Chapter 26: The Guardians of the Crown

The Temple echoed with the sounds of war.

Steel clashed against stone.

Ancient roars shook the mountain as the massive wolf guardians awakened.

Jaxon and Sable rushed from the Trial Chamber.

The moment they entered the central hall, they froze.

The peaceful temple they had entered hours ago had become a battlefield.

Stone wolves, each twice the size of a normal werewolf, moved with terrifying speed.

Their glowing silver eyes scanned every living soul.

They attacked everyone equally.

Members of the Order.

Bloodlust warriors.

Even Magnus and Cedric.

"They're not protecting anyone," Ethan shouted while blocking a massive stone claw.

"They're protecting the Crown!"

One Guardian charged toward Magnus.

The old guide barely raised his staff in time.

The impact threw him several feet across the chamber.

"Magnus!" Sable cried.

Without hesitation, she sprinted toward him.

The Guardian turned its glowing eyes toward her.

It let out a deafening howl before lunging.

"SABLE!"

Jaxon intercepted the creature with a powerful slash.

His sword sparked against the Guardian's stone hide.

Instead of cutting through...

The blade barely left a scratch.

"Its armor is enchanted!" Ethan yelled.

"Normal weapons won't stop them!"

The Guardian swung again.

Jaxon pushed Sable aside just in time.

The stone claws shattered one of the temple pillars.

Massive rocks crashed onto the floor.

"Everyone spread out!" Cedric ordered.

"Don't let them corner you!"

Across the chamber, Jasper fought with incredible precision.

Unlike before, he wasn't holding back.

His crimson aura surrounded his sword as he cut through smaller stone creatures.

"He's stronger than I thought," Ethan muttered.

Jaxon noticed it too.

Jasper moved like someone trained for battles far older than ordinary pack wars.

'Watch him,' Drax warned.

'He's hiding something.'

'I know.'

Suddenly...

A Guardian slammed its enormous tail into the floor.

The shockwave knocked everyone off balance.

Sable lost her footing.

She slid toward the edge of a collapsing platform.

"Jaxon!"

Without thinking, he leaped after her.

Their hands met just before she fell into the dark abyss below.

"I've got you!"

The platform continued breaking apart.

Jaxon struggled to pull her up.

"Let go!" Sable shouted.

"You'll fall too!"

"Not happening."

"Jaxon!"

"I already chose you once today."

"I'm not changing my mind now."

With a final burst of strength, he pulled her back onto solid ground.

The mate bond flared brilliantly.

Silver light wrapped around both of them.

Every Guardian in the chamber suddenly stopped moving.

Dozens of glowing eyes turned toward the pair.

"Why did they stop?" Ethan whispered.

Magnus slowly stood.

His eyes widened in realization.

"The bond..."

"The Temple recognizes them."

The largest Guardian slowly approached.

It towered nearly twenty feet tall.

Instead of attacking...

It knelt.

One after another...

Every stone Guardian lowered its head before Jaxon and Sable.

The chamber became completely silent.

"Impossible," Jasper whispered.

Magnus smiled for the first time in days.

"No..."

"Exactly as the legends promised."

The largest Guardian spoke in a deep ancient voice.

"Chosen of the Moon..."

"The Temple acknowledges your unity."

"Proceed to the Inner Sanctum."

"The Crown awaits."

A massive stone wall behind the throne slowly split apart.

A hidden passage illuminated by silver crystals appeared.

Before anyone could move...

Slow applause echoed through the chamber.

Everyone turned.

A lone figure emerged from the shadows.

He wore black armor marked with the symbol of the Eclipse.

Unlike the others...

His face wasn't hidden.

He looked no older than forty.

His silver eyes glowed unnaturally.

"Magnificent," he said with a calm smile.

"Two centuries of planning..."

"And the Temple finally opens."

Lady Selene stepped forward from another entrance.

She lowered her head respectfully.

"Forgive me, Grand Master."

"They were stronger than expected."

The mysterious man smiled.

"You served your purpose well, Selene."

"The chosen pair has opened the path exactly as I intended."

Jaxon's expression hardened.

"You're the true leader of the Order."

"At last," the man replied.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

"My name is Lucien Noctis..."

"The First Guardian of the Lunar Crown."

"And the man history should have remembered..."

"As the first Alpha King."