Chapter 65: The Forgotten Bloodline
The Crimson-eyed Alpha stepped closer, the chains that had once bound him now lying like dead snakes on the floor. His presence was overwhelming, a mixture of ancient power and long-simmering rage. Elara stood her ground, though her silver luna mark hummed with a warning frequency.
"You call yourself the First-Born," Elara said, her voice echoing in the damp cavern. "But the histories say the first lineage ended centuries ago. The Council claims they were the ones who brought peace."
The man laughed, a dry, hollow sound. "Peace is easy to maintain when you bury the truth in a tomb. My name is Valerius. I wasn't just an Alpha; I was the original protector of the Silver Moon. The Council didn't bring peace—they staged a coup. They wanted a pack they could control, not a leader who followed the Goddess's true will."
Kael stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. "If you're telling the truth, then Silas... the current Alpha... he is leading a lie."
Valerius turned his piercing gaze toward Kael, then back to Elara. "Silas is a puppet who doesn't even know who pulls his strings. But you, little Luna... you are the key they never expected. Your awakening is what weakened my cage."
A sudden howl ripped through the Forbidden Woods, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. The Council's Enforcers had arrived.
"They're here," Valerius hissed, his body shifting slightly, muscles coiling like a predator ready to strike. "If you want the truth about your pack and your bond with Silas, you'll have to fight your way out with me. Are you ready to become a traitor to the lie, Elara?"
Elara looked at the exit, then at the crimson-eyed warrior. She gripped her dagger, the moonlight in her veins burning bright. "I've been a stray and an outcast my whole life. I'm not afraid of the truth anymore."