Chapter 19: The Crown of Shadows
The southern fortress was already burning when we arrived.
The Alpha King’s army had abandoned it.
Inside, we found bodies.
Thousands.
But no king.
Then we found the throne room.
The Crown of Shadows floated above the throne.
Black smoke surrounded it.
Damon stepped forward.
“Don’t touch it.”
I approached anyway.
The crown reacted to me.
It flew toward my hand.
Kael grabbed my wrist.
“No.”
The crown stopped.
A voice echoed.
Take me.
I felt its pull.
Power.
Unlimited power.
I could destroy every enemy.
Every Alpha.
Every pack that had ever hurt me.
The revenge I had once wanted was right there.
Waiting.
I could become unstoppable.
I reached for it.
Kael grabbed my hand.
“Elara.”
I looked at him.
“You don’t need it.”
“What if I do?”
“Then you’ll become what you hate.”
The crown whispered.
They rejected you.
They betrayed you.
Take their power.
I remembered Damon.
My exile.
My father.
My mother.
Then I remembered Kael.
His hand holding mine.
His promise.
My choice.
I stepped away.
“No.”
The crown screamed.
Silver flames erupted.
The Crown of Shadows shattered.
The fortress shook.
The Shadow Wolf appeared.
But this time…
It had no vessel.
It was pure darkness.
And it was furious.
