Chereads / The Alpha's Blood Hunt / Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: The Lost Valley

Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: The Lost Valley

The forest was eerily silent as Caleb Draven led the Redfangs deeper into the heart of the Forgotten Vale. The ancient blade, still glowing faintly in his hand, pulsed with a strange, otherworldly energy. The air was thick with tension, the weight of the blade's power pressing down on them like a physical force. Caleb's sharp green eyes scanned the treeline, his instincts on high alert. The revenant's sudden reappearance had shaken them all, but Caleb knew they couldn't afford to falter. The blade had to be returned to the Forgotten Vale, and they had to do it quickly.

"Stay close," Caleb warned, his voice low but firm. "We don't know what's out here."

The pack nodded, their expressions grim but determined. They moved in tight formation, their senses tuned to the slightest sound or movement. The forest seemed to press in around them, the shadows deepening with every step.

As they ventured deeper into the Forgotten Vale, the ground beneath their feet began to change. The soft earth gave way to cracked, jagged stone, and the trees thinned out, revealing a desolate landscape of ruins and crumbling structures. The Forgotten Vale was a place of legend, a cursed land that no wolf had dared to enter for centuries. The stories spoke of traps, ancient curses, and horrors that defied explanation.

Caleb's sharp green eyes scanned the area, his instincts screaming at him to turn back. But he pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand. They needed to find the altar where the blade had been forged, and they needed to do it fast.

"Spread out," Caleb ordered, his voice carrying over the eerie silence. "But stay within sight. We don't know what's out here."

The pack obeyed, fanning out to search the ruins. Caleb moved cautiously, his senses on high alert as he scanned the area for any sign of the altar. The ruins were ancient, their stone walls covered in moss and vines. Strange symbols were carved into the stone, their meanings lost to time.

As Caleb explored the ruins, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The air was thick with tension, and the faint sound of whispers seemed to grow louder with every step. He glanced over his shoulder, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows, but he saw nothing.

"Alpha," Marcus called, his voice tense. "Over here."

Caleb followed the sound of Marcus's voice, his heart pounding as he approached. Marcus stood at the edge of a large, circular structure, his eyes fixed on something in the center.

Caleb's breath caught in his throat as he saw what Marcus was looking at. In the center of the structure was a pedestal, and on top of the pedestal was a stone altar. The altar was covered in runes, their patterns swirling and twisting in ways that seemed almost alive. The air around the altar was thick with power, and Caleb could feel it pulsing in time with his heartbeat.

"This is it," Caleb said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The altar where the blade was forged."

Marcus nodded, his expression grim. "But how do we know it's safe to approach? This place is cursed, Caleb. There's no telling what kind of traps are waiting for us."

Caleb hesitated, his mind racing. Marcus was right---the Forgotten Vale was a place of death, and the altar was likely guarded by traps or curses. But they didn't have time to be cautious. The blade's power was growing stronger, and they needed to act fast.

"We don't have a choice," Caleb said, his voice firm. "We need to return the blade to the altar."

He stepped forward, his hand hovering just above the hilt of the blade. The air around the altar seemed to grow heavier, the whispers growing louder until they were almost deafening. Caleb's heart pounded as he wrapped his fingers around the hilt, the cold metal sending a shiver down his spine.

And then, the ground beneath them began to shake.

Caleb's eyes widened as the ruins around them began to crumble, the stone walls collapsing as the earth split open. The pack scattered, their howls of alarm echoing through the air as the ground gave way beneath them.

"Run!" Caleb barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The pack obeyed, their movements frantic as they tried to escape the collapsing ruins. Caleb clutched the blade tightly, his mind racing as he tried to find a way out. The ground was crumbling beneath his feet, the air thick with dust and debris.

And then, just as they reached the edge of the ruins, the ground gave way completely. Caleb's heart pounded as he fell, the world spinning around him as he tumbled into the darkness.

When he finally hit the ground, the impact knocked the breath from his lungs. He lay there for a moment, his body aching as he struggled to catch his breath. The blade was still clutched tightly in his hand, its glow faint but steady.

Caleb pushed himself to his feet, his sharp eyes scanning the area. The pack was scattered, their forms barely visible in the dim light. But they were alive.

"Everyone okay?" Caleb called, his voice hoarse.

A chorus of groans and muttered affirmations answered him. Caleb let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what had just happened.

And then, he heard it---a low, guttural growl that sent a chill down his spine.

Caleb turned, his eyes locking onto the source of the sound. From the shadows, a figure emerged. It was a wolf, but not like any Caleb had ever seen. Its fur was matted and black, its eyes glowing with an unnatural red light. The revenant.

Caleb's heart pounded as the creature lunged at them, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed. The Redfangs scattered, their howls of alarm echoing through the air as the revenant tore through their ranks.

Caleb shifted into his wolf form, his claws extended as he prepared to face the creature. But even as he charged forward, he knew this was a fight they couldn't win.

The revenant was unlike anything he had ever faced. It moved with a savage, otherworldly grace, its attacks precise and deadly. Caleb's claws raked across its side, but the creature didn't even flinch. Instead, it turned its glowing eyes on him, its jaws opening to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Caleb barely had time to react as the revenant lunged at him, its claws aiming for his throat. He twisted, his body moving on instinct, but the creature's claws still grazed his side, leaving deep gashes in their wake.

"Fall back!" Caleb barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Regroup at the ridge!"

The Redfangs obeyed, retreating in tight formation as the revenant howled, its voice echoing with a chilling, otherworldly resonance.

Caleb was the last to retreat, his green eyes locked onto the creature as it melted back into the shadows.

This was no ordinary enemy. And Caleb knew that if they didn't find a way to stop it, the Redfangs wouldn't survive the next encounter.

---

### **Cliffhanger: The Blade's Secret**

As the Redfangs regrouped at the ridge, Caleb noticed something strange. The blade in his hand was glowing brighter than ever, its runes pulsing with a faint, otherworldly light. The air around it was thick with energy, and Caleb could feel it pulsing in time with his heartbeat.

"Nyra," Caleb called, his voice tense. "What's happening?"

Nyra stepped forward, her eyes wide with fear. "The blade... it's reacting to the revenant's presence. It's drawing power from the Blood Moon, but it's also drawing power from you."

Caleb's jaw tightened. "What does that mean?"

Nyra hesitated, her hands trembling as she studied the blade. "It means the blade is feeding on your life force, Caleb. If we don't return it to the altar soon, it could kill you."

Caleb's heart skipped a beat. The blade was their only hope of stopping the revenant, but it was also a ticking time bomb. They had to act fast.

"Then we go back to the altar," Caleb said, his voice firm. "We end this once and for all."

The pack nodded, their expressions filled with resolve. They had fought too hard and lost too much to back down now. Caleb tightened his grip on the blade and stepped forward, his green eyes burning with determination.

But as they prepared to leave, Caleb couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them. The forest was too quiet, the air too still. It was as if the land itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

And then, just as they reached the edge of the ridge, Caleb heard it---a low, guttural growl that sent a chill down his spine.

Caleb's sharp green eyes scanned the darkness, his instincts on high alert. The growl came again, closer this time, and Caleb's heart pounded as he realized what it was.

The revenant.

But how? They had defeated it. They had seen it destroyed.

Caleb's mind raced as he turned to face the source of the sound. From the shadows, a figure emerged. It was a wolf, but not like any Caleb had ever seen. Its fur was matted and black, its eyes glowing with an unnatural red light.

The revenant.

Caleb's heart pounded as the creature lunged at them, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed. The Redfangs scattered, their howls of alarm echoing through the forest as the revenant tore through their ranks.

Caleb shifted into his wolf form, his claws extended as he prepared to face the creature. But even as he charged forward, he knew this was a fight they couldn't win.

The revenant was unlike anything he had ever faced. It moved with a savage, otherworldly grace, its attacks precise and deadly. Caleb's claws raked across its side, but the creature didn't even flinch. Instead, it turned its glowing eyes on him, its jaws opening to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Caleb barely had time to react as the revenant lunged at him, its claws aiming for his throat. He twisted, his body moving on instinct, but the creature's claws still grazed his side, leaving deep gashes in their wake.

"Fall back!" Caleb barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Regroup at the ridge!"

The Redfangs obeyed, retreating in tight formation as the revenant howled, its voice echoing with a chilling, otherworldly resonance.

Caleb was the last to retreat, his green eyes locked onto the creature as it melted back into the shadows.

This was no ordinary enemy. And Caleb knew that if they didn't find a way to stop it, the Redfangs wouldn't survive the next encounter.

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