Scarlet chains

Chapter 25

*Cayden*

The forest was alive.

Not with peace—but with judgment. Ancient eyes watched me from the trees as I knelt at the base of the Moon Fang altar, my head bowed, palms bleeding onto the stone as a blood sacrifice, a sign of respect and humbleness.

"I seek the Council," I called into the dark. "I seek redemption."

A low growl rumbled behind me. Then another. Until seven wolves emerged from the shadows, fur like midnight, eyes like stars. They shifted slowly—cloaks forming from mist as they became men and women, aged but powerful.

The Eldest stepped forward. "Cayden Nightshade. Alpha. Father of the Chosen."

I said nothing.

"You abandoned your daughter to fate,your throne to your stepbrother and left.Then you let the blood of two worlds mix, unchecked. And now... the Cult has her."

The guilt tasted like ash. "I didn't abandon her. She was *stolen.*"

"Semantics," the Elder growled.

Another spoke, softer but colder. "Do you come to beg for mercy or declare war?"

"I come to ask for aid," I replied. "And to warn you. If the vampires find her first, they'll never let her go. And if the Cult succeeds... none of us will survive what she becomes."

A long silence.

Then the oldest wolf stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Find her. Before the heavens and hells rip her apart. If you fail—*we* will decide her fate."

I met his eyes. "I won't fail."

As I turned to leave, the wind whispered through the trees:

*But will she be the same? *

As I stepped out of the sacred forest, a messenger wolf approached in haste, panting, eyes wide.

"Alpha—trouble in the human cities."

I froze.

"What kind of trouble?"

The wolf hesitated. "Someone... recorded a member of the cult."

My heart dropped. "Nova?"

He nodded in the negative. " No but they were in the market district. Floating. Glowing. Speaking in tongues.They were saying their God has re awakened and the person who was speaking was clearly using the power of the chosen one."

A curse slipped through my teeth. "And the humans?"

"They're calling her an angel. Or a demon. Videos are spreading—fast."

The golden rule echoed in my head like a death sentence:

*Never let the humans discover our existence.*

If the Council found out… if the Elders saw…

They'd hunt her down—not to rescue her.

But to erase her.

*Dominic*

I was still gripping the crystal Xara gave me when my phone buzzed.

*Unknown number.*

I answered. "Who is this?"

Static. Then a deep voice: "Turn on the news."

I tapped the screen. A video was playing—grainy footage of a glowing figure floating above a rooftop. A woman. Radiating light. Speaking in a voice that sounded... ancient.

Crowds below screamed. Some bowed. Others ran.

A cult symbol pulsed briefly behind her, then vanished.

The newscaster's voice shook. *"We don't know what we're witnessing—some believe it's a sign from another realm. Cults are calling it 'the return of their God.'"*

My stomach twisted.

Nova.

But it wasn't her face.

Just her aura.

They were using her powers through someone else—parading her *energy* like a flag.

And the worst part?

*Now the whole world had seen.*

The Golden Rule was broken.

---

*In the Vampire High Council*

A deep, ancient voice echoed in the bloodstone chamber.

"The humans saw. There is no denying it."

"They believe it's their God," another hissed. "The Cult has baited the world. Soon they'll start worshipping. Investigating. Digging."

The head Elder stood.

"If our world is exposed, we all fall. Vampires. Wolves. Spirits. Dominion. The girl must be *contained.*"

Silence fell.

Then the Elder added:

"Preferably... permanently."

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