The silver palace grew larger with every step.
Kael had expected the First Kingdom to look ancient.
He had expected ruins.
Perhaps broken towers, forgotten temples, or the remains of an empire buried beneath the mountains.
He had not expected it to be alive.
The palace floated above an enormous valley.
Its towers reached into the clouds.
Silver rivers flowed upward from the earth and disappeared into the sky.
Forests of black trees surrounded the valley, their branches covered in glowing white leaves.
And everywhere Kael looked, he saw wolves.
Not ordinary wolves.
Some were enormous.
Some were transparent.
Others appeared carved from silver stone.
They watched the travelers from the shadows.
None attacked.
None approached.
They simply watched.
Mara walked beside Kael.
“Do you recognize this place?”
Kael shook his head.
“No.”
His future self walked several paces ahead.
“You should.”
Kael frowned.
“Why?”
“Because you built it.”
Kael stopped.
“I built this?”
The future Kael turned.
“Not this version.”
“What does that mean?”
“You built the first palace.”
Kael stared at the floating structure.
“I don’t remember.”
“You won’t.”
“Why?”
“Because you erased it.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“You keep saying things like that.”
His future self looked at him.
“Because you keep asking questions whose answers you aren’t ready for.”
Kael stepped closer.
“Then make me ready.”
For several seconds, the older Kael said nothing.
Finally, he answered.
“You weren’t always called Kael Arden.”
Kael froze.
Mara looked at him.
“What?”
The older Kael continued.
“Before your first death, you had another name.”
Kael waited.
“What was it?”
The older man looked toward the palace.
“Arkael.”
The name struck something inside Kael.
A flash.
A crown.
A battlefield.
Thousands of wolves kneeling.
A woman standing beside him.
Mara.
But she wasn’t Mara.
She wore a white gown.
Her eyes were silver.
And Kael—Arkael—was holding a sword made from moonlight.
The vision vanished.
Kael staggered.
Mara caught him.
“Kael.”
He breathed heavily.
“I saw us.”
Mara’s expression changed.
“What did you see?”
“You.”
He looked at her.
“You weren’t human.”
She lowered her eyes.
“I told you.”
“No.”
Kael shook his head.
“You were something else.”
Mara whispered:
“I was.”
He looked toward the palace.
“And I was king.”
“Yes.”
“Of this place?”
Mara nodded.
“Yes.”
Kael looked at his future self.
“Why did I erase it?”
The older Kael answered:
“Because you were afraid of what you had become.”
Kael frowned.
“Was I evil?”
The older man hesitated.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“You were powerful.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It is when power becomes stronger than judgment.”
Kael looked away.
“What did I do?”
His future self stared at the palace.
“I don’t know.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t know?”
“I wasn’t there.”
“You are me.”
“Not exactly.”
Kael frowned.
The older version finally turned toward him.
“Time doesn’t create copies.”
He touched his chest.
“It creates possibilities.”
Kael stared.
“So you’re not literally me.”
“I am what you could become.”
Kael looked toward the dark palace.
“And the black-crowned version?”
His future self became silent.
“He is what you will become if you make one particular choice.”
“What choice?”
“You’ll know when you reach the throne.”
They reached the entrance.
There was no door.
Instead, a massive silver wolf’s head was carved into the mountain.
Its mouth was open.
Inside was darkness.
Kael stepped forward.
The wolf’s eyes suddenly lit.
A voice echoed:
**Name yourself.**
Kael frowned.
“I am Kael Arden.”
Nothing happened.
The voice repeated:
**Name yourself.**
Kael looked at his future self.
“What does it want?”
“You know.”
Kael thought.
Then he remembered the name.
“Arkael.”
The wolf’s eyes opened.
The mountain shook.
The mouth widened.
A massive staircase appeared.
Mara stared.
“You remembered.”
Kael nodded.
“I think so.”
The older Kael smiled.
“Good.”
They entered.
The darkness inside the mountain was different from ordinary darkness.
It felt alive.
It pressed against Kael’s skin.
He could hear whispers.
Thousands of them.
Some called his name.
Others called him by his ancient name.
**Arkael.**
**Moon-Born.**
**King.**
**Traitor.**
**Savior.**
**Destroyer.**
Kael ignored them.
They walked for nearly an hour.
Eventually, the tunnel opened.
Kael stopped.
Before him was a gigantic underground city.
It stretched farther than he could see.
Buildings of silver stone rose from the ground.
Bridges connected enormous towers.
Streams of glowing water flowed through streets.
And at the center stood a palace.
Not the floating palace above.
This one was buried underground.
It was black.
Its windows glowed red.
Kael stared.
“What is that?”
His future self answered:
“The old throne.”
Kael frowned.
“I thought the palace above was the First Kingdom.”
“It is.”
“Then what’s this?”
“The kingdom beneath the kingdom.”
Mara’s expression changed.
“That’s where the First Wolf was imprisoned.”
The older Kael nodded.
Kael felt the creature inside him react.
His chest burned.
**Don’t go there.**
For the first time, the First Wolf sounded afraid.
Kael whispered:
“Why?”
**Because that is where I died.**
Kael stopped.
The others turned.
He could hear the creature clearly now.
Not as a distant voice.
As a living presence.
“You died there?”
**Yes.**
“How?”
Silence.
Kael waited.
Eventually, the First Wolf answered.
**You killed me.**
Kael’s heart tightened.
“Again?”
**You have killed me many times.**
Kael stared into the darkness.
“How many?”
**Every time you remember.**
The connection vanished.
Kael swallowed.
Mara stepped closer.
“What did it say?”
Kael looked at her.
“It said I’ve killed it many times.”
Mara didn’t look surprised.
“You have.”
“How?”
“Every time the cycle resets.”
Kael frowned.
“What cycle?”
Mara looked toward the black palace.
“The cycle of the Moon-Born.”
They entered the underground city.
The wolves moved aside.
Kael felt their attention.
Some bowed.
Others growled.
A few fled.
The oldest wolves stared at him with hatred.
Kael stopped before one ancient wolf.
It was blind.
Its fur was gray.
Its body covered in scars.
The wolf looked directly at him.
Then spoke.
“You returned.”
Kael frowned.
“Do I know you?”
The wolf laughed.
“You always ask that.”
“What does that mean?”
“You always forget.”
Kael’s frustration grew.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
The wolf stepped closer.
“You were our king.”
“I know.”
“You were our destroyer.”
Kael froze.
“What?”
The wolf continued.
“You ordered the First Kingdom destroyed.”
Kael stared.
“Why?”
“Because you believed the First Mother had hidden something beneath it.”
“What?”
The wolf smiled.
“You never found out.”
Kael looked toward the black palace.
“Is it inside there?”
The wolf nodded.
“Yes.”
“What?”
The wolf leaned closer.
“The first heart.”
Kael felt his blood turn cold.
“What is the first heart?”
“The source of the Moon.”
Mara stepped forward.
“That’s impossible.”
The wolf looked at her.
“You would know.”
Mara’s face became pale.
The wolf continued.
“The First Mother did not create the Moon.”
Kael’s eyes widened.
“Then who did?”
The wolf pointed toward Mara.
“She did.”
Kael turned toward her.
Mara lowered her head.
“You created the Moon?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the first world had no night.”
Kael frowned.
“So?”
“There was nowhere for dreams to live.”
He stared.
“Dreams?”
Mara nodded.
“The first creatures were born from light.”
She looked toward the black palace.
“But light alone cannot create choice.”
Kael began understanding.
“You created darkness.”
“I created night.”
“And the Moon?”
“The Moon was meant to guide creatures through it.”
Kael looked upward.
“So the Moon isn’t just a source of power.”
“No.”
Mara’s voice became quiet.
“It is a memory.”
Kael frowned.
“Of what?”
“Choice.”
A bell rang.
Once.
The entire city froze.
A second bell rang.
Wolves began retreating.
A third bell rang.
The ground cracked.
The black palace doors opened.
A figure walked out.
Kael immediately recognized him.
The black-crowned version of himself.
The one from the broken future.
But he wasn’t alone.
Six figures followed.
Six Moon-Born.
Kael stared.
“Those are the others.”
Mara nodded.
The six stood behind the black-crowned Kael.
Each carried a different mark.
One had a crescent over his eye.
One had silver lines across her throat.
Another had black markings covering his hands.
The remaining three looked almost human.
But their eyes revealed them.
Moon-Born.
Alive.
Kael stepped forward.
“Who are they?”
His future self whispered:
“The survivors.”
Kael frowned.
“Survivors of what?”
The black-crowned Kael smiled.
“The first six kingdoms.”
Kael looked at the six Moon-Born.
“You destroyed their kingdoms.”
“No.”
The black-crowned version shook his head.
“I saved them.”
“From what?”
“From the First Mother.”
Kael stared.
“You killed everyone.”
“I killed the ones who couldn’t survive.”
Mara’s expression hardened.
“That’s what you told yourself.”
The black-crowned Kael looked at her.
“You remember.”
“I remember enough.”
He smiled.
“Then you know what happens next.”
Mara shook her head.
“No.”
The black-crowned Kael raised his hand.
The six Moon-Born moved forward.
Kael drew his sword.
“Stay behind me.”
Mara stepped beside him.
“No.”
Kael looked at her.
“This is my fight.”
“It’s ours.”
Elara raised her sword.
“And ours.”
Lucien stepped forward.
“We’re not leaving.”
The older Kael sighed.
“This is not going to end well.”
Kael glanced at him.
“You knew this would happen.”
“Yes.”
“And you still brought us here?”
“I had no choice.”
Kael frowned.
“You always have a choice.”
The older Kael looked at him.
“That’s what I used to believe.”
The black-crowned Kael smiled.
“That’s why I lost.”
The first Moon-Born attacked.
He moved so quickly that Kael barely saw him.
Their swords collided.
A shockwave shook the city.
Kael slid backward.
The Moon-Born attacked again.
Kael blocked.
Again.
Again.
The enemy was faster.
Kael transformed.
The Moon-Born transformed too.
His wolf was silver and black.
Kael’s claws struck.
The enemy dodged.
Kael felt another attack coming from behind.
Elara intercepted it.
Her sword clashed against a female Moon-Born.
Lucien engaged another.
Mara stood in the center.
The remaining Moon-Born circled her.
Kael saw them.
“Mara!”
She looked at him.
“I know.”
Her eyes began glowing.
The Moon-Born hesitated.
Something about her frightened them.
The black-crowned Kael watched.
“Don’t.”
Mara stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because you don’t know what you’ll awaken.”
Mara smiled sadly.
“I remember.”
Silver light erupted.
The six Moon-Born were thrown backward.
The underground city shook.
Kael felt his own power rising.
The First Wolf screamed inside him.
**Stop her!**
Kael ignored it.
Mara raised her hands.
The entire underground city transformed.
Silver trees grew from the stone.
The rivers turned white.
The walls became transparent.
For one moment, Kael saw another world layered over the city.
A beautiful world.
The first world.
Creatures of light walked through forests.
Wolves were born from silver energy.
The Moon hung above everything.
Then the vision changed.
Fire.
Blood.
War.
Mara standing before the First Mother.
The First Mother screaming.
The Moon breaking.
The first wolves becoming cursed.
Kael saw the truth.
The curse wasn’t created by the First Mother.
It was created by Mara.
Accidentally.
Mara had created the first Moon.
But when the First Mother tried to control it, Mara had destroyed the Moon.
The explosion had spread through every creature connected to it.
That was how the werewolf curse began.
Mara collapsed.
Kael caught her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She looked at him.
“Because I was ashamed.”
“You didn’t create the curse intentionally.”
“No.”
She touched his face.
“But thousands died.”
Kael shook his head.
“You were trying to stop her.”
“I failed.”
“No.”
He looked toward the black-crowned version.
“You didn’t fail.”
The older Kael stared at him.
“You don’t understand.”
Kael stepped forward.
“I understand enough.”
The black-crowned Kael raised his sword.
“You think forgiveness will save you?”
“No.”
Kael raised his own.
“Choice will.”
The two versions of Kael charged.
Their swords collided.
The sound echoed through the First Kingdom.
The black-crowned Kael was stronger.
Much stronger.
Every strike forced Kael backward.
“You cannot defeat me.”
Kael blocked.
“You already know how this ends.”
Kael attacked.
The older version dodged.
“You become me.”
Kael struck again.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No!”
The black crown flashed.
Kael was thrown across the chamber.
He crashed into a stone pillar.
His vision blurred.
The black-crowned Kael walked toward him.
“You’ll remember.”
Kael tried to stand.
“You’ll remember the day Mara dies.”
Kael froze.
“What?”
The black-crowned Kael stopped.
“You’ll remember her death.”
Kael’s heart stopped.
“No.”
“You’ll remember holding her.”
“No.”
“You’ll remember her asking you to let her go.”
Kael’s hands trembled.
“Stop.”
“You’ll remember choosing the kingdom.”
Kael looked at Mara.
“No.”
“You’ll remember the moment she died.”
Kael’s mark burned.
The memory came.
Mara lying in his arms.
Blood.
Fire.
The black moon.
Her hand touching his face.
**Don’t save me.**
Kael screamed.
The black-crowned Kael raised his sword.
“That’s the moment you become me.”
Kael looked up.
Tears filled his eyes.
“You killed her.”
The older version shook his head.
“No.”
“You did.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
The black-crowned Kael smiled.
“You did.”
Silence.
Kael stared.
“I killed Mara?”
“You chose the kingdom.”
Kael shook his head.
“I would never.”
The older version’s expression became almost pitying.
“You said that too.”
He raised his sword.
“And then you did it.”
Kael stood.
Silver energy erupted from him.
“I won’t.”
The older Kael attacked.
Kael blocked.
Their powers collided.
The entire underground city began collapsing.
The six Moon-Born fled.
Elara shouted:
“Kael!”
He didn’t hear her.
The battle had become something beyond physical.
Every strike created memories.
Kael saw his first life.
His second.
His third.
His fourth.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
In every life, the same cycle.
Mara.
The Moon.
The First Mother.
The First Wolf.
And always—
a choice.
Kael screamed.
“How many times?”
The older Kael answered:
“Enough.”
“How many lives?”
“One thousand and seven.”
Kael froze.
“What?”
“You’ve lived this story one thousand and seven times.”
Kael’s mind shattered.
The First Wolf laughed.
The First Mother screamed.
Mara cried.
And the black-crowned Kael whispered:
“This is the first time you’ve remembered.”
Kael stared at him.
“Then why do I feel different?”
The black-crowned Kael smiled.
“Because this time…”
He lowered his sword.
“…you brought her with you.”
Kael looked at Mara.
She was standing.
Awake.
Silver light surrounded her.
The black-crowned Kael stepped backward.
Mara looked at him.
“You were never supposed to remember me.”
His face changed.
“What did you do?”
Mara smiled.
“I remembered everything.”
The entire First Kingdom went dark.
Then—
a voice spoke.
Not the First Mother.
Not the First Wolf.
Not Mara.
Not Kael.
Something older.
Something beneath the Moon itself.
**THE CYCLE IS BROKEN.**
Everyone froze.
The black-crowned Kael dropped his sword.
“No.”
The voice continued.
**THE MOON-BORN HAVE CHOSEN.**
Kael looked at Mara.
“What choice?”
She took his hand.
“Freedom.”
The ground beneath them split.
A gigantic silver heart rose from beneath the palace.
It pulsed once.
Every Moon-Born screamed.
Every wolf on Earth howled.
The Blood Moon disappeared.
And the silver heart spoke.
**NOW CHOOSE WHICH WORLD SURVIVES.**
Kael stared at the heart.
Two visions appeared.
The first:
A world ruled by wolves.
Humans nearly extinct.
The Moon-Born immortal.
Mara standing beside Kael on a silver throne.
Peaceful.
Beautiful.
And utterly controlled.
The second:
A world without magic.
No wolves.
No Moon-Born.
No First Mother.
No curse.
Humans living freely.
Mara beside Kael.
Human.
Alive.
The choice seemed obvious.
Until Kael saw the final detail.
In the second world—
Mara had no memory of him.
She walked past him like a stranger.
Kael’s heart broke.
The silver heart waited.
The black-crowned Kael whispered:
“Choose.”
The older Kael whispered:
“Don’t.”
Elara stared.
Lucien lowered his sword.
Mara looked at Kael.
She knew.
Kael stepped toward the heart.
Mara grabbed his hand.
“Don’t.”
He looked at her.
“If I choose the first world, everyone becomes controlled.”
“Yes.”
“If I choose the second, you forget me.”
She nodded.
Kael smiled sadly.
“Then there’s another choice.”
Mara’s eyes widened.
“What?”
Kael turned toward the silver heart.
“I choose neither.”
The heart stopped pulsing.
The First Kingdom shook.
The black-crowned Kael shouted:
“NO!”
Kael raised his sword.
“I refuse the choice.”
The silver heart cracked.
Mara stared.
“What are you doing?”
Kael looked at her.
“Creating a third world.”
The heart exploded.
Silver light swallowed everything.
The black-crowned Kael screamed.
The First Mother screamed.
The First Wolf screamed.
Every Moon-Born screamed.
Kael held Mara’s hand.
The last thing he heard before darkness consumed him was a voice from somewhere beyond time.
**THIRD CHOICE ACCEPTED.**
Then the world disappeared.
Kael opened his eyes.
He was lying beneath a tree.
Sunlight touched his face.
Birds were singing.
No wolves.
No silver palace.
No Blood Moon.
No ancient kingdom.
He sat up.
Mara was beside him.
She opened her eyes.
“Kael?”
He stared at her.
“You’re alive.”
She smiled.
“Of course.”
Kael looked around.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know.”
He stood.
The world looked normal.
Too normal.
A village stood in the distance.
Humans walked along a road.
Children laughed.
No magic.
No wolves.
Kael looked at his chest.
The crescent mark was gone.
He touched it.
Nothing.
“Mara.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“Do you remember?”
She frowned.
“Remember what?”
His heart sank.
“Nothing.”
She smiled.
“Should I?”
Kael stared at her.
He couldn’t answer.
Then he noticed something.
A silver necklace around her neck.
He touched it.
“Where did you get this?”
Mara looked down.
“I don’t know.”
The necklace contained a tiny crescent.
Kael smiled sadly.
“Of course.”
Mara frowned.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
A howl echoed from the forest.
Mara froze.
Kael looked toward the trees.
Another howl.
Then dozens.
Mara whispered:
“Kael.”
“I hear them.”
“But…”
She looked at him.
“There aren’t supposed to be wolves.”
Kael’s eyes widened.
The villagers began screaming.
Something moved between the trees.
A black wolf emerged.
Then another.
Then hundreds.
Kael stared.
The wolves weren’t attacking.
They were watching him.
The first wolf stepped forward.
Its eyes were silver.
It bowed.
Mara whispered:
“That’s impossible.”
Kael looked at his hands.
The crescent mark suddenly returned.
But this time—
it wasn’t silver.
It was gold.
A voice whispered inside his mind.
**The third world has begun.**
Kael looked toward the sky.
The sun was disappearing.
A tiny black moon appeared beside it.
Then another.
Then another.
Seven black moons.
Kael’s expression hardened.
Mara grabbed his hand.
“What do we do?”
Kael looked at the forest.
Then at the wolves.
Then toward the distant mountains.
He smiled.
“We find out what we created.”
Behind them, a child’s voice whispered:
“King Kael.”
Kael turned.
A little girl stood in the road.
She had silver eyes.
A crescent mark on her forehead.
And beside her stood a wolf made entirely of golden light.
The girl smiled.
“You’ve been gone a long time.”
Kael froze.
Mara stepped backward.
The girl continued:
“Welcome back, Father.”
And somewhere beyond the seven moons, something ancient opened its eyes.