Chapter 132

Grayson’s POV

Rickon and I followed Alaric deeper into the hidden world. The path narrowed as the soft glow from the crystalline walls dimmed. The waterfall’s sound faded, replaced by the quiet hum of this strange sanctuary. Despite the surrounding peace, I felt a tightening tension in my chest.

Rickon trailed slightly behind, his usual sharp remarks absent, though I sensed his unease. Alaric, however, moved with calm confidence, his steps unhurried, his presence unnervingly composed.

Finally, Rickon broke the silence, his voice low. "You're awfully quiet for someone who supposedly wants to show us something."

Alaric stopped abruptly, his back to us. "Because you're not ready to hear it."

I frowned. "Then why bring us here?"

Alaric turned, his dark eyes gleaming in the faint light. "Because there's a reason you're here, Grayson Blackwood." His gaze flicked to Rickon before returning to me.

Rickon shifted uncomfortably but remained silent.

"You think we live in isolation out of ignorance," Alaric continued evenly, "that we've removed ourselves from the world because we fear it. But let me assure you, we know everything."

The weight of his words pressed down on us like a heavy fog.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice quiet but firm.

"We know of every war, every betrayal, every alliance forged in blood and broken in greed. We know of the battles fought in your name, Grayson—the lives lost, the territories claimed, the power struggles that have defined the werewolf world for centuries."

Rickon glanced at me, his expression unreadable.

"And you just… watch?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

Alaric’s smile was faint, almost pitying. "We observe. We remember. But no matter what happens beyond these walls, we will never involve ourselves. This is a sanctuary, untouched by the chaos of your world. To interfere would be to taint what we've built here."

His words struck a nerve. "So you hide," I said, my tone sharper than intended. "You let the rest of us fight and die while you sit here in peace, thinking you're above it all."

Alaric’s gaze didn’t waver. "Perhaps. But tell me, Grayson, has your way brought you peace? Has it made you stronger, or has it only torn your world apart?"

I had no answer.

Rickon cleared his throat tentatively. "If you don't involve yourselves, then why are we here? Why did you save us?"

Alaric’s expression shifted, a shadow crossing his features. "Your arrival was no accident. There was a reason your plane crashed, a reason you were brought to this place."

The air grew colder, the silence heavier.

"You're saying you caused it?" I asked, my voice low.

Alaric shook his head. "Not we. But something far greater than any of us—something even we cannot fully understand—has drawn you here."

Rickon’s unease was palpable; his shoulders tensed. "And what exactly is this 'greater thing' supposed to be?"

Alaric didn’t answer immediately. He turned and began walking again, his pace slower. "Come. There is more you need to see."

We followed him in silence. The path opened into a larger chamber with a high ceiling and walls adorned with intricate carvings that glowed faintly. Unrecognizable symbols and patterns spiraled across the stone, their meaning elusive.

"What is this place?" Rickon whispered.

Alaric stopped in the center, his gaze fixed on the carvings. "This is the heart of our sanctuary. A place where the past, present, and future converge. Everything that has been and everything that will be is written here."

I stepped closer, scanning the carvings. The symbols seemed to shift and change as I looked at them, as if alive.

Alaric’s voice broke the silence. "The wars that have come and gone are nothing compared to what is coming. The balance of the werewolf world is crumbling, Grayson. And whether you realize it or not, you are at the center of it."

I turned to him, my jaw tightening. "What are you saying?"

Alaric met my gaze, his expression unreadable. "There's a storm on the horizon, one that will test everything you believe in. Your kingdom, your power, your loyalty—all will be called into question. Whether you survive or fall will depend on your choices."

Rickon shifted beside me, his unease evident. "This is starting to sound more like a threat than a prophecy."

Alaric smiled faintly. "It's neither. It's simply the truth. And the truth, as you'll soon learn, has a way of revealing itself unexpectedly."

The words hung in the air. Before I could respond, a soft rustling echoed through the chamber, and a woman emerged from the shadows. Her presence was unsettling; her dark eyes fixed intently on Alaric. She moved with eerie grace, her silence more unnerving than any words.

Alaric gave her a subtle nod. Without hesitation, she turned to Rickon and whispered something. Rickon let out a startled sound and crumpled to the ground, limp.

My wolf remained strangely calm, but I reacted. I stepped toward Rickon, my instincts flaring. "What the hell did you just do to him?" My voice echoed, sharp and accusing.

Alaric’s expression didn’t change. His calm only irritated me further. "For someone who isn't your friend, you certainly seem to care a great deal about him," he said, his tone maddeningly composed.

The woman vanished as abruptly as she'd appeared, fading back into the shadows.

"Answer me," I demanded, glaring at Alaric.

He raised a hand. "Calm yourself, Grayson. Your friend is fine. He's merely… resting. He's heard all he needs to hear, unless, of course, you wish for him to know about the curse, its consequences, and perhaps even your potential weaknesses."

The word curse hit me like a blow. My fists clenched, but I forced my voice to remain steady. "What do you know about the curse?"

Alaric’s faint, knowing smile returned. "I know far more than you think, Grayson Blackwood. More than anyone else has dared to tell you. But as I said, we only observe. We don't interfere. That curse is yours to bear, and only you can break it."

Frustration surged; my wolf stirred faintly, though still oddly quiet. "If you know so much, then you must know how to break it. Tell me."

Alaric tilted his head, studying me with an almost pitying gaze. "Breaking the curse isn't as simple as you might hope. Before you can end it, you need to understand how it truly began, why it was placed upon you," He paused. "And why, as long as you remain with the woman who holds your heart, you will never be able to break it."