Chapter 18: Blood Fang Valley

Before dawn, Shadow Keep's gates slowly opened.

A cold wind swept across the mountains as Darius led a small group of twelve elite warriors through the northern pass.

Seraphina rode beside him, wrapped in a thick black cloak embroidered with the crescent emblem of the Shadowlands.

No one spoke.

Everyone understood the importance of their mission.

Blood Fang Valley was nearly three days away.

If another Alpha reached the Crown first, everything would change.

"Scouts ahead," Commander Alden whispered.

Two wolves shifted into their animal forms and disappeared into the forest.

"We'll avoid the main roads," Darius ordered.

"Every kingdom will be watching them."

Seraphina nodded.

"The mountain trails are slower but safer."

"Exactly."

For hours they traveled through untouched forests and frozen rivers.

The deeper they ventured into the wilderness, the stranger the land became.

Ancient stone pillars appeared between the trees.

Old carvings covered their surfaces.

"These markings..." Seraphina said quietly.

"They're older than any pack."

"The First Alphas built them," Darius explained.

"They point toward Blood Fang Valley."

As sunset approached, the scouts returned.

"My Alpha," one reported.

"Silvercrest warriors are less than five miles behind us."

Seraphina lowered her eyes.

"Kael..."

"He's not hunting you anymore," Darius said calmly.

"He's hunting the Crown."

"I know."

"That doesn't make it easier."

Darius understood.

He said nothing more.

That night, the group camped beside a frozen lake.

Most of the warriors slept in shifts while Seraphina remained awake beside the fire.

"Can't sleep?" Darius asked, sitting beside her.

"Too much on my mind."

"Thinking about Kael?"

She stared into the flames.

"Partly."

"And the rest?"

"I'm afraid this prophecy will start another war."

"It already has."

His answer was painfully honest.

"Then we have to end it before it begins."

The following morning, the group entered Blood Fang Valley.

The place felt ancient.

Broken weapons lay scattered across the snow as if an army had vanished overnight.

Enormous wolf statues stood on either side of the valley entrance.

Their stone eyes seemed to watch every traveler.

"Stay alert," Darius warned.

"This place doesn't feel abandoned."

As if answering his words, arrows suddenly rained down from the cliffs.

"Ambush!" Commander Alden shouted.

Shadow warriors raised their shields as masked attackers charged from behind the rocks.

"Rogues!"

Steel clashed across the valley.

Seraphina drew her sword without hesitation.

A rogue lunged toward one of the younger warriors.

She intercepted the attack, knocking the assassin aside before spinning gracefully and disarming another.

"Protect the formation!" she called.

Darius fought beside her like a storm.

Every movement was precise.

Every strike forced another enemy backward.

Within minutes, the attackers realized they were losing.

"Retreat!" one of them shouted.

The remaining rogues disappeared into the surrounding cliffs as quickly as they had appeared.

Silence returned.

"Everyone alright?" Darius asked.

"Minor injuries only," Alden replied.

Seraphina noticed something unusual near one fallen attacker.

She bent down and picked up a silver pendant shaped like a serpent.

"This doesn't belong to any pack," she said.

Darius examined it carefully.

"No..."

"Someone else is involved."

"Someone who hired the rogues."

Before anyone could investigate further, the ground beneath the valley trembled.

Ancient stone doors slowly emerged from beneath the snow at the center of the battlefield.

Massive symbols glowed across their surface.

"The entrance..." an elder whispered.

"We've found it."

The enormous doors began opening with a deafening roar.

Golden light poured from the darkness beyond.

"The Crown is inside," Seraphina breathed.

Just as Darius stepped forward, another voice echoed through the valley.

"You're too late."

Everyone turned.

Kael and his warriors stood at the opposite end of the valley.

Several other Alphas appeared behind him.

Then, from the cliffs above, the mysterious hooded figure slowly removed their cloak.

"Welcome," the stranger said with a cold smile.

"I've been waiting for all of you."

The race for the Crown of Unity had finally become a battle.