Chapter 165
Kane's POV
After regrouping, I led a force far larger than what had set out back to the stone gate of Echo Valley.
The group now included not only my original members, but also Lucas and his forty-some elite warriors. These rogues had once been my enemies—now they were the most loyal soldiers under my command.
Dorothy walked beside me. I could clearly sense the nervousness and anticipation churning inside her. She'd just awakened, still adjusting to the new perception her wolf spirit Willow brought.
"We're back," I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.
The stone gate remained sealed, runes glowing faintly on the rock face. I took a deep breath. Inside me, Blaze growled low, reminding me to stay alert.
"Open up!" I called out. "Alpha Kane Price of the Lightning Wolf Pack has returned with his people!"
A moment later, the stone gate slowly cracked open.
The goblin diplomat Flint, dressed in ornate robes, poked his head through the gap. When he saw the massive force behind me, shock flashed unmistakably in his eyes—he clearly hadn't expected me to come back alive, much less to have recruited the very rogues who were supposed to kill me.
Flint's gaze lingered on Lucas for a beat, wariness flickering in his expression. He dropped his previous air of superiority and bowed slightly. "Alpha, you have completed your task. The Stone Ridge Pack welcomes you."
As his words faded, the gate swung open with a thunderous groan.
But what emerged wasn't a welcoming party—it was a squad of fully armed elite soldiers. They wore heavy stone armor, each step leaving deep prints in the ground. At their head was a young, handsome werewolf with short brown hair that gleamed in the sunlight and sharp, hawk-like blue eyes.
He stopped in front of me, a polite but distant smile on his lips.
"I am Caspian Thorne, eldest son of the Stone Ridge Pack's Alpha," he said, his voice low and commanding. "The inscription on the Wall of Sighs—that was my message to you."
I nodded, staying cautious. Blaze rumbled inside me, warning me this man was no simple figure.
Caspian's gaze swept over the crowd behind me, pausing on Lucas and his warriors. A hint of amusement crossed his face.
"You recruited these rogues? Interesting."
"They're warriors of the Lightning Wolf Pack now," I said evenly.
"Is that so?" Caspian raised an eyebrow. "And those elderly and weak among you—are they your 'warriors' too?"
His tone dripped with mockery. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm.
"They are my people," I said, each word deliberate. "I will not abandon a single one of them."
Caspian stared at me for a long moment, then suddenly smiled.
"Interesting. You've proven your worth, Kane Price. But entry into the city comes with rules—everyone must surrender their weapons and submit to supervision."
A wave of unrest immediately rippled through the ranks behind me. Lucas and Steven's faces darkened, their hands instinctively moving to the weapons at their waists. The atmosphere grew tense in an instant, soldiers on both sides readying for combat.
I could feel Lucas's resistance through our mental link—for rogues, weapons meant life itself. To lose them was to lose everything.
But I knew better. This was a necessary compromise.
I turned to face my warriors. Anger and unwillingness burned in their eyes, but they were all waiting for my decision. Slowly, I unstrapped the spear from my waist—the one Steven had given me before battle, the one that had seen me through countless life-or-death struggles.
"I'll go first." I handed the spear to a soldier beside Caspian, then let my gaze sweep across each warrior. "Trust me."
Dorothy was the first to respond, handing over her dagger. Then Steven. Then Lucas. One by one, the warriors surrendered their weapons. No one spoke; only the sound of metal clinking echoed in the air.
Caspian nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. You're a pragmatic leader, Kane Price. Follow me."
He waved his hand, and the group began moving into the gate.
Beyond the gate, we entered a deep, winding tunnel. The damp air reeked of earth and ore, with only scattered patches of glowing moss providing faint light. Footsteps echoed in the narrow passage, oppressive enough to suffocate.
I could feel Dorothy clutching my arm nervously, her breathing quick and unsteady. Through the mate bond, I sent her a wave of calm, and her body gradually relaxed.
The tunnel seemed endless, descending deeper and deeper. We walked for so long I almost thought it was a trap.
Then, suddenly, the space ahead opened up.
We emerged from the tunnel into a massive underground cavern. The sight before us stopped everyone in their tracks—including me.
This was a magnificent city suspended beneath the ceiling of the earth.
Enormous clusters of glowing crystals were embedded in the dome above, radiating soft light like artificial suns. Countless thick iron chain-bridges connected jagged stone towers in mid-air, weaving together into a complex network. Geothermal steam rose from the depths, driving massive gears and elevators that operated throughout the city with a low, rumbling hum.
The architecture was rough and grand, each tower looking as though it had been carved directly from the mountain itself. Tens of thousands of windows were carved into the rock walls, glowing with warm firelight—like stars in an underground sky.
"Welcome to the Iron Bastion," Caspian said, pride clear in his voice.
Dorothy gasped, covering her mouth in shock, her eyes shining with awe at the miracle before her. Even the well-traveled Lucas stood wide-eyed, speechless.
Caspian led us through bustling streets toward the settlement area. The roads were clean and orderly, lined with shops, the air filled with the scent of roasted mushrooms and underground spices. I saw werewolves and goblins walking side by side, even drinking together at tavern tables. The goblins wore decent work uniforms—some maintaining machinery, others selling goods. They looked like they lived respectable lives.
It seemed like a perfect utopia, where races coexisted in harmony, far from the cruelty and bloodshed of the outside world.
But my instincts told me things weren't that simple.
Blaze's senses were sharper than mine. As we passed a group of goblins maintaining an elevator, I noticed their smiles freeze the moment a werewolf walked by. They stopped talking instinctively, their bodies shrinking back imperceptibly as they made way. Though they kept smiling, their eyes were averted, filled with deep-seated fear.
I glanced around and realized that all the heavy labor and high-risk mechanical maintenance was done by goblins, while werewolves mostly handled management, security, or light commercial work. The division was too obvious to be any kind of "harmonious coexistence."
Caspian looked back at me, a knowing smile playing at his lips.
"What do you think? No war here—only order."
I tightened my grip on Dorothy's hand, thinking to myself: There may be no smoke here, but the chill runs colder than outside.