The enemy within

The howl echoed through every tower of Blackthorn Keep.

It was not the howl of victory.

Nor was it the cry of mourning.

It was a warning.

Every conversation stopped.

Every torch-lit corridor fell silent.

Warriors who had been preparing for sleep immediately reached for their weapons.

Servants abandoned trays and buckets where they stood.

Across the fortress, the heavy toll of the warning bell began to ring.

Once.

Twice.

Then again.

Lyra froze in the corridor.

"What was that?"

Jer's playful smile vanished.

"We need to move."

Before Lyra could ask another question, Jer grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the nearest stairway.

His pace was no longer relaxed.

He was running.

"Jer!"

"What happened?"

"The warning howl."

"I heard it."

"What does it mean?"

He looked over his shoulder only long enough to answer.

"It means someone inside the Keep has been identified as an enemy."

Lyra's heart skipped.

"The assassin?"

"I don't know."

"But nobody risks sounding that alarm unless the danger is real."

More footsteps thundered through the corridors.

Armored warriors rushed past them in groups, shields slamming against their backs as they hurried toward the eastern side of the fortress.

Orders echoed from every direction.

"Seal the inner gates!"

"Nobody leaves the Keep!"

"Archers to the walls!"

"Search every tower!"

The fortress had transformed within seconds.

It no longer felt like a home.

It felt like a battlefield.

High above the courtyard, Kael descended the tower stairs two at a time.

Rowan struggled to keep pace behind him.

"The blood trail?"

"It ends near the eastern barracks."

"And the missing guard?"

"No sign of him."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"He didn't disappear."

"You think he was taken?"

"I think he was silenced."

The Alpha pushed open the tower doors.

Cold night air struck his face immediately.

Snow whipped across the courtyard as dozens of warriors assembled below.

The moment they saw Kael, they straightened.

"Report."

One lieutenant stepped forward.

"No breaches at the outer walls."

"No activity beyond the gates."

"The enemy is still inside."

Kael nodded once.

"Lock every entrance."

"No exceptions."

Another warrior hesitated.

"My Alpha..."

"The nobles are requesting protection."

Kael's golden eyes hardened.

"They already have it."

"My priority is finding whoever entered these walls."

Meanwhile, Lady Selene stood alone inside the chamber prepared for her stay.

She stared into the dancing flames of the fireplace, her hands trembling slightly.

"It has begun," she whispered.

A soft knock came at the door.

"Enter."

An elderly woman stepped inside.

Lady Miriam.

She closed the door quietly behind her.

"You heard the howl."

Selene nodded.

"They're too late."

Miriam frowned.

"You believe the enemy has already succeeded?"

"I believe..."

Selene looked toward the dark window.

"...they're no longer searching for the girl."

"They're searching for something else."

"What?"

Selene's voice barely rose above a whisper.

"The truth."

Silence settled between them.

Finally, Miriam spoke.

"You still haven't told Kael."

Selene closed her eyes.

"I can't."

"He deserves to know."

"If he learns the truth now..."

She swallowed.

"...he'll never forgive me."

Back in the eastern corridor, Jer suddenly stopped.

Lyra nearly walked into him.

"What is it?"

He held up one hand for silence.

Voices.

Whispering.

Just beyond the corner.

Neither voice belonged to a Blackthorn guard.

Jer slowly drew the dagger hidden beneath his cloak.

His usual carefree expression had completely disappeared.

He leaned closer to Lyra.

"Stay behind me."

She nodded.

Together...

They stepped around the corner.

The corridor was empty.

Only one lantern swung gently from the ceiling.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

As though someone had just brushed past it.

Jer frowned.

"They were here."

Lyra's eyes drifted toward the stone wall.

"Jer..."

He followed her gaze.

Three deep claw marks had been carved into the ancient stone.

The cuts were unnaturally clean.

Together they formed the shape of a crescent moon almost completely swallowed by darkness.

Jer's face drained of color.

"No..."

"What is it?" Lyra whispered.

His voice was barely audible.

"The Eclipse Pack."

"I've never heard of them."

"Most people haven't."

Jer couldn't take his eyes off the mark.

"They aren't one of the Seven Great Packs."

"They abandoned the Moon Goddess centuries ago."

"They reject the Mate Bond."

"They reject the sacred laws."

"They believe strength alone decides who deserves to rule."

Lyra stared at the strange symbol.

"So... they're our enemies?"

Jer nodded grimly.

"Worse."

"They don't wage war like ordinary Packs."

"They hide."

"They manipulate."

"They wait for kingdoms to destroy themselves."

He reached out but stopped just before touching the claw marks.

"Every place they leave this mark..."

He swallowed.

"...death usually follows."

A cold breeze swept through the corridor.

Somewhere beyond the darkness...

A floorboard creaked.

Jer slowly raised his dagger.

Lyra held her breath.

Someone...

Was still there.

The corridor became so quiet that Lyra could hear her own heartbeat.

The floorboard creaked again.

Once.

Then...

Silence.

A cold breeze swept through the passage, causing the lantern overhead to sway gently. Shadows danced across the walls.

Whoever had been there...

Was moving.

Jer took one careful step forward.

"Show yourself."

No answer.

Another step.

His grip tightened around the dagger.

Lyra remained close behind him, every instinct telling her to run.

Suddenly

A figure emerged from the darkness.

Dressed entirely in black.

Their face remained hidden beneath a hood.

Embroidered across one shoulder was the same symbol carved into the wall a silver crescent moon almost completely swallowed by darkness.

Jer's breathing became heavier.

"The Eclipse Pack..."

The stranger tilted their head.

"So..."

"Blackthorn still remembers us."

"I wish we didn't."

The assassin laughed softly.

"A pity."

Lyra frowned.

"Who are you?"

The stranger ignored her.

Instead, their attention settled entirely on Jer.

"You've grown."

"And you've become harder to find."

Jer didn't lower his weapon.

"What do you want?"

"What we've always wanted."

The assassin slowly turned toward Lyra.

"The last heir."

Lyra's stomach tightened.

"What did you call me?"

The assassin smiled beneath the hood.

Before anyone could move

Three silver knives flew through the air.

Jer reacted instantly.

He shoved Lyra sideways.

The blades slammed into the stone wall behind her.

"Run!" he shouted.

"I'm not leaving you!"

"You'll only slow me down!"

The assassin attacked.

Steel clashed against steel.

Jer blocked the first strike, then another.

The assassin moved with frightening speed.

Every attack was precise.

Every movement practiced.

Jer managed to slash across the stranger's sleeve, but the assassin barely reacted.

Instead...

They smiled.

"You've improved."

"But not enough."

A powerful kick sent Jer crashing into the wall.

His dagger slipped from his hand.

The assassin advanced.

Lyra's eyes darted around desperately.

She spotted an old spear resting beside a suit of ceremonial armor.

Without thinking, she grabbed it.

Her hands trembled.

She had never fought before.

Never trained.

But she refused to watch Jer die.

The assassin raised a dagger.

Lyra charged.

The spear struck the assassin's wrist.

The blade spun across the floor.

For the first time...

The stranger looked surprised.

Their hidden gaze rested on Lyra.

Longer than before.

"So..."

they whispered.

"The Moon Goddess truly chose well."

Before Lyra could understand what they meant, a familiar voice thundered through the corridor.

"Move away from her!"

Kael.

The Alpha appeared around the corner with Rowan and eight warriors.

The assassin didn't panic.

Instead, they calmly reached into their cloak and dropped a small crystal sphere onto the floor.

It shattered instantly.

Black smoke exploded through the corridor.

"Protect Lyra!" Kael ordered.

The warriors rushed forward.

The hallway disappeared beneath swirling darkness.

Lyra coughed violently.

She couldn't see.

Strong hands suddenly caught her shoulders.

"It's me."

Kael.

"I've got you."

He pulled her safely behind him.

When the smoke finally cleared...

The corridor was empty.

The assassin had vanished.

Again.

Only Jer's fallen dagger...

The shattered crystal...

And the claw mark carved into the wall remained.

Jer picked himself up slowly, rubbing his bruised ribs.

"I hate when they do that."

Rowan gave him an unimpressed look.

"You almost got yourself killed."

"I was buying time."

"You were losing."

"I prefer my version."

Kael ignored both of them.

His attention remained fixed on the claw mark.

He stepped closer.

Running two fingers just above the stone without touching it.

"They left it on purpose."

Rowan frowned.

"A warning?"

Kael slowly shook his head.

"No."

"A message."

Lyra looked between them.

"What message?"

Kael turned toward her.

"They wanted us to know they're already inside Blackthorn Keep."

A heavy silence followed.

Jer retrieved his dagger.

"So..."

"What now?"

Kael's expression hardened.

"We hunt them."

Far beneath the mountains...

Hidden behind ancient stone doors...

The assassin knelt before a massive black throne.

Blue flames burned without heat, casting strange shadows across the chamber.

A figure sat upon the throne.

Their face remained hidden.

Only their voice filled the darkness.

"Report."

The assassin lowered their head.

"The girl carries the Royal Moon Crest."

"And the Alpha?"

"He protects her without hesitation."

A quiet laugh echoed through the chamber.

"As expected."

The assassin hesitated.

"I had an opportunity."

"To kill her?"

"Yes."

"And you didn't."

"No."

Silence.

Then...

"Good."

The assassin looked up.

"My Lord?"

"The girl must live."

"Until the seal awakens."

Confusion flickered across the assassin's face.

"And if Blackthorn discovers the truth?"

"They won't."

The ruler slowly stood.

Their cloak brushed across the stone floor.

"For twenty years..."

"They searched for the wrong child."

"They buried the wrong secrets."

"And now..."

The blue flames flared higher.

"...they've welcomed their greatest danger into the heart of Blackthorn Keep."

The ruler walked toward a massive stone carving of a blood-red moon hanging over seven kneeling wolves.

One hand rested against the ancient carving.

"The prophecy has begun."

"And when the Blood Moon rises..."

"The Seven Great Packs will kneel."

The chamber fell silent.

Far above...

Inside Blackthorn Keep...

Lyra stood staring at the claw mark carved into the wall.

She couldn't explain why.

But deep inside...

It felt as though this wasn't the beginning of her story.

It was the beginning of a secret...

That someone had spent twenty years trying to bury.