Chapter 10 Ashes and Oaths

The chains binding Ash Vael glowed with ancient runes-symbols carved in pain, lit by power older than any realm Ember had ever studied. He stirred, groaning through bloodied lips, as the Crimson Alpha prowled past him with a beast's patience, waiting for Ember to break.

But she didn't.

Not yet.

She stood with her guards fanned out behind her, her crimson veil now wrapped around her wrist, slick with rain and determination.

"Let him go," she said to the Alpha, voice steady.

The Crimson Alpha's red eyes gleamed. "You come into my domain and make demands?"

"You took him," Ember said. "You chained him like an animal. That tells me you fear him."

He laughed-a sound that rumbled through the cathedral ruins like a storm cracking stone. "I fear nothing, child. But I respect strength. That man... he carries more fury in his silence than most do in war."

Ash stirred again, head lolling. "Ember..."

She stepped forward, ignoring the guards' warnings.

"Let Him. Go."

Behind the altar, her mother remained frozen, caught in the horror of two lives-one lost, one found. Her hands trembled, and the red shimmer in her eyes flickered.

"Please," Ember said, now to her. "Help me. You don't belong here."

The Crimson Alpha's growl was low and menacing. "She belongs to me. As you soon will."

"I'd sooner burn."

He raised a clawed hand, and the chains around Ash tightened.

Ash's scream cut through the air like a blade.

"STOP!" Ember cried, stepping forward again. The guards moved to protect her, but she held up a hand. "You want me? Fine. Let him go, and I'll stay."

Ash's head snapped up despite the pain. "No. Ember-don't."

"Too late," she whispered.

The Crimson Alpha tilted his head. "You would trade your freedom for his?"

"I'm not trading anything," Ember said. "I'm making a choice."

For a moment, silence held the air still.

Then the Alpha nodded. "Release him."

The chains clattered to the floor.

Ash slumped, caught just in time by Vess and Aeris, who had moved swiftly to his side. Aeris immediately began to chant healing incantations, her hands glowing with green light.

Ember turned back to the Alpha.

"I came here to stop you. But I'll listen. One hour. Tell me what you want. Why you've twisted bloodlines, raised the dead, enslaved magic."

The Alpha's lips curled into a smirk. "So curious. Just like your mother."

He moved to the side, revealing a set of stone stairs beneath the altar.

"This way, High Lady. Let's speak where truth has a chance to echo."

Ember looked once more at her mother.

The older woman's gaze was haunted. "Be careful, Ember."

"I always am."

She followed the Alpha down.

⸻

The chamber below was a vault of bone and fire.

Carvings lined the walls-depictions of wolves with human eyes, queens with claws, and children bathed in flame. In the center stood a circular altar, and at its heart, a basin of crimson smoke that rose and fell like a living thing.

"This," the Alpha said, gesturing to it, "is the Pact Stone. It holds the original vow. The one your bloodline broke."

Ember's eyes narrowed. "My family protected the realm. You destroyed it."

The Alpha turned slowly, towering over her. "Your ancestors made a promise to the wild gods. To honor balance. But greed and fear twisted them. They killed what they didn't understand. And so, we-those born of the old blood-were hunted."

"And now you're hunting us in return?"

"I'm restoring what was taken. Through blood. Through fire. Through you."

Ember's pulse quickened. "Why me?"

"Because you are the last heir. The one who still carries the mark of both worlds-magic and wolf, moon and flame. You were never meant to be just a lady behind walls. You were meant to lead the rebirth."

"By enslaving my will?"

"No," the Alpha said. "By choosing to stand with us."

He reached toward the smoke. It swirled, parting to reveal a vision: a realm united under a crimson sky, wolves and humans living without chains or castes, the old magics restored.

"It's a dream," Ember whispered.

"It's a future."

She looked away. "Not one I can trust. You hurt Ash. You bound my mother. You buried cities."

The Alpha's expression darkened. "I did what was necessary. You would do the same."

He turned back to the altar. "But the choice is yours."

Ember stared at the basin.

Smoke curled toward her.

She remembered her father's final words, her brother's broken body, the night her kingdom fell. She remembered Ash's quiet fury, Aeris's endless counsel, the villagers who whispered of monsters in the mist.

She stepped back.

"No."

The Alpha's nostrils flared. "You would refuse your destiny?"

"I'm not refusing it. I'm writing my own."

With a flick of her wrist, she drew the ceremonial dagger from her belt and sliced her palm.

The blood hit the smoke, and it screamed.

The chamber shook.

The Alpha roared.

Above, in the cathedral, Ash stirred, eyes going wide.

"Get her out!" he shouted. "NOW!"

Aeris grabbed his arm. "We have to move!"

The floor above Ember cracked. Dust rained down.

But she stood firm, her blood dripping into the basin.

The vision of the crimson realm shattered. The smoke burned black.

The Crimson Alpha lunged, but Ember was faster.

She plunged the blade into the altar's core.

A scream unlike anything mortal split the air.

Alpha stumbled, fell, and cupped his hands over his chest.

"You didn't understand... what you tried to do!"

"It's over now," Ember said, as tears threatened to break through.

"Or begun something worse..."

The stone exploded in a blast of crimson light.

Ember flew back, caught midair by Ash, who had pushed past the guards to reach her.

The ruin above collapsed in a fury of fire and rubble.

⸻

They emerged from Varenth Hollow at dawn.

Ash limped but was alive. Ember leaned on him, her palm still wrapped in cloth soaked with her blood. Her mother rode beside them, silent, eyes distant.

Behind them, the hollow smoked.

The Crimson Alpha was gone.

But not dead.

Aeris rode ahead, already murmuring new protections.

Vess stayed at Ember's side. "That blast... You severed something ancient."

"I know," Ember said softly. "But it's not over."

"No," Ash agreed, his grip tightening on her hand. "It's just beginning."

And ahead, beyond the hills and mist, destiny waited.

Not written in blood.

But forged in flame.