Chapter 27: The First Alpha King

The entire chamber fell silent.

Even the ancient stone Guardians remained motionless.

Every pair of eyes focused on the silver-eyed man.

"Lucien Noctis..." Cedric whispered.

"That's impossible."

"You died over two hundred years ago."

Lucien smiled calmly.

"History remembers only what the victors allow."

"I simply allowed the world to believe I was dead."

Jaxon stepped forward.

"You've been hiding behind the Order of the Eclipse all this time?"

"Watching kingdoms rise and fall?"

"Correct."

"And starting wars," Ethan growled.

"Manipulating innocent packs."

"Thousands died because of you."

Lucien's expression never changed.

"Temporary suffering."

"For eternal peace."

"Peace built on blood isn't peace," Sable replied.

"It's tyranny."

Lucien looked at her with quiet curiosity.

"You sound exactly like your mother."

Sable froze.

"You knew my parents."

"I knew everyone who ever came searching for the Crown."

"They refused to obey."

"So they accepted the consequences."

Rage flashed across Sable's face.

"You murdered them."

"No," Lucien answered.

"I preserved the future."

"Enough!"

Jaxon drew his sword.

"You're done deciding who lives and who dies."

Lucien sighed almost sadly.

"You still don't understand."

"The Moon Goddess chose me first."

"I protected this world before your bloodline even existed."

"Then why didn't the Crown choose you?" Magnus asked.

For the first time...

Lucien's calm smile disappeared.

"Because..."

"The Goddess changed her mind."

Silence filled the Temple.

"She believed love should guide power."

"I believed strength should."

"She rejected me."

"So you spent two centuries trying to prove her wrong," Jasper said quietly.

Lucien looked toward him.

"Exactly."

"Every war..."

"Every betrayal..."

"Every Alpha who rose and fell..."

"Was another lesson."

"Wolves don't deserve freedom."

"They deserve order."

"Under one ruler."

"You," Jaxon replied.

"Me," Lucien admitted proudly.

The Inner Sanctum behind him glowed brighter.

The Lunar Crown rested upon a silver pedestal.

It floated above the ancient altar.

Moonlight poured through the ceiling onto the Crown.

"The chosen pair has opened the Temple," Lucien continued.

"Now all I require..."

"Is their blood."

Before anyone could react...

Lucien raised his hand.

Dark silver energy erupted across the chamber.

The Guardians trembled violently.

"What is he doing?" Ethan shouted.

"Corrupting the Temple!" Magnus cried.

"He's forcing it to obey him!"

Cracks spread across the Guardian statues.

Their silver eyes slowly turned crimson.

"No..." Cedric whispered.

"He's breaking the Temple's blessing."

One by one...

The Guardians stood again.

This time...

They weren't kneeling.

They roared with terrifying fury.

"Kill everyone," Lucien ordered calmly.

The first Guardian charged.

Jaxon met it head-on.

His sword collided with its stone claws.

The impact echoed through the Temple.

Another Guardian lunged toward Sable.

She rolled beneath its strike before driving her blade into a crack along its leg.

The Guardian stumbled.

"Its weak points!" she shouted.

"Aim for the glowing cracks!"

Immediately...

Everyone adjusted.

Ethan shattered one Guardian's arm with his war hammer.

Cedric used ancient runes to weaken another.

Magnus struck the ground with his staff.

Silver roots burst from the Temple floor, slowing several Guardians.

Meanwhile...

Jasper wasn't fighting the Guardians.

He was charging directly toward Lucien.

"Interesting," Lucien said.

"So you've finally made your choice."

"I never wanted your version of peace," Jasper replied.

"I only wanted to protect my pack."

"Then you've always been weak."

Their swords collided in a violent explosion of silver and crimson energy.

The force shook the entire Temple.

"Jaxon!" Jasper shouted while blocking another strike.

"The Crown!"

"Only you and Sable can reach it!"

"We'll hold him here!"

Jaxon hesitated.

"Go!" Ethan roared.

"We'll buy you time!"

Jaxon looked at Sable.

She nodded without a word.

Together...

They sprinted toward the glowing Inner Sanctum.

Lucien smiled.

"Exactly as I planned."

"The Crown cannot be claimed..."

"Until the chosen pair stands before it."

His silver eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"And once they awaken its true power..."

"I'll finally take it for myself."