CHAPTER 180: CHAPTER 180: THE HUNT BEGINS

The forest was silent except for the sound of pounding paws against the earth. Four massive wolves ran through the woods, their silver breath fogging the cold night air. Aeron, Luca, Kael, and Lucian. The four Alpha brothers.

Their fur bristled with rage, their eyes burning with the same unending pain. The moonlight glimmered off their coats as they moved like shadows...fast, wild, unstoppable. Every heartbeat, every breath, carried only one thought. Revenge.

Their mate was gone.

Their world had burned with her last breath.

Behind them, only a few loyal warriors followed, their scents barely noticeable under the storm of anger the brothers carried.

They had left their pack in their beta’s care, Cyrus, because someone had to guard what was left. The brothers didn’t care about the throne, the land, or even their lives anymore. Nothing mattered now.

Only vengeance.

Aeron’s wolf let out a deep growl, the kind that made even the trees tremble. His mind burned with her image and the grave, the helplessness that tore him apart. He could still feel her scent fading, like smoke slipping through his claws.

Luca’s growl joined his, rough and wild. His heart felt hollow, but his fury was alive, sharper than any blade. He wanted blood...the blood of every single man who had stood by while their mate was killed.

Kael’s eyes glowed like fire. His wolf form was trembling from the rage and grief tearing him apart. Every stride he took forward was a promise; he would make them pay. All of them.

Lucian ran beside them, silent. His wolf was darker and heavier. His pain didn’t show, but it was there...deep, festering. His mate’s scream still echoed in his ears, driving him mad. He didn’t speak, didn’t growl. His silence was worse than a roar. Now he was like a walking dead man.

The woods blurred past as they ran faster, their claws digging into the soil, their growls mixing with the wind. The moon above watched in silence, cold and distant.

They were heading to Wellmore, the capital of werewolves, the place where the Lycans ruled, where the Council of Werewolves sat in their golden halls pretending to be gods. That was their next target.

Every councilman who had a hand in their mate’s death would die. Slowly and painfully.

Their wolves howled, a sound filled with fury and heartbreak, shaking the night.

They didn’t know if they would survive this.

They didn’t care.

Because what was left to live for when the only light in their world had already died?

The brothers slowed down as the thick scent of other wolves filled the air. The border of Balmore was close. The wind carried the smell of iron, steel, and strange wolves who didn’t belong to them.

A few steps more and shadows moved ahead, blocking their path. Royal Warriors. The sigil on their chest was clear, the crest of the Lycan royal guards.

Aeron stopped first. His massive wolf form stood still, grey eyes burning like fire. The others...Luca, Kael, and Lucian flanked him, their growls low and dangerous.

The Royal Warriors didn’t move, though their scent betrayed their fear. They knew who stood before them. They had seen those wolves in battles before, the Alphas of the Silver Dawn pack.

Aeron shifted first, bones cracking as he took his human form. His brothers followed. The air around them turned heavy, thick with power. Aeron’s alpha pressure rolled out like a storm, forcing the guards to bow slightly without realizing it.

The first guard swallowed hard but still spoke. "Who are you, and why do you enter the borders of Balmore?"

Aeron’s eyes narrowed. His voice came out deep and calm but with a tone that could kill. "Aeron Duskdraven, Alpha of Silver Dawn Pack."

The name alone made a few warriors exchange nervous glances. But still, the lead guard tried to hold his ground. "There has been no invitation sent to the Silver Dawn pack," he said carefully. "Why have you come?"

Aeron stepped closer. His boots crushed the fallen leaves underfoot, his expression dark as night. "Because I need to," he said. "And I will enter wherever I want."

His words carried more threat than volume. The Royal Warriors felt it, the weight of grief and fury in his voice.

The guard stiffened. He wanted to move back but couldn’t. "Alpha, the rules are clear," he said slowly, almost pleading. "No alpha enters Balmore without the king’s word. You know this. Please...."

Aeron’s growl cut through his words. Luca’s eyes glowed red beside him, and Kael’s wolf pushed under his skin, ready to tear through the first sign of resistance.

They all knew the rule. But they no longer cared.

Lucian took a step forward, his silence more frightening than words. The guards instinctively tightened their formation, fear sharp in the air.

The lead guard hesitated, then signaled one of his men. "Inform the Royal Pack," he said quickly. "Tell them the Alpha of Silver Dawn has arrived."

The messenger shifted into his wolf form and bolted through the trees toward the palace.

Minutes passed. The tension was thick enough to choke on. The brothers stood still, unmoving, but every guard felt that if they made one wrong move, they’d be torn apart before they could blink.

Finally, the messenger returned, panting. He ran straight to his commander and whispered something.

The guard straightened, trying to hide his nerves. "Alpha Aeron," he said with a stiff nod. "You and your brothers are invited to the palace by the king himself. We are to escort you there."

Aaron’s jaw clenched. His eyes darkened, but he didn’t argue. "Fine," he said, his voice quiet but filled with unspoken danger.

He looked back at his brothers. They all nodded once. Silent understanding passed between them.

The Royal Warriors shifted and began leading the way toward the palace. The brothers followed.

The forest seemed to hold its breath as the Alphas of Silver Dawn entered Balmore, the land of the Lycans, carrying grief like a sword and vengeance like fire.

***

In the royal palace of Balmore, the night had fallen quiet, but the silence didn’t bring peace. The King of Lycans sat in his chamber, staring at the golden seal on his desk. The report from the border guards lay open in front of him. His expression was dark, his fingers tapping slowly against the wood.

The Alphas of Silver Dawn had arrived uninvited.

The message was simple, but it carried the weight of danger. The four brothers are Aeron, Luca, Kael, and Lucian. Each one powerful enough to command armies. Together, they were a storm the king had no wish to face.

He leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on the flickering flame of the candle. His thoughts were running deep. Why would they come here now? Why without a word or notice?

The Silver Dawn pack was one of the oldest and strongest packs under the Lycan rule. They obeyed the laws, but barely. Their power had always made the throne uneasy.

Even among Lycans, it was said that Aeron and his brothers could match them in strength when united. And now, they had suddenly come here.

The king’s chest grew heavy. He had heard whispers. That something terrible had happened in Silver Dawn lands. That their mate was dead. And if those rumors were true, then this visit was not for alliance or talk. It was for blood.

He rubbed his temple slowly, feeling the weight of years pressing down. He was old now, his hair touched with silver. His brother, the Second Lycan, was not much younger. Only his two sons still carried the full fire of youth, but even then... could four Alphas stand against them?

The truth burned quietly in his chest.

If a fight broke out, he was not sure who would stand at the end.

The king rose from his seat and turned toward his trusted guard, who stood near the door. "Inform the council," he said in a low voice. "Tell them the Alphas of Silver Dawn have entered our borders."

The guard bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"And one more thing," the king added. "I want them watched. Every move. Every breath. Make sure they are placed inside the palace, not outside. I want eyes on them at all times."

The guard hesitated. "You think they are a threat, my king?"

The king’s gaze hardened. "Four alphas walking into my city without notice? That alone is a threat."

He turned back toward the window, showing both age and fear. "Do not provoke them," he said after a pause. "But do not trust them either. Keep the palace ready. If they have come for war, I will not be caught unprepared."

The guard bowed again and left quietly.

When the doors closed, the king stood still for a long time. He could feel the tension rising in the air, like a storm creeping closer.

The throne of the werewolves had always belonged to the strongest. And tonight, he was suddenly afraid.

"The Silver Dawn Alphas..." he whispered to himself. "Let us see what brings you here."