INSIDE THE WALLS
The explosion shook the entire fortress.
Stone cracked.
Dust fell from the walls.
Warriors shouted in alarm across the courtyard.
Aria spun toward the sound.
“That came from inside the fortress!”
Rowan’s ears flattened.
“That’s not possible.”
The Alpha King was already moving.
His voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
“Rowan. With me.”
Without waiting for an answer, he ran toward the inner halls of the fortress.
Lucian followed immediately.
Rowan shifted back to human form while running.
“Tonight just keeps getting better,” he muttered.
Aria ran after them.
“What if it’s another monster?”
Lucian glanced at her over his shoulder.
“No.”
His voice was calm but serious.
“This feels different.”
They rushed through the large stone doors leading into the fortress.
Inside, warriors were already gathering.
Smoke filled the main corridor.
Broken stone littered the floor.
One of the fortress guards stumbled toward them.
“My King!”
The Alpha King grabbed the warrior’s shoulder.
“Report.”
The man pointed down the hallway.
“The west tower!”
Another loud crash echoed from deeper inside the fortress.
Aria’s chest tightened.
“Why would the Blood Emperor attack inside the fortress?”
Lucian’s expression darkened slightly.
“Because that’s where the real target usually is.”
They reached the west tower corridor moments later.
The heavy wooden doors had been blown apart.
Smoke drifted out of the destroyed room.
Rowan stepped inside carefully.
“Well… that’s not good.”
Aria followed him.
The room looked like it had been hit by a hurricane.
Tables overturned.
Stone cracked.
Books scattered everywhere.
The Alpha King stepped forward slowly.
His eyes scanned the destruction.
Then he froze.
Rowan noticed immediately.
“What?”
The Alpha King’s voice was low.
“The vault.”
Aria frowned.
“What vault?”
Lucian’s blue eyes sharpened.
“The relic vault.”
Rowan cursed quietly.
“Oh no.”
Aria looked between them.
“What relic vault?”
The Alpha King moved quickly toward a heavy stone door at the back of the room.
It was cracked.
Broken open.
He pushed it aside easily.
Inside the vault room—
Three large stone pedestals stood in the center.
But one of them was empty.
The Alpha King’s expression turned deadly.
Lucian stared at the empty pedestal.
“Well…”
“That explains the distraction.”
Aria looked at the pedestal.
“What was there?”
Rowan ran a hand through his hair.
“You’re not going to like this.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Just tell me.”
The Alpha King’s voice came out cold.
“The Bloodstone.”
Aria blinked.
“…The what?”
Lucian leaned casually against the doorway.
But his eyes were serious now.
“An ancient relic.”
Rowan nodded grimly.
“Very ancient.”
Aria looked back at the empty pedestal.
“And it’s important?”
Lucian gave a humorless smile.
“Let’s just say…”
“If the Blood Emperor has it now…”
Aria’s heart began pounding again.
“What happens?”
The Alpha King slowly turned toward her.
His golden eyes were darker than she had ever seen them.
“He becomes unstoppable.”