The howl continued.
It came from beyond the stars.
It passed through the broken moon, through the black sky, through every mountain and forest in the world.
Every wolf heard it.
Every human heard it.
Even the dead heard it.
Kael stood motionless in the palace courtyard.
The creature above them descended slowly.
It had no wings.
It didn’t need them.
Space seemed to bend around its body.
Its form resembled a wolf standing on two legs, but no living creature could have looked like it.
Its fur was made of shifting darkness.
Silver lines covered its body like ancient writing.
Its eyes contained entire galaxies.
And on its forehead was a symbol Kael had seen only once.
The symbol of the First Heart.
The First Mother was still kneeling.
Kael looked at her.
“You know it.”
She couldn’t speak.
“Mother.”
The First Mother finally raised her head.
Tears were running down her face.
“I thought it was gone.”
“What is it?”
She whispered:
“The First Wolf.”
Kael stared.
“The First Wolf is right behind us.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“The one behind you was the first wolf created.”
She pointed toward the sky.
“That is the wolf that existed before creation.”
Kael turned.
The enormous creature stared down at him.
**YOU CARRY MY HEART.**
Kael raised his sword.
“I don’t know you.”
The creature smiled.
**YOU KNOW ME BETTER THAN ANYONE.**
Kael felt the First Heart beating inside him.
One beat.
Two.
Then—
a memory struck.
A white void.
A wolf.
A heartbeat.
And a voice.
**Run.**
Kael staggered.
Mara caught him.
“What did you see?”
Kael looked at the creature.
“The beginning.”
The First Mother stood.
Her hands were shaking.
“I never intended for this to happen.”
Kael turned.
“What did you do?”
“I created you.”
“And before me?”
She hesitated.
“I made the First Wolf.”
Kael stared.
“You said I was the first.”
“I lied.”
Mara’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
The First Mother looked toward the sky.
“Because the First Wolf was too powerful.”
The creature laughed.
**SHE WAS AFRAID OF ME.**
Kael looked at it.
“Why?”
**BECAUSE I COULD CHOOSE WITHOUT BEING CREATED.**
Kael frowned.
“What does that mean?”
The creature descended further.
**I WAS THE FIRST CHOICE.**
Silence.
**BEFORE YOUR MOTHER CREATED THE FIRST STAR, SHE HAD TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO CREATE AT ALL.**
The First Mother closed her eyes.
**I WAS THAT CHOICE.**
Kael’s heart pounded.
“Then what is Silence?”
The creature’s eyes darkened.
**MY SHADOW.**
Kael froze.
Mara whispered:
“Then the entity we’ve been fighting…”
**IS WHAT REMAINED WHEN I CHOSE CREATION.**
Kael understood.
Silence wasn’t the first choice.
It was the abandoned alternative.
The possibility of nothing.
The First Wolf was the choice to create.
Silence was the choice not to.
And Kael—
was the consequence.
The First Wolf behind Kael growled.
The enormous creature looked at it.
**YOU.**
The ancient wolf stepped forward.
It didn’t bow.
It didn’t retreat.
It simply stared.
The creature smiled.
**YOU WERE MADE FROM MY FIRST BREATH.**
The First Wolf growled louder.
Kael looked between them.
“You know each other.”
The First Wolf transformed.
Its body became human.
It was the same ancient warrior Kael had fought beside.
But now its expression was different.
Fear.
“I know him.”
Kael looked at him.
“Who is he?”
The First Wolf looked toward the sky.
“My father.”
Everyone became silent.
Mara stared.
“Your father?”
The First Wolf nodded.
“He created the first wolf blood.”
Kael frowned.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
“Of what?”
The First Wolf looked at the creature.
“Of what I became.”
The creature laughed.
**YOU DID NOT BECOME ANYTHING.**
The First Wolf clenched his fists.
**YOU WERE BORN HUNGRY.**
The First Wolf’s eyes filled with anger.
“I was born to protect.”
**YOU WERE BORN TO CONSUME.**
Kael stepped between them.
“Enough.”
The creature looked at him.
**YOU DEFEND HIM.**
“Yes.”
**WHY?**
“Because he chose to become better.”
The creature tilted its head.
**THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US.**
“What?”
**YOU BELIEVE CHOICE CHANGES WHAT WE ARE.**
Kael raised his sword.
“It does.”
The creature smiled.
**THEN PROVE IT.**
The sky exploded.
The creature attacked.
Kael barely raised his sword.
The impact sent him through the palace wall.
Mara transformed and lunged.
The creature caught her by the throat.
Kael’s eyes widened.
“MARA!”
The First Wolf attacked.
The creature threw him aside.
Lyra unleashed golden fire.
The creature absorbed it.
The First Mother raised both hands.
A massive silver barrier appeared.
The creature broke through it effortlessly.
Kael rose.
Blood covered his face.
He looked at the creature.
“You want proof?”
The creature smiled.
**YES.**
Kael spread his wings.
Golden energy erupted from his body.
He flew straight toward it.
The creature swung.
Kael vanished.
He appeared behind it.
His sword struck.
The creature turned.
Kael struck again.
Again.
Again.
The creature blocked every blow.
Then it grabbed Kael by the throat.
**YOU ARE POWERFUL.**
Kael struggled.
**BUT YOU ARE STILL MY CREATION.**
Kael smiled.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
He released his sword.
The creature frowned.
Kael placed his hand against its chest.
“I choose what I become.”
The First Heart exploded.
The creature screamed.
Kael was thrown backward.
But the creature was wounded.
For the first time—
blood fell from its body.
The First Mother stared.
“It’s possible.”
Mara looked at her.
“What?”
She whispered:
“He can be hurt.”
Kael rose.
The creature looked at the blood on its hand.
Then smiled.
**GOOD.**
Its wounds closed.
**VERY GOOD.**
It opened its arms.
**NOW I KNOW YOU ARE WORTH TAKING.**
The creature disappeared.
Kael felt something cold behind him.
He turned.
Too late.
A claw pierced his chest.
Mara screamed.
Kael looked down.
The claw had gone straight through his heart.
The creature whispered:
**GIVE IT TO ME.**
Kael couldn’t breathe.
The First Heart began leaving his body.
Golden light streamed into the creature’s claws.
Kael fell to his knees.
Mara attacked.
The creature threw her aside.
Lyra screamed.
“FATHER!”
Kael looked at her.
His vision blurred.
He could feel himself disappearing.
Not dying.
Something worse.
Being separated from himself.
The First Heart was being pulled out.
Kael remembered Azeron.
**Choose well.**
He remembered Mara.
**Come back.**
He remembered Lyra.
**Father.**
He remembered the little boy.
**Are we going to die?**
Kael smiled.
“No.”
The creature frowned.
Kael grabbed its arm.
“You can’t have it.”
The creature laughed.
**IT BELONGS TO ME.**
Kael looked into its eyes.
“No.”
His golden eyes burned.
“It belongs to everyone.”
The First Heart exploded.
The creature was blasted backward.
Kael fell.
Mara caught him.
His chest was empty.
No heartbeat.
Mara froze.
“Kael?”
Nothing.
“Kael!”
Lyra ran toward them.
“No!”
The First Mother rushed forward.
“Move!”
Mara looked at her.
“He’s dead.”
“No.”
The First Mother touched Kael’s chest.
“He isn’t.”
“Then why isn’t he breathing?”
“Because his heart is no longer in his body.”
Mara’s eyes widened.
“Where is it?”
The First Mother looked upward.
The golden moon began glowing.
“It’s there.”
The moon cracked.
A golden sphere appeared inside it.
The First Heart.
Kael’s soul was connected to it.
But his body remained lifeless.
The creature rose from the ruins.
It looked furious.
**YOU HAVE SEPARATED YOURSELF FROM THE HEART.**
Kael’s body suddenly moved.
He stood.
His eyes opened.
They were completely black.
Mara stepped backward.
“Kael?”
He turned toward her.
But he didn’t answer.
The First Mother whispered:
“Something went wrong.”
The creature smiled.
**YES.**
It looked at Kael.
**THE HEART HAS CHOSEN A NEW VESSEL.**
Mara’s face went pale.
“What?”
The creature laughed.
**THE GIRL.**
Everyone turned toward Lyra.
Golden light surrounded her.
She screamed.
“Father!”
Kael’s body suddenly moved toward her.
Mara stepped between them.
“Stay away from her.”
Kael stopped.
His black eyes stared at Mara.
Then a voice came from his mouth.
Not Kael’s.
**MOVE.**
Mara refused.
“No.”
**I WILL NOT HARM HER.**
“You’re not Kael.”
The figure inside Kael’s body smiled.
**CORRECT.**
The First Mother whispered:
“The First Wolf.”
The enormous creature laughed.
**NOW YOU UNDERSTAND.**
The First Wolf’s body had been abandoned.
Its consciousness had entered Kael.
Mara raised her sword.
“Get out of him.”
The creature spoke through Kael.
**I CANNOT.**
“Why?”
**BECAUSE HE INVITED ME.**
Mara looked at Kael.
Kael’s black eyes suddenly flickered gold.
A whisper escaped his lips.
“Mara…”
She froze.
“Kael?”
His eyes became gold again.
“Run.”
The First Wolf fought from inside.
The creature’s voice returned.
**HE IS LOSING.**
Kael screamed.
Mara grabbed his hand.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Run!”
“No!”
Lyra stepped forward.
“Father.”
Kael looked at her.
For one moment, his eyes became completely gold.
“Lyra…”
She reached for him.
“I know you’re still there.”
Kael smiled.
Then his eyes turned black again.
The First Wolf roared through his body.
**ENOUGH.**
A shockwave blasted everyone backward.
Kael collapsed.
The First Mother rushed toward him.
She placed both hands on his chest.
“What are you doing?” Mara asked.
“Trying to separate them.”
“Can you?”
“I don’t know.”
Lyra knelt beside Kael.
“I can.”
Everyone looked at her.
The First Mother stared.
“You’ve never done this before.”
Lyra placed her hand over Kael’s chest.
“Then I’ll learn.”
Golden light spread.
Kael’s body convulsed.
The First Wolf screamed.
The sound became a howl.
Lyra screamed too.
The First Heart responded.
The golden moon began falling from the sky.
Mara looked upward.
“The moon!”
The First Mother shouted:
“Get away!”
The moon crashed into the horizon.
The world split.
A golden wave swept across the land.
When it cleared—
Kael was standing.
Alone.
His eyes were gold.
The First Wolf was gone.
Lyra collapsed.
Kael caught her.
He looked around.
“Where is he?”
The First Mother shook her head.
“Who?”
“The First Wolf.”
She stared.
“He’s gone.”
Kael looked toward the sky.
“No.”
“What?”
“I can still hear him.”
A distant howl echoed.
The enormous creature heard it too.
Its expression changed.
**NO.**
Kael looked up.
“He’s not gone.”
The howl grew louder.
The First Wolf’s voice echoed across the world.
**I CHOOSE.**
The creature recoiled.
**YOU CANNOT.**
The First Wolf howled again.
**I CHOOSE TO PROTECT.**
Golden light appeared around Kael.
Then Mara.
Then Lyra.
Then every wolf.
The entire kingdom began glowing.
The creature screamed.
**STOP!**
Kael raised his sword.
“You wanted proof.”
He looked toward the sky.
“Here it is.”
Every wolf transformed.
Every human who carried wolf blood awakened.
Even those who had never shifted before felt the ancient power inside them.
The world became one enormous howl.
The creature staggered.
The First Mother smiled through her tears.
“He’s done it.”
Mara looked at her.
“Who?”
“The First Wolf.”
“What did he do?”
She pointed toward the sky.
“He gave everyone a choice.”
The enormous creature began shrinking.
Its cosmic body collapsed.
Its galaxies disappeared.
Its claws became hands.
Its fur became skin.
Its monstrous head became human.
Soon, only a man remained.
He landed on the ground.
He looked exhausted.
Confused.
Human.
Kael approached.
“Who are you now?”
The man looked at his hands.
“I don’t know.”
The First Mother stepped forward.
“You chose.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“You chose to protect.”
He smiled.
“Then perhaps I finally know who I am.”
Kael lowered his sword.
“What’s your name?”
The man looked at the wolves surrounding them.
Then at Kael.
Then at the golden moon.
“Give me one.”
Kael thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
“Orion.”
The man nodded.
“Orion.”
Mara walked toward Kael.
“Is it over?”
Kael looked at the sky.
“No.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
Kael pointed.
The black moon was returning.
The First Mother became pale.
“No.”
Kael stared.
“What now?”
She whispered:
“The choice created another possibility.”
Mara looked upward.
“What possibility?”
The First Mother shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
A crack opened across the black moon.
Something looked through.
Not a creature.
Not a god.
A pair of human eyes.
Then a woman’s voice echoed across the world.
**Kael.**
He froze.
He knew that voice.
Mara looked at him.
“Who is that?”
Kael couldn’t answer.
The voice came again.
**My son.**
The First Mother dropped to her knees.
Kael stared at the moon.
“Mother?”
But the First Mother was already shaking her head.
“No.”
Kael looked at her.
She whispered:
“That’s impossible.”
The woman’s voice laughed.
**You really thought I was dead?**
The black moon opened wider.
A woman stepped through.
Long silver hair.
Pale skin.
A crown of white bone.
And eyes identical to Kael’s.
The First Mother whispered the truth.
“The original creator.”
Kael raised his sword.
The woman smiled.
“Hello, Kael.”
Then she looked toward the world.
“I’ve come to take back everything I created.”
And for the first time since the beginning of creation—
Kael felt truly afraid.