remained.
Kael shifted back into human form.
Moonlight illuminated his muscular frame as one of his warriors hurried over with a cloak.
He fastened it around himself before walking toward Lyra.
She stiffened immediately.
“Lyra…”
His voice was quieter than she had ever heard it.
She refused to meet his eyes.
“You shouldn’t have followed me.”
“I had to.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did.”
“You rejected me.”
Each word landed like a blade.
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
“I know.”
“No.”
She finally looked at him.
“You don’t.”
Her eyes glistened with tears.
“You stood in front of the entire pack…”
Her voice broke.
“…and told everyone I wasn’t worthy of being your mate.”
Kael didn’t speak.
“There is nothing you can say that changes that.”
Silence settled between them.
Finally, he whispered,
“I made a mistake.”
Lyra laughed bitterly.
“A mistake?”
“You destroyed my life.”
Kael took another step.
“I can explain.”
“I don’t want your explanation.”
“Please.”
“No.”
Her voice echoed through the clearing.
“You made your choice.”
Kael’s shoulders sagged.
For the first time since becoming Alpha King, he looked… defeated.
Elias stepped between them.
“The princess will not be returning to Mooncrest.”
Kael’s eyes hardened.
“I wasn’t asking your permission.”
“You don’t have it.”
“I will protect her.”
Elias folded his arms.
“Like you protected her tonight?”
The accusation struck home.
Kael remained silent.
“You rejected the one person you were destined to stand beside,” Elias continued. “Now you expect us to trust you?”
“I will fix this.”
“You cannot undo public humiliation.”
Kael looked past Elias to Lyra.
“I’ll spend the rest of my life trying.”
Lyra’s expression didn’t change.
“I won’t.”
Those two words hit harder than any weapon.
A sudden howl echoed from deep within the mountains.
Every wolf present froze.
Elias’ face lost all color.
“No…”
Another howl answered.
Then another.
Dozens of them.
“They’ve awakened,” one guard whispered.
Kael looked toward the distant peaks.
His jaw tightened.
“What is it?”
Elias’ answer came in a whisper.
“The Blood Moon Hunt has begun.”
“The prophecy…” another guard muttered.
Elias turned to Lyra.
“We have no more time.”
He reached for her hand.
“We leave. Now.”
Kael stepped forward.
“I’m coming with you.”
Elias’ eyes flashed.
“No.”
“You can’t stop me.”
Before either Alpha could move, the ground beneath them began to shake.
A deep crack split the earth.
Ancient silver light erupted from the forest floor.
At its center stood a stone altar that had not been there moments before.
Upon it rested a gleaming silver crown.
The moment Lyra saw it, she heard a woman’s voice inside her mind.
“Come home… my daughter.”
The crown began to glow.
And so did Lyra.
- Writer
