Chapter 5 The Alpha's claim

Lucien's wolf roared, claws slashing through the creature's half-flesh, half-smoke form, its obsidian claws glinting in the tunnel's dim light. Blood dripped from his side, soaking his torn shirt, but he barely felt the pain, his silver eyes locked on Amara. Her glow flared, a starlight shield around the triplets,Kael's sharp silver eyes, Lira's trembling green, Soren's eerie gray,huddled behind her in the damp tunnel. The scarred man's voice echoed

"The triplets are mine"...and Amara's confession, I took her place, burned in his mind. She'd killed the surrogate, stolen her role, and her green eyes, raw with guilt, tore at him. Was she protecting them, or hiding something worse? The creature screeched, red eyes hungry, and Lucien tackled it, blood spraying, his wound screaming.

"Get back, Amara!" he growled, his voice shaking the stone walls, dodging a claw swipe. The tunnel's air was thick with ozone and magic, runes pulsing like heartbeats, and Lira's whimper cut through him, small and terrified. His children, his pack, were in danger, and he'd tear the underworld apart to save them.

"Lucien, you're bleeding out!" Amara shouted, her voice cracking, her glow burning brighter, scorching the air. The creature reeled, its screech rattling his bones, and Lucien's jaw tightened. That glow,Celestian. She wasn't human, and the truth hit like a blade, his wolf snarling, possessive and betrayed.

"I'm fine," he lied, his silver eyes blazing, standing between her and the creature. "What are you, Amara? You killed for them...for me? Tell me everything!" His voice was raw, a lover's growl, his claws twitching with the urge to pull her close, to demand answers, to protect her.

"I had to," she said, tears streaming, her voice breaking. "The Oracle wanted them for something terrible, Lucien. I couldn't let it take them." Her green eyes met his, guilt and defiance swirling, and his chest ached, torn between fury and a need he couldn't name.

"Something terrible?" he snapped, his claws glinting as the creature circled, its red eyes fixed on Lira.

"You mean my kids? What's the Oracle planning, Amara? No more lies!" He stepped closer, his wolf urging him to claim her, but her secrets held him back, a wall he couldn't break.

"Don't yell at her!" Kael said, his silver eyes flashing, stepping forward, his small voice fierce. "You're scaring Lira. I saw you, hurting people. Blood everywhere. Are you gonna hurt us?" Lucien froze, his heart twisting. Kael's gift,seeing the past,had shown him Lucien's empire, his claws dripping, his enemies broken.

"No, Kael," Lucien said, kneeling despite the pain, his silver eyes level with his son's, his voice soft but firm.

"I'd die before I hurt you. You're my blood, my pack. You, Lira, Soren,you're everything."

Kael's eyes narrowed, distrust lingering, and Lucien hated it, the weight of his past pushing them apart.

"Lira's scared," Lira whimpered, her green eyes wide, curls trembling as she clung to Amara's cloak. "The bad thing wants me, Father. It's in my head." Lucien's blood ran cold, her words,Father,hitting like a spark, her fear chilling him. Her eyes had flickered red, just for a moment, in the dark.

"You're safe, little one," Lucien said, his voice gentle, reaching for her. Lira flinched, and Amara pulled her back, her glow flaring protectively. "Amara, let me help," he said, standing, his voice low, pleading. "Whatever you're running from, we face it together. No more running."

You don't get it," Amara said, her voice shaking, her glow dimming, her face pale. "They're not just your heirs, Lucien. They're... dangerous. Lira's power, it's..." Lira gasped, her small hand brushing Soren's arm, and Soren blinked, his gray eyes confused, tilting his head.

"Where's the song?"

Soren asked, his voice eerie, distant. "Mama's song from last night,it's gone." Amara's face paled, her breath hitching, and Lucien's gut twisted. Lira's power,erasing memories, had struck again, accidental but terrifying.

"Lira, no," Amara whispered, kneeling, cupping Lira's face, her hands trembling. "You didn't mean it, baby. It's okay. You're okay." Lira's eyes glistened, tears falling, and she sobbed, "I'm sorry, Soren! I didn't want to!" Lucien's heart broke, his wolf desperate to shield them, to fix this.

"What's happening to her, Amara?" Lucien demanded, his voice rough, stepping closer as the creature lunged again. He tackled it, claws tearing, blood pooling on the stone, his side burning. "What's the Oracle doing to them? Tell me!" His voice echoed, raw with fear, his silver eyes searching hers.

"They're guardians," she said, her voice barely audible, tears streaming down her face. "Born to destroy, Lucien. Your bloodline. The Oracle made them for it. I ran to stop it." The words hit like a fist, and he staggered, his silver eyes wide, his claws trembling. His children, his end? It couldn't be true.

"Destroy me?" he said, his voice raw, pain lancing his chest. "Why, Amara? What are they?" He grabbed her arm, gentle but firm, his wolf needing her to explain, to make it right. The creature screeched, charging, and he shoved her back, slashing, blood spraying.

"Lucien, watch out!" Amara shouted, her glow flaring, a burst of starlight that pushed the creature back, its form flickering. Kael screamed, "It's not alone!" and Soren whispered, "They're here," his voice chilling. The air grew cold, shadows swirling around him, and a faint figure flickered,a spirit, its eyes hollow, its whisper sharp in Lucien's ears: The destroyer wakes.

"Soren, stop it!" Amara said, pulling him close, her glow flickering, her face drained. "You're scaring them!" Soren's gray eyes blinked, the spirit fading, but the tunnel shook, dirt raining down, and Lucien's skin prickled. Soren's gift,summoning spirits,was real, and dangerous.

"They're not safe here," Lucien growled, his voice fierce, wiping blood from his claws. "We need to move. Now." He grabbed Amara's hand, pulling her and the triplets toward a side passage, his heart pounding. The creature's screech followed, and a cold laugh echoed,the scarred man's voice, sharp and cruel.

"You can't save them, Alpha," the man said, stepping from the shadows, his scars twisting in the runes' dim glow, his eyes blazing with Oracle magic. "The memory-eraser's mine. Her power's waking."

Lucien's blood froze, his eyes darting to Lira, whose green eyes flickered red again, her small hand trembling.

"Lira, look at me," Lucien said, kneeling, his voice fierce but gentle, his silver eyes locked on hers.

"You're stronger than this. You're my daughter. Fight it, little one." Lira's eyes cleared, green and tearful, and she whispered, "Father, it hurts," clinging to Amara.

Leave her alone!" Amara shouted, her glow flaring, the tunnel trembling, her voice raw. "She's not yours!" She pushed the triplets behind her, her hands glowing, and Lucien stood, claws ready, facing the scarred man.

"You're wrong, Celestian," the man said, his smile cruel, raising a hand, magic crackling. "The Oracle's claimed her. You're too late." The creature charged again, and Lucien tackled it, his claws tearing, blood pooling, his vision blurring from pain.

"Run, Amara!" Lucien roared, his voice shaking the tunnel, slashing at the creature. "Get them out!" Amara hesitated, her green eyes locked on his fear and something softer...love?...flickering, before she grabbed the triplets, sprinting down the passage.

"Wait!" Kael shouted, his silver eyes wide, pulling back. "He's hurt, Mama! We can't leave him!" Lucien's heart swelled, Kael's words a spark in the dark, but the scarred man laughed, his magic flaring, the passage narrowing.

"Go!" Lucien growled, his silver eyes fierce, blood dripping as he held the creature back. The passage opened to a cavern, a massive crystal glowing at its center, its light pulsing like a heartbeat,the underworld's heart. Amara and the triplets stumbled inside, and Lucien followed, his claws ready, the scarred man's laugh echoing.

"Stay close," Lucien said, his voice low, scanning the cavern, his side burning. The crystal's glow cast shadows, and Lira's eyes flickered red again, her small voice whispering, "He's coming, Father," as a dark warmth pulsed from her, the air rippling.