THE MAN AT THE GATE
For a moment, no one spoke.
Aria blinked.
“…What?”
The warrior shifted nervously under everyone’s stare.
“He says he’s your father.”
Rowan looked at Aria.
“You didn’t mention a dramatic entrance like this in your family history.”
Aria stared at him.
“That’s because it doesn’t exist.”
Lucian crossed his arms slowly.
“Interesting.”
The Alpha King’s voice was sharp.
“Where is he?”
“At the main gate, my King.”
The Alpha King turned immediately.
“Take us there.”
Within minutes, they were moving quickly through the fortress corridors again.
Aria’s heart was beating unevenly.
This night had already been too much.
Monsters.
The Blood Emperor.
Two mates.
Now suddenly—
Her father?
“That’s impossible,” she muttered.
Rowan walked beside her.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Her voice was firm.
“My father died when I was a child.”
Lucian glanced at her.
“Did you see the body?”
Aria frowned.
“…No.”
Lucian nodded slightly.
“Then it’s possible.”
Rowan groaned.
“Please don’t make this more complicated.”
They reached the main gate.
Several warriors were already standing guard.
Torches lit the entrance.
And standing just outside the iron bars of the gate was a man.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
He wore a dark cloak that hid most of his body.
His hair was streaked with silver, though his face looked younger than Aria expected.
But the moment Aria saw his eyes—
Her breath caught.
They were the exact same shade as hers.
Silver.
The man smiled faintly when he saw her.
“Hello, Aria.”
Her heart skipped.
Rowan noticed immediately.
“Okay… that’s creepy.”
The Alpha King stepped forward.
“You claim to be her father.”
The man nodded.
“Yes.”
Lucian studied him carefully.
“And you expect us to believe that?”
The man looked at Lucian calmly.
“You’re the silver wolf.”
Lucian’s eyes narrowed.
“You know me?”
The man smiled slightly.
“I know many things.”
The Alpha King’s voice grew colder.
“State your name.”
The man looked directly at Aria again.
“My name is Elias.”
The name meant nothing to her.
But something inside her chest stirred.
Her wolf whispered quietly.
He smells familiar.
Aria shook her head slightly.
“No.”
The man—Elias—didn’t seem surprised.
“You don’t remember me.”
“That’s because I’ve never met you.”
Elias sighed softly.
“That’s not your fault.”
Rowan folded his arms.
“This is starting to sound like a bad story.”
Elias ignored him.
His gaze remained on Aria.
“You were very young when I left.”
Her chest tightened.
“My father died.”
“That’s what you were told.”
Silence fell again.
Lucian watched Elias carefully now.
“Why come now?”
Elias’s expression changed slightly.
More serious.
“Because the Blood Emperor has finally moved.”
The Alpha King’s eyes darkened.
“You know him.”
Elias nodded.
“Very well.”
Aria’s stomach twisted.
“How?”
Elias hesitated for a moment.
Then he said quietly,
“Because I helped create him.”
The courtyard erupted in shocked voices.
“What?!” Rowan shouted.
Lucian’s blue eyes flashed.
“That’s not something you casually admit.”
The Alpha King’s voice turned deadly.
“You expect us to let you walk into my fortress after saying that?”
Elias didn’t react to the threat.
His eyes were still on Aria.
“I came to warn you.”
Aria’s hands clenched.
“Warn me about what?”
Elias’ voice dropped.
“The Bloodstone.”
Everyone went silent again.
Lucian spoke slowly.
“You know he stole it.”
Elias nodded.
“Yes.”
Aria felt dread building in her chest.
“And?”
Elias took a slow breath.
Then he said the words that made the night feel even darker.
“With the Bloodstone…”
“…he can finally wake the thing buried inside you.”