Chapter 3 3

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Chapter Three: The Call to Arms

The moon hung low, casting its silver glow over the sprawling forest of Black Hollow. It was the night before the full moon, and Kael stood at the edge of a cliff, staring out at the wilderness below. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, each one sharper than the last: grief for the dead in Eldergrove, rage toward the vampires who had destroyed his people's peace, and a gnawing sense of impending doom that he couldn't shake.

"Kael."

The voice came from behind him. He didn't need to turn to know it was Brynn, his second-in-command. Kael had known him for years-through battles and bloodshed-and the wolf's presence beside him was a comfort. But tonight, there was no comfort to be found.

"They're ready," Brynn said, his voice thick with anticipation. "The pack is armed, the warriors are poised for battle. The moon is nearly full. Tomorrow, we strike."

Kael finally turned to face him, his golden eyes meeting Brynn's. "We have no choice, do we?"

Brynn shook his head, his fur bristling under the strain of the moment. "The vampires have crossed a line. We've honored the treaty for decades, but they've torn it to shreds. They think they can take everything from us, and they're wrong."

"I don't want this war," Kael muttered, staring back out at the forest. "We were supposed to have peace. We were supposed to be free."

"I know," Brynn replied, his voice softening. "But sometimes peace can only be found through blood. We're the last line of defense. If we don't fight now, everything we've built will be lost."

Kael took a deep breath, forcing down the rush of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. "Tomorrow, then."

Before Brynn could respond, a shadow flitted across the clearing. A raven, its wings cutting through the night with incredible speed, landed beside Kael. His eyes widened as the bird's claws grasped a scroll wrapped tightly in black leather.

"A message," Kael murmured, taking the parchment from the raven's leg. The bird cawed once and flapped away, disappearing into the night.

He unfurled the scroll, his pulse quickening as he read the words written in elegant script.

---

Kael,

I write to you as one who seeks the same peace that you do. The vampires have destroyed what little hope remained for reconciliation, but it is not too late to stop the coming bloodshed. I have seen the truth in the eyes of the innocents who died in Eldergrove. And I know now that I must act before the war consumes us all.

I am Seraphina, daughter of Lord Malric, and I have come to offer you a chance to end this war before it begins in full.

Meet me at the Moonveil Keep. Midnight, tomorrow.

Trust me, and together we can bring an end to the madness.

Seraphina

---

Kael's heart skipped a beat. Seraphina-the name sent a chill down his spine, but it wasn't one of fear. It was a name he had heard only in whispers, in rumors passed between the few survivors of the last vampire conflict. She was said to be a princess, the heir to the vampire throne, yet there was something different about her-something that separated her from her father's cruelty.

"Is it a trap?" Brynn asked, peering over Kael's shoulder at the letter.

"I don't think so," Kael replied, his voice low. He felt the weight of the words settle into his chest. "But it's too important to ignore. We need to go to the Moonveil Keep."

"We?" Brynn raised an eyebrow. "You're planning to meet a vampire princess? After everything that's happened? I don't trust her, Kael."

"I don't trust her either," Kael said, his voice cold. "But if there's even the slightest chance she's telling the truth, we have to take it. If we're to survive this, we need to understand what she knows."

Brynn sighed, his shoulders slumping. "This is insane, Kael. You're risking your life-and the pack's-for a vampire."

"I'm risking it for the truth," Kael replied firmly, his eyes narrowing. "Tomorrow, we go to the Keep. We'll meet Seraphina. And if she's lying, we'll deal with it then."

Brynn opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it. After a long pause, he nodded. "Then I'll go with you. You're not doing this alone."

"Thank you, Brynn," Kael said softly, grateful for his loyalty. "Get the pack ready. We might be leaving before the full moon rises."

---

The night passed slowly for Kael. He couldn't stop thinking about Seraphina-who she was, what her motives might be, and whether her message was a genuine plea for peace or just another vampire trick. The weight of the decision pressed heavily on him as he prepared for the journey ahead. His pack would be ready for war at sunrise. But he would take a different path.

As the first rays of dawn painted the sky with streaks of crimson, Kael stood atop the cliff again, his eyes fixed on the distant Moonveil Keep. The vampire stronghold loomed like a dark specter in the distance, shrouded in mist and mystery.

"We're doing this," Kael whispered to the wind.

The pack was stirring behind him, and soon, they would move toward the battlefield. But Kael had other plans. He had no choice but to trust the message in the scroll. It could be their only hope.

In the distance, he could see the faint outline of Brynn approaching, his expression grim. Kael turned to him, his heart heavy with the burden of what lay ahead.

"Ready?" Brynn asked, his voice a low growl.

"Ready," Kael replied.

And with that, the two wolves set off into the darkness, toward the vampire keep, where an uncertain future awaited.