Chapter 47 Chapter 47
Leonidas’s POV
The moment that thing spoke inside our heads—
my wolf went feral.
Not aggressive but terrified.
And wolves like mine weren’t supposed to feel fear.
Not like that and not from anything.
But the creature standing at the edge of the forest....
it felt wrong.
Like staring at something that shouldn’t exist.
Its body was shaped like a man, but everything else about it screamed monster.
Its limbs were too long.
Its posture too unnatural.
Its skin pale like dead moonlight, with black veins crawling beneath it like living shadows.
And those eyes–
silver.
The exact same silver as Sable’s.
No.
Not the same.
This one was twisted and corrupted.
I stepped in front of her immediately.
Instinct.
Need.
Mine.
The thought hit hard enough to make my chest tighten.
Mate.
The bond was becoming impossible to ignore now.
And that made this more dangerous.
Because if that thing came for her—
I would tear the world apart.
"What is it?" Kael asked, his voice lower than usual.
Even he looked uneasy.
The dragon’s wings flared behind us.
Massive.
Protective.
Its silver eyes locked onto the creature with something I never thought I’d see.
Fear.
"That," the dragon said, voice rough, "is a Fallen."
The creature smiled wider.
"Still using that name?"
Its voice wasn’t spoken.
It crawled into our minds.
Cold.
Sharp.
Malrik’s pack shifted instantly into battle positions.
They were disciplined and fast.
The High Alpha’s face had gone hard.
"You know this thing?" he asked the dragon.
The dragon’s eyes never left it.
"It should be dead."
The creature laughed.
The sound made the trees shake.
"So should many things."
Sable’s breath caught behind me.
I could feel her tension.
Her confusion.
And something else—
recognition.
Not memory.
Something deeper.
Something ancient.
The Fallen tilted its head toward her.
"There you are."
My wolf snapped.
I growled low.
"You don’t look at her".
Its smile widened.
"And there he is."
Its eyes moved to me.
Sharp.
Interested.
"The chosen Alpha."
I froze.
How did it know?
Beside me, Caius stiffened.
Zander’s amused expression was gone now.
Completely.
For the first time since I met him—
the vampire looked genuinely serious.
"That thing knows too much," Zander muttered.
The Fallen stepped forward.
The rogue wolves around it didn’t move.
They obeyed.
Not like followers but more like servants.
Controlled.
That alone made my instincts scream.
Because wolves don’t obey like that.
Not unless forced.
"What do you want?" Sable asked.
Her voice was stronger than I expected.
The creature stopped.
Its twisted gaze softened.
And somehow—
that was worse.
"What I’ve always wanted."
Its silver eyes darkened.
"The throne."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
The dragon growled.
"You lost your right to it."
The Fallen laughed.
"No."
Its gaze returned to Sable.
"I lost my claim."
A pause.
"But claims can be reclaimed."
My blood ran cold.
The dragon stepped forward, claws digging into the earth.
"You were cast into shadow."
"And I survived."
Its smile sharpened.
"Which makes me stronger."
Kael looked between them.
"Would someone explain?"
Caius answered.
Quietly.
Like the words themselves were dangerous.
"The first Queen."
I turned sharply toward him.
"What?"
Caius’s eyes stayed locked on the creature.
"She was the first."
The Fallen smiled.
"Very good."
Sable’s breathing changed.
Fast.
Uneven.
"No."
The word came out weak.
Confused.
"That’s impossible."
The Fallen tilted its head.
"Do you really think power like yours begins with you?"
Sable went pale.
And I understood why.
Because if this thing was the first Queen—
then everything changed.
The dragon’s voice thundered.
"She ceased being Queen the moment she betrayed the throne."
The Fallen’s expression darkened.
"Betrayed?"
Its laugh was hollow.
"You mean refused."
Its silver eyes burned.
"I refused to kneel to the throne I created."
That made no sense.
But the dragon’s reaction said otherwise.
Zander stepped closer, studying it.
"So the throne rejected you."
The Fallen’s gaze flicked to him.
"No."
Its smile vanished.
"They feared me."
Malrik growled low.
"Enough."
He stepped forward, Alpha power surging violently.
Whatever this was—
he wasn’t tolerating it.
"You’re trespassing on sacred ground."
The Fallen looked amused.
"Sacred?"
Its eyes swept over him.
"You still cling to that."
Malrik attacked.
Fast.
Brutal.
He crossed the distance in seconds, claws aimed directly for its throat.
The Fallen didn’t move.
Didn’t dodge.
Didn’t defend.
And somehow Malrik stopped.
Frozen mid-attack.
My eyes widened.
He was locked in place.
Held.
Not physically but with something else.
Power.
Dark power.
The Fallen stepped closer to him.
Slowly.
Casually.
"You’re strong."
Its voice was almost approving.
"But not enough."
With one flick of its fingers Malrik was thrown.
Hard to the side .
His body smashed through three trees before hitting the ground.
Kael cursed.
"What the hell?"
Leonidas, move.
My wolf was already pushing.
I lunged.
No hesitation.
Claws out.
Fangs bared.
The Fallen turned just in time to catch my wrist.
Effortlessly.
Its silver eyes met mine.
And for a split second—
I saw something there.
Recognition.
"You."
Its voice lowered.
"The one she chose."
Rage tore through me.
I twisted violently, breaking free and slashing across its chest.
Black blood splattered.
The Fallen looked down.
Almost surprised.
Then smiled.
"Good."
It hit me.
Hard.
I didn’t even see it move.
Pain exploded through my ribs as my body flew backward, crashing into the ground.
Sable screamed my name.
I pushed up instantly.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the blood in my mouth. Because that thing was moving toward her.
Caius stepped in first.
Blades flashing.
Fast.
Precise.
The Fallen blocked every strike with impossible ease.
Then caught Caius by the throat.
Lifted him.
Its eyes narrowed.
"You smell familiar."
Caius’s eyes darkened.
And then, his power exploded.
Dark red energy blasted outward, forcing the Fallen back.
My eyes widened.
What the hell—
Sable looked shocked too.
Because Caius was hiding something.
A lot.
The Fallen laughed.
"Well."
Its eyes glowed.
"That’s interesting."
Zander moved next.
Fast as lightning.
His speed almost invisible.
He appeared behind the creature, fangs out and struck.
The Fallen turned at the last second.
Blocking.
But this time it staggered which was good because it could be hurt.
Kael shifted fully, slamming into it from the side.
Together—
they forced it back.
But not enough.
Never enough.
Sable stepped forward.
"No."
Her voice cut through everything.
Power rolled off her instantly.
Silver light surrounded her.
Wild.
Bright.
Ancient.
The Fallen stopped.
Its expression changed.
Not amusement.
Wonder.
"There you are."
Sable’s eyes glowed silver.
Bright enough to hurt.
"What are you?"
The Fallen smiled sadly.
"I’m what happens when power has no balance."
The words hit strangely.
Like truth.
The dragon stepped forward.
"You are corruption."
The Fallen looked at it.
"No."
Its gaze returned to Sable.
"I am possibility."
And then—
it moved.
Straight for her.
I ran.
Caius ran.
Kael and Zander attacked.
Malrik rose from the wreckage.
Everyone moved.
But it was too late.
The Fallen reached her.
Its hand touched her chest—
and Sable screamed.
Silver light exploded outward.
Blinding.
Violent.
The ground cracked.
Trees shattered.
Every wolf in the clearing dropped to their knees.
Including me.
Not from weakness.
From force.
The power pouring out of her was unbearable.
Ancient.
Pure.
And when the light cleared—
Sable was floating above the ground.
Eyes glowing.
Body surrounded by silver fire.
But something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Because when she opened her eyes, they weren’t hers anymore.
And her voice when she spoke—
wasn’t hers either.
"I remember."
The Fallen smiled.
Victorious.
And for the first time—
I realized the real danger wasn’t the enemy in front of us.
It was what had just awakened inside her.