Chapter 50
When the stance ends, now It’s time to announce the new members in the Apes Cile, and it’s clear they take this poem very seriously, where I sit. I can tell the nominees are locked away in some ultra secure root completely cut off from everything happening here. They can’t see or hear a thing
One by one, their names are called. The first man walks in bludbolded led carefully in the censeral the man. Everyone watches in silence as they remove has blindfold, lening hum take in the majesty of where he is. His expression says it all—be’s oviralelnici.
The the second name is announced, and the process repeats. Another man ruters, blindfolded, maware of whi
They only choose two alphas from what must have been a mountain sit applications. And, of com use of thean, is Hane
I almost laugh out loud. It’s ridiculous for him to think he can get in still, I misage to keep my expression neutral, tough it takes some effort. Honestly, I hope he never gets to enjoy any of this. That’s me being as nice as I can manage after all the wrap he’s put me though
atmophere in the
The swearing in of the new alphas concluded with a shist verensomy to ush
tovusholly their place in the Apes Circle Suddenly, the grand hall grew heavy, almost suffocating. It felt as though the sky outside Bul darkened even more, swallowing what litle light remained
At first, I thought it might be part of the ceremon—a dramatic flair to mark the occasions–but then the noise began. A strange, antars sound, distam yet loud enough. It grew louder, into chaotic wireches. Lomilcht’i place it at best
Deckand got on his feet in an instant “stay here. Do not move, he andere nur, his eyes hand and strict. I nodded, though the urge to alisobey filled me as curity clawed within
A handful of other alphas followed him as he strode toward the massive doors. My heart hammered in my i best, but I wasn’t about ins sit still Ignoring his command, I ran toward the nearest witslow, joined by a few of the mher lunas Together, se pressed against the cold glass, peering into the darkness outside
What I saw frore me in place
The night sky was alive with weird movement–thousands, maybe tens of thorsands, of enormans, will hats. Their wings beat furiously, filling air with a itttating sound of fluttering and scratching. They swarmest in every directions, their slurp cries penetrating the thick glass. This is an
me, but I couldn’t look away. What on earth is the Some bizure ritu A sted part of the co
ceremony! No one had prepared for for something like this
most of the alpha and betas gathered outside, theant to face whatever was happening, while a few betas remained behind–ingbe in protect the women or keep the hall secure every nerve in my body someained to run, but I stayed monsed by the window, my eyes glued nuthe scene unfolding –
As the alphas stepped out, the bats attacked. Some wing wildly, trying to want them off, Deckard, however, remained calin, his golden eyes scanned the chaos as he moved forcard. He wasn’t one to flinch, even in the face of such madnews.
And then it happened. A hideous higure began to take form, rising from the swarm of bats. At first, it was impossible to tell what it was, but some shape became clearer–a towering figure, nearly seven feet tall. It looked like a man, but it wasn’t. His entire boily was cloaked in a mass of bun. their bodies shifting and churning to create his form. It was horrifying, like something out of a nightmare.
Then he spoke..
“You will give me what is mine, or everyone here dies!” The voice was rasping, heavy with menace, and echoed unnaturally, as if it came from everywhere at once.
Gasps filled the air behind me.
I couldn’t look away, my heart is pounding as I watched Deckard take another step forward. He didn’t fanch, didn’t even seem Lized by the monstrous figure before him
“Who are you!” he demanded, his tone sharp
The figure didn’t move, but the bats around him swirled faster, as if agitated. The air grew colder.
“Everything that is mine, you will give me the bat–like figure screeched again, its voice as grating as mails on glass repeating the sme statement. The repetition made my skin crawl, and I wasn’t the only one.
Chapter 50
Deckard, clearly done with the drama, let out an annoyed growl, Without hesitation, he drew his sleifge–like fire sword. The blade roared to life. glowing a fence, mohen red. Wiilia swih motion, he dashed at the hat–covered monster. The are of fire tore through the figure, sending the bats closest to it to burn instantly, their ashes scattering before they even hit the ground.
The test of the lots shrieked an fury. Some managed to fire, swirling away ints the night, while others dissolved into nothingnew. We all held our breath, hoping the slash would expose whatever man–or monster–was hiding beneath the swarm.
But it didn’t. The figure remained i
ural intact, its form slufting as ahengla was made entirely of hats. It wasn’t a man at all–it was all hats, some kind of entay controlling them. My greates shock is seeing the remaining bats let out a collective sound that sounds like laughter and mocking. Then, just. in suddenly as they had conie, the bats began inalisperse, vacating the sky like a retreating army.
The hall fell eerily silent for a moment, That’s when the howling began. Long, chilling tries that echoed through, Wolves. And these were not from The Apex Circle.
Deckard’s head snapped to the source of the noise. His expression darkened. “I need all alplas out! We are under attack!” he bellowed,
The alphas rushed into action, thear movements swift and agile. “Open the gates” Deckard commanded. The massive iron gates creaked loudly as they swung open, revealing wild rogues enveloping the building, their eyes shimmering with wirked intent. These weren’t like any wolves I’d encountered before–They good in an uneasy silence, their eyes redy for death, their movements tense as if awaiting a command.
From within the wolves, a voice enipteil, deep and ominous.
“We did not come for trouble. and over the Luns, and we will leave. You’ll never hear from us again, the voice declared
Deckard’s anger could not be mistaken. “Who the hell are you, and what Luna do you speak off” one of the alphas harked angrily, stepping forward
What other Luna can I mean, if not the Luna of Lumas?” the voice replied, dripping with spirw.
Derkand’s eyes lumes with fury.
“How dare you?” he roared, his voice a thunderclap in the night. Without hesitation, Deckard charged his fire sword slicing through the air with deadly accuracy
This hery blade split through the heads of the wolves in the front line, their lifeless bodies collapsing to the ground, metallic scent filling the air Heads rolled to Deckard’s feet, and die remaining rogues bowled in detainer
Aceremony that began wis love and celebration hail transformed into a gory bandefield. The ground turned slick with the blood of rogues, and disinembered limbs littered the once–pristine courtyard.
Yet the rogues kept charging like will, mindless beasts. Their attacks were relentless,
“They’re being controlled,” another alpha yelled, slamming his wolfish opponent into the ground
The rogues are thinning out nee. Their numbers reduce, and even those still fighting move sluggishly, their attacks are weaker and less roundinated. Yet they wont sup charging
Finally, silence falls. The last rogue collapses, lifeless, unto the blood–soaked ground. Deckard wastes no time, as he begins scouting the area, eyes scanning for any sign of life among the corpaes.
I cling to the edge of the window, my hands trending against the cold frame, What were these rogues talking about What could they possibly want from me? their holdness feels familiar. They’re the same wolves that tried to kidnap me at the camping grounds.
My mind races. How do they even know who I am!
A shiver courses through me, my body refusing to still. My gaze drifis back to the hall.
I realize I’m trembling not just from fear but from the weight of every gaze in the room. When I finally snap out of my spiraling thoughts, I notice
that all eyes are on nie.
Some of the women begin moving toward me, their faces had concern in IL
they reach out to comfort me. Soft hands touch my shoulders, gentle words surround m
but in does Endle to calm the storm in my chest
Who were those rogues, and what did they mean when they said I was the one they wanted!