🌑 Chapter 47 — The Mark of the Fifth
The journey back to Crimson Dusk was strangely quiet.
No one spoke much.
The mountains behind them were disappearing beneath a spreading veil of darkness, and even the wolves seemed uneasy.
Jayden walked beside Ivy, while Xander rested against his shoulder.
Jake and Kael remained several steps ahead with Lyra and Aslam.
Elira followed silently.
Ivy kept looking at Xander.
Something about him felt different.
Not frightening.
Just... changed.
Finally, Xander stirred.
"Mommy?"
Ivy immediately turned.
"What's wrong, baby?"
He held out his hand.
The black crescent on his palm was glowing faintly.
"I don't know what this is."
Ivy's face went pale.
She reached for his hand.
The moment her fingers touched the mark—
BOOM.
A wave of energy exploded outward.
Everyone was thrown backward.
Jayden quickly pulled Xander close.
"Ivy!"
"I'm okay."
She stared at her hand.
A faint black symbol had appeared across her palm too.
Elira rushed toward them.
"No."
Ivy looked at her.
"You know what this is."
Elira hesitated.
"The Fifth Mark."
---
The Fifth Mark
Everyone gathered around.
Elira looked at Xander carefully.
"The mark means the Void has recognized him."
Jayden's expression hardened.
"Can it be removed?"
"I don't know."
"You have to know something."
Elira lowered her gaze.
"The Fifth Keeper isn't supposed to exist."
Ivy frowned.
"Then why does he?"
"Because you changed the prophecy."
Jake looked confused.
"How?"
Elira looked at Ivy.
"Your parents believed the four Keepers would remain separated forever."
She glanced at Xander.
"But you created something they never expected."
Ivy's voice softened.
"My family."
Elira nodded.
"Exactly."
The four siblings exchanged looks.
Their powers had been created from darkness.
But Xander had been born from love, family, and choice.
And that made him something the prophecy had never accounted for.
---
Back at Crimson Dusk
By the time they returned, the entire pack was waiting.
Warriors lined the gates.
The elders stood in the courtyard.
Jayden stepped forward.
"Prepare everyone."
One elder frowned.
"For what?"
Jayden looked toward the dark horizon.
"War."
The word spread through the pack.
Warriors immediately began preparing weapons and defenses.
Ivy stood beside Jayden.
She could feel something approaching.
Not one enemy.
Thousands.
Jake walked over.
"Ivy."
She turned.
"We need to talk."
They moved away from the others.
Jake lowered his voice.
"The mark on Xander isn't just a warning."
"What is it?"
"It's a connection."
Ivy's eyes widened.
"To the Void?"
Jake nodded.
"If we don't break it, the Void will eventually be able to find him anywhere."
Ivy clenched her fists.
"Then we break it."
"How?"
She looked toward Elira.
"She knows."
---
The Family Council
Inside the Alpha Hall, everyone gathered around the table.
Elira placed an ancient scroll before them.
"There is one way to break the connection."
Kael leaned forward.
"What is it?"
"The four Keepers must willingly give up their powers."
Silence.
Ivy stared at her.
"And Xander?"
"He would be free."
Jake shook his head.
"And we'd become ordinary."
"Yes."
Aslam crossed her arms.
"That's the price?"
Elira nodded.
"But there is another problem."
Jayden frowned.
"What?"
"If the four of you surrender your powers, the Void will become free."
Kael looked shocked.
"So we'd save Xander..."
"...and release the enemy," Jake finished.
Ivy looked down.
There had to be another way.
Then Xander spoke from beside Jayden.
"What if I help?"
Everyone turned.
Ivy immediately shook her head.
"No, baby."
"But if it's my mark..."
He looked at his palm.
"...maybe I can choose what happens to it."
Elira stared at him.
A strange realization crossed her face.
"That's it."
Ivy looked at her.
"What?"
"The prophecy says the Fifth Keeper is the key."
Elira looked at Xander.
"It never says the key has to be used by the enemy."
---
The Plan
The room became silent.
Kael slowly understood.
"Xander can control the connection."
"Exactly," Elira said.
Jake frowned.
"But he's still a child."
"Which is why he cannot do it alone."
Ivy immediately stood.
"Then he won't."
She looked at her siblings.
"We'll do it together."
Jake nodded.
Kael smiled.
Lyra stepped closer.
"And I'll help."
Jayden placed a hand on Ivy's shoulder.
"We all will."
Xander smiled.
"Superheroes?"
Ivy laughed softly despite everything.
"Superheroes."
---
The First Sign
That night, Crimson Dusk prepared for battle.
The pack's borders were reinforced.
Watchtowers were occupied.
Families were moved into protected areas.
Xander slept beside Ivy and Jayden.
For the first time in days, everything was quiet.
Then Ivy opened her eyes.
Someone was standing outside the bedroom window.
A figure.
Motionless.
She sat up.
"Jayden."
He woke immediately.
"What?"
She pointed.
The figure disappeared.
Jayden rushed to the window.
Nothing.
Then Xander suddenly sat up.
His eyes were glowing gold.
"Mommy..."
Ivy turned.
"Xander?"
He looked toward the door.
"They're here."
Jayden stood.
"Who?"
Xander whispered:
"The shadows."
Outside, the warning bells began ringing.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then all of them.
The pack was under attack.
Again.
But this time...
the enemy wasn't coming for Ivy.
It was coming for Xander.
Ivy stood beside Jayden.
Her eyes turned violet.
"Let them come."
The doors of the pack house opened.
And beyond the gates, thousands of shadow creatures waited beneath the blackened sky.
At their center stood a familiar figure.
Malthor.
But beside him stood someone Ivy never expected to see.
Elias.
Alive.
Ivy's breath caught.
"Elias?"
He looked toward her.
And slowly raised his hand.
The black crescent on Xander's palm began glowing.
End of Chapter 47.