Chapter 19 - Chapter19 The End of the Scumbag and the Traitor — Blood Will Be Repaid With Blood

The silver glow of the Moonstone Altar lingered in the clearing long after Selene's spirit faded, casting a fragile barrier of light over the pack. Alphard held Elaine tightly in his arms, his scarlet eyes fixed on the forest's edge, where the faint scent of darkness still clung to the breeze. The realization that his brother, Caius, might be the Dark One gnawed at his chest, a toxic mix of grief, rage, and denial swirling in his veins. He had loved Caius—had fought beside him, laughed with him, grieved for him when he fell in battle against Valerius centuries ago. How could the brother he knew, the loyal, kind-hearted wolf who had sworn to protect the pack, have become the very embodiment of darkness?Elaine pressed her hand to his cheek, her silver-blue eyes soft with empathy, her voice a gentle whisper that cut through his turmoil. "Alphard, we don't know for sure. It could be a trick—a way for the Dark One to weaken you, to make you hesitate when we need you most." Her thumb brushed away the tension in his jaw, her magic wrapping around him like a warm embrace, calming the storm within him. "We have three days. Three days to find the truth, to prepare, to save Caius if we can. But we must not let doubt cloud our judgment. The pack needs their Alpha. I need you. Our baby needs you."Alphard nodded, his grip on her tightening, as if holding her would anchor him to reality. He knew she was right. Doubt was the Dark One's greatest weapon, and he would not let it destroy him—not when Elaine, their child, and the entire pack depended on him. "You're right," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "First, we deal with Lilith. She betrayed us, betrayed the pack, and she will pay for her crimes. Blood for blood."The pack murmured in agreement, their growls echoing through the clearing, a chorus of anger and loyalty. Gareth stepped forward, his head bowed, his voice firm. "Alpha, Luna, we will stand with you. Lilith's betrayal has wounded us all, but we will not let it break us. We will hunt down the Dark One, we will save Caius if he can be saved, and we will protect our home."With that, Alphard lifted Elaine into his arms once more, striding toward the pack's infirmary, where Lilith lay unconscious, her body still weak from the Dark One's control. The infirmary was a small stone building on the edge of the pack's territory, filled with the scent of healing herbs and magic. Two guards stood at the door, their expressions solemn, their claws ready—they had been ordered to keep a close watch on Lilith, to ensure she did not escape or fall under the Dark One's control again.Alphard set Elaine down gently on a bench beside the bed, his scarlet eyes fixed on Lilith's unconscious form. Her dark hair was matted with sweat, her face pale, her lips parted as she breathed shallowly. The faint black mist that had clung to her earlier was gone, but Alphard could still sense the lingering taint of darkness in her veins—the mark of the Dark One's influence, a stain that would never fully fade."She will wake soon," Elaine whispered, her silver magic flaring softly as she reached out to touch Lilith's forehead. "The Dark One's control has been broken, but the damage is done. Her magic is drained, her mind is fractured. But she will be able to speak—to answer for her crimes."Alphard's jaw tightened, his scarlet eyes hardening with resolve. "Good. I want her to look me in the eyes when she explains why she betrayed me. Why she betrayed the pack. Why she would risk the life of my mate, my child, for the Dark One's lies."They waited in silence, the only sounds being Lilith's shallow breathing and the distant howl of a wolf in the forest. Elaine leaned against Alphard's shoulder, her hand resting on her stomach, feeling the faint flutter of their child. She could sense the baby's magic, warm and strong, a beacon of hope in the darkness. But she could also sense something else—a faint, cold energy, distant but growing stronger, as if the Dark One was watching them, biding his time.After what felt like an eternity, Lilith's eyes fluttered open, her green eyes clouded with confusion and pain. She gasped, sitting up suddenly, her body trembling, as memories of her betrayal flooded back—her alliance with the Dark One, her attempt to harm Elaine and her child, the cold voice in her head that had controlled her every move. Tears filled her eyes, and she collapsed back onto the bed, sobbing uncontrollably."I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice broken, her body shaking. "I'm so sorry, Alphard. I didn't mean to—I wasn't in control. The Dark One… he got inside my head. He told me he would give me power, give me revenge for what Kael did to me. He lied. He used me. I never wanted to hurt you, never wanted to hurt the pack."Alphard stepped forward, his scarlet eyes blazing with rage, his Alpha power flaring, making the room tremble. "Revenge?" he snarled, his voice low and dangerous. "What revenge? Kael never betrayed you, Lilith. He never wronged you. You were a child, a friend, and he cared for you. But he loved Selene—he loved her then, and he loves Elaine now. That is not betrayal. That is love. And you let your jealousy, your anger, turn you into a monster. You let the Dark One use you to destroy everything we hold dear."Lilith sobbed harder, her hands covering her face. "I know! I know I was wrong! I was foolish, I was blind. The Dark One told me that Kael chose Selene over the pack, over me—that he sacrificed himself to save her, leaving us to suffer. He told me that if I helped him, he would make me the Luna Queen, make you regret choosing her. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to matter. I wanted you to see me.""You did matter," Elaine said, her voice soft but firm, stepping forward beside Alphard. "You were my friend. You helped me, cared for me. But you let darkness consume you. You let your pain turn you against the people who loved you. And now, you have to face the consequences of your actions. The pack has suffered because of you. Clara's betrayal, Valerius's attack, the Dark One's rise—you played a part in all of it. Blood will be repaid with blood."Lilith's sobs faded, and she looked up at them, her green eyes filled with绝望 and remorse. "I know. I deserve to die. But please… please tell me. Is Caius alive? The Dark One mentioned him. He said he was his greatest weapon. Is my brother… is he the Dark One?"Alphard and Elaine exchanged a glance, shock washing over them. "Your brother?" Alphard asked, his voice narrowing with confusion. "Caius was my brother. When did he become yours?"Lilith's eyes widened, her body trembling. "You didn't know? Caius and I… we were twins. Separated at birth, when our parents died in a raid. I was taken in by the pack, and he was taken in by a neighboring clan. We found each other when we were teenagers, but we kept it a secret—we were afraid the pack would not accept us, afraid you would see us as a threat, Alphard. Caius joined the pack, fought beside you, and he never told you. He was too afraid of losing the family he had found."The room fell silent, the weight of Lilith's words hanging in the air. Alphard stared at her, his mind racing, memories of Caius flooding back—how Caius had always been there for him, how he had fought with loyalty and courage, how he had never mentioned a sister. It all made sense now—Caius's hesitation to talk about his past, his protectiveness toward Lilith, his quiet sorrow. They were twins, bound by blood, and the Dark One had used that bond to manipulate them both."The Dark One found us," Lilith whispered, her voice trembling. "He told me he had Caius, that he was torturing him, that he would kill him if I didn't help him. He said he would free Caius if I betrayed you, if I helped him get to Elaine and her child. I had no choice. I couldn't let him kill my brother.""You had a choice," Alphard growled, his voice filled with sorrow and rage. "You could have come to me. You could have told me the truth. We could have saved Caius together. But you chose betrayal. You chose the Dark One over your brother, over your pack, over everything. And now, Caius is lost to the darkness—if he's even alive."Just as Alphard spoke, a loud, ear-splitting howl echoed through the forest, a howl that was filled with pain and darkness, a howl that Alphard recognized instantly—it was Caius's howl. But it was not the howl of the loyal wolf he had known. It was the howl of a creature consumed by darkness, a howl that sent chills down every wolf's spine."Caius," Lilith whispered, her eyes wide with fear. "He's here. The Dark One has him. He's controlling him."Alphard's scarlet eyes darkened, his claws extending, his fangs bared. "We go now. We find Caius. We save him if we can. And we destroy the Dark One—once and for all." He turned to the guards at the door, his voice booming with authority. "Gather the pack. Meet me at the forest's edge. We hunt the darkness. We repay blood with blood."The guards nodded, rushing out of the infirmary to gather the pack. Alphard turned to Elaine, his scarlet eyes softening as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Stay here. It's too dangerous. I won't let anything happen to you or our baby."Elaine shook her head, her silver-blue eyes filled with determination. "No. I'm coming with you. We're in this together, remember? Selene's magic is in me, and our baby's magic is strong. I can help. I can help save Caius. And I can help you defeat the Dark One." She placed her hand on his chest, her magic merging with his, a warm, powerful bond that wrapped around them both. "I won't let you face this alone. Never again."Alphard hesitated, but he knew he could not refuse her. He leaned down, pressing a deep, passionate kiss to her lips, a kiss that was a promise—a promise to protect her, to save Caius, to defeat the darkness. "Together," he whispered, lifting her into his arms, striding out of the infirmary, toward the forest's edge, where the pack was gathering.The pack stood in a circle, their fur bristling, their eyes filled with determination and fear. Gareth stood at the front, his claws extended, his voice firm. "Alpha, the pack is ready. We will fight with you, until our last breath."Alphard nodded, setting Elaine down beside him, his scarlet eyes scanning the crowd. "The Dark One is here, controlling Caius. He wants our baby's magic, he wants my soul, he wants to destroy everything we love. But we will not let him. We will save Caius if we can, but if we cannot—we will put him out of his misery. Blood for blood. Betrayal for betrayal. This ends tonight."With that, he let out a loud, powerful howl, a howl that echoed through the forest, a call to battle. The pack joined in, their howls merging into a single, deafening chorus, a declaration of strength and unity. Alphard took Elaine's hand, and together, they led the pack into the forest, the silver light of the moon guiding their way.The forest was dark, the trees towering above them, casting long, eerie shadows. The air was thick with the scent of darkness, of death, of Caius's corrupted magic. Alphard's scarlet eyes glowed in the dark, his senses heightened, as he tracked Caius's scent, following it deeper into the forest, toward the old ruins—a place where Kael and Selene had once fought Valerius, a place where darkness had lingered for centuries.As they approached the ruins, they heard it—the sound of Caius's growls, low and menacing, mixed with the Dark One's cold, mocking laughter. The ruins were a crumbling stone structure, overgrown with vines, the moon's light casting a faint glow over it. In the center of the ruins, stood Caius—but he was not the Caius Alphard had known. His fur was black as night, his eyes glowing with a cold, red light, his body surrounded by a thick, black mist. The Dark One's influence was clear, his magic coursing through Caius's veins, twisting him into a monster."There you are, Kael," the Dark One's voice echoed, coming from Caius's mouth, but it was not Caius's voice—it was deeper, more menacing, more ancient. "I've been waiting for you. Waiting for you to come and face me. Waiting for you to watch as I destroy everything you love."Alphard stepped forward, his scarlet eyes blazing with rage, his Alpha power flaring. "Let him go. This is between you and me. Leave Caius out of this."The Dark One laughed, a cold, bitter sound that echoed through the ruins. "Leave him out of this? He is my vessel. My weapon. He has been mine since the day he died in battle against Valerius. I resurrected him, corrupted him, made him strong. And now, he will be the one to kill you. To kill your mate. To kill your child. And you will have to watch—watch as the brother you loved destroys everything you hold dear."Caius let out a loud growl, lunging toward Alphard, his claws extended, his fangs bared. Alphard dodged, his wolf magic surging, as he pushed Elaine behind him, protecting her. "Caius, fight it!" he roared, his voice filled with sorrow and hope. "I know you're in there! Fight the darkness! Come back to me!"Caius hesitated for a moment, his red eyes flickering, as if fighting the Dark One's control. "Alphard…," he whispered, his voice broken, before the Dark One's control tightened, his eyes turning back to cold, unfeeling red. He lunged again, faster this time, his claws grazing Alphard's arm, drawing blood."Alpha!" the pack roared, rushing forward to help, but Alphard held up his hand, stopping them. "No! This is my fight. I have to save him. I have to do this alone."He turned to Elaine, his scarlet eyes soft with love. "Protect the pack. Protect our baby. I'll be back. I promise."Elaine nodded, her silver magic flaring, wrapping around the pack, creating a protective barrier. "Be careful. I love you."Alphard smiled, a faint, sad smile, before turning back to Caius, his claws extending, his fangs bared. He let out a howl, shifting into his wolf form—a massive, black wolf with scarlet eyes, his fur bristling with power. Caius shifted too, his black wolf form even larger, more menacing, the black mist surrounding him growing thicker.The two wolves clashed, their growls echoing through the ruins, their claws and fangs tearing at each other. Alphard fought with all his strength, but he held back—he did not want to hurt Caius, did not want to kill the brother he loved. But Caius fought with no mercy, his attacks ruthless, his magic corrupted by the Dark One. Blood spilled, staining the stone ground, as the two brothers battled, their bond torn apart by darkness.Elaine watched, her heart breaking, her silver magic flaring, as she tried to reach Caius, to break the Dark One's control. "Caius, listen to me!" she shouted, her voice powerful, her magic wrapping around Caius, trying to push out the darkness. "Lilith is here! She's sorry! She never wanted to hurt you! The Dark One lied to her, lied to you! Fight it!"Lilith stepped forward, her green eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. "Caius, my brother. Please. Come back to me. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to let this happen. Fight the darkness. For me. For Alphard. For the pack."Caius's body trembled, his attacks faltering, as Elaine's magic and Lilith's words broke through the Dark One's control. His red eyes flickered, and for a moment, Alphard saw the brother he knew—the kind, loyal wolf who had fought beside him, who had loved him. "Lilith… Alphard…," he whispered, his voice broken, before the Dark One's control surged again, his eyes turning back to red, his growls more menacing than ever."Foolish mortals," the Dark One snarled, his voice echoing through the ruins. "You think you can break my control? You think you can save him? He is mine, and he will remain mine forever. And now, I will kill you all, starting with your mate, Kael."Caius lunged at Alphard, his claws aimed at Alphard's throat, but Alphard dodged, slamming his paw into Caius's chest, sending him flying into the crumbling stone wall. Caius roared, getting back to his feet, the black mist around him growing thicker, as the Dark One's magic surged within him.But just as Caius prepared to lunge again, a sudden silver light erupted from Elaine's stomach, the light of their child flaring brighter than ever before. The light wrapped around Caius, freezing him in place, the black mist around him recoil, as if burned by the light. Elaine closed her eyes, focusing all her magic, all her love, into the light, as Selene's voice echoed in her head—"Your child is the key. Their magic is the only thing that can destroy the Dark One's core.""No!" the Dark One shrieked, his voice filled with fear. "Stop! That light… it's destroying me!"Caius screamed, his body trembling, as the black mist was forced out of him, as the Dark One's control over him shattered. He collapsed to the ground, shifting back into his human form, his body weak, his skin pale, his eyes returning to their normal blue. "Alphard…," he whispered, his voice trembling, as he looked up at his brother.Alphard rushed to his side, his scarlet eyes filled with relief and sorrow. "Caius. You're back. Thank the moon, you're back."But the relief was short-lived. A cold, menacing laugh echoed through the ruins, and the black mist that had been forced out of Caius gathered in the center of the ruins, swirling and twisting, forming a faint, humanoid figure—a figure with red eyes, a pale face, and a cold, mocking smile. It was the Dark One's true form, weak but still dangerous."You think this is over?" the Dark One snarled, his voice filled with rage. "You think you've won? I may have lost my vessel, but I still have the black crystal. I still have the blood of a betrayed heart. And I still have three days until the full moon. Your child's magic may have weakened me, but it will not destroy me. I will return. I will take your child's power. I will take your soul. And I will destroy everything you love. This is not the end. This is just the beginning."With that, the Dark One's form began to fade, the black mist swirling, before vanishing into the night. But as he disappeared, he let out a final, menacing whisper: "Lilith's blood is not the only betrayed heart. There is another. One you least expect. And when the full moon rises, they will betray you. They will hand your child to me. And there will be no escape."The ruins fell silent, the only sounds being the pack's heavy breathing and Caius's weak gasps. Alphard helped Caius to his feet, his arm around his brother's shoulders, his scarlet eyes filled with relief and警惕. "We have him back," he whispered, but his voice was filled with doubt. The Dark One's words lingered in the air—a warning of another betrayal, a betrayal from someone they least expected.Lilith stepped forward, her green eyes filled with remorse, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Caius. I'm sorry I let this happen. I'm sorry I betrayed you, betrayed the pack. I deserve whatever punishment you give me. Blood for blood."Caius looked at her, his blue eyes filled with sorrow, but also with forgiveness. "You were manipulated, Lilith. The Dark One used our bond, used your pain, to control you. You are my sister, and I forgive you. But the pack… the pack may not be so kind."Alphard turned to the pack, his scarlet eyes scanning the crowd. "Lilith betrayed us. She made a choice, a terrible choice, and she must face the consequences. But she was manipulated. She was trying to save her brother. And for that, she will not die. Instead, she will be exiled. She will leave the pack, never to return. If she ever sets foot on our territory again, she will be killed. Blood for blood—but mercy for the manipulated."The pack murmured, but no one protested. They knew Alphard was fair—he had given Lilith mercy, even though she deserved death. Lilith nodded, her eyes filled with tears of gratitude. "Thank you, Alphard. Thank you. I will leave. I will never return. And I will spend the rest of my life trying to atone for my sins."With that, she turned, walking into the forest, her figure fading into the darkness. Alphard watched her go, his heart heavy, but he knew it was the right choice. She had betrayed them, but she had also been a victim of the Dark One's lies. Exile was the merciful punishment, the only punishment that fit her crime.Caius leaned against Alphard, his body weak, his voice trembling. "The Dark One… he told me everything. He told me about Kael's sacrifice, about Selene's death, about the curse. He told me that you had forgotten about me, that you didn't care about me. He manipulated me, made me believe that you were my enemy. I'm sorry, Alphard. I'm so sorry I fought you.""I forgive you," Alphard whispered, his arm tightening around his brother. "You were not in control. The Dark One used you, just like he used Lilith. We are brothers, and nothing—not even darkness—can break that bond."Elaine stepped forward, her silver magic flaring softly, as she placed her hand on Caius's forehead, healing his wounds. "You're safe now, Caius. The Dark One is gone—for now. But we have three days until the full moon. Three days to find the black crystal, to prepare for his return, and to find the other betrayed heart. The Dark One's warning was clear—there is another traitor among us. Someone we trust. Someone who will betray us when we need them most."Alphard's scarlet eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "We will find them. We will uncover their betrayal. And we will make them pay. Blood for blood. No more mercy. No more second chances."The pack nodded, their voices echoing in unison. "Blood for blood! Blood for blood!"As the chant filled the ruins, the moon rose higher in the sky, its silver light casting a faint glow over them. The full moon was three days away. Three days to find the black crystal. Three days to uncover the hidden traitor. Three days to prepare for the Dark One's return. And three days to protect their baby, their pack, their home.Alphard took Elaine's hand, his other arm around Caius, as they turned to leave the ruins, the pack following behind them. But as they walked, Alphard's scarlet eyes narrowed, his senses heightened. He could feel it—a faint, familiar energy, a energy that belonged to someone in the pack, someone close to him. An energy that was tinged with darkness, with betrayal. The hidden traitor was among them, watching, waiting, biding their time.Elaine felt it too, her silver-blue eyes narrowing, her hand tightening around Alphard's. She could sense the traitor's presence, a cold, faint energy that made her skin crawl. But she did not know who it was—could not guess. It was someone they trusted, someone they never would have suspected. Someone who would strike when they least expected it.Caius leaned against Alphard, his body still weak, but his eyes filled with determination. "We will find them, Alphard. We will stop the Dark One. We will protect the pack. And we will make sure that blood is repaid with blood."Alphard nodded, his scarlet eyes fixed on the path ahead, his heart heavy with doubt and determination. He knew that the next three days would be the hardest of his life. The Dark One was coming, the hidden traitor was waiting, and their baby's life was at stake. But he also knew that he was not alone. He had Elaine, his mate, his Luna. He had Caius, his brother, his ally. He had the pack, his family, his strength. And together, they would fight. They would win. And they would make sure that the Dark One, and the hidden traitor, paid for their crimes.But as they walked back to the pack's territory, a faint, cold smile played on the lips of one of the pack members—a member who stood among them, hidden in plain sight, their eyes filled with darkness, their loyalty to the Dark One unwavering. They had been waiting for this moment, waiting to betray Alphard, waiting to hand his child to the Dark One. And when the full moon rose, they would strike. And this time, there would be no escape. The Dark One's promise would be fulfilled. And blood would be shed—more blood than anyone could imagine.