“Dad.
The mountain said something.
Kael halted.
His body turned stiff.
That voice!
That was Eren’s voice.
But the first Alpha just told him it was two children.
Lyra reached him, breathless.
“Kael..
.
He said nothing.
His eyes were on the mountain.
A second cry followed.
“Dada!”
Kael ran this time.
“Wait, Kael!
He didn’t hear her.
Nothing else mattered.
Not the projection.
The first Alpha, not him.
Not the Board.
His son was yelling at him.
And he was going to answer.
With every step the mountain seemed farther away.
Kael pushed through the thick trees, following the silver light above him.
Lyra followed him closely.
Something’s not right, she said.
Kael didn’t decelerate.
“I know,” he said.
“Then quit.”
At last he turned about.
Lyra caught up with him.
“Just stop for a moment.
“That’s my boy.”
“You don’t know that.”
Kael’s jaw clenched.
“I sensed him.”
“Me too.”
Lyra seized his arm.
“And that’s the most scary thing.
Kael looked at her.
She knew her stuff.
If two children shared the same blood, and the same presence, how would they know who was Eren?
Before either could speak, the laughter of a child sounded through the trees.
Kael’s heart clenched.
“Daddy!”
He turned around.
“Eren!
A small figure emerged from behind a tree.
The boy was his son all over again.
Face same.
Same dark hair.
Same silver eyes.
Kael froze.
The child grinned.
“Papa.
Kael stepped slowly forward
“Eren?” “Eren?”
The boy nodded in agreement.
You came for me.
Kael’s chest constricted.
He wanted to rush up to him.
But something was stopping him.
The boy was not afraid.
Not in the least.
Eren was always careful around strangers.
This child was not.
Kael’s instincts screamed.
Incorrect.
Lyra got up to him.
“What’s your name?”
The boy stared at her.
“Eren.
“What shall I call you?”
The boy grinned.
“Eren Veyron.
Lyra’s face went hard.
She glanced at Kael
He knows your surname.
Kael regarded the child.
“Where’s your mother?”
The boy’s smile vanished.
“She’s not here.”
“Where’s she?”
He gestured toward the mountain.
“She’s waiting for you.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?
The boy shrugged.
“She said you’d be here.”
A shiver ran through Kael.
“Who?”
The child smiled once more.
“My other mother.
Lyra stopped cold.
Kael lowered his voice.
“You said that?”
The boy’s eyes sparkled.
“My other mother. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
The earth shook.
Lyra clutched Kael.
“That’s not Eren.”
The child giggled.
Then his face altered.
Not in the literal sense.
Something shifted behind his eyes.
The look of innocence had disappeared.
It was replaced by a cold intelligence.
“You noticed at last.”
Kael’s aura blew up.
“Where’s my boy?”
The kid tilted his head.
“Which one?”
Kael was hit with a force
He plowed into a tree.
“Kael!”
Lyra hurried toward him.
The child held up one hand.
Lyra was thrown backward.
She landed with a thump.
Lyra!
Kael got up at once.
His eyes went black.
His wolf sprang out.
The child grinned.
“There he is.”
Kael jumped.
Some other force arrested him.
He was inches from the child’s face, his fist raised.
The first Alpha entered the space between them.
Hold.
Kael pushed him aside.
“Go.
You don’t know the enemy.
“My family is gone.”
Kael’s voice shook with rage.
I don’t care what it be.
The first Alpha stared at the kid.
“You shouldn’t have been up so early.”
The child smiled wider.
“You knew better than to break him up.”
Kael stopped.
“Split who?”
The first Alpha glared at him.
Eren
The child chuckled.
“No. His eyes were silver.
“I am no Eren.
Kael stared.
“Then who are you?
And the child’s face turned strangely calm.
“My name is—”
A violent roar cut him off.
The mountain trembled.
Out of the peak burst a silver light.
Then Kael heard a shriek.
“DAD!
His heart knew it right away.
That was his son.
Real Eren.
Kael faced away from the mountain.
The first Alpha caught his shoulder.
“Don’t.
Kael snatched his hand back.
“Let me go.”
“If you go there you might lose both.”
“That’s a risk I’ll take.”
He began to run.
Lyra trailed.
The fake Eren stayed behind.
And, for the first time, the smile dropped from his face.
They arrived at the mountain cave.
Silver stood in the doorway.
Kael pressed his hand to it.
The barrier responded immediately.
It opened up.
Lyra looked.
“It can see you.”
Kael moved forward.
The temperature fell.
A faint heartbeat sounded in the darkness.
Then a little voice spoke.
“Papa?”
Kael’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Erin.”
He ran farther into the cave.
And there he was.
His boy.
The true Eren.
But he wasn’t by himself.
Behind him stood a woman.
Silver hair, long.
Black clothes.
Kael halted.
He recognized that girl.
He took a deep breath.
“Seraphina?
The woman smiled.
But it was not Seraphina.
Kael’s blood ran cold.
Because she was the woman.
Just like her.
Only her eyes were completely black.
Lyra walked beside him.
‘Who’s that?’
The woman smiled.
”
“Someone that’s been watching over your son.”
Kael turned to her.
Where is Seraphina?
The woman tilted her head
“Where she belongs.
Kael’s face became hard.
Tell me.
The woman chuckled softly.
“You haven’t figured it out yet.”
She looked at Eren.
Then back to Kael.
“The woman you’ve trusted all these years…
A pause.
“…was never Seraphina.
Kael felt his stomach drop.
Lyra whispered.
“Then where is the true Seraphina?”
The woman grinned.
“Dead. Kael’s eyes flew open. Then the woman came forward. And she died before you came back.” Kael couldn’t breathe.
Seven years.
All that Seraphina had told him.
Every caution.
All secrets.
All that had led him here.
A falsehood.
“No,” he said.
The woman smiled.
“You trusted the wrong person.
Kael turned to Eren.
“Eren, come here.”
The boy was timid.
Then he reached for Kael.
“Dad….
Kael stepped ahead.
But the woman got hold of him.
And the black mark appeared on Kael’s chest.
He yelled.
Lyra dashed forward.
“Release him!”
The woman flung Lyra at the wall.
Kael wrestled.
“What do you want?”
The woman leaned forward.
“Your blood.
Kael stopped cold.
“And your friend’s.
Her eyes shifted to Lyra.
“And most important…”
She glanced at Eren.
“…the heir.”
Kael looked at his son.
Then something occurred to him.
The woman’s expression.
Her voice.
The way she had called Eren the rightful heir.
Suddenly Kael understood.
She wasn’t trying to control Eren, but…
She was trying to get him to choose.
For the moment he selected one child… the other would be dispensable.
The woman laughed.
“You finally get it.”
Kael squinted his eyes.
“And if I don’t?
The smile faded from her face.
“Then both the boys die.
Silence.
Kael looked at the cave entrance.
That was the wrong Eren.
Waiting.
Stop.
Two identical kids.
One true.
One made.
Kael had seconds to decide, and
Then the fake Eren whispered:
“Daddy…”
His eyes brimmed with tears.
Please don’t pick him.”
Kael’s heart shattered.
Because real Eren suddenly said the exact same thing.
“Dad… don’t pick him, please.”
Kael looked at the two boys.
And saw the truth impossible.
He couldn’t tell which was his son any more.