Chapter 11 - The Echoes of the Past
News of the Queen’s pregnancy spread through the five realms like wildfire, bringing joy to the common folk and hope to every Omega who had once lived in the shadows. But in the dark, forgotten corners of the realm, old enemies were stirring.
Months had passed since the defeat of Alpha Corvin, and my belly was now visibly rounded with our child. Walter barely left my side, his protective Alpha instincts heightened to an almost comical degree. He would personally check every meal, inspect every courtyard walkway for slippery stones, and growl softly at any noble who dared walk too fast near me.
"You need to breathe, my King," I chuckled softly one afternoon, leaning back against the plush velvet cushions of the private balcony. "I am carrying a strong child. He—or she—is as stubborn as his father."
Walter smiled, a warm, soft expression that belonged only to me, placing his large hand over my belly. "I lost a child once, years ago. I lost a queen to the shadows. I will tear down the sky before I let anything touch either of you."
Before I could answer, a frantic guard burst into the royal solar.
"Your Grace! An urgent dispatch from the eastern borders!" the guard panted, dropping to one knee. "The ancient cult of the Blood Moon—the remnant followers of your old clan’s high priest—have seized the Eastern Temple!"
My blood ran cold. "The Eastern Temple? That is where my mother’s sacred ashes were laid to rest."
"They have taken hostages, My Queen," the guard added softly. "And they left a message painted in wolfsbane on the stone walls: 'The Eclipse belongs to the Ancestors. Return the mother, or the bloodline ends in ash.'"
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Walter’s jaw set into an iron line. "Prepare the vanguard. We ride at dusk."
"No, Walter," I said, standing up, my hand gripping his wrist firmly. "They are drawing you out. This isn't just a threat—it's a ritual meant to sever the bond between us before the baby is born. I am coming with you."
