Chapter 108 CLASH
The large wooden building sat alone on the ridge like a dark watchtower over the forest.
Lanterns burned along its outer walls. Guards moved along the perimeter with rifles slung over their shoulders.
They didn’t see Kael coming.
He moved through the shadows like a hunting wolf, silent and fast. Rowan and Dax stayed behind him, spreading out along the edge of the clearing.
A guard at the back door barely had time to turn his head before Kael’s knife slid across his throat.
Blood spilled down the man’s chest.
His body dropped without a sound.
Kael stepped over him and pushed the door open.
Inside, the air smelled of wood smoke and old alcohol.
Footsteps echoed across the floor as he moved deeper into the building.
Rowan and Dax entered behind him, watching the stairways and side corridors.
At the end of the hall, a large room stood open.
A fire burned in the hearth.
Alpha Thorne sat in a chair beside the flames, one leg crossed over the other.
He didn’t look surprised when Kael stepped inside.
In fact, he looked almost bored.
“So,” Thorne said calmly. “The Butcher of Blackridge finally arrives.”
Kael’s knife hung loosely in his hand.
His eyes were dark.
Thorne leaned back in his chair.
“You’ve been busy tonight,” he continued.
Blood stained Kael’s clothes.
His scent filled the room like a storm.
Behind him, Rowan and Dax stepped into position near the doorway.
Thorne glanced at them briefly.
“I heard rumors an hour ago,” he said. “Patrols disappearing. Scouts slaughtered.”
His eyes returned to Kael.
“I assumed you were coming to see me, but you didn't have to kill my men.”
Kael didn’t answer.
Ryn’s voice rumbled inside his mind.
Mate.
The word was louder now, almost constant.
Thorne sighed.
“You could have simply requested a meeting.”
Kael moved.
He crossed the room in a blur.
The chair shattered when he kicked it aside.
Thorne barely managed to roll away as Kael’s knife stabbed into the wooden floor where his chest had been.
The room exploded into motion.
Thorne’s fist slammed into Kael’s ribs. The force threw Kael backward into a table.
Wood splintered beneath him.
Kael hit the ground hard.
Pain shot through his side but he ignored it.
Ryn snarled.
Mate.
Kael was already moving again. He lunged forward, knife flashing.
Thorne caught his wrist mid-strike.
Their arms strained against each other.
Both Alphas pushed with brutal strength.
Thorne’s muscles bulged as he twisted Kael’s arm.
The knife clattered across the floor.
Then Thorne drove his knee into Kael’s stomach.
The impact forced the air from Kael’s lungs.
Before Kael could recover, Thorne grabbed him by the collar and hurled him across the room.
Kael’s body crashed through a wooden shelf.
Glass shattered everywhere.
For a second the world spun, pain burned along his back, but the pain didn’t matter.
Ryn roared inside his skull, again.
Mate.
Kael pushed himself up immediately.
His vision sharpened again.
Thorne was already charging.
His fist slammed into Kael’s jaw.
The blow snapped Kael’s head sideways.
Blood filled his mouth.
Kael spat it out.
Then he smiled. It was not a sane smile.
Ryn howled.
Kael grabbed Thorne’s arm and slammed his forehead into the other Alpha’s face.
Bone cracked.
Thorne stumbled backward.
Kael attacked like a beast.
Punch.
Elbow.
Clawing hands.
Thorne blocked most of it, but Kael’s speed was relentless.
The fight crashed across the room.
Furniture shattered.
The fire in the hearth sent sparks flying as their bodies slammed into the stone.
Thorne caught Kael’s throat suddenly and lifted him off the ground.
“You’re strong,” Thorne growled.
His grip tightened.
“But you’re reckless.”
Kael’s feet left the floor.
His vision darkened slightly.
Then Ryn surged forward.
Mate.
Kael slammed both fists into Thorne’s ribs.
Once.
Twice.
The third strike cracked bone.
Thorne’s grip faltered.
Kael twisted free and drove his shoulder into Thorne’s chest.
Both of them crashed through a wooden pillar.
The ceiling groaned above them.
Dust rained down.
Thorne grabbed a broken chair leg and swung it.
The wood smashed into Kael’s shoulder.
Pain shot down his arm.
But Kael barely reacted. He grabbed Thorne’s wrist.
Twisted.
The chair leg snapped.
Then Kael slammed Thorne against the wall.
The entire building shook.
Thorne tried to punch him again.
Kael caught his throat.
His fingers closed like iron.
Slowly he lifted the other Alpha off the ground.
Thorne’s feet kicked against the wall.
His hands clawed at Kael’s wrist.
Kael’s eyes looked distant and empty now.
Thorne’s face began to darken as the air left his lungs.
His struggles weakened.
Then he tapped Kael’s arm desperately.
Once.
Twice.
A signal of surrender.
Kael tightened his grip for another second.
Then he loosened it slightly.
Not enough to let Thorne breathe freely.
Just enough that he wouldn’t die yet.
“Talk,” Kael said.
His voice sounded like gravel.
Thorne sucked in a weak breath.
“You… you’re hunting the wrong man.”
Kael’s grip tightened again.
“Archie.”
The name froze Kael’s hand for a fraction of a second.
Thorne noticed.
“I’m not the one holding him.”
Kael’s eyes burned.
“Who.”
Thorne swallowed painfully.
“Alpha Darius Wenlock.”
The name hung in the room like a thunderclap.
“He’s the true Alpha King of Star Moon,” Thorne rasped.
Kael said nothing.
His fingers still crushed Thorne’s throat.
“I only lead the patrols, everything I do is under his command.” Thorne continued quickly.
“Darius rules the pack. I'm only a stand in.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Where.”
Thorne shook his head weakly.
“I don’t know where Archie is exactly.”
Kael’s grip tightened again.
“But Vance does!” Thorne gasped.
“Vance is Darius’s enforcer.”
His voice turned desperate.
“He’s the only one close enough to know where the boy is kept.”
Kael studied his scent. There's fear, panic, and truth.
“Please,” Thorne wheezed.
“I can show you Darius’s fortress.”
Kael’s eyes darkened further.
“Spare me,” Thorne begged.
For a moment it looked like Kael might crush his throat anyway.
Ryn growled.
Mate.
Adam came first.
Kael threw Thorne to the floor. The Alpha collapsed, gasping for air.
Rowan stepped forward.
“You believe him?”
Kael wiped blood from his mouth.
“Yes.”
Thorne slowly pushed himself to his knees.
“I’ll take you there.”
Kael stared down at him coldly.
“Move.”
Thorne nodded quickly and stumbled toward the door.
Outside, the night wind carried the scent of blood across the forest.
Meanwhile, inside the fortress deep within Star Moon territory, Vance stood beside Adam’s bed again.
His jaw was still bruised from Darius’s punch.
But his eyes were colder now.
Adam shrank back against the headboard.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Adam said.
Vance ignored the words.
“This is the only way,” he said quietly.
Adam’s heart began to pound again.
“No.”
Vance stepped closer.
“Stay back. Please.”
Vance grabbed his wrists before he could move.
One hand pinned both of Adam’s arms against the mattress.
The other grabbed the back of his head.
Adam struggled desperately.
“Stop!”
Vance leaned down.
His fangs slid out slowly.
“Just hold still,” he whisper
ed.
Adam screamed.
“GET OFF ME!”
Vance forced Adam’s head to the side.
Then he bit down.
His fangs sank directly into the mark on Adam’s neck.
Right where Kael had claimed him.
Pain exploded through Adam’s body.
His scream tore through the room.
—-
Kael froze mid-step. He felt something, he heard something…
The sound echoed through his mind like a blade.
Mate.