Chapter 12 - The Shadow of the Blood Moon
The journey to the Eastern Mountains was harsh and cold, but my inner power kept the icy wind at bay, wrapping both me and my unborn child in a gentle cocoon of golden light.
The Eastern Temple was an imposing structure carved directly into the face of a jagged marble mountain. As our war party approached, a strange, unnatural mist settled over the valley, turning the moonlight a sickening shade of bruised purple.
"Stay behind me," Walter commanded in a low growl, drawing his legendary black steel blade. His eyes burned with golden fury, his scent expanding to shield our party from the dark pressure hanging in the air.
Inside the temple, hundreds of dark-robed cultists stood surrounding a glowing stone dais. At the center stood High Priest Vane—the twisted old man who had served as my old Alpha's grand advisor, the one who had urged my clan to abuse me for eighteen years.
"Ah, the runaway Omega arrives," Vane rasped, his sunken eyes fixing on my belly with sickening greed. "Look at you... bearing the blood of a false King. You were born to be a vessel for our ancient god, child! Your mother died to seal your power, but tonight, we break the seal completely!"
"Touch her and I will feed your flesh to the crows!" Walter roared, leaping forward.
"Bind the King!" Vane shrieked.
Dozens of cultists threw black iron chains infused with dark magic toward Walter. The dark spell heavy enough to sink a ship slammed into Walter, forcing him down to one knee as the dark iron wrapped around his chest and arms. He roared in agony, his muscles straining as he fought against the dark magic designed specifically to drain an Alpha's strength.
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"Walter!" I screamed.
"Do not look at him, little Queen," Vane laughed, raising a jagged obsidian dagger toward me. "Your magic is weak while your child drains your life energy. You cannot fight us!"
