The world disappeared the instant Kael and Lyra stepped through the rift.
There was nothing beneath their feet.
No sky.
No noise.
Darkness only.
Lyra gripped Kael’s hand more tightly.
“Kael!”
I got you.
His voice was steady, but his heart hammered.
He did not see her.
He couldn’t even find himself.
Then something hit his chest.
Kael went flying backward.
“Kael! Lyra’s hand slid from his. Lyra!”
He reached for her but his fingers found nothing.
Then a voice murmured in his mind.
“You ought to have stayed away.”
Kael opened his eyes.
He stood in a forest.
Lyra was no more.
And the rift.
He turned slowly around.
“Lyra?”
Nothing.
For the first time since coming into the strange realm the wolf stirred.
Bro.
Kael followed the drawing.
He sprinted.
Branches slapped his face as he moved, but he did not slow down.
Then he heard her scream.
“KAEL!
He crashed through the trees
Lyra was standing on the edge of a cliff.
Black mist swirled around her.
Kael lunged for her.
“Lyra!
She spun round.
Her eyes shone silver.
“Don’t come near me.
Kael paused.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” he
She placed a hand on her breast.
“There’s something in me.”
Kael’s heart fell.
“What?
Suddenly Lyra gasped.
The black mist flowed into her body.
She hit the floor.
Kael caught her before she fell to the ground.
“Lyra!!!
Her eyes opened.
For one terrible second they were not silver.
They were black .
Then she said, softly:
“Run,” she said.
Kael looked at her.
“I won’t leave you.”
“You don’t understand.”
Her fingers were gripping his shirt.
“They know who we are in this place.”
A deep voice rumbled through the woods.
“Sure it does.
Kael looked up.
There was a man in trees.
He was tall, dressed all in black, with silver eyes and a crown on his head.
Lyra was shoved behind him by Kael immediately.
“Who are you?”
He grinned.
“You know already.
Kael’s body stiffened.
The stranger took the crown off carefully.
And he said:
“Me first.” Kael’s wolf was silent.
The stranger kept coming toward them.
“The First Alpha.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
“Same as you.”
The answer came quickly.
Kael moved forward.
“What do you need?” he asked.
The first Alpha glanced past him.
He looked at Lyra.
“I want what they took from me.
Lyra moved to Kael’s side.
“What did they steal?”
The Alpha grinned.
“My seat.”
A break.
“My blood.”
His eyes turned black.
“And my successor.”
Kael’s face darkened.
“You’re talking about Eren.
“No,” I said.
The Alpha’s voice grew cold.
“I’m talking about the part of Eren that you stole.”
Kael stood still.
“You said that the split made two heirs.
“It did,” he said.
“Then where is my son?
The first Alpha grinned.
“Which one?” Kael’s stomach twisted.
“No, you’re lying.
“I have no reason.”
The Alpha put up his hand.
The forest was finished.
Then Kael was in the council chamber of the Moonfang.
Seven years ago.
He saw himself bound to the ground.”
He saw Lyra standing in front of him.
“He went to the council about them.
Kael gaped.
“This isn’t happening.”
“It happened.”
“No.” “N
He saw his younger self lift his head.
Then his own voice was heard.
“I should never have let them use you.” beside him Lyra swallowed.
“You said that.”
Kael glanced over at her.
“I told you.
The memory went on.
Kael looked at the council, young Kael.
Whatever happens next, don’t believe them.
And then, things changed.
Someone stepped in behind Lyra.
There was a needle in her neck.
She fell down.
Kael struggled against his bonds.
“LYRA!”
The council leader put a hand on Kael’s head.
There was a strange symbol between his eyes.
Kael watched in horror as his younger self’s eyes went completely black.
The memory ceased.
Lyra looked up at him.
“They had you in a bind.”
Kael nodded his head slowly.
“They made me refuse you.”
No. Lyra shook her head.
They didn’t just make ya hate me.
Tears welled in her eyes.
“They made me believe you hated me.
The first Alpha stood in silence.
Kael stepped over to him.
“Why do you show us this?
“Because you don’t understand yet.”
The Alpha came closer.
“Your tragedy is not made by the council.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Then who did?”
The Alpha fixed Lyra with his gaze.
“She did,”
Lyra froze up.
“Eh?”
Kael stepped between them at once.
“Don’t.”
The Alpha didn’t stir.
“Ask your partner about what happened prior to the rejection. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Lyra went white in the face.
“I don’t recall.”
“Right.”
Kael looked at her.
“Lyra?”
She shook her head.
“I remember you.”
Her breath came raggedly.
I remember that I loved you.
She brought her fingers to her temple.
“But before that…
Then her face altered.
“I remember a room.
Kael waited.
“There was a woman.
“Who?”
“I dunno.
Lyra shut her eyes.
“She was holding a baby.
Kael’s heart ceased.
“Eren?”
“No. Lyra’s eyes opened.
“She was holding you.
Kael came to an abrupt halt.
“What?” “Again?”
The first Alpha grinned.
“Now you’re getting closer.”
The land shook with a savage tremor.
The first Alpha looked to the horizon.
“Someone’s coming.
Kael turned around.
“Who?”
The Alpha’s face turned serious.
“The one who’s been looking for your son.
There was a howl in the night.
Then another one.
Hundreds followed.
Kael’s hand went instinctively to Lyra’s.
“Where’s Eren?”
The Alpha indicated a far-off mountain.
“There.
Kael gazed at the mountain.
At the top a small silver gleam burned.
His son was there.
He could sense it.
Living.
Kael took a step forward.
And stopped.
Because there was something other than silver light.
And another figure.
One he knew of.
Roderick.
Kael’s face grew hard.
“How’d he come here?”
The first looked at him.
“He didn’t.”
Kael frowned, in reply.
“Who’s that then?”
The silver light on the mountain was suddenly red.
The realm was split with the scream of a child.
“Papa!”
Kael’s blood ran cold.
Eren
He began to run.
Lyra followed her.
But the first Alpha’s voice halted them.
“Kael.
Kael turned.
If you reach that mountain…
The Alpha looked bleak.
“…you will have to decide which son comes home.”
Kael looked at him.
“I have but one son.”
The Alpha shook his head.
“Nope.”
He glanced at the mountain.
“You have two things.
And then the voice of the second child sounded through the realm.
“Dad.”
Kael held his breath.
Because it sounded the same as Eren’s.