THE STORM OF THE SHADOW BLOODLINE
Thunder roared above the fortress.
The sky, which had been clear moments ago, suddenly filled with dark swirling clouds.
Wind rushed through the courtyard, whipping Aria’s hair around her face.
Her eyes glowed with a strange silver light.
For a moment, no one moved.
Not the warriors.
Not the Alphas.
Not even the creature.
Everyone was staring at her.
The monster slowly tilted its head.
“Well… now this is interesting.”
Aria barely heard it.
The power inside her chest felt like a storm trying to break free.
Her wolf’s voice echoed through her mind.
Don’t hold it back.
“I’m not trying to,” Aria whispered.
Across the courtyard, the Alpha King slowly rose from the ground.
His massive black wolf stared at her, golden eyes sharp with attention.
He could feel it too.
The power.
It was ancient.
Wild.
The creature suddenly rushed toward her again.
“Let’s see what you can do!”
It raised its massive claws and swung them toward her.
But before the attack could reach her—
The air exploded.
A violent wave of energy blasted outward from Aria’s body.
The creature was thrown backward like it had been hit by a wall.
It slammed into the broken fortress gate with a thunderous crash.
The entire courtyard shook.
Aria gasped.
Her heart pounded wildly.
“I… did that?”
Rowan groaned as he pushed himself up from the ground.
“Yes,” he said breathlessly.
“You definitely did that.”
The creature slowly stood again.
Black blood dripped from its mouth.
But instead of looking angry…
It looked excited.
It laughed.
A deep, disturbing sound.
“Yes!”
It wiped the blood from its chin.
“That’s the power!”
Aria frowned.
“You’re insane.”
The creature began walking toward her again.
“You don’t understand what you are yet.”
Its red eyes gleamed with dark excitement.
“But you will.”
The Alpha King moved instantly.
His wolf leaped between them again, blocking the creature’s path.
His fur bristled.
His jaws snapped dangerously close to the monster’s throat.
This time he didn’t hold back.
The Alpha King attacked with savage force.
Claws ripped into the creature’s chest.
Teeth sank deep into its shoulder.
The monster roared as it staggered backward.
For the first time, it actually looked hurt.
But the creature grabbed the King’s neck again.
The two monsters slammed into the ground, tearing through stone and debris as they fought.
Aria’s wolf growled anxiously.
He’s protecting you.
“I know.”
The creature suddenly twisted its body and threw the Alpha King across the courtyard again.
But this time the King landed on his feet.
Both monsters faced each other.
Breathing hard.
Blood covering their bodies.
The creature smiled again.
“You’re impressive, King.”
The Alpha King’s golden eyes burned with fury.
“Leave my territory.”
The monster laughed again.
“Oh, I will.”
It turned its head slightly toward Aria.
“But I didn’t come to kill anyone.”
Aria blinked.
“Then why are you here?”
The creature’s red eyes gleamed.
“I came to see if the Shadow Bloodline was real.”
It spread its arms slightly.
“And now I have my answer.”
The Alpha King growled deeply.
“You destroyed my gate for curiosity?”
The creature shrugged.
“Think of it as a test.”
Aria frowned.
“A test for what?”
The creature’s smile slowly widened.
“For the war that’s coming.”
A chill ran down Aria’s spine.
“What war?”
But the creature had already begun stepping backward toward the broken gates.
The Alpha King lunged forward again.
But the monster suddenly slammed one claw into the ground.
A thick cloud of dark smoke exploded into the air.
The courtyard filled with black mist.
Warriors coughed and stumbled as the smoke spread.
Aria covered her mouth.
When the wind finally cleared the smoke away—
The creature was gone.
Only deep claw marks remained in the stone where it had stood.
The courtyard fell silent again.
The Alpha King slowly shifted back into human form.
His chest rose and fell heavily.
Aria walked toward him carefully.
“Are you okay?”
He nodded once.
But his eyes were still fixed on the broken gate.
Dark.
Thoughtful.
Rowan limped over beside them.
“Well,” he muttered.
“That was unpleasant.”
Aria crossed her arms.
“That thing said something about a war.”
The Alpha King finally looked at her.
His voice was low.
“Yes.”
Aria felt her stomach twist.
“You believe it?”
The Alpha King looked back toward the mountains beyond the fortress walls.
His golden eyes hardened.
“I know who sent it.”
Aria blinked.
“You do?”
Rowan frowned.
“Wait… you’re serious?”
The Alpha King’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
“There is only one person who can create monsters like that.”
Aria’s heart began to race.
“Who?”
The Alpha King’s eyes darkened.
“The Blood Emperor.”
And far away in the darkness—
Something suddenly howled.