CHAPTER 9: Kieran

Draven's POV

"The western border has been breached, My King." The words barely left the scout's mouth before the war horn echoed across the Rogue Territory as its a deep call rolled through the mountains.Every rogue understood what it meant war.

  I walked onto the castle balcony overlooking the training grounds. Hundreds of rogues were already gathering below, their eyes burning with determination.

The Rogue Territory had a standing arm because Every rogue was a warrior.

Every child born within these mountains learned to hunt before they learned to read that  was how we had survived when every neighboring kingdom called us savages.

Glenn stopped beside me.

"They crossed the Black Ravine."

"How many?"

"Enough to start a war." A cold smile touched my lips.

"Then let's finish it." Without another word, I leaped from the balcony halfway down, my bones shifted as Silver fur burst across my body within seconds, my massive wolf landed effortlessly on the stone below around me hundreds of wolves shifted.

Their howls shook the mountains as the  gates opened.

The hunt began.

The western border stretched for miles as the dense  forests separated the Rogue Territory from the cursed wastelands where rogue vampires had built their empire. Their scent reached me before I saw them Blood and Vampire venom.

They emerged as dark  figures stepped from the forest one after another, their crimson eyes glowing beneath as a giant black wolf stepped out from the forest.

Moonlight rolled across silver fur darker than my own.

He shifted as his hair fell over crimson eyes. A familiar grin curved across his face.

"Long time no see little brother." I didn't answer immediately.

Twenty years since I'd last heard that voice.

Glenn moved beside me.

"My King..." His hand tightened around my arm.

"It's him." I nodded once.

"I know." Behind him, hundreds of rogue vampires stood perfectly still.

Waiting for an order.

Kieran hadn't survived the vampires. He ruled them now

He tilted his head.

"What? No warm welcome?" I stepped forward.

"I buried you years ago." He laughed.

"I know. I attended my own funeral." His words stirred something I refused to acknowledge. I still remembered Mother kneeling before an empty coffin. She had cried until she couldn't anymore but father never cried. Kieran smiled as if he read my thoughts.

"They mourned me and crowned you Alpha” His voice carried no anger.

I said nothing because There was no point explaining. Father hadn't chosen me because he wanted but because Someone had to become Alpha. Kieran slowly walked across the battlefield as every vampire stepped aside for him.

"I've been curious." He looked toward the Rogue Territory behind me.

"Tell me does Father's throne fit comfortably?" My wolf growled.

"It was never about the throne."

"No?" He chuckled.

Kieran spread his arms.

"They called me an experiment every expected the venom to kill me. It almost did." He smiled wider.

"But my wolf refused to die." Behind him, the vampires bared their fangs proudly.

"So they stopped calling me an experiment. They started calling me their king." Glenn cursed quietly beneath his breath.

"The stories were true..." I ignored him as my  eyes remained fixed on Kieran.He wasn't lying his scent rolling off him wasn't vampire.

It wasn't wolf either it was both Something impossible that shouldn't even exist. Kieran noticed where I was looking.

"You can smell it, can't you?" He tapped his own chest.

"The venom changed everything now I'm stronger, Faster and  unlike your precious wolves. I've stopped pretending monsters deserve pity." I looked him straight in the eyes.

"You stopped being my brother the day you chose them." For the first time his  smile disappeared.

"No, Draven. They chose me and when Father made you Alpha instead of searching for me... I chose them." Silence settled over the battlefield.The wind carried the scent of rain as Kieran slowly smiled again.

"Enough memories. I didn't cross your border to talk." I added as my rage was growing beyond my imaginations. Their scent disgusted me.

He took one step back as his  crimson eyes glowed.

"I also came to take your kingdom."  He shifted as Silver fur burst across my body.

Behind me, thousands of rogue wolves answered with a deafening howl.

The mountains shook across the valley, Kieran's smile widened.

"Now..." He shifted into the enormous black wolf once more.

"...show me why Father believed you deserved the crown."

The battle began as the first howl split the night.

Then another within seconds, the valley erupted into chaos thousands of wolves crashed into the vampire ranks, claws flashing beneath the blood moon. The earth trembled under pounding paws as growls echoed across the mountains.

I charged straight for Kieran but he didn't move as he simply watched me with that infuriating smile at the last second, he shifted.

His body exploded into a massive black wolf, larger than any I'd ever seen. Crimson markings spread beneath his fur, glowing faintly like veins filled with fire our bodies collided. The impact cracked the ground beneath us.

He drove me backward with unnatural strength.

"So this is the mighty Rogue King?" His voice echoed through our mind link, a gift all wolves shared in battle.

"I expected more." I shoved him away.

"You've always talked too much." He laughed.

"And you've always been Father's obedient son." He lunged again asI twisted aside, raking my claws across his shoulder Instead of staggering...

He smiled as his wound closed before my eyes.

"Surprised?" he taunted.

"Vampire blood heals faster than wolf blood." Around us, the battle intensified.

Rogue wolves fought like a single pack, covering one another with practiced precision.

The vampires fought differently as Five would attack one wolf without hesitation That was their strength.

A young rogue stumbled beneath three vampires before they could sink their fangs into him, I leaped between them and swiped sent them flying.

"Fall back!" I growled. The young warrior hesitated.

"But, My King”

"That's an order." I cutted in As He obeyed immediately. Kieran watched the exchange with amusement.

"There you go again. Saving everyone." He said

"Tell me, Draven How many more can you save before you finally fail?" His words barely registered.

My focus remained on the battlefield asA scream rose from the western flank. Three vampire elites had broken through. They were heading toward the healers stationed behind our lines.

"No." I sprinted as One vampire reached the medical tents before he could attack, I slammed into him as I ripped his face open  another came from my blind side but Glenn intercepted him with a powerful tackle.

"I've got this side!" he barked.

"Go! I will deal with this bloodless ones" I nodded once

I walked towards Kieran as I crushed the lifeless bodies under my feat.

It would be my pleasure ripping your whole empire off this earth

His warrior gradually retreated as I forged on immediately Kieran landed atop a rocky ledge overlooking the battlefield his laughter carried through the valley.

"You've built quite a family." His crimson eyes slowly swept across the rogue warriors.

"I wonder how they'll look kneeling before me."

"You'll never touch them." I roared as I shifted and pounced on him.

He crashed to the floor

"You really want to kill your own brother “  He raised his eyes towards the sky.

The battlefield suddenly fell silent as more figures emerged from the darkness.

Fresh vampire warriors.

Glenn's expression hardened.

"They had reinforcements waiting."

Kieran grinned.

"I never start a war with one army. I bring two." The rogues around me instinctively tightened their formation.

No one retreated.

"If you've come for my kingdom..." My voice rolled across the battlefield.

"...then come through me." Kieran's grin widened.

"Gladly." He disappeared from my grip. A blur of black slammed into me.

We tumbled across the ground before crashing into a cliff face as dust

filled the air.

He struck again as  I answered with equal force neither of us gained the advantage.

Two brothers neither

willing to yield between blows, Kieran's voice lowered.

"Tell me something. When Father made you Alpha did you ever wonder if that crown was stained with my blood?" I snarled.

"I never wanted your crown." I answered.

"But you kept it."

"I had to  protect our people." I added.

"You replaced me." He said as the sudden coldness disappeared from his face.

"I survived." His eyes burned brighter.

"And that is your greatest mistake." He suddenly broke away and looked toward the My  Territory as His smile returned.

"I've seen enough. This wasn't about winning. It was about sending you a message." He lifted his head and howled.

Every remaining vampire immediately began withdrawing into the forest.

Glenn shouted, "They're retreating!"

I frowned because Kieran  never retreated without a reason.

He looked back one last time.

"The next time we meet..." His crimson eyes gleamed.

"...I won't come for your borders. I'll come for the Little prisoner who’s your Redemption “  My entire body went still

What does he means by Redemption.

A satisfied smile spread across his face.

"There it is. I finally found something you fear." Before I could reach him, he vanished into the darkness as the battlefield fell quiet.

The war was over but Kieran had achieved exactly what he'd wanted.

He had learned something I don’t.