Legacy Of The True Alpha

In the heart of a dark, dense forest illuminated by the glow of a full moon, Darius, the leader of the wolf sentinels, walked alongside Fane, the head of the Iron Pack Claw. Their conversation was tense, filled with the weight of their mission to track Rylan. Suddenly, Darius let out a low chuckle, breaking the silence. Fane turned to him, his voice edged with suspicion.

"What's so amusing?" Fane asked sharply.

"Rylan's trail ends here," Darius said, his tone calm but certain.

"How is that possible?" Fane demanded, his brows furrowed.

"He knows how to mask his trail," Darius replied, his gaze scanning the shadows of the forest.

"Then we'll split up and cover more ground," Fane suggested, determination hardening his voice. Without another word, the two leaders parted ways, each vanishing into the moonlit wilderness in their quest to find Rylan.

"Give him the sword and name him," Elara said, urging Zane tightly.

"What sword?" Rylan asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

Zane moved to a hidden shelf, pulling out a gleaming blade. Elara's eyes lit up with recognition as she saw it. "This is the Crescent Blade," she said with reverence. "Forged during a Blood Moon eclipse and bathed in its mystical light, it absorbed the moon's energy to protect the balance between packs. It symbolizes the Alpha's divine right to lead, and only the True Alpha can wield its full power."

Zane added, "In anyone else's hands, it's just a blade of steel. But in the Alpha's hands, it becomes a weapon capable of vanquishing evil. With this, you will defeat Lord Malachar."

Rylan stepped back, disbelief etched on his face. "I'm not killing anyone! I don't even know any of you. This feels like a trick!" He dropped the book he had been holding and turned toward the door. "I don't want the book, the sword, or any of this!"

Zane stepped forward, trying to calm him. "Rylan, wait—"

"Don't call me your boy," Rylan snapped, his tone sharp and defiant. "You're not my father." Without another word, he stormed out.

Elara moved to follow him, but Zane held her back. "Let him go," he said solemnly. "He needs to find the truth for himself. Until then, he cannot be named the True Alpha."

Hyahh! The sound of a horse galloping fast echoed through the quiet night as Fane rode with urgency. He halted abruptly in front of Rylan's house, dismounted swiftly, and approached the two guards stationed nearby. "The leader of the Wolf Sentinel needs more men," Fane said, his tone urgent and convincing. "He told me to inform you to join him in the thick forest. Hurry up!"

The guards exchanged glances before mounting their horses without hesitation and riding off into the forest. Rylan's adoptive father, who had been peeking out from the window, caught sight of the scene. Realizing the danger, he tried to escape, but before he could take another step, Fane appeared at his doorstep. A sharp blade glinted in the moonlight as it pressed against his neck.

"Tell me where your son is," Fane demanded coldly, his voice laced with menace.

Rylan, heading back home, suddenly stopped his horse as he heard strange sounds in the distance. The horse neighed loudly, panicked, and bucked him off before collapsing. Out of nowhere, Elara appeared, quickly covering Rylan's mouth with her hand. "Shh!" she whispered urgently. Moments later, a blood-sucking flying beast emerged, descending on the horse and draining it lifeless. Rylan's panic grew, and his muffled whimpers attracted the creature's attention. The beast turned towards them, its piercing shrieks growing louder.

Just as it lunged, Zane appeared, flames igniting from his hands as he unleashed his fire magic. The fiery attack engulfed the creature, and it disintegrated into ash before vanishing. Rylan gasped in relief, trembling. "What was that?" he asked, his voice shaking.

"That was a Vrek," Elara explained, her tone grim. "Flying beasts with sharp claws and leathery wings. They're drawn to the scent and sound of fear, striking from the sky and leaving nothing but destruction and death in their wake."

Without hesitation, Rylan climbed onto Zane's horse. "Where are you going?" Elara and Zane called after him, confused.

"I'm going to my father before anything happens to him!" Rylan shouted back, frustration and fear in his voice. "And both of you—stay away from me!" Spurring the horse into a gallop, he raced towards his home.

Rylan stopped abruptly when he saw his father's house engulfed in flames. "Dad!" he shouted emotionally, drawing the Crescent Blade. As he unsheathed it, the blade glowed with a brilliant blue light, its markings shimmering like the sky at dawn. Fueled by rage, Rylan spurred his horse forward and raced toward the burning house.

"Dad!! Dad!!" he yelled frantically, his voice trembling. He charged into the blaze, desperate to find his father amidst the consuming flames. "I'm going to get you out!" he cried, his voice breaking as he dragged his injured and barely conscious father out of the fire.

Outside, gasping for breath, Rylan knelt beside him. "Who did this?" he demanded, his eyes blazing with a vengeful fury.

"The Iron Pack Claw… Fane," his father replied weakly, blood dripping from his lips.

"I'll take you to Zane. He has potions; he can heal you," Rylan said hurriedly, trying to lift him.

"No," his father whispered, cutting him off. "Fane is looking for you there… You can't go back to Zane's."

Tears streamed down Rylan's face as he choked out, "Zane told me you're not my real father… Is it true?"

"Of course, I'm your father," his dad rasped, his voice filled with love despite the pain. "But every word Zane told you… is also true. I will always be your father."

With that, his father groaned one last time and went still, his body lifeless in Rylan's arms.

"Da… Dad!" Rylan cried out, shaking him, his voice breaking into sobs. He clutched his father's wooden necklace tightly, pulling it from his hand.

The sound of approaching hoofbeats echoed in the distance. Michael, Rylan's adopted brother and the leader of the Wolf Sentinel, arrived, his face pale as he took in the scene. "Rylan, I saw the smoke… What happened?" he asked shakily, his eyes darting to their father's body.

Before Rylan could respond, Michael's gaze fell on the Crescent Blade, its surface stained with blood. His expression hardened. "Did the sorceress—Elara—make you do this?" he asked accusingly.

"Michael, you can't possibly think I did this!" Rylan protested. "It was Fane! He killed him!"

"Fane?" Michael retorted. "He was with Darius, searching for you!"

"He came back!" Rylan shouted, his desperation growing.

Michael's eyes narrowed. "And that sword… Where did you get it? Rylan, where have you been?"

"Michael, you have to believe me—Fane did this! Fane murdered our father!" Rylan cried.

"Not our father," Michael snapped. "He was my father!"

Rylan froze, his face a mix of heartbreak and betrayal. "You knew," he whispered. "You knew the truth and didn't tell me. Did he tell you where I came from?"

Michael hesitated, his anger faltering. "He made me swear not to tell you," he admitted, his voice cold. "But now, I'm starting to wonder where you came from. And you're not going anywhere until I find out."

"Capture him!" Michael ordered, and the Wolf Sentinels surged forward.

"Stay back!" Rylan shouted, raising the Crescent Blade defensively. He mounted his horse in one swift motion and fled into the night.

Michael watched him disappear, his expression grim. "Fane was right," he muttered, unknowingly playing into Fane's manipulative lies.