Chapter 7 - The Wolf King’s Brother
Alaric sent a letter.
One page.
One demand.
Give me the Moonblood, and the northern war ends.
Kalin burned it.
Rosaline watched the paper turn to ash.
“He's not negotiating.”
“No.”
“He's trying to divide us.”
“I know.”
“What if he's stronger than you?”
Kalin looked at her.
“I have lost battles.”
“That's not what I asked.”
His smile faded.
“Yes.”
Rosaline stepped closer.
“But you're not alone this time.”
The final battle began at the ancient moonstone valley.
Thousands of wolves gathered.
Alaric appeared wearing black armor.
He was older than Kalin.
Scarred.
Cold.
He looked at Rosaline.
“So you're the reason my brother finally learned weakness.”
Kalin moved forward.
“She is not my weakness.”
Alaric laughed.
“Everything you love becomes a weakness.”
Rosaline stepped beside Kalin.
“Then you should be terrified.”
Alaric's eyes narrowed.
The battle erupted.
Wolves charged.
Steel clashed.
Magic tore through the valley.
Rosaline used her healing abilities to keep soldiers alive.
Kalin fought Alaric directly.
Brother against brother.
King against king.
For hours.
Then Alaric gained the advantage.
He drove a silver blade into Kalin's side.
Rosaline screamed.
Kalin fell.
Alaric seized her.
“Come with me.”
She fought.
He dragged her toward the moonstone.
“Your blood will open it.”
Rosaline understood.
The ancient stone began glowing.
Her lineage responded.
Alaric laughed.
“Finally.”
Rosaline closed her eyes.
Then she remembered her mother.
The dungeon.
Kalin's voice.
My Luna.
She realized the Moonblood power did not belong to the person who controlled her.
It belonged to the person who chose freely.
Rosaline opened her eyes.
“You're wrong.”
“What?”
“I don't awaken because you command me.”
The stone cracked.
“You awaken because I choose.”
Light exploded across the valley.
Alaric was thrown backward.
The ancient moonstone shattered.
Every silver weapon in the valley broke.
Kalin rose.
His wolf transformed.
For the first time, an ancient royal mark appeared across his chest.
The old prophecy had not been about a king controlling a Moonblood.
It was about two equals.
The Moonblood.
And the Winter Wolf.
Together.
Alaric realized too late.
“No.”
Kalin charged.
The battle ended.
Alaric was defeated.
The Ashen Circle surrendered.
The northern packs survived.
But Kalin fell unconscious.
Rosaline ran to him.
His heartbeat was weak.
She placed both hands on his chest.
“Don't you dare.”
No response.
“Don't you dare leave me.”
Her healing power poured into him.
The bond flared.
His eyes opened.
Rosaline collapsed against him.
He smiled weakly.
“You're very loud.”
She cried and laughed at the same time.
“I hate you.”
“No, you don't.”
“I love you.”
“I know.”
May you like
She kissed him.
And the entire valley erupted in howls.
