Blood of the First

"ELIJAH!" Liam's scream tore through the air as he watched his mate disappear into the dark gap. He lunged forward, but Rook caught him before he could fall in too.

"You can't help him by dying," Rook said, keeping him back.

Morta's cold laugh rang across the battlefield. "How sweet. The Omega mourns his Alpha." Her form shifted like smoke in the wind. "Bring him to me," she told her transformed servants.

The monsters that had once been wolves moved forward, their bodies twisted into something nightmarish. Purple fire burned in their eyes.

"Get behind me," Marcus directed, stepping in front of Liam. Luna and Aria made a protective circle with the loyal wolves.

"This fight is pointless," Morta said. "The Alpha is gone. The pack law is broken. Give me what I came for, and the rest may live."

"Never," Marcus growled. "We won't surrender anyone to you."

Morta's smile was like a knife. "Then you will all die."

She raised her hands to attack when suddenly a bright white light cut through the darkness. It shot up from the chasm where Elijah had fallen, so bright everyone had to hide their eyes.

"Sister," a musical voice called. "You've overstepped again."

When the light faded, Kaida stood at the edge of the chasm. Her hair flowed with stars, and her eyes changed colors like colorful water.

"Kaida," Morta hissed. "This doesn't concern you."

"Everything concerns me," Kaida answered calmly. "I am Fate itself."

Liam pushed forward. "Where's Elijah? Is he alive?"

Kaida turned to him, her eyes relaxing to a gentle blue. "He lives, Last Omega, but his path now takes him to the deepest shadows."

"I need to find him," Liam urged.

"In time," Kaida promised. "But first, you must understand who you truly are." She raised her hand, and the battlefield froze. Everyone except Liam stood absolutely still, as if time had stopped.

"What did you do?" Liam asked, looking around at the statues that had been fighting wolves moments before.

"I've paused time," Kaida stated. "We need to talk, and there isn't much time left."

"I don't care about talking! Elijah needs me!"

"Elijah needs you to be what you were born to be," Kaida said sharply. "The last true Omega. The balance to his Alpha. The key to breaking Morta's chains."

Liam felt the silver marks on his skin pulse with warmth. "What does that even mean?"

Kaida waved her hand, and the world around them changed. They stood in a beautiful forest area under a full moon. Wolves ran through the bushes, but these wolves were different. Some glowed with silver light, others with gold.

"The first packs," Kaida stated. "Before the laws. Before the lies."

Liam watched in wonder as the silver wolves—Omegas, he realized—performed amazing feats. They called fire from the air, healed wounds with a touch, spoke to plants and animals.

"Omegas weren't always submissive," Kaida added. "They were magic-keepers. Healers. Speakers to the elements."

"Like Aria," Liam whispered.

"Your sister has some of the old gifts," Kaida agreed. "But you, Liam Silvermoon, carry the blood of the First Omega in its purest form."

The scene changed again. Now they watched as a beautiful silver wolf with violet eyes stood facing a golden wolf with amber eyes.

"The First Omega and the First Alpha," Kaida said. "They were equals. Partners. Two halves of the same magic."

Liam moved closer, drawn to the silver wolf. Something about her seemed familiar, like looking in a mirror.

"She's your ancestor," Kaida told him. "Her blood runs strongest in you. That's why your eyes are violet. That's why you can do things no other Omega has done for centuries."

"What happened to her?" Liam asked.

The scene darkened. The wolves grouped around a stone circle—the same one where he and Elijah had fought Morta's poison.

"Jealousy happened," Kaida said sadly. "Fear happened."

Liam watched as some of the golden wolves met in secret. They spoke with a shadow that had Morta's purple eyes.

"They feared the Omegas' power," Kaida stated. "So they made a deal with my sister. Power for power. Control for control."

The shadow—Morta—gave the golden wolves black stones. When they used them, the silver dogs fell to their knees. Their light dulled.

"The first pack laws," Liam realized. "They were created to chain the Omegas."

"Yes," Kaida stated. "And the price was terrible. Every generation, my sister would take some of the wolves to serve her. The Alphas agreed, thinking it a small price for control."

"That's horrible," Liam whispered.

"It gets worse," Kaida said. "The final part of the deal was that when the last true Omega was born—one with the full powers of the First—they would be sacrificed to give Morta control over all wolves, forever."

Liam's blood ran cold. "Me. I'm the sacrifice."

"You are the last true Omega," Kaida agreed. "But you don't have to be a sacrifice. You can be a savior instead."

The visions faded, and they were back on the battlefield, everyone still frozen in time.

"How?" Liam asked. "How do I save everyone? How do I save Elijah?"

"By embracing who you truly are," Kaida said. "By breaking the chains of the old laws. By remembering what the First Omega knew."

She put her hand on Liam's chest, right over his heart. The silver marks there glowed brighter.

"These are not just healing marks," she told him. "They are the ancient runes of power. The language of wolf magic. The First Omega created them."

"I don't understand," Liam said. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Find Elijah," Kaida answered. "His Alpha blood carries its own secrets. Together, you can reforge what was broken. Apart, you will both fall to Morta's plan."

"But he fell," Liam protested. "How can I find him?"

"Follow the bond." Kaida touched the brightest mark on his chest. "This rune means 'bound souls.' Your hearts are connected across any distance. Let that connection guide you."

Liam closed his eyes, focusing on the warm feeling in his chest whenever he thought of Elijah. It was still there, a gentle pull downward, toward the chasm.

"He's alive," Liam breathed. "I can feel him."

"Good," Kaida said. "Now, for the hard part." She stepped back. "I cannot stop Morta directly. There are rules even gods must follow. But I can give you a gift."

She held out her hand. In her palm lay a small stone that glowed with silver light. "This is a fragment of the original Moon Stone, from which the First Omega drew her power. It will help you remember her knowledge when you need it most."

Liam took the stone. It felt warm and alive in his hand. The moment he touched it, the silver marks on his skin glowed brighter.

"One last warning," Kaida said as she began to fade. "Morta will try to turn Elijah against you. The poison in his veins carries her influence. Trust in your bond, but be prepared to fight for it."

"Wait!" Liam called. "I still don't know what to do!"

"You do," Kaida's voice echoed as she disappeared. "The knowledge is in your blood. Trust it."

Time restarted. The wolves kept fighting as if nothing had happened. Only Liam had changed, standing now with the silver stone clutched in his hand and new purpose in his eyes.

"Liam," Aria called, fighting her way to his side. "What do we do?"

He looked at his sister, then at the loyal wolves fighting a losing battle against Morta's troops. He looked at the gap where Elijah had fallen. Then he looked at Morta, who watched him with hungry purple eyes.

"I need to find Elijah," he said. "He's alive down there."

"That's suicide," Marcus argued. "The tunnels below are endless. No one who enters comes out."

"I will," Liam said with new confidence. "I have to."

Morta laughed. "Yes, little Omega. Come to me. Your sacrifice is long overdue."

Liam turned to Aria. "I need you to lead the others away from here. Get as many as you can to safety."

"I won't leave you," she protested.

"You must." He pressed his hand to her wounded shoulder, and silver light flowed from his fingers. The wound closed quickly, leaving only a faint mark. "You're stronger than you know. Lead them. Protect them."

Aria looked at her healed shoulder, then at her brother. Something in his eyes had changed. He looked older somehow. Wiser.

"What happened to you?" she whispered.

"I remembered," he answered simply.

Before anyone could stop him, Liam turned and ran toward the gap. Morta's servants moved to catch him, but they were too slow. With one last look at his sister, Liam jumped into the darkness.

He fell for what seemed like forever. The silver stone glowed in his hand, lighting his way. He should have been afraid, but instead he felt a strange calm. The pull in his chest grew stronger. Elijah was close.

Liam landed softly at the bottom, the stone's magic easing his fall. He stood in a vast cave filled with glowing crystals. Ancient runes covered the walls—the same marks that now decorated his skin.

"Welcome, Last Omega," a familiar voice said from the darkness. "I've been waiting for you."

Liam turned slowly, the silver stone held high.

Elijah stepped into the light, but his eyes weren't their normal steel gray or amber. They glowed with purple fire.

"Elijah?" Liam whispered, heart sinking.

Elijah smiled, but it wasn't his smile. "Oh, he's still in here," he said in a voice that wasn't entirely his own. "Screaming, fighting. Such a strong Alpha. He'll make a perfect vessel."

"Morta," Liam realized. "You're controlling him."

"Not yet," Elijah/Morta answered. "But soon. And you, my sweet sacrifice, are going to help me."

Elijah raised his hands, and black chains made of shadow shot toward Liam.

The stone in Liam's hand pulsed once, and suddenly he knew exactly what to do.