Chapter 8 Selene's Warning

"You've been keeping something from me," Alistair said, his eyes locked on Selene.

Selene looked away, her hands trembling. "Alistair, I didn't mean to"

"Tell me the truth!" Alistair interrupted, stepping closer. "What are you hiding?"

Selene's eyes filled with guilt. "It's... it's the Wraith King. He's coming back."

Alistair froze, his jaw clenched. "What do you mean, he's coming back?"

Selene sighed, her voice shaky. "Grayson has been working with him. He made a deal for power, but it's more than that. The Wraith King is rising again, and Grayson has been helping him."

Isaac, who had been sitting quietly, looked up in shock. "Grayson? He was helping the Wraith King all along?"

Selene nodded. "Yes. That's why the Wraith King has been gaining strength. Grayson has been feeding him, giving him the energy he needs to return."

Alistair's fists tightened. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I was trying to protect you!" Selene cried, her voice breaking. "I thought I could handle it on my own. I didn't want you to get hurt."

Alistair's eyes softened, but he still felt the anger burning inside him. "You should have told me. We could have stopped this before it got this far."

Selene shook her head. "No, Alistair. You don't understand. The Wraith King is too powerful. He can't be stopped that easily."

Alistair stepped forward, his voice low. "We can stop him. Together."

Selene looked at him sadly. "There's only one way to stop him. And it's not something you can help with."

Isaac stood up, pacing nervously. "What do you mean, Selene? What are you planning?"

Selene's voice dropped to a whisper. "I know a way to stop the Wraith King. But it comes at a price."

Alistair frowned. "What price?"

Selene hesitated, tears welling up in her eyes. "My life."

Isaac gasped. "No. You can't be serious."

Alistair's heart sank. "You're not doing this. I won't let you."

Selene stepped closer, placing a hand on his chest. "Alistair, it's the only way. If I don't do this, he will destroy everything. The pack, the town, even the humans."

Alistair grabbed her hand, his voice firm. "We'll find another way. I'm not losing you again."

"There is no other way," Selene whispered. "I've researched everything. The ritual requires a life, and it has to be mine."

Isaac shook his head, his eyes wide. "This is crazy. We can't just let you sacrifice yourself."

Selene looked at him sadly. "It's the only way to save everyone."

Alistair's voice broke. "I won't let you do it. I'll die before I let you sacrifice yourself."

Selene wiped a tear from her cheek. "I know you want to protect me, but this isn't something you can fight. The Wraith King's power is too great. I have to stop him before it's too late."

Isaac paced back and forth, his hands trembling. "There has to be another way. We can't just give up!"

Selene looked at him, her voice calm. "I've tried everything, Isaac. This is the only solution."

Alistair turned away, his chest tightening. "No. I don't accept that."

Selene stepped closer, her voice soft. "You have to."

Alistair spun around, his eyes blazing. "No! I won't let you die for this. We'll fight him together."

"You can't fight him!" Selene cried. "He's too strong, Alistair. You saw what happened to Grayson. The Wraith King doesn't care about

anyone. He'll destroy everything in his path."

Alistair's fists clenched. "Then I'll die fighting. But I won't let you sacrifice yourself."

Selene's tears fell freely now. "Alistair, please. Don't make this harder than it already is."

Isaac suddenly stopped pacing, his face pale. "Wait... what if... what if we use someone else for the ritual?"

Selene shook her head. "It has to be me, Isaac. The ritual requires the blood of someone tied to the Wraith King. I'm the only one with the power to stop him."

Isaac collapsed onto the ground, his head in his hands. "This is a nightmare."

Alistair's heart pounded. "There has to be something we can do. I can't lose you again, Selene."

Selene touched his face gently. "I love you, Alistair. But this is my choice."

"No," Alistair said, his voice barely a whisper. "I won't let you."

Before Selene could respond, Isaac suddenly gasped, clutching his chest.

"Isaac?" Alistair shouted, rushing to his side.

Isaac fell to the ground, groaning in pain. "It... it hurts..."

Alistair knelt beside him, panic rising. "What's happening?"

Selene's eyes widened in horror. "No... it's the curse."

Alistair's heart raced. "What curse?"

Selene looked at Isaac's chest, her voice trembling. "The Wraith King's curse. It's spreading."

Isaac's eyes filled with fear. "What... what's happening to me?"

A dark mark began to spread across Isaac's skin, black veins crawling up his neck.

"Selene, do something!" Alistair shouted, holding Isaac's hand.

Selene knelt beside them, her hands shaking. "I... I don't know how to stop it."

Isaac groaned in pain, clutching his chest. "It's... it's burning me..."

Alistair's voice was desperate. "There has to be something we can do!"

Selene's eyes filled with tears. "The curse is too strong. It's the Wraith King's mark. Once it starts, it can't be stopped."

Isaac gasped for breath, his body trembling. "I... I don't want to die like this..."

Alistair held Isaac's hand tightly, his heart breaking. "You're not going to die. We'll find a way to stop it."

But Isaac's eyes were filled with pain and fear. "It's too late, Alistair..."

Selene's voice cracked. "I'm sorry, Isaac. There's nothing I can do."

Isaac cried out in pain as the mark spread further across his body. "It's... it's inside me... it's killing me..."

Alistair's eyes filled with tears. "No, Isaac. Stay with me."

Isaac's breathing grew more labored, his body shaking violently. "I... I can feel him... the Wraith King... he's inside me..."

Selene's voice was barely a whisper. "It's the curse. He's taking over."

Alistair's heart shattered. "No! We can't let this happen!"

But Isaac's eyes were already fading, the darkness consuming him. "It's... too late..."

And with one final gasp, Isaac collapsed, his body limp.

Alistair's breath caught in his throat. "Isaac!"

But there was no response.

The dark mark had spread completely across Isaac's body, leaving him motionless on the ground.

Selene's tears fell as she whispered, "He's gone."

Alistair knelt beside Isaac's lifeless form, his mind numb with shock. "No..."

Selene placed a hand on Alistair's shoulder, her voice filled with sorrow. "The Wraith King did this. His power is growing stronger."

Alistair's fists tightened, rage boiling inside him. "Then we'll stop him. For Isaac. For everyone."

Selene looked at him, her voice filled with fear. "Alistair... the Wraith King's curse is spreading faster than I thought. We don't have much time."

Alistair's heart pounded. "Then we fight. Now."

But as he spoke, the cave walls began to tremble, and a deep, dark voice echoed around them.

"Your time is up, Alistair."

The Wraith King had found them.