Rylan rode his horse furiously, his face twisted with anger, the misunderstanding with his brother fresh in his mind—a direct result of Fane's treachery. The thundering hooves echoed his rage as he sped through the forest. Suddenly, Zane and Elara appeared, blocking his path.
"Where are you going, boy?" Zane asked his voice firm but laced with concern.
"I'm going back to your house to find Fane!" Rylan snarled, his voice trembling with fury. "He murdered my father! Now get out of my way!"
Zane held his ground, his expression unyielding. "The Crescent Blade symbolizes freedom and justice, not a weapon for blind rage. You're not ready to wield its power if you let anger cloud your judgment."
"I said, get out of my way!" Rylan barked, his grip tightening on the glowing blade. With a sharp swing, he parted the air between them, forcing Zane and Elara to step aside. Rylan urged his horse forward, speeding past them.
Rylan arrived at Zane's house, the silence thick and unnerving. Drawing his sword, he moved cautiously, scanning the area for any sign of danger. He approached the door and opened it, only to jump in fright as a chicken scurried past. From nowhere, a voice cut through the air. "Tell me where the sorceress is, or I'll run you through," Fane snarled, his sword pressed firmly against Rylan's neck.
"I'll never help you," Rylan replied defiantly, his voice unwavering.
Fane sneered. "I don't know what the sorceress has filled your head with, but are you truly willing to die for someone you barely know?"
"She didn't kill my father—you did!" Rylan roared, swinging his sword to deflect Fane's blade. With a burst of adrenaline, he leaped into action. The clash of their swords echoed through the silent house as they fought fiercely, their grunts of effort filling the air.
Fane proved stronger, knocking Rylan down and hurling him through a window with brutal force. "Beg for your life, boy, just like your father did," Fane taunted with a cruel smile, mocking Rylan's fallen father.
Dazed and bleeding, Rylan struggled to rise, his vision blurry. Fane's eyes darted to Rylan's horse and widened with glee. "The book—you brought it to me," he said with a wicked grin, spotting the Chronicle of the True Alpha strapped to the saddle. Ignoring Rylan, Fane mounted the horse and rode off.
"No!" Rylan screamed in anguish, staggering to his feet. He grabbed his horse and gave chase, but Fane had already crossed a rope bridge into the dense woods. With a swift slash of his sword, Fane severed the bridge, leaving Rylan stranded.
"Rylan!" Elara's voice rang out as she and Zane arrived.
"The book! Fane has it," Rylan said, his voice trembling with despair. "I failed. I'm not the True Alpha."
Zane stepped forward, his voice steady and commanding. "You are the True Alpha. What happened to your father is just the beginning of Malachar's evil. Only you can stop him."
Rylan looked at Zane, his resolve hardening. "How?" he asked, the desperation in his voice giving way to determination. "Teach me."
Zane nodded, beginning to chant a spell as he surrounded Rylan with a protective circle of light. "Are you ready to accept your destiny, even if it means leaving those you love?"
"I am," Rylan replied without hesitation.
"Are you ready to face this journey, knowing it may bring harm and death?"
"I am," Rylan said again, his voice resolute.
"Then, in the name of the First Moon Sage and the Elder Wolf, I name you the True Alpha," Zane declared, handing Rylan the Crescent Blade.
A fire ring encircled Rylan as he raised the blade to the sky. Lightning crackled, and the blade's power surged through him, igniting a transformation within.
Far away, in the dark chambers of his fortress, Malachar stirred violently from his sleep, his eyes wide with alarm. His breath came in shallow gasps as though waking from a nightmare. "Lord Malachar, what is it?" one of his guards asked, stepping forward cautiously.
"The True Alpha," Malachar said, his voice laced with a mix of dread and rage. "He lives." A flicker of fear crossed his eyes before he masked it with a grim determination.
Meanwhile, deep within the thick woods, Rylan, Elara, and Zane crouched together, strategizing their next move to recover the Chronicle of the True Alpha from Fane. Rylan clenched his fists, the memory of his father's death fueling his resolve.
From a distance, the rhythmic thudding of hooves echoed through the air. Emerging from the shadows was Chase, the leader of the Wolf Sentinel guards, riding his horse toward them.
Rylan tensed, drawing his sword. "I don't want to fight you, Chase, but I will if you don't back off now," he warned, assuming Chase had been sent by his brother Michael.
Chase reined in his horse and dismounted, his expression calm yet filled with concern. "I've known you since you were crawling on all fours," he said, his voice steady but firm. "Huh, which side do you think I'm on?"
Rylan hesitated, his grip on the sword loosening.
"I'm here to help you!" Chase declared, his gaze piercing through Rylan's uncertainty. Then, stepping closer, he added, "But first, you need to tell me what's going on. I deserve to know." His tone carried genuine confusion and a need for answers.
Rylan hesitated, lowering his sword slightly but still wary. "It's a long story, Chase," he began, his voice filled with exhaustion and anger. "Fane killed my father. He stole the Chronicle of the True Alpha. Now he's working to bring chaos to every pack."
Chase's brows furrowed as he took in the weight of Rylan's words. "Fane? He's a traitor to his kind now?" Chase asked his tone a mix of disbelief and realization.
Zane stepped forward, his presence commanding. "It's worse than you think. Fane isn't acting alone—this is part of Malachar's larger plan. The balance between the packs is at risk, and only the True Alpha can stop it."
Chase glanced at Rylan, his expression softening with a newfound understanding. "And you?" he asked, his voice steady.
Rylan straightened, gripping the crescent blade tightly. The glow of its markings reflected his renewed determination. "I'll stop him. I'll stop them all," he declared, his voice resolute.
Chase nodded slowly, a faint smile of pride forming on his lips. "Then you'll have my support. Whatever it takes, I'll stand by you."
Malachar's demonic smile twisted into something far more menacing as he towered over Fraden. "I have been so grateful to you, Fraden, and I have always rewarded you accordingly. But now, I see you have failed me," Malachar said, his voice like the rumble of a distant storm.
Fraden dropped to his knees, trembling. "No, my lord! My men and I carried out your orders precisely. We murdered every first son in the village of Victoria!" he pleaded, his eyes wide with fear.
Malachar's red eyes glowed with fury. "Except for the one that mattered. You let him slip through your fingers," he snarled. His tone darkened, dripping with venom. "For twenty-three years, I have slept in peace, certain that I averted the prophecy. And now tonight, a vision came to me—a terrible dream. I saw him, the True Alpha, taking the crescent blade. He has been named!"
Fraden's face drained of color as he stammered, "Then let me assemble my men, my lord. I will find him. I will finish the task!"
Malachar chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating through the chamber. "I appreciate your sentiment, old friend, but your time has passed. It is time to let younger blood take up the cause."
With a swift motion, Malachar seized Fraden's outstretched hand and slashed it with a ceremonial dagger. Blood flowed freely into a golden cup, the deep crimson liquid glowing faintly as it pooled. Fraden groaned in agony before collapsing lifelessly to the floor.
"Bring me the Journey Book," Malachar commanded.
The magical artifact was brought forward, its dark leather binding emanating an ominous energy. The Journey Book allowed instant written communication between two enchanted volumes. Malachar dipped a feathered quill into Fraden's blood and wrote his orders with precision and malice:
"Assemble our most powerful sorcerers and wolf packs. Deploy them with artillery batteries at intervals along the border. Use their magic to penetrate the boundary. Once through, the Iron Pack Claw will find the True Alpha and kill him. This is an order from Lord Malachar. Get to work immediately."
On the other side of the magical connection, the general guarding the border read the blood-written command in the second Journey Book. Without hesitation, he barked orders to his men. The preparations to hunt the True Alpha were set in motion.