Chapter 43 THE PRISONER

Chapter 43 THE PRISONER
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Tyler woke up to a sharp pain at his ribs. It wasn't the sharp sting of a fresh wound that hurt. It was the deep, relentless ache that settled into bone and muscle after days of abuse.

His entire body felt broken. He opened his eyes,but darkness greeted him.

For several seconds, confusion clouded his thoughts, then memories crashed back.

From the patrol to the ambush. The rogues emerging from the trees. The fight that broke amongst them and the sudden blow to the back of his head.

Tyler groaned and tried to sit up. The chains on his wrist and ankles rattled immediately. The sound froze him.

His wrists were shackled above his head. The cold iron dug into his skin.

A low growl escaped his throat as he tugged at them but the chains didn't move.

"You're awake." The voice came from the darkness.

Tyler's head snapped up.

A wolf sat leaning against the opposite wall. He was thin, badly bruised and exhausted. The wolf offered a tired smile.

"Welcome to hell." His voice was shaky from exhaustion.

\~~~

Back in Blood Moon territory, Anna couldn't sleep. Three days remained until the Blood Moon. Every passing hour tightened the knot of dread inside her chest. She stood on the balcony of the Whitmire House, staring at the moon hanging above the forest.

Something felt wrong, she felt it deeply. Her Luna senses had become increasingly sensitive over the past few days. She could feel emotions more strongly now and sense tension among pack members. She detects fear before anyone spoke.

Tonight… fear was everywhere. The entire pack felt it.

Anna closed her eyes, taking a slow breath. Suddenly… A voice echoed through her mind. A male’s scream, painful and desperate. Her eyes flew open. The sensation hit her like a lightning strike.

She staggered backward a bit, the scream came again. Though fainter this time yet somehow familiar.

Anna's blood ran cold. "Tyler."

\~~~

The next morning, Chris was already in the council hall when Anna burst through the doors.

Steve stood immediately."What's wrong?"

Anna was breathing hard, her heart still racing.
"I felt him… I felt Tyler." She said amidst gasps. The room went silent.

Chris frowned. "What? Tyler."

The name alone captured everyone's attention.

Anna moved toward the table. "He isn't dead."

Hope flickered across several faces in the hall.

Chris's expression sharpened instantly. "You're sure?"

She nodded. "As sure as I've ever been."

Steve exchanged a look with Chris, neither of them knew what to make of it. But Anna's visions had been right before, more than once.

Chris folded his arms. "Tell me everything."

Anna described the sensation. The scream she heard. The connection she felt. When she finished, the room remained quiet.

Finally Steve spoke up. "If she's right..."

Chris nodded. "He's a prisoner."

The realization settled heavily over everyone, that raised an even more dangerous question.

Why? Why keep Tyler alive?

The answer came far too quickly. Anna already knew. "So Draven can use him."

Nobody argued because it made perfect sense and Draven wasn't the type to waste opportunities.

\~~~~

That afternoon, another discovery changed everything. Chris sat surrounded by his father's journals. Page after page lay scattered across the desk.

Some were centuries old copies while others were personal notes.

For days he had searched for answers and finally… He found one.

The office door opened and Steve entered carrying reports. One look at Chris's face stopped him cold. "What happened?"

Chris slowly looked up, his expression was grim. "The ritual."

Steve immediately set the reports down. "What about it?"

Chris handed him an open journal. Steve took it slowly and began reading.

Within seconds, his face paled. "No."

Chris nodded. "Yeah."

Steve read the passage again, hoping he'd misunderstood but he hadn't.

The journal clearly described an ancient ceremony. A forbidden one. A ritual abandoned centuries ago because the consequences were catastrophic.

Steve looked up. "What exactly does this mean?"

Chris's jaw tightened
"It means Draven isn't trying to become immortal."

Steve frowned. "Then what is he trying to do?"

Chris stared toward the window, far toward the mountains and sighed.

Then quietly answered. "He's trying to become a god."

\~~~

The words spread through the inner circle like wildfire. By sunset, Anna, Steve, Maya, and the elders had gathered inside the council hall.

Nobody looked comfortable because nobody wanted to imagine what a god-like Draven might become.

Chris stood at the head of the table, hands clenched on the wooden centre desk.

"The ritual dates back before modern packs existed." His voice remained calm but Anna could feel the tension beneath it.

"It was designed to absorb Moonborn power."

The pendant around Anna's neck suddenly felt heavy and warm.

Chris continued. "The ritual grants the user access to abilities beyond normal wolves."

Steve frowned. "How far beyond?"

Chris's expression darkened. "The journal claims they could command entire packs with a thought."

"Control life and death." He paused. "Become nearly impossible to kill."

Nobody spoke, they stared because the implications were horrifying.

Then Anna asked the question nobody wanted to answer. "And if he succeeds?"

Chris looked directly at her, the answer came quietly. "He wins."

The room fell silent, everyone knew what that meant.

Not just Blood Moon would be affected but every pack territory. Draven would become unstoppable.

\~~~

That night, a lone rider approached Blood Moon territory. The guards spotted him immediately. A white flag fluttered from his spear.

He was a messenger.

The rider stopped at the perimeter near Blood Moon entrance.

"I have a message." He said.

Within minutes, the entire leadership gathered. The messenger stood calmly despite dozens of hostile wolves surrounding him.

"Who sent you?"

The man smiled. "Alpha Draven."

Growls erupted instantly but Chris raised a hand and silence returned.

"What message?"

The messenger reached into his coat then removed a sealed envelope with black wax. A fractured moon stamped across the front. Draven's seal.

Chris took it and opened the parcel slowly, he read through the writing slowly. His face tightened with every line.

Anna's stomach tightened as she watched him read. "Chris?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he handed her the letter.

Anna read through it and felt her heart stop.

\~~~~

Christopher Whitmore,

You have something I require and I have something you value.

Your warrior, Tyler, remains alive. For now.

In two days, bring the Moonborn Luna to the ruins of Moonfall Temple. Alone.

In exchange, Tyler returns unharmed.

Refuse… and Blood Moon will receive his body piece by piece.

Remember times ticking Alpha.

— Draven

\~~~

Pure silence consumed the council hall. Rage exploded through the mate bond.

Chris crushed the letter in his fist. His wolf surged dangerously close to the surface. The room vibrated with Alpha power.

Nobody dared speak. Then Anna quietly broke the silence.

"We're not giving him what he wants."

Chris immediately looked at her. "No."

Steve stepped forward. "We'll find another way."

But Anna could see the truth in their faces.

They didn't have one. Draven had forced their hand and he knew it.

Somewhere beyond the mountains, the ancient Alpha was waiting.

For the first time since the war began… Blood Moon wasn't choosing the battlefield.

Draven was, and only two days remained before the Blood Moon rose.