Chapter 177
Kael was restless. Something gnawed at him deep in his chest, clawing and twisting like a wild animal desperate to escape. It wasn’t just the looming threat of Marcus’s army marching toward them—no, it was something else. Something that felt more like fear than anything else. A primal warning, tugging at his instincts in ways he couldn’t ignore.
He glanced over at Ronan, who was crouched beside a large rock, sharpening his claws with a practiced ease. His face was calm, but Kael could feel the tension in the air between them. Ronan’s instincts were always sharp, and Kael could sense his unease, too. Still, it didn’t stop him from speaking the words that had been on his mind for what felt like hours.
“I need to run p>
Ronan didn’t even look up at first. His claws scraped against the rock, grinding and sharpening as if it was a soothing ritual. But then, his head snapped up, meeting Kael’s gaze.
“Now?” Ronan asked, disbelief evident in his tone. “Marcus’s army is almost here! We don’t have time for this p>
Kael shook his head, feeling his heart pound faster as the restlessness surged within him. “Five minutes,” he pleaded. “I need to clear my head. I can’t focus like this p>
Ronan’s eyes narrowed, his brow furrowing in concern. He placed his hand firmly on Kael’s arm. “Don’t be stupid,” he growled. “Stay here. You’ll get yourself killed running off like this. We need you here p>
But Kael didn’t care. He didn’t want to face the fear gnawing at him. He needed space, needed to get a grip on his spiraling thoughts. Shaking off Ronan’s hold, he stood up, eyes flashing with determination. “Watch over things,” Kael said, his voice soft but firm. “I’ll be back p>
Without another word, he shifted into his massive black wolf form. His body twisted and stretched as the change came swiftly, his bones popping and reshaping as he ran toward the forest. The wind hit him full force, ruffling his thick fur, but the speed of his run didn’t ease the storm inside his mind.
His paws pounded the ground with relentless force, each step propelling him faster through the trees. The weight of his own body seemed to vanish in the face of his need to outrun his thoughts. The scent of pine filled the air as the forest blurred around him, but none of it was enough to calm the chaotic frenzy inside his head.
Elara was growing weaker. Darian was acting strangely, distant, and unpredictable. And now Marcus was coming. It felt like everything was collapsing around him.
Kael burst through a familiar thicket of trees and into a clearing bathed in the silver light of the full moon. The soft glow washed over the grass, painting everything with an ethereal light. This was the place he had come as a child, when his father’s brutal training became too much, when his body ached and his heart felt like it might break. He would come here to breathe, to dream of becoming a better Alpha than Marcus could ever be.
Shifting back into his human form, Kael collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. His heart raced in his chest, and for a moment, all he could do was breathe in the cool night air.
“Moon Goddess,” he whispered into the quiet night, his voice hoarse with desperation. “Please… show me what to do. Show me how to save them all p>
The world went still. Not a single breeze stirred the leaves. The insects stopped their chorus. Even the rhythmic beat of his heart seemed to slow, as if the world itself held its breath. Then, in a flash, the vision hit him.
He stood in the ruins of Pine Creek, the place that had once been home, now a desolate wasteland. Smoke and ash filled the air, the stench of death clinging to the very ground. Bodies lay scattered everywhere—familiar faces, some of his pack, others that had fought alongside them, all lifeless.
“No,” Kael whispered, the word barely escaping his lips as he stumbled forward, his legs weak.
Through the smoke, a figure sat on a throne made of bones. It was a man, but not a man Kael recognized at first. He was tall, commanding, his eyes glowing with an unnatural power. A dark cap of black metal sat atop his head, and when he spoke, his voice was deep, resonating with a strength that made the very air vibrate.
“Brother,” the figure spoke, a smile twisting his lips. “You came to bow before your new king p>
Kael’s stomach churned as the realization hit him. This was Darian, but not the Darian he knew. Not his brother.
“What did you do?” Kael demanded, his voice cracking with the weight of his emotions.
“What I had to do,” Dark Darian replied, his voice laced with cruel satisfaction. He gestured to the destruction around them, the blackened ruins. “I took her power. All of it. And now I rule everything p>
Kael’s chest tightened, rage and disbelief bubbling up inside him. “Where’s Elara p>
Dark Darian’s laugh was cold, chilling the very air. “Dead,” he sneered, his smile widening. “Her death gave me the strength to destroy Marcus and unite all the packs under my rule p>
Kael’s heart shattered. “You murdered our mate!” hespat, his voice low and venomous.
“I saved her from a burden she couldn’t handle,” Dark Darian retorted, his cold eyes locking onto Kael’s. “Just like I’ll save you from the pain of losing p>
Kael’s breath hitched as Darian raised his hand. Black energy shot from his fingers, wrapping around Kael’s throat like a noose.
“Say goodbye, brother p>
The darkness closed in. Kael couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. The vision twisted and contorted, but before everything went black, he saw Ronan’s body, lifeless, slumped at the foot of the throne.
“You killed us all,” Kael gasped, barely able to speak.
“I freed us all,” Dark Darian corrected, his voice ringing with finality. “No more fights. No more pain. Just perfect order under my rule p>
The vision shattered. Kael’s body slammed back into the present, and he gasped for air, his hands shaking as he pushed himself to his feet. He could still feel the chill of death, the crushing weight of his brother’s betrayal.
“No,” he growled, his voice low and filled with determination. “That won’t happen. I won’t let it happen p>
But doubt crept in like poison. Darian had been acting strange for days now—always watching Elara, always asking questions about her power, about how it worked. What if the vision wasn’t just a warning? What if it was the truth?
Kael’s wolf howled inside his thoughts, desperate to protect their pack, their mate. Protect mate. Protect pack. Stop brother.
“But what if I’m wrong?” Kael whispered, the words barely audible. “What if I turn against him, and it destroys us all p>
Another flash, this time quicker. Darian, holding a black vial. Elara drinking from it, trusting him with the same innocent faith she had always shown. Her eyes widened in shock as her power drained away, leaving her weakened and vulnerable.
“I promised to protect you,” Darian whispered, catching her strength in his hands like liquid silver. “From yourself p>
But what if I’m wrong?” Kael whispered, the words barely audible. “What if I turn against him, and it destroys us all p>
Another flash, this time quicker. Darian, holding a black vial. Elara drinking from it, trusting him with the same innocent faith she had always shown. Her eyes widened in shock as her power drained away, leaving her weakened and vulnerable.
“I promised to protect you,” Darian whispered, catching her strength in his hands like liquid silver. “From yourself p>