Captured

Captured
Elias landed hard on cold stone, the breath knocked from his lungs. Colors swirled around him as the portal closed. He was in a misty valley with tall mountains on all sides. The air felt heavy with magic.
"Welcome to the Valley of Mists, little brother," Orion said, going through the portal behind him. "Your new home."
Elias rushed to his feet, ready to fight. But before he could summon his power, something large and black burst through the closing portal. Kael in his dog form!
"Kael!" Elias cried with relief.
The massive black wolf growled at Orion, placing himself between Elias and his brother. Orion's face twisted with anger.
"You just can't stay away, can you?" he sneered at Kael. "No matter. I planned for this."
Orion snapped his fingers. The ground beneath them shook. Suddenly, shadow forms rose from the earth—wolves made of smoke and darkness, their eyes glowing red.
"Take them," Orion ordered.
The shadow dogs attacked. Kael fought bravely, his teeth tearing through the shadows. But for each one he destroyed, two more appeared.
Elias tried to help, calling on his skills. A weak spark of blue light flickered at his fingers, then died.
"What's happening?" Elias gasped, looking at his hands.
"The Valley suppresses magic," Orion stated with a smile. "Only those who know its secrets can use their power here."
Kael was surrounded now, fighting furiously. A shadow wolf leaped on his back, sinking dark teeth into his shoulder. Kael howled in pain.
"Stop!" Elias cried. "I'll go with you gladly. Just don't hurt him."
Orion raised an eyebrow. "You'd surrender for him? How touching."
"Please," Elias begged.
"Very well." Orion whistled loudly. The shadow wolves backed away from Kael, who fell on the ground, breathing hard.
Elias ran to him, kneeling by his side. "Kael! Are you alright?"
The wolf whined softly, licking Elias's hand. His bright eyes were filled with pain and worry.
"How sweet," Orion mocked. "The Alpha and his precious Omega."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a strange collar made of black metal. Ancient runes were carved along its surface.
"Put this on," Orion demanded, tossing it to Elias.
Elias caught the collar, feeling its cold weight in his hands. "What is it?"
"Insurance," Orion said. "Put it on, or the wolves finish your mate."
With trembling hands, Elias tightened the collar around his neck. The moment it clicked shut, a wave of weakness washed over him. His connection to his magic disappeared completely.
"Magic-binding chains," Orion explained. "Ancient technology from before the Great War. Now you're just a normal Omega—weak and useless."
Kael growled, trying to stand despite his injuries.
"And for you," Orion said, turning to Kael. He threw a second collar, this one landing at Kael's feet. "Change back to human form and put it on, or I'll kill Elias right now."
Elias shook his head furiously. "Don't do it, Kael!"
But Kael was already changing, his wolf form melting away to show his human body. Naked and injured, he picked up the collar.
"Good choice," Orion said.
Kael locked the collar around his neck, his golden eyes never leaving Elias. "I won't let you hurt him," he growled at Orion.
"Too late for that," Orion laughed. He snapped his fingers again, and more shadow figures appeared—these shaped like people, with long, smoky arms.
"Take them to the temple," he ordered. "Keep them separate."
The shadow forms grabbed Elias and Kael, pulling them apart.
"No!" Elias failed. "Kael!"
"Elias!" Kael fought against his captors, but without his strength or wolf form, he was quickly overcome.
The shadow forms dragged them away in different directions. Elias watched helplessly as Kael faded into the mist.

Hours later, Elias sat alone in a small stone room. The only light came from a tiny window high above. The magic-binding collar felt heavier by the minute, and his arms were now bound with chains of the same black metal.
The door creaked open. Orion entered, bringing an ancient book—the same grimoire Kael had been reading.
"How did you get that?" Elias demanded.
"I have my ways," Orion grinned, setting the book on a stone table. "Besides, it belongs to our family."
"Where's Kael?" Elias asked. "What have you done with him?"
"Your mate is alive—for now." Orion opened the grimoire to a page marked with a black ribbon. "I need him for the ritual."
"What ritual?" Elias asked, fear filling his stomach.
"The Ritual of Shadow Binding," Orion said, tracing the lines on the page. "Tomorrow night is the red moon. The perfect time to finish what our ancestors started."
He turned the book so Elias could see. The page showed a terrible drawing—an Omega with child, laid on an altar beneath a red moon. A black shadow hung above, reaching down with smoky claws.
"You're going to sacrifice me and my baby," Elias whispered, terrified.
"Not exactly," Orion said. "The ritual doesn't kill you—it changes you. Your baby is the right vessel for the shadow. Born of both Alpha and Omega bloodlines, with the mark of Aelara... it will be the most powerful being ever made."
"You can't!" Elias cried. "The shadow will destroy it!"
"The shadow will merge with it," Orion amended. "And I will control both."
"Why?" Elias asked, tears filling his eyes. "Why would you do this to your own family?"
Something flashed in Orion's eyes—a moment of doubt, quickly hidden.
"You wouldn't understand," he said quietly. "You were the picked one. The winner. I was the lost child, sent away and replaced."
"That's not true," Elias said. "Seraphina never forgot you. And our parents—"
"Our parents are dead," Orion snapped. "And soon, I'll have the power they denied me."
He closed the grimoire with a snap. "Rest well, little brother. Tomorrow night, you'll make history."
After Orion left, Elias pulled frantically at his chains. The collar around his neck seemed to tighten with each try to use his magic. His baby fluttered inside him, as if sensing his fear.
"I won't let him hurt you," Elias whispered, putting his bound hands on his stomach. "I promise."
Hours passed. Night fell, and moonlight spilled through the small window. Elias had almost given up hope when he heard a soft scratching at the door.
The door opened just a crack. A small shadow slipped into the room—not one of the shadow wolves, but something else. It took shape before him, and Elias gasped.
"Marcus?"
Marcus put a finger to his lips. "Quiet," he whispered. "They'll hear you."
"What are you doing here?" Elias hissed. "You betrayed us!"
"I know," Marcus said, his eyes downcast. "But I never agreed to this. Using an unborn child... it's wrong."
He held up a small, twisted key. "I can free you from the bars, but not the collar. Only Orion has that key."
Hope flared in Elias's chest. "Where's Kael?"
"In the north tower," Marcus said, unlocking Elias's wrists. "But we can't free him yet. Too many guards."
"I'm not leaving without him," Elias insisted.
"You have to," Marcus pushed. "Get out of the valley. Find Seraphina. She knows how to stop this."
"How do I know this isn't another trap?" Elias demanded.
Marcus's eyes moved nervously to the door. "You don't. But it's your only chance."
Elias paused, then nodded. "Show me the way out."
Marcus led him through dark hallways, stopping at each corner to check for shadow guards. They reached a small door that opened to the misty night outside.
"Follow the stream," Marcus whispered. "It leads to a cave. You can hide there until dawn."
"Thank you," Elias said. Then, "Why are you helping me?"
Marcus looked away. "I have a little brother too," he said softly. "I couldn't save him from the dark. Maybe I can save you."
With that, he pushed Elias through the door and shut it behind him.
Elias ran into the night, following the silver stream that wound through the misty valley. His chest ached with each breath, the collar still blocking his magic. But he pushed on, thinking of Kael and their baby.
He had almost reached the cave when he heard it—a howl that made his blood run cold. Not the howl of a wolf, but something else. Something old and hungry.
Elias froze, looking back. A huge shadow rose above the temple, spreading dark wings against the night sky. Its eyes glowed red, searching the valley.
It had sensed his flight. And it was coming for him.
As Elias turned to run, he connected with a solid figure. Strong arms wrapped around him.
"Going somewhere, little brother?" Orion's voice whispered in his ear.
Behind him, the shadow creature shrieked with victory.