The next morning, the kingdom felt different—heavier. The air itself seemed thick with unspoken tension. Eryk could feel it as soon as he stepped out of his chambers, as though the weight of the cloak around his shoulders had somehow grown even heavier overnight.

The message the cloaked figure had left him still echoed in his mind. You are the key to the wolves’ plans. The words were seared into his thoughts, replaying over and over like an ominous warning. What did they mean by that? What was his connection to the wolves, and why did they think he was a threat?

As if the world itself had decided to answer his unspoken questions, a sudden commotion broke out near the castle gates. It was unmistakable: the sounds of wolves howling. But these weren’t ordinary howls. They were filled with an eerie sense of purpose, an urgency that chilled Eryk’s blood. The wolves weren’t simply approaching—they were rallying, gathering.

He had to act quickly. He couldn’t wait for another cryptic message to reach him.

Kael appeared beside him as if summoned by his thoughts. His face was grim, and his hand was already resting on the hilt of his sword, the familiar weight comforting.

“What’s happening?” Eryk asked, his voice low.

“The wolves are moving,” Kael replied, his eyes scanning the horizon. “We need to get to the gates, now.”

Eryk didn’t need any further urging. He sprinted alongside Kael, their footsteps echoing through the stone hallways as they made their way to the castle’s outer walls. The council had ordered that all soldiers be stationed at the gates in case of an attack, but the sounds coming from the forest were like nothing they had heard before. The wolves were not acting like mindless beasts—they were coordinated, organized. And that could only mean one thing.

The Alpha was near.

As they reached the gates, the soldiers were already in position, weapons drawn, eyes scanning the tree line. Eryk could feel the tension in the air, a collective sense of waiting, of fear. His heart raced in his chest as he stepped forward.

“Eryk, you don’t have to do this,” Kael said, voice tight with worry as he caught Eryk’s arm. “Let me handle this. Stay behind the lines.”

Eryk shook his head, meeting Kael’s gaze. “No. I can’t hide behind others anymore. This is my responsibility. I need to understand what’s happening. And I need to do it now.”

Kael hesitated, then nodded, though there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. “I’ll be right behind you, always.”

The howls grew louder, sharper, more piercing. And then, in the distance, they saw it—a figure emerging from the trees. Tall, imposing, with eyes that seemed to glow in the dimming light. The Alpha.

Eryk felt a chill run down his spine. The Alpha was here, and he wasn’t alone. Behind him, a pack of wolves flanked him, their bodies taut with barely contained aggression.

But it wasn’t just the wolves that Eryk’s eyes were drawn to. It was the figure beside the Alpha—tall, cloaked in dark leathers, with a presence that radiated power. Someone different. Someone who wasn’t a wolf, but was still very much involved in this battle.

“Eryk,” Kael said urgently, his voice a whisper. “That’s not just the Alpha. That’s the one—the one who spoke to you in the garden.”

Eryk’s breath caught in his throat. It was him—the cloaked figure. The one who had warned him of the danger within. The one who had said his magic was the key.

Before he could react, the Alpha stepped forward, his massive form moving with an elegant, predatory grace. His fur was dark as night, his eyes glowing with an inner fire. The moment he moved, the soldiers surrounding the gates tensed, ready to defend the castle at all costs.

But the Alpha wasn’t attacking—not yet.

He paused, his gaze locking onto Eryk’s. And then, in a voice that was deep and resonant, he spoke.

“You are the one who has been tainted by the power of the ancients,” the Alpha said, his tone filled with an unsettling mix of disdain and curiosity. “You are the one I’ve been searching for.”

Eryk’s heart skipped a beat. Tainted? His power, the magic inside him—it wasn’t just a gift or a curse. It was something older, something dangerous. And now the Alpha was seeking him out.

“I don’t want any part of this,” Eryk said, his voice firm, though his pulse raced with the weight of the Alpha’s gaze. “I’m not your enemy.”

The Alpha’s lips curled into something like a smile, though it lacked any trace of warmth. “You are not my enemy, Prince. But you are mine to claim.”

At those words, the world seemed to freeze. Eryk’s stomach turned, and he could feel Kael’s grip tighten around his arm, his body stiff with readiness. The tension in the air was almost palpable.

The cloaked figure stepped forward then, a dark silhouette against the rising sun. “He doesn’t understand, Alpha. You should be more direct.”

The Alpha’s golden eyes shifted toward the cloaked figure, and for a moment, there was a silent exchange between them. It was as if they were speaking without words, and the weight of their connection made Eryk’s skin prickle with unease.

“I don’t care if he understands,” the Alpha replied, his voice like a growl. “He will come to understand, in time. The magic inside him is mine to control, just as the pack is.”

Eryk’s breath caught in his throat. Control.

“I won’t be controlled,” Eryk said, his voice rising with defiance. “I am the prince of this kingdom. I will not bow to you or your pack.”

The Alpha’s eyes narrowed, his gaze hardening. “You have no choice. The power you carry is ancient. And it will not be ignored. The wolves are not just after you—they are after the magic that courses through your veins. And they will not stop until they have it.”

The words struck Eryk like a physical blow. He could feel the weight of their meaning—they want his magic. The magic that had once felt like a curse, now the center of everything, was more than just a part of him. It was the key to something far darker, and the wolves, led by the Alpha, would stop at nothing to claim it.

Before Eryk could respond, the Alpha stepped forward, his powerful form a mere blur of motion. His speed was unreal. In the blink of an eye, he was standing directly before Eryk, his eyes inches from his.

“You are not in control of your power, Prince. But I can show you how it’s done,” the Alpha growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Eryk instinctively stepped back, but the Alpha’s hand shot out, grabbing his wrist with an iron grip.

“I’ll show you, Eryk,” the Alpha said. “And then, you’ll understand why you belong to me.”

Kael’s voice was a thunderclap in the stillness. “Let him go!”

But the Alpha’s eyes never left Eryk’s. The power in the air was crackling, and Eryk could feel the magic inside him stir in response to the Alpha’s proximity—the power he feared, the power he didn’t understand.

For the first time, he realized how little control he had over it. And that thought, more than anything, terrified him.

The Alpha’s lips curled into a predatory smile, and Eryk could feel the danger closing in. He wasn’t just fighting for his kingdom. He was fighting for his very soul.

And the battle was only just beginning.