Declan stood in the forest totally confused by what was going on, everything had suddenly gone still and when he looked around, he saw that he was surrounded by golden eyes shining in the early evening glow\
He was surrounded by wolves in their true form, they all moved round him as though checking him out and suddenly they opened a part for him and he carefully walked though looking around consciously, his guard on edge.
As Declan walked through the forest the small path finally opened into what looked like a magnificent settlement that one could only read about in books. Large towers stood tall with artistic feel that definitely was not human or of this world. He held his breath. It felt really strange but at the same time he felt his heart churn in his chest.
This pang of pain could not be described with mare words.
He suddenly felt, anger, rage, relive, pain, but above all
He felt home
He felt like a young cub wandering around helplessly but had eventually made it home.
Or did he
Not everyone was elated by the idea of a missing Alpha being found and Bernard was definitely not elated.
"Are you 100 percent sure it's Declan?
"I would not say a 100 percent but it's most likely, Just like the prophesy
"Just like the prophesy" Mitel said stroking his beard
"If he is truly back, then we have to kill him again, Bernard said turning to face Mitel,
"And this time we make sure, we confirm with a body"
"I sincerely apologize for my error, that cunning she-wolf tricked me"
"Everyone knew how much you loved her, are you sure you did not let him live for her sake?"
"I had to kill the love of my life with my bare hands, now imagine what I would have done to someone else?
"Well gone on and finish what you've started"
Mitel left to join the council, on reaching there he sees Declan in the middle of the wolves everyone staring at him in admiration
Only one word could come out of Mitel's mouth before he would know it
"Magnificent!
That was the only word to describe how Declan looked standing in the midst of the other wolves, he looked like a true King and if Mitel had any doubt, the fact that he was a spiting male version of his mother was the undeniable proof but he was not here to support facts, he was here to deny it.
Undeniable or not he would make sure they deny him.
"Imposter! Mitel shouted as soon as he walked in, that man is definitely not who you all think he is.
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Far from the council, in the heart of the forest, the witches gathered in their own circle of power. Their camp, hidden among ancient oaks and woven with thorny vines, glimmered with flickering candlelight and pulsating magical energy.
Unlike the wolves, their emotions were tangled—happy and fearful, hopeful and resigned.
Lysara, a witch with hair like autumn leaves and eyes sharp as flint, stood at the center, hands raised to the sky. She whispered incantations that wove threads of power through the air, threads that shimmered and twisted like living things.
"The bloodline stirs," she murmured, voice soft but charged. "The Marked Alpha rises. The chains that bound him have broken."
Miren, younger and less certain, bit her lip. "It should be a moment of celebration. The true Alpha returns to claim his birthright. But… the balance will shift. The darkness we've kept at bay may spill again."
Selene, their leader, nodded slowly, eyes reflecting the firelight. "The Gathering will be unlike any before. Old magic will clash with new. The wolves' war will spill into the witch covens."
A tense silence fell before Lysara's words broke through, cold and biting.
"The coven is divided."
Some witches—those who had pledged loyalty to Bernard Bloodstone—felt the Marked Alpha's return threatened the order they fought to maintain. They remembered the chaos the Crescent Moon bloodline had brought before and feared another era of violent upheaval.
Others—few but fiercely devoted—had secretly protected the Marked Alpha all these years. They had been waiting, watching, safeguarding his hidden prison and praying for his return.
Bernard's supporters whispered among themselves, dark eyes glinting. "If Kieran returns, the old power struggles will reignite. We will lose control."
Meanwhile, the loyalists felt a mixture of relief and sorrow.
Lysara's voice trembled with emotion. "I have guarded his name in shadows, kept his memory alive when others wished him dead. Now, he walks free… but at what cost?"
Miren stepped forward, her hands glowing faintly. "The witches who sided with Bernard must choose—stand with the false Alpha, or with the bloodline's true heir."
Selene raised a hand, silencing the murmurs.
"There will be no neutrality. This war will not only be of claws and teeth but of spells and secrets."
Meanwhile miles Away from the Crescent clan and the witches coven something was unraveling.
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Amelia had not heard from Declan all day and his phone was unreachable, he had also not shown up at work and she got really worried especially after the state she found him the last time.
She tried calling his cell phone but could not reach him and it was getting late, she paced around her house for a while before picking up her car keys and rushing out of the house.
It was already dark when she got to Declan's place, she got out of her car and walked to his door. She rang the bell three times but no response and she just decided to try the door
It was unlocked
She opened it slowly and peeped inside.
"Hello, hello, Declan?, is anyone in?"
But she got no response and she fully let herself into the house fearfully, she turned on his light and almost jumped out of her skin when she saw his Jacket hanging and mistook it for a person.
She made her way to the bedroom but he wasn't inside instead she saw his phone on the bed, it had probably died down from too much calls.
The sight of the phone made her even more worried, he did not have any other friends besides her so she was at a lost for who to call. It then dawned on her that asides his late mother he never said anything about a family.
She found her way into the kitchen, the place looked liked it had not been used in months, typical bachelor behavior she thought to herself.
As she walked down the corridor she notice a slight opening on the far end of the corridor on the floor. She walked to it and opens slightly and it exposed a basement, she fell back in shock from the ominous feeling she was getting from it.
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Declan followed the wolf guidance and walked till he got to a large settlement and what he saw amazed him It was like a whole civilization hidden away from civilization. Everything felt strange yet very familiar at the same time. At the center stood a very large statue that almost looked like him just a bit older. He felt his blood rush, a groan from where he could not define escaped his lips shocking even him. And then he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Calm, calm" A voice said
He turned to see the old man that he had caught spying on him before.
Welcome home '