The night passed without further incident, but the silence that followed felt more oppressive than the howls of the wolves. Eryk and Kael continued their journey toward the kingdom, the weight of the last encounter heavy on their shoulders. The clearing had been an eerie reminder of the power that still lurked in the shadows—both within the forest and within Eryk himself.

By dawn, the dense forest had given way to a rolling hillside, and the faint outline of the kingdom’s walls came into view, silhouetted against the rising sun. It should have been a relief, but as they approached, a knot of unease tightened in Eryk’s chest. He hadn’t forgotten the warning from the Alpha wolf—that he was no different from Velkor.

You are the same.

The words rang in his mind like a haunting refrain, the magic inside him simmering just below the surface. He could feel it, itching to be unleashed, but he kept it contained. He had to. For Kael. For the kingdom. For everyone who depended on him.

But deep inside, a part of him wondered if the magic had already begun to claim him.

"You alright?" Kael’s voice broke through his thoughts, gentle but concerned.

Eryk glanced at him, offering a half-hearted smile. "Just thinking."

Kael’s brow furrowed. "About what?"

"About Velkor. About the Alpha wolf. They both thought I was destined for the same path, that the magic would consume me. What if they’re right?"

Kael didn’t answer immediately, his gaze flicking to the horizon. “You’re not him, Eryk,” Kael said finally, his voice steady, like a rock against a turbulent sea. “You choose your path. Every day, every moment. Velkor was consumed by his hunger for more power. But you... you don’t want that. You never have.”

Eryk nodded slowly, but doubts still lingered in his heart. Kael’s words, while comforting, couldn’t erase the fear that gnawed at him. What if Kael was wrong? What if the magic was already changing him, without him even realizing it?

Before he could voice his concerns, the distant sound of hooves reached his ears. Kael’s hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, his body tensing.

“More trouble?” Eryk asked, his heart picking up its pace.

Kael squinted ahead, his eyes narrowing. "I don’t know, but it’s too early for travelers."

As the sound grew louder, the figure of a lone rider emerged over the crest of the hill. The rider was clad in armor, the insignia of the kingdom visible on their chest—a royal sigil, unmistakable. The rider reined in their horse as they approached Eryk and Kael, their eyes immediately locking onto the prince.

“Prince Eryk,” the rider called out, their voice strong, but the tension in it was palpable. “You’re expected at the castle. Immediately.”

Eryk’s heart sank. He hadn’t been back to the castle in weeks, and with everything that had transpired, the idea of facing his family again filled him with a sense of foreboding.

“Why?” Eryk asked, his voice careful.

“There’s been word from the capital,” the rider replied, their gaze flicking to Kael before returning to Eryk. “The council wishes to speak with you. There are matters of great importance.”

The rider’s words left little room for argument. Eryk could tell that whatever the council wanted, it wasn’t a simple matter. His mind raced, already dreading the political maneuvering he would face once he returned to the castle.

“I assume this has something to do with the wolves,” Eryk said, narrowing his eyes. “They won’t leave us alone, and I’m not sure what good an audience with the council will do if they’re the ones causing trouble.”

The rider shifted uneasily in the saddle, glancing at Kael once more. “The council’s concerns go beyond the wolves. They… they’re concerned about you, Your Highness. They fear your magic, and they fear what it means for the kingdom.”

Eryk’s stomach twisted. Of course they did. It wasn’t just the wolves that were a threat anymore. It was him.

“I see,” Eryk replied slowly, his voice cold. “I suppose I have no choice but to go then.”

Kael stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. “We’ll go with you. If there’s a matter of security to be discussed, then I’m not leaving the prince alone.”

The rider nodded. “Very well. The council will expect you in the throne room.”

The journey back to the castle felt longer than it should have. Eryk’s thoughts churned with uncertainty, the weight of his magic pressing on him with every passing moment. Kael stayed close, his presence a small comfort in the sea of anxiety swirling inside Eryk.

When the gates of the kingdom finally came into view, the grandeur of the castle struck Eryk with the familiar pang of dread. It was a place of his birth, a place of power and tradition, but it was also a place that felt increasingly foreign to him. He hadn’t returned since his brief encounter with Velkor, and the ghosts of that battle still lingered in his mind.

As they entered the castle courtyard, Eryk’s eyes caught sight of the royal banners fluttering in the breeze. His heart stuttered as he imagined what awaited him within those walls. The council, his parents, the nobility—he had to face them all, knowing that the very magic he had been born with was now a subject of fear and suspicion.

Inside the castle, the air felt cooler, the stone walls oppressive in their silence. Eryk followed the rider through the corridors, each step echoing ominously as they neared the throne room.

As they approached the massive doors of the throne room, Eryk felt his pulse quicken. The weight of expectation pressed down on him, the eyes of the council, his family, and the entire kingdom about to fall upon him. He wasn’t just a prince anymore—he was something else, something dangerous, something they feared.

The doors swung open, and the marble floors of the throne room stretched out before him, gleaming in the soft light that filtered through the high windows. At the far end, his parents sat on their thrones, their expressions unreadable. A row of councilors stood in the shadows, their faces stern and silent, waiting for him.

“Eryk,” his father’s voice called out, the word sharp as it echoed through the chamber. “We have much to discuss.”

Eryk felt a chill run down his spine as he stepped into the room. The eyes of the council, of his parents, were like daggers, and he knew—deep in his bones—that whatever happened next would change everything.

“Let’s get this over with,” he muttered to himself, his hand brushing against his sword hilt as he faced the gathering storm ahead.

The council’s gaze never wavered.

This was the moment.

The moment he would have to choose—between duty, fear, and the power inside him that could either save or destroy them all.