Chapter 6
"You have no choice..."
Alpha Draven's voice pierced the narrow healer's chamber, cutting deeper than any sharp blade. The air around him vibrated with an aura of cruel dominance, a dark tremor that made the hairs on Alena's neck stand on end. Behind Draven, a pair of fiery red eyes glowed, not just from wolves, but from creatures that looked like living shadows—leaner, faster, and wilder than ordinary wolves. These were Draven's mist-shrouded subordinates, the very forces she had encountered and avoided in the wild.
Zara gasped beside Alena, her breath caught. Her eyes, which had been full of understanding moments before, now widened with genuine fear. She tried to step back, but one of the shadow creatures had darted in, blocking her. Its teeth bared, letting out a low growl that echoed in the room.
Alena stood rigid, her power throbbing, yearning for the freedom to explode and burn. She felt the familiar anger surge, a mixture of fear and a refusal to be a victim again. Her eyes locked with Draven's, a powerfully built man in a black leather cloak that blended with the night's darkness, and eyes that shone with pure ambition. He was like a master predator who had finally found his prey.
"I have a choice," Alena retorted, her voice trembling but firm. The power within her swirled, producing a faint silver light that emanated from her skin, making the shadows around her dance. This was not raw power like at the border, but a more controlled preparation, a shield beginning to form around her. "I'm not coming with you."
Draven laughed, a dry, hollow laugh, devoid of any joy. It was the laugh of a king accustomed to getting what he wanted. "Oh, you will come, Luna Primordial. Or should I call you 'The Bearer'? Those ancient names do have a certain allure, don't they?" He stepped forward, slowly, as if admiring a precious painting. His movements were calm, yet every muscle exuded menace. "I know about those ancient entities. They whisper in your ear, just as they whisper to me. We are not so different, you and I."
"I am not like you," Alena countered, taking a step back, pulling the still-petrified Zara behind her. "I will not use my power for dominion."
"Power is only about dominion, little Luna," Draven replied, a cynical smile curving his lips. "And you possess the purest power. Power that could cleave worlds apart, or unite them beneath my heel." He pointed at her, not with a finger, but with an aura of dominance that made the air feel heavy. "Look at you, trembling before me. You are afraid of your own power. You are afraid of becoming a monster, aren't you? I can feel your fear."
The fear was indeed there, dancing at the edge of her consciousness. Alena felt the power within her stir, as if responding to Draven's provocation. She could feel the energy, begging to be unleashed, to obliterate the threat before her. But she held it back, remembering the emptiness and destruction she had left in the past.
"Let her go, Draven!" Zara suddenly cried out, finding courage from who knew where. "You have no right to invade our territory and abduct anyone!"
Draven's gaze shifted to Zara, his red eyes flaring with warning. "You talk too much for a healer, woman. Be silent. Or you will regret it." The growls from the shadow creatures behind him grew louder, complementing Draven's threat.
Alena stepped forward, shielding Zara with her body. "Don't touch her!" she snapped, the silver power around her pulsing brighter. "If you want me, come and take me yourself!"
Draven stopped his advance, his smile widening, revealing a perfect set of teeth. "Ah, that spirit. I like it. Burning lunar energy, pure, and so... delicious." He licked his lips, a chilling gesture. "It's a shame that foolish Alpha Orion rejected a gem like you. A great loss for him, a great gain for me."
"Orion would never let you do this," Alena said, the mere mention of his name inexplicably giving her a sliver of strength, a strange boost.
"Alpha Orion?" Draven laughed again, this time with a mocking tone. "He is too busy with his childish games, training his weak warriors, trying to rebuild what his own fear has destroyed. He has no idea what is happening right under his nose. He is too blinded by the past and his empty ambitions to see the true threat." Draven turned to one of his subordinates. "Go. Create a disturbance at the main gate. Make sure Alpha Orion is busy with 'minor enemies' while I secure my main prize."
The shadow creature nodded, then shot away like lightning, disappearing into the shadows of the night.
Alena felt her heart plummet. Draven had planned this. This was not merely a sudden attack, but a cunning strategy, a diversion. She knew Orion would never allow something like this to happen if he knew about it. But Draven was right, Orion was busy, blinded by his bitterness.
"You won't succeed," Alena insisted, raising her hands. The silver light emanating from her now began to expand, forming a small, pulsating ball of energy in her palms. This was her first attempt to control that power with purpose, not just an emotional outburst. She felt its heat, its vibration, but she held it back.
Draven merely snorted. "This isn't about succeeding, Luna. This is about certainty. And I will certainly have you." He suddenly surged forward with astonishing speed. There was no growl, no howl. He moved like a shadow himself, disappearing for a moment and reappearing right in front of Alena.
Draven extended a powerful hand, trying to grab Alena's arm. However, just before the touch, Alena's silver energy exploded outward, not as a destructive blast, but as a pure shockwave that propelled Draven away. The ball of energy in her hand shattered, scattering light throughout the room, illuminating Draven's startled face and Zara's frightened eyes.
Draven stumbled back a few steps, a rare look of surprise on his face. "Interesting," he murmured, his lips forming a thin smile again. "Stronger than I thought. And you don't even know how to control it. Remarkable potential."
Outside, a louder, closer, and more urgent howl was heard. This time it was not a strange howl. It was the war howl of Orion's pack warriors, mixed with the sounds of clashes, screams, and the rumble of battle that had suddenly erupted throughout the settlement. As Draven had planned, war had begun.
Alena seized Draven's momentary surprise. She extended her hands again, this time envisioning a wall, a shield of energy. The silver wave expanded rapidly, forming a shimmering barrier between her and Draven. She felt the pull of energy from within her, a nearly unbearable burden, but she held it. She had to protect Zara. She had to protect herself.





























