Chapter 35 Chapter 35
Sable’s POV
For a long moment, no one moved; everyone stood in place. The temple stood in broken silence around us, dust still drifting through the air, cracks running deep across the ancient stone like scars that would never heal.
And yet...
The loudest thing in that moment was the quiet.
Because we all felt it, especially I.
I could feel that something had changed.
Something that was permanent.
I swallowed hard, my chest still rising unevenly as I tried to steady my breathing.
"It’s gone...", I whispered.
But even as I said it myself, I knew it wasn’t true.
Caius didn’t let go of me.
"It left," he corrected quietly. "That doesn’t mean it’s gone."
A chill slid down my spine.
I looked down at my hands again – the silver light was still there. Faint, but I could now control it, while beneath it, that darker energy still lingered around.
It was quiet, almost like watching and waiting for the right moment.
My fingers curled together slightly.
"What if I can’t stop it next time?" I asked.
No one answered immediately because no one had an answer.
Leonidas stepped closer, trying to make his presence steady despite the blood on his face and the tension still coiled in his body.
"Then we make sure there isn’t a next time like that," he said.
The words were simple but filled with certainty, yet they were not entirely convincing.
Kael let out a low breath, running a hand through his hair as his golden eyes scanned the temple.
"Let’s start with not standing in a collapsing ruin," he muttered. "This place is about to come down."
As if the temple had heard him – a loud crack echoed overhead as a chunk of stone broke loose from the ceiling and crashed to the ground nearby, sending up a cloud of dust.
The dragon shifted, its massive form turning toward the entrance, wings folding slightly but still tense.
"The temple is no longer stable," its voice echoed in our minds. "The trial has been broken."
My chest tightened.
"Because of me...."
The dragon’s gaze flicked toward me.
"Because of what you awakened."
That didn’t make it better.
Caius helped me straighten slowly, though his hand lingered on my arm like he didn’t trust me to stand on my own.
"Can you walk?" he asked quietly.
"I think so."
But even as I said it, my legs felt unsteady.
They were not weak, just a little... unfamiliar. Like my body was still trying to adjust to everything that had just happened.
Leonidas noticed, so he stepped closer, his hand hovering slightly near me as if ready to catch me if I fell.
"I’ve got her," he said.
Caius’s grip tightened slightly.
"No."
The word was calm but firm.
Leonidas’s eyes darkened.
"She can barely stand."
"And she doesn’t need you carrying her."
Tension sparked instantly between them dangerously.
Kael groaned softly under his breath.
"Oh, this is really not the time for this," he said.
"I’m fine," I cut in quickly, pulling myself slightly away from Caius.
Both of them went still, watching me.
Waiting to see if I was really fine.
I steadied myself, forcing my legs to cooperate.
"I can walk," I repeated.
Caius didn’t look convinced, neither did Leonidas.
But neither of them argued.
Another crack split through the temple walls. Louder this time and also closer to us.
Kael glanced upward.
"Yeah, we’re out of time."
The dragon moved toward the exit, its massive form surprisingly careful as it navigated the broken structure.
"Follow," it commanded.
No one hesitated this time.
We all moved fast following it. The broken temple groaned around us as we made our way toward the entrance, debris falling more frequently now, the entire structure threatening to collapse at any second.
My heart pounded with every step I took. Not just from fear, but from something else.
That feeling – the awareness of the thing inside me –
It was still there.
Still awake.
Still... listening.
We reached the entrance just as another violent tremor shook the ground.
Outside – the world felt different, even the air was heavier.
Almost like all things had changed. The sky above had darkened, thick clouds rolling in unnaturally fast, covering the moon in shifting shadows.
And the forest, it wasn’t quiet; instead, it was very much alive.
Howls echoed in the distance.
Dozens of them or maybe more.
My breath caught.
"The packs..." I whispered.
Leonidas stepped slightly in front of me again, his body tense as he scanned the tree line.
"They’re close."
Kael smirked faintly, though there was no humor in it.
"Understatement."
The dragon stepped fully outside, its wings stretching slightly as it lifted its head toward the sky.
"They have come," it said.
Caius moved beside me, his expression dark as he took in the surroundings.
"This is worse than I thought."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
He didn’t answer right away.
Instead, he looked straight toward the forest, and I followed his gaze.
At first, I didn’t see anything.
Then, I saw movement.
Shadows shifting between the trees. Dozens of them.
Then more.
My stomach dropped.
"They’re everywhere...."
Leonidas’s jaw tightened.
"They’re not just here to watch."
"No," Kael agreed quietly.
"They’re here to claim."
My chest tightened painfully.
"Claim... me?"
Silence.
That was answer enough.
The dragon’s voice echoed again.
"The Queen has been revealed."
My heart raced.
"And now?"
The dragon’s gaze lowered slightly.
"Now the world will decide who stands beside her."
Kael let out a soft, dry laugh.
"Or who kills everyone else trying."
That didn’t help.
At all.
Caius stepped slightly closer to me again, his presence steady and protective.
"We’re not staying here," he said.
Leonidas’s head turned sharply.
"And go where?"
"Somewhere they can’t reach her easily."
Kael raised a brow.
"Does a place like that even exist anymore?"
Caius didn’t answer because he didn’t know.
And we all felt it – the realization that there was no safe place anymore.
Not for me nor for any of us.
A low growl echoed from the forest. Closer now.
The shadows moved again.
And this time – figures stepped into view.
They were wolves.
Dozens of them of different sizes, different colors, and different packs.
All gathered at the edge of the clearing, their glowing eyes fixed on one thing.
Me.
My breath caught.
"They’re not attacking...." I whispered.
Leonidas’s voice was low.
"Not yet."
Kael crossed his arms slightly.
"They are waiting."
"For what?" I asked.
No one answered.
Because deep down –
We all knew.
They were waiting for me.
For what I would do.
And for who I would choose.
My chest tightened painfully.
"I didn’t ask for this..."
The words slipped out quietly, but they felt heavy.
Because they were real.
Caius’s gaze softened slightly.
"I know."
Leonidas’s voice came next.
"But it’s still yours."
That truth hit harder than anything else.
The power inside me stirred again. Like it wanted me to be aware it was present.
Watching everything with me.
The wolves stepped forward slightly this time.
They were not attacking, neither were they retreating.
Instead, they were just closing in, slowly and deliberately.
The air grew tense and unbearable.
Then –
A single wolf stepped forward from the group.
It was larger than the others and also stronger.
Its eyes burned brighter, focused and more intent.
Leonidas stiffened instantly.
"That’s not just any Alpha."
Kael’s expression sharpened.
"No... it’s not."
The wolf shifted.
Its bones cracking, changing form, until a man stood there instead.
He stood tall, dark, and powerful. His gaze locked onto me immediately.
And didn’t waver.
My heart pounded violently.
Because the moment he spoke –
Everything changed again.
"We felt you awaken," he said.
His voice was calm but filled with something dangerous.
Something ancient.
My breath caught.
"And now...", I whispered.
He took a step closer.
The other wolves stood stilled behind him.
Watching and waiting.
"...we’ve come for our Queen," he answered.
Silence fell at his words.
Heavy and final.
And in that moment –
I realized something terrifying.
The creature wasn’t the only thing coming for me.
The whole world was.
And it wasn’t going to wait.