CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 102: BLOOD MOON RISING

The original Alpha’s voice made the ground shake beneath their feet. His massive form blocked out the moonlight, casting everyone in darkness.

"You think breaking a few trials makes you strong?" he laughed, and the sound was like bones breaking.

"You have no idea what real power looks like." Elara stepped forward, her golden light pushing back the shadows.

"We’re not afraid of you." "You should be, little wolf." His red eyes focused on her belly. "Especially now that you carry the key to everything." "What are you talking about?" Kael moved protectively in front of Elara.

The old wolf smiled, showing teeth like daggers. "She doesn’t know yet, does she? How precious." Elara felt a strange flutter in her stomach. Not fear this time. Something else. Something warm and... living.

"The baby is why we’re all here," Tobias said softly. "It’s not just any child, Elara. It’s the one the prophecy spoke of. The one who will either save or destroy everything."

"I’m not pregnant," Elara said, but even as she spoke, her hand moved to her stomach. The flutter came again, stronger now. "Your body knows the truth," the original Alpha said.

"Can’t you feel it? The life growing inside you? The power?" Ronan snarled, his berserker rage rising. "Stop talking and fight us!"

"Oh, I will." The ancient wolf’s form began to grow larger. "But first, let me show you what you’re really fighting for." He waved his hand, and the air filled with pictures. A beautiful world where werewolves ruled everything. Humans served them like pets.

Other supernatural beings bowed before wolf packs. "This is what your child could create," he said to Elara. "Ultimate power. Perfect control. No more hiding what we are."

"That’s not what I want," Elara said, but the flutter in her stomach reacted to the images. The baby liked them. "It doesn’t matter what you want," the original Alpha laughed. "The child will choose its own way.

And with my guidance, it will choose correctly." Darian’s shadows struck out at the old wolf, but they passed right through him. "He’s not really here," Darian realized. "It’s another projection." "Smart boy." The wolf’s form flickered.

"I’m still stuck, thanks to your meddling ancestors. But not for long." "Where are you really?" Kael demanded, ice swirling around his hands.

"Somewhere your mate will have to come to me," the wolf said, looking at Elara. "The baby will make sure of that." Elara gasped as pain shot through her stomach. Not the good flutter from before.

This hurt. "Elara!" All three brothers moved toward her, but she held up her hand. "I’m okay." But she wasn’t. Something was wrong.

The baby was... changing. Growing faster than it should. "It’s starting," Tobias said grimly. "The increase. The child knows its enemy is near." "What acceleration?" Ronan grabbed Tobias by the shirt. "What’s happening to her?" "The baby isn’t normal," Tobias explained.

"It’s part of the original gene. It will grow fast when attacked. Very fast." Elara looked down at her stomach. It was bigger than it had been minutes ago. Not much, but enough to notice. "How fast?" she whispered. "Days instead of months," Tobias said. "Maybe hours if the danger is great enough." The original Alpha clapped his hands together. "Wonderful! The stronger the threat, the faster my descendant grows.

And I am the biggest threat of all." "This is insane," Kael said, but his eyes were fixed on Elara’s changing body. "We need to get her somewhere safe." "There is nowhere safe," the old wolf said. "Not anymore. My children are everywhere now. Hunting. Searching. They will find you."

As if called by his words, howls echoed from outside. Many howls. Getting closer. "The pack will protect us," Ronan said, but his voice wasn’t sure. "What pack?" The original Alpha’s projection smiled bigger. "Look around you, young fool."

They turned to see pack members walking toward the house. But their eyes glowed silver, just like the trial creatures had. "No," Elara breathed. "They’re all controlled." "Not all," a voice said from behind them. Luna Evelyn stepped out of the shadows, along with a couple of other wolves.

"Some of us are still free." "Mom?" Kael’s voice cracked with relief. "The binding spell only works on the weak-willed," Evelyn explained. "Those of us with strong mental barriers can resist it." "How many?" Darian asked. Evelyn’s face was grim. "Twelve. Out of nearly three hundred."

The controlled pack members surrounded the house now. Their silver eyes gleamed in the darkness. "Surrender the girl," they shouted in unison. "Give us the mother. Give us the child." "Never," all three brothers said together. Elara felt another wave of pain, stronger this time. When it passed, her clothes felt tighter. The baby was growing even faster now. "We need to move," Tobias said quickly.

"The longer we stay here, the faster the child develops. And once it’s born..." "What happens when it’s born?" Elara asked. Tobias met her eyes sadly. "It either becomes the savior of all supernatural creatures, or it becomes the weapon that destroys the human world forever." "And which one it becomes depends on who raises it," the original Alpha added. "Me... or you."

The controlled pack members started walking closer to the house. Their movements were jerky, like puppets on strings. "Back exit," Evelyn said quickly. "There’s a cave in the basement. It leads to the old caves." "The caves where the first pack was formed," Darian realized. "Where the original curse was cast."

"Exactly where I want you to go," the old wolf laughed. "Thank you for making this so easy." But they had no choice. The controlled dogs were breaking down the doors now.

"Go!" Ronan yelled, his berserker powers flaring as he held them back. "I’ll buy you time!" "We’re not leaving you," Kael said. "Yes, you are!" Ronan’s eyes blazed red. "Protect Elara and the baby. That’s what matters now!" Elara felt tears on her face as they ran toward the basement.

Behind them, Ronan’s battle cry echoed through the house, followed by the sounds of fighting. In the tunnel, moving as fast as they could in the darkness, Elara’s hand stayed pressed to her growing belly.

She could feel the baby moving now. Active and strong. "How long do we have?" she asked Tobias. "Until what?" "Until I give birth." Tobias was quiet for a long moment. "At this rate? Maybe six hours." Six hours to save the world. Six hours before she became a mother.

Six hours before everything changed forever. Behind them, the sounds of fighting stopped. Either Ronan had won, or... "He’s alive," Kael said, as if reading her thoughts. "I can still feel our bond." But as they reached the end of the tunnel and stepped into the ancient caves, Elara knew their real problems were just beginning.

Because waiting for them in the largest cave, surrounded by bones that glowed with silver light, was a sight that made her blood freeze. The original Alpha’s true body. Chained to the cave wall with bonds that pulsed with dark magic.

Very much living. Very much real. And the bars were starting to crack. "Hello, my dear," he said, his voice booming off the cave walls. "I’ve been waiting so long to meet you. And my great-grandchild."

Elara’s stomach cramped again, and when the pain passed, she realized with fear that she could see the baby moving beneath her skin. Time was running out

faster than anyone had thought.