Betrayed by Blood, Claimed by the Alpha

The sky was coated in blue, Cain stood at the gates of Vehiron. Behind him stood ten of his most trusted warriors, silent and armed. Each of them knew the name of the place they were about to enter: The Valley of Death. None of them spoke it aloud.

He didn’t choose them to go with; they all volunteered. Lydia stepped forward, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She looked like she hadn’t slept either.

"You’re really doing this?" she asked, her voice low.

Cain didn’t look at her at first. His gaze was locked on the forest ahead. But when he did turn, something in her chest squeezed. She stepped closer.

"Cain, doing this..."

"Will bring her back," Cain interjected quickly. Lydia glanced at him, her heart heavy. "Don’t," he said.

Lydia was part of those who believed going into the Valley of Death was a death sentence. As much as she loved Avery and was praying for her recovery, she just couldn’t stop thinking about the numerous people that forest has swallowed. After more than a thousand people died there, it was given its name: Valley of Death. She glanced at Xander who stood behind Cain. Her brother was also going with him, and maybe that was what scared her the most.

She tried to talk him out of it, but he refused. ’Avery’s my friend, Lydia. This is the least I can do to help her. Besides, I swore loyalty to Cain. After everything that’s happened with Callum, he needs someone on his side,’ he had said. There was no changing his mind either.

"You’ll look after the pack in my absence," Cain voiced out.

Lydia’s throat tightened. "You don’t know what’s waiting for you in there. That forest has taken better men than you. This isn’t like the other missions. You’re going into a place that was never meant to be entered. That forest—it’s cursed. It’s where souls go to die."

Cain’s jaw clenched. "Avery’s soul is trapped because of him. And I won’t let her stay in that limbo a second longer. All I have to do is find Celeste’s heart."

"She wouldn’t want you to risk your life like this," Lydia whispered.

"She wouldn’t want to be stuck in a portal between life and death either, but here we are. What we want doesn’t matter anymore," Cain said, his voice rough. "Only her life does."

Lydia stared at him, her throat tight. Then softly, she said, "Are you even sure you’ll come back?"

Cain paused, he didn’t have an answer for that. Was he going to return? He didn’t know, but what he did know was, he would bring back the heart of Celeste even if it cost his life.

All of them began to walk away from the pack, and soon it was in the distance. Eventually, they got to the forest front. It looked absolutely normal from the outside.

Cain stood at the front. The ten warriors stood in a line. Silent. Waiting.

Cain turned to face them. "I won’t make this long," he said, voice low. "You all know where we’re going. You know what’s inside this forest... and what it’s taken from this world." He paused.

"I didn’t ask any of you to come with me. But you did. For that, you have my respect and my gratitude." He looked each one of them in the eye. "If anyone wants to turn back, now’s the time. Once we step inside, there is no going back. You’ll be walking into a place where light dies and sound lies. I won’t blame you nor will I think less of you."

No one moved. No one spoke.

Cain gave a single nod. "Then we enter as one. And if we fall—"

"—we fall as one," Xander echoed, drawing his sword with a grin. The others followed, all chanting the same word. "We fall as one!"

Cain turned and led the way.

The moment they stepped into the forest, the world behind them shifted. The wind died. Branches twisted behind them. Leaves closed like curtains, and when they looked back, the entrance was gone, replaced by tangled thorns. Suddenly everything seemed more real.

"Well," one warrior muttered, "guess that’s our welcome." Laughter rippled through a few of them.

They walked for hours. The trees were massive, their branches clawing into the sky. Each tree looked ancient. The deeper they moved, the more distorted the world became, like they’d crossed into a place that no longer obeyed time or light.

"I don’t like this," Xander muttered, looking around. "Feels like something’s watching."

"It is," Cain replied without turning his head. Because he felt it too.

Not just eyes, it was a consciousness. One that pulsed with hate.

He didn’t tell the others, but the moment he’d stepped into the forest, something inside him had shifted. His wolf that was usually calm and dominant started pacing agitatedly, he was unsettled.

He shoved it to the back of his mind and continued the journey. Occasionally they’d pause for a breather then continue. It seemed like hours had passed since they’d entered the forest, but the sky didn’t seem like a minute had even passed.

No one complained though. They all knew what they were coming for. They continued their journey, none of them knew what the heart of Celeste looked like, but Elder Loris had told them that when they find it, they’d know.

They continued their journey, and soon they saw the first marker. A decayed skeleton, wrapped in the remnants of a tattered cloak, half-slumped against a tree.

No one spoke, not even the one that had been joking. It was so silent that even their footsteps sounded muted.

Hours went by yet again, and still the sky was just as bright as it was when they first entered.

"Is it just me or does it feel like time’s not moving in here? It feels like we’ve been walking for hours upon hours, but the sky won’t get dark," one of the warriors voiced out.

"That’s right."

"I noticed too."

"Look, we’ve passed here before," one of them exclaimed, pointing at the decayed skeleton they had passed hours ago.

"That’s true. So we are just going around in circles," another said.

"Okay! We’ll rest here tonight. Set camp. Watches in pairs."

The warriors quietly began unpacking their gear, setting up a camp just under the trees. Cain didn’t sit, didn’t relax. He paced just outside the camp, his senses on high alert.

Xander and the others found their spots and settled in. Cain and Xander decided to keep watch for the night, and the moment the last tent was secured, the light from the campfire flickered and then died. Suddenly, the woods darkened, and the bright sky also went dark like it was midnight.

One warrior looked around, confused. "What the hell?"

"Quiet everyone," Cain ordered, looking around . It was as though the forest had been waiting for them to settle.

"This is an odd place. Things are different here. Let’s get our sleep in and continue our search," Xander said.

Everyone got into positions, leaving Cain and Xander out to guard. Inside, laying on leaves were two warriors, already drifting off to sleep.

Suddenly, one snapped his eyes open. He sat up instantly, eyes wide.

The other stirred awake. "What are you doing up, Dren? You should be getting your sleep in. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Dren looked at him, finger pressed against his lips in a way to silence Toby. Seconds passed, then he finally spoke. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

Dren smiled, "That voice. That sweet, beautiful voice calling out to me. She’s hurt. She needs my help."

"Dren?" Toby hissed out. "What are you—"

Dren’s body trembled. The voice, it was calling him again, more desperate this time. His hands trembled as he stood up abruptly.

Without warning, Dren took off, sprinting into the forest.

Toby scrambled to his feet. "Dren!" he shouted, "What the hell are you doing? Get back here!"

Cain’s eyes flicked toward the noise. Without hesitation, he sprang to his feet. "Xander, keep watch!" he ordered and ran after Dren.

"Dren! Damn it, where are you?" He heard nothing in return.

When he reached a clearing, his heart slammed in his chest. There was no sign of Dren, not anymore. The only thing left was a pool of blood. Dren’s blood.