Chapter 27 – The Gathering Storm
POV: Seren Thorne
The air had shifted since the destruction of the Heartstone. It felt like the world was holding its breath, as if everything that had come before—every moment, every choice—was leading to this one point. The Old Gods were waking, and we had no idea what their wrath would look like.
But one thing was clear: the peace I'd fought for was slipping away, piece by piece. The Alpha War had merely been a distraction, a smokescreen for something much more terrifying. It wasn't just my bloodline that was in danger anymore. It was all of us.
"They'll come for us, won't they?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I stood beside Kael on the ramparts, staring out into the horizon where the first light of dawn was breaking.
He squeezed my hand, his expression solemn. "Yes, they'll come. And we need to be ready."
I could see the tension in his eyes, the weight of the responsibility pressing on his shoulders. Kael had always been strong, but now he was stepping into a role he hadn't fully prepared for—leading not just his pack, but a coalition of wolves that had never been united under one banner. The Old Gods didn't care about our alliances. They didn't care about our peace.
They wanted to take back what we had stolen.
A voice from behind us interrupted the silence. "Alpha Kael," Soren said, his voice sharp. "The scouts are reporting movement at the borders. It's not just wolves. There are—"
"Humans," I finished, dread creeping up my spine.
Soren nodded. "Yes. And they're bringing weapons."
I turned to face him, my mind racing. "Weapons?" My voice was tight with concern. "But what do they have to do with the Old Gods?"
Soren's jaw tightened. "They're not just any humans. They're connected to the prophecy. I've heard whispers about them—the Forsaken Order. A sect of humans who worship the Old Gods. They're the ones who can release the full power of the gods... if they can get to us."
"Great," Kael muttered under his breath. "As if we didn't have enough enemies."
"We need to move fast," I said. "We can't afford to wait for them to come to us. We need to be proactive. If the Forsaken Order is involved, that means they have knowledge we don't."
"Then let's take it from them before they have a chance to use it against us," Kael said, his eyes flashing with determination.