MARKED BY THE ALPHA'S HATE

The sword sang in Selene's hand.

It wasn't just metal and magic. It was memory blood-forged and fire-bound. The second her fingers closed around the hilt, the runes along the blade lit up, blue fire racing across the silver.

The hum echoed through her bones.

She staggered, nearly dropping it, but Darius was already there, steadying her.

"Selene—"

I'm fine, she whispered.

She wasn't.

Because the moment the sword touched her skin, something inside her woke up.

It wasn't a voice, not exactly.

It was instinct. Old. Hungry.

And it knew how to kill.

She felt the world sharpen around her every heartbeat, every breath, every movement of the forest outside.

The Moonblood in her veins didn't just stir.

It roared.

Darius watched her closely.

The sword had changed her in seconds. Not just her scent but the way she moved, stood, breathed.

Not weaker. Not unstable.

Other.

Her eyes flashed when she looked at him, not gold, not wolf.

Something older.

Then, just like that, she blinked and the moment passed. "We should go."

He didn't argue. Not yet.

But the shift hadn't gone unnoticed.

Even the shadows seemed to flinch from her.

Outside the Hollowspire Temple, Neris waited.

She turned toward Selene and instantly dropped to one knee. "You took the sword."

Selene swallowed. "I had to."

It's not the blade that matters,Neris said softly. It's what it unlocked.

Selene's fingers tightened around the hilt. What did it unlock?

You'll know when it's time.

Darius stepped between them. No more riddles. Tell us what's coming.

But Neris only stood, brushing ash from her robes.

And that's when the first scream echoed from the woods.

Not a wolf.

Not a human.

Something in between.

Selene turned. They found us.

No, Neris said. "She found you."

From the trees came a figure.

Not Victor. Not a Blackfang.

A girl.

Selene's age maybe younger. Pale skin. Jet-black eyes. Her dress looked ceremonial, stitched from bones and nightshade, and her feet were bare.

She walked like she had nothing to fear.

Darius shifted slightly in front of Selene, but the girl ignored him.

You took it, she said simply.

Selene gripped the sword. Who are you?

I'm the Warden of the Forsworn, the girl replied, tilting her head. I was waiting for the blade to be claimed.

You knew it was here? Selene asked.

The girl nodded. Of course. We were bound to its awakening. Just like you.

Darius's voice dropped. We?

The forest shifted again.

And from behind the girl, they came.

A dozen figures in dark cloaks. Their faces hidden. Their eyes all glowing faintly white.

Wolves. But not pack.

Forsworn.

Outcasts. Cursed bloodlines. Those too dangerous even for Victor to keep.

Neris paled. They're not supposed to be this close to the Hollowspire.

Nothing is 'supposed to' anymore," the girl said. The blade has been pulled. The old protections are broken.

She took a step forward. We're not here to kill you. Not yet.

Then why are you here? Selene asked.

To offer you a choice, the girl said. Surrender the blade. Or be hunted until your last breath.

Selene didn't flinch.

No.

The girl smiled slow, wicked. Good. Then let the blood games begin.

She turned and vanished into the woods.

The Forsworn followed.

No war cry. No threats.

Just the promise of what came next.

Meanwhile.....

Victor sat alone in his study, a glass of wine untouched on the table.

Talon stood in silence at the edge of the room.

She took the sword, Talon said.

Victor's smile didn't reach his eyes. Then it's begun.

She's not ready for what it carries.

Victor rose, walking toward the fire.

That's the point, he said. She'll either be consumed by it… or I'll carve it out of her myself.

And Darius?

Victor's smile vanished. I don't care if you have to rip out his spine with your teeth. I want him broken. Publicly. Brutally.

Talon's jaw tensed. Understood.

Victor turned, eyes blazing.

And Talon?

Yes?

If you hesitate again… you'll wish I let you die with the elders.

Talon nodded once, but as he left, the weight of Victor's words burned hotter than any fire.

Because this time, there would be no second chances.

Night fell hard.

Selene and Darius made camp near a ravine, the blade resting beside her like a living thing.

She couldn't sleep.

Not because of fear.

Because of what she saw when she closed her eyes.

Not dreams.

Memories.

Not hers, her mother's.

A war. A betrayal. A child hidden in the forest, marked for death before her first breath.

And above it all, a voice she didn't recognize but somehow knew:

"The sword will choose the blood. The blood will awaken the truth. And the truth will set the curse loose."

Selene woke with a gasp, the blade glowing faintly beside her.

Darius sat nearby, watching the trees.

He didn't look at her. Just said, You're changing.

I know.

You're scaring me.

I know,she said again. But I think I'm supposed to.

He finally looked over.

And Selene sword in hand, eyes shining in the moonlight looked back.

I think this is just the beginning.