Chapter 6: The Road to the Northern Fortress

The decision to go north changed everything.

By sunrise, the Black Moon Kingdom was no longer sleeping.

Warriors moved through the streets carrying weapons. Horses were prepared near the eastern gate. Scouts were sent toward the mountain passes.

Everyone knew the northern fortress was dangerous.

Everyone except me seemed to believe that was enough reason to stop me.

I stood in the center of the council chamber while twelve elders argued around me.

“You cannot go.”

“You will be killed.”

“The northern fortress is controlled by the Alpha King’s personal army.”

“Even Kael cannot guarantee your safety.”

I listened quietly.

Then I looked at Kael.

He stood near the window with his arms crossed, saying nothing.

That bothered me.

Usually, he was the first person to challenge anyone who spoke against me.

But today he remained silent.

Finally, I turned toward him.

“What do you think?”

The room went quiet.

Kael looked at me.

“I think they’re right.”

My heart sank.

“You too?”

“I think the northern fortress is a trap.”

“Then we avoid the trap.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Why?”

He walked toward the council table.

“Because the fortress isn’t simply a military base.”

He placed an old map on the table.

“The Alpha King built it over the ruins of an ancient Black Moon temple.”

I stared at the map.

“Why?”

“Because that’s where your mother disappeared.”

The room became silent.

My fingers tightened around the edge of the table.

“You said you didn’t know if she was alive.”

“I don’t.”

“But you know where she disappeared.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Kael’s expression hardened.

“Because I was trying to protect you.”

I laughed bitterly.

“Everyone keeps saying that.”

“What?”

“Protecting me.”

I looked around the room.

“My father supposedly died protecting me.”

“My mother disappeared protecting me.”

“And now you’re trying to keep me away from the place where she might still be alive.”

Kael’s eyes softened.

“Elara.”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“I’ve spent my entire life being protected by people who refused to tell me the truth.”

My voice trembled.

“I’m done.”

I turned toward the council.

“I’m going.”

An elderly council member stood.

“You are not yet strong enough to face the Alpha King.”

“Then I’ll become strong enough.”

“You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.”

“Then teach me.”

He looked at Kael.

Kael said nothing.

I stepped toward him.

“You said you wanted me to survive.”

“I do.”

“Then help me.”

His jaw tightened.

For several seconds, we stared at each other.

Finally, he nodded.

“We leave tonight.”

The council erupted.

“Alpha!”

“This is madness!”

“She cannot—”

Kael raised his hand.

The room fell silent.

“I said we leave tonight.”

He looked at me.

“Just the two of us.”

I blinked.

“Why only us?”

“Because the fewer people we take, the less attention we attract.”

Mira stepped forward.

“No.”

Kael looked at her.

“You’re not coming.”

“I’m not letting her travel with you alone.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Mira—”

She looked at me.

“Your life has already fallen apart once. I’m not letting you disappear into the mountains with a man you barely know.”

Kael’s expression remained unreadable.

I almost smiled.

“I appreciate the concern.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“I know.”

Mira sighed.

“You’re both impossible.”

—

We left after sunset.

No army.

No banners.

No royal escort.

Only three horses, a small supply wagon, and enough weapons to survive several days.

Mira eventually insisted on coming.

Kael reluctantly agreed.

The moment we crossed the Black Moon border, the temperature dropped.

Snow covered the mountain road.

The forest became silent.

I rode beside Kael.

For several hours, none of us spoke.

Mira eventually broke the silence.

“How much longer?”

Kael looked ahead.

“Two days.”

“Two days?”

“Three if the weather gets worse.”

Mira groaned.

I smiled.

“You’re the one who insisted on coming.”

“I didn’t realize the road would try to kill us.”

Kael looked at her.

“It gets worse.”

Mira stared at him.

“You could have kept that information to yourself.”

For the first time that day, Kael smiled.

I noticed.

It was brief.

But real.

And strangely beautiful.

I quickly looked away.

My wolf stirred.

Mate.

“Stop,” I whispered.

Kael turned.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Mira looked between us suspiciously.

I pretended to be interested in the mountains.

We continued.

As night fell, we stopped beside a frozen river.

Kael built a fire.

Mira prepared food.

I sat several feet away, staring into the flames.

I couldn’t stop thinking about my mother.

Was she alive?

Had she been imprisoned?

Had she suffered?

Or had I spent my entire life hoping for someone who had already died?

Kael sat beside me.

“You should sleep.”

“I can’t.”

“You need rest.”

“What if she’s alive?”

He didn’t answer.

“What if she’s been waiting for me?”

Kael looked into the fire.

“Then we’ll find her.”

“And if she isn’t?”

His eyes met mine.

“Then we’ll find the truth.”

I looked down.

“Why do you always sound so certain?”

“I’m not.”

That surprised me.

“You aren’t?”

“No.”

He leaned back against a tree.

“I’m terrified.”

I stared at him.

“Of what?”

“Losing you.”

My breath caught.

Kael seemed to realize what he’d said.

He looked away.

“I mean…”

“You don’t have to explain.”

Silence.

The fire crackled between us.

I whispered:

“Thank you.”

He looked at me.

“For what?”

“For coming.”

He smiled faintly.

“I’d follow you into hell.”

My heart skipped.

I looked away before he could see my face.

Neither of us noticed Mira watching from the other side of the fire.

She smiled to herself.

—

We continued north the next morning.

By afternoon, we reached the first mountain pass.

Kael suddenly stopped.

I almost collided with him.

“What happened?”

He raised his hand.

“Listen.”

I did.

Nothing.

Then I heard it.

A faint clicking sound.

Metal.

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

“Ambush.”

Mira immediately reached for her sword.

“How many?”

“At least twenty.”

I looked around.

“We can’t see them.”

“They don’t want us to.”

Kael dismounted.

“Stay behind me.”

“I can fight.”

“I know.”

“Then don’t tell me to hide.”

He looked at me.

For a moment, something like pride appeared in his eyes.

“Fine.”

He handed me a dagger.

“Stay close.”

The first arrow came from the trees.

Kael knocked it away.

Then everything exploded.

Warriors jumped from the mountainside.

Black armor.

Red symbols.

The Alpha King’s soldiers.

Mira attacked the first warrior.

Kael shifted.

His black wolf tore through the enemy line.

I felt my own wolf rising.

Let me out.

I closed my eyes.

Silver fur spread across my skin.

The world sharpened.

I could hear every heartbeat.

Every footstep.

Every breath.

I moved.

A warrior attacked from behind.

I turned before he reached me.

My claws struck his armor.

He flew backward.

I stared at my own strength.

Another attacked.

Then another.

I fought.

Not like the frightened girl who had been dragged out of Blackthorn territory.

Not like the rejected mate.

I fought like someone who belonged here.

Then I sensed something.

A presence.

Stronger than the others.

I turned.

A massive wolf stood on the ridge.

Its eyes were red.

It wasn’t attacking.

It was watching me.

Then it shifted.

A tall man stood there.

He wore a silver mask.

My blood froze.

I knew that mask.

“The northern commander,” Kael growled.

The man smiled.

“Alpha Kael.”

Kael stepped forward.

“Ronan.”

Ronan looked at me.

“So this is the heir.”

I felt something crawl across my skin.

“What do you want?”

“Not you.”

His eyes moved to Kael.

“I want him.”

Kael’s wolf growled.

Ronan laughed.

“You still haven’t told her.”

“Told me what?”

Kael didn’t answer.

I looked at him.

“Kael.”

Ronan smiled wider.

“Ask him why your mother trusted him.”

My heart stopped.

Kael’s face changed.

Ronan continued.

“Ask him why he was there the night she disappeared.”

I stared at Kael.

“You were there?”

He didn’t answer.

“Kael.”

He closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

The battlefield suddenly disappeared from my mind.

All I could hear was my own heartbeat.

“You were there.”

“I was.”

“What happened?”

“Not here.”

“Then where?”

“I’ll tell you.”

Ronan laughed.

“You still protect her from the truth.”

I stepped toward Kael.

“What is he talking about?”

Kael looked at me.

“I made your mother a promise.”

“What promise?”

“That if anything happened to her…”

He swallowed.

“I would protect you.”

My anger rose.

“Then why didn’t you?”

Kael looked at me.

“Because I failed.”

Before I could respond, Ronan attacked.

Kael shifted.

Their wolves collided.

The force knocked me backward.

I watched them fight.

Ronan was fast.

Too fast.

He slashed Kael’s shoulder.

Blood stained the snow.

“Kael!”

He recovered and attacked again.

Ronan laughed.

“You’ve gotten weaker.”

Kael’s eyes flashed silver.

“You haven’t.”

Their bodies crashed against the mountain wall.

Then Kael caught Ronan by the throat.

Ronan’s smile disappeared.

“You should have stayed dead.”

Kael’s claws tightened.

“Tell the king I’m coming.”

Ronan smiled.

“He already knows.”

Kael threw him aside.

Ronan shifted and disappeared into the forest.

The remaining soldiers fled.

Silence returned.

I immediately ran toward Kael.

Blood was dripping from his shoulder.

“You’re hurt.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s bleeding.”

“I’ve had worse.”

I grabbed his arm.

“Sit.”

He obeyed.

Mira brought bandages.

I cleaned the wound.

Kael watched me silently.

Finally, I spoke.

“You owe me an explanation.”

“I know.”

“You knew my mother.”

“Yes.”

“You were there when she disappeared.”

“Yes.”

“And you never told me.”

“No.”

I tied the bandage tightly.

“Why?”

Kael looked away.

“Because your mother asked me not to.”

I froze.

“What?”

“She knew the Alpha King would come for you.”

“She knew?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Kael looked into my eyes.

“Because you were never supposed to grow up in a pack.”

My heart tightened.

“Why?”

“Because the moment your powers awakened…”

He paused.

“The king would know you were alive.”

I stared at him.

“Then why did they wait until now?”

Kael’s expression darkened.

“Because someone told him.”

“Who?”

He looked toward the direction Ronan had disappeared.

“I don’t know.”

My wolf suddenly growled.

I felt something.

A strange pull from the mountains.

The mark on my wrist began glowing.

Kael noticed.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know.”

I stood.

The pull became stronger.

It wasn’t calling me.

It was calling my blood.

Then I heard a whisper.

Daughter.

I froze.

My mother’s voice.

I could hear her.

Clear.

Weak.

But real.

“Mom?”

Kael stood.

“What?”

I looked toward the mountains.

“She’s alive.”

His face went pale.

“How do you know?”

I touched my chest.

“I can feel her.”

A single tear rolled down my cheek.

“She’s calling me.”

Kael looked toward the northern fortress.

For the first time since we began our journey, fear appeared clearly in his eyes.

“Then we need to move.”

“Why?”

“Because if you can hear her…”

He looked at the dark fortress in the distance.

“She can hear you too.”

—

We traveled through the night.

No stopping.

No rest.

The fortress appeared just before dawn.

It was enormous.

Black stone walls rose from the mountain like the skeleton of some ancient beast.

Red torches burned along the towers.

And above the main gate hung the symbol of the Alpha King.

But beneath it…

Almost hidden by snow…

Was another symbol.

A crescent moon.

My mark.

I stared at it.

“Why is my family’s symbol here?”

Kael didn’t answer.

We approached the gate.

Then the gates opened by themselves.

Mira pulled her sword.

“That’s not normal.”

Kael shifted into his wolf.

I felt my own power rising.

We entered.

The gates slammed shut behind us.

A voice echoed from the fortress.

“Welcome home, Elara.”

I froze.

The voice was female.

I knew it.

My heart stopped.

“Mom?”

A woman appeared at the top of the fortress stairs.

Silver hair.

Pale face.

Tired eyes.

But unmistakably…

My mother.

She looked directly at me.

Tears filled her eyes.

“My little moon.”

I couldn’t move.

For twelve years, I had dreamed about seeing her again.

I had imagined running into her arms.

I had imagined asking why she left.

I had imagined everything.

But I never imagined this.

She wasn’t alone.

Behind her stood dozens of armed warriors.

And beside her…

stood the Alpha King.

My mother looked at me.

Then at Kael.

Her expression turned to horror.

“No.”

Kael stepped forward.

“What?”

She shouted:

“Get Elara out of here!”

The Alpha King smiled.

“Too late.”

The gates locked.

And every warrior in the fortress drew their weapons.

My mother looked at me one last time.

“Forgive me.”

Then the Alpha King raised his hand.

“Take the heir.”

And the entire fortress erupted into chaos.

—