THE BLOODSTONE
Aria stared at the empty pedestal.
“He becomes… what?”
“Unstoppable,” the Alpha King repeated quietly.
The word echoed through the damaged vault room.
Aria looked between the three men.
“You’re exaggerating.”
No one laughed.
Rowan rubbed the back of his neck.
“I wish we were.”
Aria crossed her arms.
“It’s just a stone.”
Lucian chuckled softly from the doorway.
“Not exactly.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Then explain.”
Lucian pushed himself off the wall and stepped into the vault room.
His blue eyes studied the empty pedestal.
“The Bloodstone is older than the Alpha Kingdoms.”
Rowan nodded.
“It was created during the first wolf wars.”
Aria frowned.
“Created for what?”
The Alpha King answered.
“To control blood.”
Aria blinked.
“Control blood?”
Lucian nodded.
“It amplifies the power of whoever uses it.”
Rowan added grimly,
“Especially if that person already experiments on wolves.”
Aria slowly understood.
“You mean the Blood Emperor could use it to create more monsters?”
Lucian looked at her.
“Much worse than the ones you saw tonight.”
A cold chill ran through her body.
“How powerful is this thing?”
The Alpha King’s voice dropped.
“With the Bloodstone…”
“He can control hundreds of creatures.”
Rowan sighed heavily.
“And possibly entire packs.”
Aria’s stomach dropped.
“You’re saying he could start an army.”
Lucian corrected her calmly.
“He already has one.”
Silence filled the vault again.
Aria stared at the empty pedestal.
“He stole it right under our noses.”
Rowan kicked a piece of broken stone.
“That ‘attack’ outside was just to pull everyone away from here.”
Lucian nodded slightly.
“Classic strategy.”
The Alpha King’s fists slowly clenched.
“This is my fault.”
Aria immediately looked at him.
“How is it your fault?”
“I underestimated him.”
His voice carried quiet anger.
Rowan shook his head.
“Don’t do that.”
Lucian added calmly,
“The Blood Emperor is known for planning ten steps ahead.”
Aria rubbed her forehead.
“So now what?”
No one answered immediately.
Then the Alpha King spoke.
“We find him.”
Rowan snorted.
“Great plan.”
Lucian looked thoughtful.
“It won’t be easy.”
Aria sighed.
“I figured that.”
Lucian’s eyes moved toward her again.
“But we might have an advantage.”
She frowned.
“What advantage?”
Lucian tilted his head slightly.
“You.”
Rowan groaned.
“Of course.”
Aria rolled her eyes.
“Why am I always the advantage?”
Lucian gestured toward the empty pedestal.
“The Bloodstone controls blood.”
Her stomach tightened.
“And?”
Lucian’s voice softened slightly.
“And your bloodline is the only one strong enough to resist it.”
The Alpha King’s eyes flicked toward her.
Lucian continued.
“That’s why the Blood Emperor wants you.”
Aria looked back at the pedestal.
“So I’m basically his missing puzzle piece.”
Rowan nodded.
“Pretty much.”
She exhaled slowly.
“This is getting worse by the hour.”
Lucian smirked faintly.
“You’re handling it well.”
Aria gave him a flat look.
“I’m considering running away.”
Rowan raised a finger.
“Honestly, not the worst idea.”
The Alpha King suddenly turned toward the doorway.
His eyes had sharpened again.
“Too late.”
Aria frowned.
“What?”
Then she heard it.
A loud horn blast echoed across the fortress.
One of the warning horns.
But this time it sounded different.
Long.
Urgent.
Rowan froze.
“That’s the emergency signal.”
Aria’s heart jumped.
“What does it mean?”
Before Rowan could answer—
A warrior suddenly ran into the vault room.
“My King!”
The Alpha King turned sharply.
“What is it now?”
The warrior looked pale.
“There’s… someone at the main gate.”
Rowan groaned.
“Another messenger?”
The warrior shook his head quickly.
“No.”
His voice trembled slightly.
“He’s alone.”
Lucian raised an eyebrow.
“And that’s the problem?”
The warrior swallowed hard.
“He says he’s not here to attack.”
Aria frowned.
“Then why is everyone panicking?”
The warrior hesitated.
Then he said the words that made the entire room go silent.
“He says…”
“…he’s Aria’s father.”