CHAPTER 80: THE WEAKENING

Chapter 80: The Weakening

The news spread faster than wildfire. By sunrise, every pack within a hundred miles knew the truth: the Alpha triplets had lost their strength.

The blood bond was broken. The strongest wolves in the area were now as weak as humans.

Liana stood at the main hall window, watching messenger ravens circle overhead like hawks. Each black bird brought the same message to different packs: The Shadowfang Alphas are vulnerable. Now is the time to strike. "Seventeen challenges arrived this morning," Talia reported, setting a stack of formal letters on the table.

"The Bloodclaw Pack wants our eastern area. The Ironback Pack demands our water rights. And the Nightshade Pack..." She paused, looking sick. "They want you." "Want me?" Liana turned from the window. "As their Luna. They say a true Alpha bloodline should claim you, not three weak brothers."

Rage flashed through Liana’s chest. "Over my dead body." "That might be arranged sooner than you think."

The voice came from the hallway. Marcus, the pack’s Second Beta, stepped into the room with five other top wolves behind him. His gray beard was properly groomed, his stance proud and challenging. "We need to talk." Liana straightened her shoulders. "Then talk." "This pack needs real direction.

Not some omega girl playing dress-up while our true Alphas heal." Marcus’s words carried the authority of someone used to being obeyed. "Step aside. Let the adult wolves handle this crisis." "The adult wolves?" Liana’s words stayed calm, but her hands clenched into fists. "You mean the same adult wolves who let Lyra control the pack for months?

The same ones who almost got Rowan killed?" "Watch your tone," growled Beta Harrison, Marcus’s best ally. "You’re still just an omega." "No." The word came out harder than Liana meant.

"I’m your Luna. Chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. And right now, I’m the only one standing between this pack and total destruction." Marcus laughed, but it wasn’t a nice sound. "Luna? You’re nothing but a girl who got lucky with a special bond. When the triplets were strong, maybe that meant something.

Now?" He waved dismissively. "You’re just another omega who forgot her place." Before Liana could reply, the heavy doors burst open. Jace stumbled in, still pale from his ordeal but anger blazing in his green eyes. "Say that again," he growled at Marcus. "I dare you." Marcus’s expression changed to mock sympathy. "Jace. You should be sleeping.

Leave the pack job to those who still have the strength to handle it." "I have enough strength to rip your throat out." "Do you?" Marcus smiled coldly. "Try it. Let’s see how much Alpha power you have left." Jace took a step forward, his body already changing into attack position.

But nothing happened. No claws spread. No teeth dropped. His eyes stayed their normal green instead of flashing gold. The silence in the room was deafening.

"Pathetic," Marcus whispered. "You can’t even shift anymore." Jace’s face went white, but before he could react, Liana stepped between them. "Enough." Her voice cut through the stress like a blade.

"Marcus, if you want to question my authority, then challenge me properly. Call for a public vote. But until then, you’ll show respect or get out of my sight." "Respect?" Marcus’s voice rose. "You want respect? Fine. Here’s your respect." He turned to face the other wolves in the room.

"All in favor of removing this omega from temporary leadership, raise your hands." Five hands shot up instantly. Liana’s heart sank as she counted. More than half the adult wolves.

"Motion carries," Marcus declared smugly. "Pack business will now be handled by the Beta Council until proper Alpha leadership is restored." "This isn’t over," Liana said softly. "Oh, but it is." Marcus moved closer, his voice falling to a threatening whisper. "Know your place, omega. Before someone puts you back in it."

The group of dissenting wolves filed out, leaving Liana and Jace alone except for Talia, who had pressed herself against the far wall during the fight.

"They can’t do this," Jace said, his voice shaking with anger and fatigue. "You’re our Luna. The Moon Goddess herself---" "The Moon Goddess chose me to be mated to three powerful Alphas," Liana interrupted bitterly. "Not three broken humans." "We’re not broken," Jace argued, but even he didn’t sound convinced. A new voice spoke from the doorway.

"No, but you’re definitely not whole." They turned to see Elder Mira entering, her face grave. Behind her walked two guards bringing a familiar figure in chains. Celeste. The former Beta’s daughter looked terrible. Her golden hair was matted, her ice-blue eyes sunken and wild.

Dark magic had left its mark on her, aging her beyond her nineteen years. "Why is she here?" Liana demanded. "Because she asked to speak with you," Mira answered.

"She claims to have information about Lyra’s next move." "Information that could save your precious pack," Celeste added, her voice hoarse but still holding that familiar arrogance. "Though I’m not sure you deserve saving." "What do you want?" Liana asked.

"Freedom. A chance to leave this area and never return." Celeste’s chains clinked as she shifted. "In exchange, I’ll tell you exactly what Lyra is planning for the Convergence." "Why should we trust you?" "Because I’m the only one who knows." Celeste’s laugh was bitter. "She used me, manipulated me, made me think I was her friend. But I heard things. Saw things. And now that she’s thrown me away like garbage, I have nothing left to lose." Liana studied Celeste’s face, looking for signs of lying. But all she saw was exhaustion and real fear. "Talk first," Liana said finally. "Then we’ll discuss terms." Celeste nodded slowly.

"The Void Wolves aren’t just creatures from another realm. They’re the souls of every Alpha who ever died in betrayal. Every Luna who was killed for her power. Every pack that was killed and forgotten." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "They’re not going to invade our world. They’re coming home." "What does that mean?" Jace asked. "It means they have a right to be here.

A stronger right than we do." Celeste’s eyes met Liana’s. "And they’re not just hungry for power. They’re hungry for justice. For justice against the bloodlines that destroyed them." "Including ours," Liana realized. "Especially yours.

The royal blood that runs through you? It’s the same blood that betrayed the first Void Pack centuries ago." Celeste’s smile was sharp as a knife. "You’re not their savior, Liana. You’re their target." The room went quiet. Outside, thunder boomed even though the sky was clear. "There’s more," Celeste continued. "The Convergence isn’t just about bringing them through. It’s about combining our world with theirs. Creating a new world where the dead rule the living." "How do we stop it?" Liana asked.

"That’s the problem." Celeste’s voice was almost pitying. "You can’t. Not without the one thing Lyra made sure you’d never have." "Which is?" "The combined power of three bonded Alphas." Celeste motioned toward Jace. "The power your precious triplets just threw away to save one brother’s life." The possibilities hit Liana like a physical blow. They’d sacrificed the only tool that could have saved them all. "But there might be another way," Celeste added quickly, seeing Liana’s face. "A way to recover what was lost.

But it takes a sacrifice even greater than the one the triplets already made." "What kind of sacrifice?" Before Celeste could answer, the building shook. Outside, screams exploded from the courtyard. Through the window, Liana could see pack members running in fear as dark shapes poured out of the forest. The attack had started.

"Too late," Celeste whispered, her face going pale. "She’s starting early. The walls are weaker than we thought." The blood moon pulsed overhead, and somewhere in the distance, something roared with the rage of a thousand murdered souls. "Tell me!" Liana grabbed Celeste’s shoulders.

"Tell me how to restore their power!" But Celeste was staring at something behind Liana, her eyes wide with fear. Liana spun around and saw him standing in the doorway. Rowan. But his soft blue eyes were now silver, and shadows writhed around his feet like living smoke. "Too late," he said in a voice that wasn’t quite his own. "She’s already here."

The last thing Liana saw before the world went dark was Rowan’s face, twisted with pain and something else. Something hungry. The Void Wolves weren’t coming. They were already inside.