The rustling in the underbrush grew louder, sending a ripple of tension through the clearing. Every breath was measured, every muscle poised to react. The air was thick with anticipation. They were here.
Kael's pulse quickened, his instincts sharpening, but unlike the others, his face bore no sign of recognition. The sudden appearance of these wolves stirred confusion among the gathered warriors. Who were they? Friend or foe?
Then, amidst the tension, Kael noticed Aira. Her rigid posture softened, her gaze filled with something he hadn't seen in a long time—relief.
"Aira," he called out, his voice low but firm.
"They will help us, Kael," she murmured, her eyes glistening. "They are like you. Omegas."
Kael's heart pounded. Another Omega pack? The idea felt foreign, unbelievable. He had always thought his people were scattered, isolated, broken. Yet, here they stood—many of them.
His mind reeled as one of the wolves, a towering presence with a silver-streaked coat, stepped forward. His eyes, sharp as daggers, locked onto Garrick with unmistakable familiarity.
"Garrick," the wolf's voice was deep, unwavering. "Long time no see."
Garrick's snarl curled into a sinister smirk. "Sebastian." The name rolled off his tongue like venom. "You? What are you doing here? You think you can help them?" His voice rose with contempt, but there was a flicker of unease beneath it.
Sebastian's pack closed in, their sheer numbers eclipsing the moonlit clearing. There were more of them than Garrick's forces. Kael could feel the shift in power, a tangible shift that made the mighty Alpha tense.
"Sebastian, just stay out of this," Garrick barked, his tone wavering between command and plea. "This doesn't concern you."
A dangerous glint flashed in Sebastian's eyes. "You think I would stand idly by while you slaughter my brother's son?"
Kael's breath hitched. Brother?
The world around him tilted. The battle, the blood, even Garrick himself faded into the background. His mind clung to that single revelation. Sebastian was his uncle?
Sebastian's voice thundered through the clearing. "You killed Elias. My brother. And you dare stand before me like a rightful ruler? No more, Garrick. You have stolen enough Omegas to fuel your hunger for power. But tonight, that ends."
The air crackled with unspoken fury. Garrick's expression darkened. His muscles tensed, preparing to strike. But before he could move, Sebastian turned to Aira.
"Aira," he said, his tone sharp with urgency.
She understood immediately. Without hesitation, she grabbed Kael's hand and pulled him into the depths of the forest. His feet moved on instinct, though his mind still swirled with unanswered questions. Sebastian was his uncle. His father had a brother. Why had no one told him?
Behind them, the clash of teeth and claws erupted. The battle had begun.
Kael could feel the energy radiating from Sebastian's pack—they weren't fighting just for survival. They were fighting for freedom.
The further they ran, the more his mind spiraled. Had his father hidden the truth to protect him? Or had he hidden it because he feared what Kael would become?
A sudden voice shattered his thoughts.
"You won't escape me forever, Kael!" Garrick's roar echoed through the trees, a promise laced with darkness. "You can run now, but I will hunt you down."
Kael clenched his jaw, gripping Aira's hand tighter. His fingers trembled, not from fear, but from the sheer weight of his uncertainty. Who was he anymore?
They didn't stop until they reached the edge of a vast clearing, where Sebastian and his warriors regrouped. The battle had ended as quickly as it began, but not without cost. Blood stained the forest floor. The scent of iron lingered in the crisp night air.
Sebastian approached Kael, his imposing figure now marked with fresh wounds.
"Where are we going?" Kael finally spoke, his voice raw.
"Moonveil village, your home" Sebastian said. "Asha has been waiting for you."
At the mention of his mother, Kael's chest tightened. A storm of emotions raged inside him—relief, sorrow, longing. But above all, a desperate need for answers.
He met Sebastian's gaze. "You're really my father's brother?"
Sebastian exhaled sharply. "There is much you need to know, but now is not the time for stories. We can't trust that Garrick has truly retreated. We need to leave now."
Kael nodded, though his mind still churned with disbelief.
As they started moving, a sudden realization struck him. "Where's Ally?"
Aira giggled beside him and pointed. "She's fine."
Kael followed her gesture to see Ally sprawled over the back of one of the wolves, snoring. The sight was ridiculous, almost too absurd given the situation.
A chuckle rumbled through the group. Even Kael felt a small, fleeting smile tug at his lips.
Ally stirred at the sound of their laughter, cracking one eye open. "Can everyone shut up? I have been waiting for this moment—to rest." And with that, she promptly fell back into sleep.
Aira laughed. "She's impossible."
Kael's amusement faded as he turned to Aira, his grip on her hand tightening. "I'm sorry," he murmured.
She blinked at him, confused. "For what?"
"For everything you've gone through. For being dragged into my war."
Aira's gaze softened. "This is our war, Kael. I chose to be here. And I'll keep choosing it."
He stared at her for a long moment before his fingers curled around hers more firmly.
A silent promise. A vow.
They weren't just running anymore.
They were taking back what was theirs.
And soon, Garrick would learn what it meant to challenge an Omega who had nothing left to lose.