The roar shook the entire temple.
Stone dust rained from the ceiling as the chamber floor continued to crack open. The silver runes along the walls flickered violently, as if struggling to contain the force rising from below.
Lyra felt it first.
The power was ancient.
Older than the temple.
Older than the Moonborn bloodline itself.
Her wolf stiffened inside her mind.
That… should not exist.
Darius stepped closer beside her, his massive black wolf tense.
"What did he do?" he growled.
Kael backed slowly toward the staircase, his crimson eyes glowing with triumph.
"I freed it."
Another violent crack split through the chamber.
The ground behind Lyra collapsed further, revealing a massive pit descending into darkness. From its depths poured a wave of cold air filled with something far worse than ordinary danger.
It smelled of death.
And rage.
Kael lifted his head proudly.
"For centuries the Moonborn sealed it away," he said. "Too afraid to use its power."
Lyra's silver eyes narrowed.
"What is it?"
Kael smiled.
"The first Alpha."
The pit exploded upward.
A massive claw burst from the darkness and slammed onto the broken stone floor.
The chamber trembled.
Another claw followed.
Then a monstrous wolf dragged itself slowly from the depths.
Its body was enormous—larger than any wolf Lyra had ever seen. Black fur covered its scarred form, streaked with faint glowing red veins.
Its eyes burned like molten fire.
But what made Lyra's heart drop was the chains.
Ancient silver chains still hung from its neck and limbs, broken and dragging across the floor.
The creature inhaled deeply.
Its roar shook the entire mountain.
Even Kael took a step back.
Darius growled under his breath.
"That thing isn't a wolf."
Lyra could feel the truth.
It had once been.
Long ago.
But centuries of imprisonment and dark magic had twisted it into something monstrous.
The beast's burning eyes scanned the chamber.
Then they locked onto Lyra.
It froze.
The silver aura around her flickered as the Heart of the Moonborn reacted.
The creature tilted its head slowly.
Confused.
Recognizing something.
Kael saw it too.
His grin widened.
"Yes… you feel it, don't you?" he whispered.
The beast growled deeply.
Its massive paw stepped forward, cracking the stone floor.
Lyra raised her hand instinctively.
Silver light spread outward.
"Stop!"
The beast paused.
Darius glanced at her.
"You can control it?"
Lyra frowned.
"No… but it's reacting to the Moonborn power."
Kael suddenly laughed loudly.
"You still don't understand!"
He spread his claws dramatically.
"The Moonborn didn't seal this beast because they feared it."
His eyes burned with madness.
"They sealed it because it refused to obey them!"
The creature roared again, louder this time.
The sound was filled with centuries of fury.
It snapped the remaining chain from its leg with a violent jerk.
Lyra felt a sharp pulse of memory flash through her mind.
Ancient wolves.
A war.
A massive black Alpha refusing to kneel before the Moonborn queen.
Her wolf whispered in shock.
He wasn't a monster.
He was their enemy.
The first Alpha who challenged the Moonborn rulers.
The beast stepped closer.
Each step shook the chamber.
Darius moved protectively in front of Lyra.
"If it charges, I'll hold it."
Lyra grabbed his arm.
"You can't fight that."
The beast's fiery eyes flicked toward Darius.
Then back to Lyra.
It sniffed the air slowly.
Kael watched with growing excitement.
"Yes… yes…"
He began walking toward the beast.
"You're free now," he said softly. "And I can help you get revenge."
The creature growled.
Kael stopped just outside its reach.
"The Moonborn blood is right there," he said, pointing toward Lyra.
"Destroy her… and the old chains of this world disappear."
The beast's gaze slowly returned to Lyra.
Its muscles tensed.
Darius braced himself.
Lyra stepped forward instead.
"Lyra!" Darius barked.
She ignored him.
Her silver aura expanded around her body like moonlight.
She looked directly into the creature's burning eyes.
"You were wronged," she said quietly.
The beast froze.
Kael scoffed.
"Oh please—"
Lyra's voice rose stronger.
"But this isn't your war anymore."
The Heart of the Moonborn pulsed brightly inside her chest.
The silver energy filled the chamber.
The beast growled uncertainly.
For the first time… it hesitated.
Kael's patience snapped.
"Enough!"
His crimson aura exploded outward.
He leaped onto the beast's back suddenly and slammed his claw into its neck.
Dark energy poured from his hand like poison.
The creature roared in agony.
Its eyes flashed violently between red and fire.
Kael shouted over the chaos.
"If you won't obey willingly—"
His voice twisted with madness.
"Then I'll control you too!"
The beast went berserk.
Its massive body slammed into the walls of the chamber, shattering pillars and sending stone crashing everywhere.
Darius grabbed Lyra and pulled her back just as the creature's tail smashed through the floor beside them.
The chamber was collapsing.
Kael clung to the beast's back, forcing more crimson energy into it.
The creature roared again, completely out of control now.
Lyra stared in horror.
"He's driving it insane."
Darius growled.
"If that thing gets out of this temple…"
They both knew what would happen.
Entire packs would be wiped out.
Lyra's silver eyes hardened.
Her wolf spoke with sudden certainty.
There's only one way to stop it.
Lyra looked at the raging beast… and then at the glowing runes of the temple.
A dangerous idea formed.
Darius noticed her expression immediately.
"What are you thinking?"
Lyra took a slow breath.
"We seal it again."
Darius blinked.
"The temple barely held it the first time!"
Lyra's silver aura flared brighter.
"But this time…"
She looked at the raging monster.
"I'm the Moonborn heir."
The collapsing chamber trembled again.
And Lyra prepared to attempt something no Moonborn had done in centuries.