And I am the brother he betrayed.
Kael looked at the old Alpha.
Then to his dad.
Neither man said a word.
The silence had answered enough.
“My father is the First Alpha?”
At last his father raised his eyes.
“Yeah.
Kael clenched his jaw.
“You’ve been lying to me all my life.”
“I was trying to keep you safe.
“From what?”
His father looked at the ancient Alpha.
“From him.”
The old Alpha chuckled.
“You always have the same reason.
Kael stepped in the middle.
Stop.
Both men stared at him.
Kael’s voice was hard.
“I don’t care about what went on between you.
His eyes shifted to Eren.
“I love my family.”
The old Alpha grinned.
‘Family?’
He gestured at Lyra.
“She is the Queen.
Then toward Eren.
“He’s the successor.”
At last he pointed at Kael.
“And you are the error.”
Kael narrowed his eyes.
‘Then what are you doing here?’
In an effort to fix it.
The ancient Alpha lifted his hand.
The mountain quaked.
Eren fell to his knees.
“Papa!”
Kael was running toward him.
Black energy erupted from the boy’s body.
Kael was knocked back.
Lyra caught him in her arms.
“Kael!
He stood up.
“I’m all right.
Eren screamed once more.
“Make him stop!”
Kael looked at the old Alpha.
“Let him go.”
“He is not mine to set free.”
“Whose is he, then?”
The old Alpha nodded toward Kael’s father.
His.
Kael turned around.
His father looked desolate.
“They used Eren’s blood to trace me to the throne.”
Kael scowled.
Now what does that mean.
“I was never meant to live through the throne.
The old Alpha stepped ahead.
“You were meant to die with the old kingdom.
His father’s fists tightened.
“But you escaped.
“And you took my crown.
“I took nothing.”
“You took everything.
The ancient Alpha’s aura flared.
Kael shifted halfway all at once, claws out.
Lyra climbed up beside him.
“Don’t.”
Kael looked up at her.
He’s going to kill my father.
And if you fight him now, he’ll kill you as well.”
She hated that Kael was correct.
The old Alpha grinned.
“Smart Queen.”
Lyra’s face hardened.
“Please don’t call me that.
“You will remember.
“I know who I am already.”
“No. His eyes twinkled.
“You know what he let you remember.”
Kael’s dad stepped forward.
“Enough.”
The ancient Alpha’s eyes flicked to him.
“You don’t command me.”
“I know.”
His father pulled a silver ring from his finger.
Kael looked at it.
He had seen that ring before.
On his mother’s hand.
Kael’s father’s expression changed when he saw Kael looking.
“She gave this to me before I came to the throne.”
Kael took another step.
“My mother knew you were still alive.
“Yes.
Then why’d she make me think you were dead?
“Because she knew the truth would put you in harms way.”
Kael’s voice cracked.
His father hung his head.
We believed we were saving you.
Kael laughed a bitter laugh.
“You protected me so well, I lost Lyra for seven years.”
Lyra took hold of his hand.
He snatched it.
The ancient Alpha observed them.
Then he smiled.
“That’s why I’m here, that bond.”
Kael’s face hardened.
“You can’t break it. I do not need to.”
The old Alpha looked at Eren.
“Your son can do.”
Eren got up suddenly.
His eyes were black.
Kael stopped.
“Eren?”
The boy looked up at him.
“Dad..”
His voice cracked.
Run.
Kael took a step forward.
“I’m not going anywhere.
“Run!
A burst of black energy engulfed Eren.
Lyra shouted.
“Kael!
The boy’s body rose from the ground.
The old Alpha closed his eyes.
“Open the gate.
Eren’s scream was deafening.
He saw a great black circle come up under him.
Kael recognized it immediately.
“The rift.”
His father shook his head.
“Nope.
“What.
“It’s not the crack.
He looked at the round.
“This is the entrance to the throne.
Kael felt his blood run cold.
The old Alpha smiled.
“At last.”
The gate widened.
Lyra’s silver markings started to glow.
She stumbled.
Kael grabbed her.
“What’s going on?”
“I feel something pulling at me.”
His father looked toward her.
The Queen’s blood is reacting.”
Kael shook his head.
“Not.”
The old Alpha chuckled.
“You cannot stop fate.
Kael looked at him.
“I never cared about destiny.”
He drew Lyra closer.
“I care about options.”
His father turned to Kael abruptly.
His eyes got big.
“Kael.”
“What?” “Look.
“Your blood.
Kael looked down.
Silver lines had appeared on his hands.
His father stepped back.
No. The old Alpha grinned.
“Now you see,”
Kael’s wolf growled.
“Eh?”
The ancient Alpha replied.
The throne has chosen the last host.
Kael’s chest was on fire.
He went down on one knee.
Lyra caught him.
“Kael!
His eyes went silver.
For a moment he heard no sound.
A voice entered his mind then.
Drop to your knees.
Kael ground his teeth.
“No.”
Get on your knees.
His bones trembled.
He got himself up.
‘No,’ I said.
The ancient Alpha’s expression changed.
“You fought against it.
Kael met his gaze.
“I’ll fight it forever.”
Then his father grinned suddenly.
A tiny, proud smile.
Kael stared at him.
“What?
His father moved closer.
“You think I abandoned you.
Kael didn’t say anything.
“I didn’t,” he said.
His father put a hand on his shoulder.
“I was dressing you up.”
“For what?”
The answer was behind them.
Roderic.
“On account of the war.”
Kael turned back.
Roderick stood in the doorway.
An army of wolves was behind him.
But there was something wrong.
They were not attacking.
They bowed down.
And all the wolves in the mountain bowed their heads.
Roderick walked ahead.
The packs have chosen.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
“What selected?”
Roderick glanced at Lyra.
“Their Queen.
He looked at Kael.
“And the king.”
Kael shook his head.
“I didn’t ask for that.”
Roderick gave a smile.
“You never ask.” “
Then the ancient Alpha roared.
“Be quiet!
And every wolf quivered.
Except for Kael.
Kael stood up.
The ancient Alpha looked at him.
Then smiled slowly.
Nice.
Kael scowled.
“Good?
“You defied my command.”
The ancient Alpha’s eyes were burning.
Which means, you’re finally ready.
Kael’s father took a step back.
“Don’t.”
The old Alpha paid him no mind.
He glanced at Kael.
You’ve spent your whole life thinking you were fighting me.”
Kael clenched his hands.
“But you wasn’t.”
The ancient Alpha pointed at the gate.
“You were ready to step into my shoes.”
Kael felt her heart stop.
“Nope.”
“Yep.”
The ancient Alpha smiled broader.
“The throne doesn’t require the blood of your father anymore.
The gate behind Eren opened wide.
Darkness flooded into the chamber.
The ancient Alpha looked at Kael.
“You need yours.”
Something tore through Kael’s chest.
He yelled.
Lyra caught him.
“Kael!
A blackness passed over his heart.
The same symbol that had appeared under the mountain.
But this time it made a crown.
His father looked at it in horror.
“Kael…
Kael glanced at him.
“What?”
His father whispered
“You are marked by the throne.”
The ancient Alpha chuckled.
“And now you can do nothing.”
Kael looked at Lyra.
Then Eren.
His face hardened.
“There is one thing,”
The smile of the ancient Alpha faded.
Kael pressed the crown-shaped mark on his chest.
“I can kill myself before I become you.”
Lyra’s eyes went wide.
“Kael, no.
He gazed at her.
“I won’t let this thing take me away from you.”
Then the face of the ancient Alpha changed.
He looked scared for the first time.
“Don’t.”
Kael saw.
And grinned.
“You’re scared of me.”
The ancient Alpha moved forward.
“Kael!
Kael’s claws scraped his chest.
His hand was red with blood.
Lyra shouted.
“KAEL!”
And the moment his blood hit the ground, the whole throne under the mountain began to crack.