Chapter 7 Grayson's Trap

Author's POV

"Alistair, get up!" Isaac shouted, shaking him hard.

Alistair groaned, still on his knees. "Selene... she's gone."

Isaac's voice was urgent. "We don't have time for this! The Wraith King is still here."

Alistair's fists clenched, his heart heavy. "I won't leave her."

Isaac grabbed him by the shoulders. "You can't save her if you're dead!"

Alistair stared at the ground, breathing hard. "I should've stopped him."

"We couldn't have stopped him," Isaac said, panicking. "But we have to think now. We need to get out of here!"

The cave rumbled again, and shadows swirled in the air.

"Move, Alistair!" Isaac yelled, pulling him to his feet.

The Wraith King's voice echoed around them. "You can run, but I'll find you."

Alistair's eyes flashed with anger. "I'm not running. I'll face him."

Isaac's face paled. "You can't fight him alone. We need a plan!"

Alistair growled, stepping toward the shadows. "I'll tear him apart."

"Stop!" Isaac pulled him back. "Look at him! You saw what he did to Selene."

Alistair's heart ached. "I can't just leave her with him."

Isaac shook his head. "We need to regroup. Grayson is still out there, and he's part of this."

At the mention of Grayson, Alistair's eyes darkened. "Grayson..."

Isaac nodded quickly. "Yes, Grayson! He's behind everything. He's the one who set this up."

Alistair glared at him. "Then we go after him."

Isaac gulped. "But... how do we even find him?"

"You don't have to find him," a deep voice said from the shadows.

Both Alistair and Isaac froze.

"Grayson," Alistair growled, his teeth clenched.

From the darkness, Grayson stepped into view, his eyes gleaming with a wicked smile. "Hello, Alistair. It's been a while."

Isaac stepped back, fear gripping him. "How did he get in here?"

Grayson smirked. "I've always known where you were. You led me right to you."

Alistair's muscles tensed. "You set us up."

Grayson shrugged. "Of course I did. Did you really think you could escape?"

Alistair lunged forward, but Isaac held him back. "No, Alistair! Not now."

Grayson chuckled darkly. "Listen to your friend, Alistair. He's smarter than you."

Alistair's eyes burned with rage. "You betrayed the pack. You betrayed me."

Grayson sneered. "I did what I had to. And look where it got me, power beyond anything you could dream of."

Isaac's voice trembled. "What do you want, Grayson?"

Grayson's smile widened. "Simple. I want control. And with the Wraith King by my side, I have it."

Alistair spat on the ground. "You're nothing but a coward."

Grayson's eyes flashed. "Careful, Alistair. You're not in a position to make threats."

Alistair growled. "You think you can control the Wraith King? You're a fool."

Grayson laughed. "I already control him. And soon, I'll control everything."

Isaac stepped forward cautiously. "If you're so powerful, why are you here?"

Grayson's smile faded slightly. "Because there's one thing left to do."

Alistair's eyes narrowed. "And what's that?"

Grayson's gaze turned cold. "You, Alistair. I need you out of the way."

Isaac's eyes widened. "You can't kill him! The Wraith King-"

Grayson interrupted, his voice sharp. "The Wraith King doesn't care about Alistair. He cares about Selene. And with her in his grasp, there's nothing Alistair can do to stop me."

Alistair's heart pounded. "You'll never control her."

Grayson smirked. "I don't need to. She's already given herself up. She belongs to him now."

Alistair's fists tightened. "I won't let you get away with this."

Grayson laughed again. "You don't have a choice."

Isaac whispered, "We have to think, Alistair. He's too strong right now."

Alistair ignored him, stepping closer to Grayson. "I'll end this, right here."

Grayson's eyes gleamed. "Go ahead. Try."

Isaac grabbed Alistair's arm. "This is a trap, Alistair!"

But Alistair shook him off, his eyes locked on Grayson. "I don't care."

Grayson smiled. "Come on, then. Show me what you've got."

Alistair lunged at Grayson, fury blazing in his heart. He swung with all his strength, but Grayson moved faster, dodging each blow effortlessly.

"Is that all?" Grayson taunted, laughing as he dodged another punch.

Alistair's anger boiled over, and he swung again, harder this time. But Grayson caught his fist mid-air, gripping it tightly.

"You can't win," Grayson hissed, his face inches from Alistair's. "You never could."

Alistair snarled, trying to break free, but Grayson held him firm.

"Let him go!" Isaac shouted, rushing toward them.

Grayson released Alistair and kicked Isaac back with a swift move.

Isaac hit the ground hard, groaning. "He's too strong..."

Alistair panted, his body aching from the effort. "I'll never let you win."

Grayson's eyes flashed with cruelty. "You already have."

Suddenly, the shadows around them began to swirl, and the Wraith King's voice filled the air.

"Grayson... you have failed."

Grayson's eyes widened in fear. "What? No, I haven't! I brought them to you!"

The Wraith King's form began to take shape in the darkness. "You are weak, Grayson. You promised me power, but you cannot even handle a broken Alpha."

Alistair smirked, standing up. "Looks like your deal is falling apart."

Grayson's face twisted in rage. "Shut up!"

But the Wraith King moved closer, his presence growing darker. "You are of no use to me anymore, Grayson."

Grayson's confidence faltered. "No, wait. I can still-"

Before Grayson could finish, the Wraith King raised his hand, and Grayson's body froze, shadows wrapping tightly around him.

Isaac gasped. "What's happening?"

The Wraith King's voice was cold and final. "I am taking what is mine."

Grayson struggled, his eyes wide with terror. "No! Please, I can still help you!"

But the Wraith King ignored his pleas, tightening the shadows around him.

Alistair watched, his heart racing. "This isn't over."

The Wraith King turned his glowing eyes toward Alistair. "You will be next, Alistair."

Isaac pulled at Alistair's arm. "We have to get out of here, now!"

But Alistair shook his head, his eyes locked on the Wraith King. "I'm not afraid of you."

The Wraith King's laughter echoed in the cave. "You should be."

Grayson's body trembled, and with a final scream, he was consumed by the shadows, disappearing into the darkness.

Isaac's face went pale. "He... he's gone."

Alistair clenched his fists. "Good riddance."

The Wraith King's form loomed over them. "Now, it's your turn."

Isaac's voice shook. "What do we do, Alistair?"

Alistair took a deep breath, his mind racing. "We fight."

Isaac's eyes widened. "Fight him? Are you crazy? We just saw what he did to Grayson!"

Alistair didn't flinch. "Grayson was weak. I'm not."

The Wraith King moved closer, his voice a low growl. "You are nothing, Alistair. You cannot stop me."

Alistair stood tall, his heart pounding. "I'll die trying."

Isaac grabbed his arm. "No, Alistair. We need a real plan. We can't just fight him like this!"

But Alistair didn't listen. He stepped forward, facing the Wraith King head-on.

"Come on, then," Alistair growled. "Let's finish this."

The Wraith King's eyes gleamed with darkness. "You are a fool."

Suddenly, the cave shook violently, and the ground beneath them began to crack.

Isaac stumbled, fear flashing in his eyes. "What's happening?"

The Wraith King smiled darkly. "It's time for you to face your end."

Alistair braced himself as the cave continued to tremble. He could feel the power of the Wraith King growing stronger.

Isaac's voice was desperate. "Alistair, we have to leave!"

But before they could move, the ground gave way beneath them, and they plummeted into the darkness below.

The last thing Alistair heard was the Wraith King's laughter echoing around them as they fell into the unknown.