The chamber trembled as the wolves surrounded them.
Dozens of crimson-eyed wolves descended the ancient staircase, their claws scraping against the stone floor. Their bodies were massive, their fur dark, their movements unnaturally coordinated.
They weren't just rogues.
They were controlled.
Lyra could feel it through the Moonborn power now flowing through her veins. Something dark pulsed inside them, bending their will like puppets.
Kael stood at the center of the growing army, his red wolf towering proudly.
"Impressive, aren't they?" his voice echoed through the chamber. "My elite."
Darius stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of Lyra.
His black wolf's fur bristled.
"You twisted them."
Kael shrugged.
"I improved them."
More wolves continued pouring down the staircase until the chamber floor was filled with snarling bodies.
Silver energy flickered around Lyra as she looked at them.
Her wolf spoke quietly.
They're not fully themselves.
Lyra felt it too.
Their hearts beat wrong.
Their minds felt trapped behind something dark.
Kael noticed her hesitation.
"Oh don't start feeling sorry for them," he mocked. "They volunteered for power."
Darius growled deeply.
"They're slaves."
Kael's eyes gleamed.
"Temporary sacrifices."
Then he lifted his paw.
"Kill them."
The wolves attacked.
The chamber exploded into chaos.
The first wolf lunged toward Lyra.
But before it could reach her, a burst of silver energy shot from her hand.
The wolf was thrown backward across the chamber like a rag doll.
Lyra stared at her glowing hands for a split second.
The power moved almost instinctively now.
Another wolf leaped from the side.
Darius intercepted it midair.
His massive black wolf slammed into the attacker with brutal force, sending both of them crashing into the stone wall.
He tore through the wolf with ruthless precision.
Three more rushed him.
Darius roared and met them head-on.
Lyra turned toward the others charging at her.
Five wolves surrounded her at once.
Her silver aura expanded outward like a shield.
The moment the wolves crossed into the glowing circle—
They froze.
Their bodies trembled violently as the silver light touched them.
Lyra felt something strange happen.
The darkness inside them reacted.
The red glow in their eyes flickered.
Kael's smile faded slightly.
"What are you doing?"
Lyra frowned.
"I'm not…"
Then she realized.
The Moonborn power wasn't just attacking.
It was purifying.
The wolves staggered back, shaking their heads as if waking from a nightmare.
The red glow in their eyes faded.
One of them looked around in confusion.
"What… happened?"
Kael's rage exploded.
"USELESS!"
He slammed his paw against the floor.
Crimson energy shot outward and slammed into the recovering wolves.
Their eyes snapped red again instantly.
They howled and attacked once more.
Lyra's heart sank.
"He's controlling them."
Darius fought through another pair of wolves beside her.
"Then stop him!"
Kael was already moving.
His massive crimson wolf charged straight through the battlefield toward Lyra.
This time his attack was faster.
Stronger.
He slammed into her shield of silver energy.
The impact cracked the glowing barrier.
Lyra stumbled backward.
Kael's jaws snapped inches from her face.
"You should have given me the Heart when you had the chance!" he roared.
Lyra pushed back with her power.
Silver lightning burst outward.
Kael was forced back several steps.
But he laughed.
"Good! Fight me!"
Behind them, the battle raged across the chamber.
Darius tore through wolf after wolf, but more kept coming.
Even for an Alpha, the numbers were overwhelming.
Lyra's wolf growled inside her mind.
The temple is on our side.
Lyra glanced around the chamber.
The glowing runes on the walls were reacting to the Moonborn power.
An idea formed.
She closed her eyes for a second.
If the temple listens… then help us.
The runes flared.
Kael noticed immediately.
"Oh no you don't—"
But it was too late.
The ancient chamber awakened.
Stone wolves carved into the walls began to glow with silver light.
The ground trembled violently.
Then the statues moved.
Massive stone guardians stepped off their pedestals, their glowing eyes locking onto the invading wolves.
Kael's army hesitated.
The first stone guardian slammed its massive paw down, crushing a rogue instantly.
Another grabbed two wolves and hurled them across the chamber.
The tide of battle shifted instantly.
Kael snarled in disbelief.
"You think statues will stop me?!"
He lunged again, his crimson aura blazing like fire.
Lyra met him head-on this time.
Silver and red energy collided violently.
The entire chamber shook.
Darius finally broke free from the last wolves attacking him and ran toward them.
"Lyra!"
Kael knocked Lyra backward with a brutal swipe.
She crashed into the floor but rolled quickly to her feet.
Her silver eyes burned brighter than ever.
"You keep coming back," Kael growled.
Lyra straightened slowly.
"And you keep losing."
Darius stepped beside her again, his massive black wolf ready to strike.
The remaining wolves circled nervously now as the stone guardians continued to crush Kael's army.
Kael looked around the battlefield.
His army was falling.
But instead of fear…
He smiled.
A slow, chilling smile.
"You still think this battle matters."
Lyra frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Kael's crimson eyes glowed brighter.
"This was never about winning here."
The temple suddenly trembled harder than before.
A deep cracking sound echoed through the chamber.
Darius's ears flattened.
"That… doesn't sound good."
Kael laughed.
"Of course it doesn't."
He stepped backward toward the staircase.
"While you were busy playing queen…"
The temple floor split open further behind Lyra.
A massive surge of ancient energy burst upward from deeper below the chamber.
Something older than the temple itself was awakening.
Lyra's wolf froze in shock.
That power…
Kael's voice echoed triumphantly.
"I finally broke the seal."
His grin widened.
"Meet the real power buried beneath the Moonborn temple."
From the darkness below…
A monstrous roar shook the entire mountain.
And something ancient began to rise.