The Shadow King's Alpha : The Cursed Bond

[Imperial Palace — War Council Chamber — Later]

The enormous doors of the War Council Chamber swung open with a deep—

BOOOOOOM.

Every conversation inside the hall died instantly; one by one, the leaders of the Great Houses rose from their seats. Silk robes rustled. Jewelled ornaments glimmered beneath the golden chandeliers.

And then...every noble bowed.

"YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY."

Kael stepped into the chamber; for the first time in years, the Imperial War Council had an emperor standing at its head.

At Kael’s side walked Duke Lucein Dranvoer, while Captain Cedric followed several steps behind. Grand Duke Lior was already seated among the Great Houses, and the moment his eyes landed upon his son...

His chest swelled with quiet pride. Kael wore the crimson-and-gold robes of Qashmar’s Emperor, the insignia of the Red Wolf resting proudly against his chest.

My son...

The thought barely left Lior’s mind before Kael reached the head of the chamber. He took his seat. Duke Lucein settled into the chair beside him. Cedric remained standing behind the Emperor, his expression vigilant.

Kael slowly looked across the chamber; dozens of faces stared back at him, some carried loyalty, some carried uncertainty, and some open resentment.

And some looked almost relieved.

The throne is no longer empty.

Kael could see the calculation behind their eyes; for one brief moment, his gaze stopped upon his father. Lior smiled faintly.

Kael returned it, then his expression became serious.

"You were all summoned here because there is an urgent matter concerning the Empire."

The room immediately became tense. Duke Voss leaned forward; his voice was respectful, but his eyes remained sharp.

"Your Majesty...you have only just ascended the throne. What could possibly have happened within a single day that required every Great House to abandon their affairs and gather here?"

Kael didn’t react to the subtle challenge. Instead, he spoke calmly. "In the northern settlements, we have confirmed Grimfang activity."

The chamber went completely still.

Then—

GASP.

Whispers erupted from every corner.

"Grimfangs?"

"Impossible..."

"They should still be hibernating."

"After three centuries...?"

Grand Duke Lior’s expression hardened; he leaned forward. "Your Majesty... are you certain?"

Kael nodded. "The reports have been verified."

Lior’s brows furrowed deeply. "But the Grimfangs should still be within their hibernation period. Why would they awaken now?"

Kael turned his gaze toward Lucein. "Duke Dranvoer."

Lucein immediately stood; he placed both hands upon the table. "The activity began nearly three months ago."

The chamber erupted again.

"THREE MONTHS?!"

Lucein’s voice remained controlled as his expression darkened and continued.

"Yes, at first, the activity was limited to isolated sightings in the northern mountains. The High Mage and several Archmages attempted to contain the situation without alarming the clans, but the activity has continued, and it is increasing."

Silence.

Lucein looked toward Grand Duke Lior. "Several Grimfang packs have already crossed their ancient boundaries."

Lior’s face became grim. "Why were the Great Houses not informed?"

Lucein hesitated as he glanced toward Kael. "Because...there was no emperor."

The words landed heavily; no one spoke. Kael’s fingers slowly tightened around the armrest of his throne.

Three months.

Three months while Qashmar had no emperor and three months while something ancient was waking beneath the northern mountains, and now it was moving.

Duke Voss broke the silence. "And you believe humans are responsible?"

Lucein nodded. "We have discovered traces suggesting deliberate interference."

A noblewoman whispered, "Humans...they’ve provoked the Grimfangs?"

Grand Duke Lior’s expression became cold. "That is madness."

When Kael raised his hand, the whispers immediately stopped as his amber eyes swept across the chamber. "This is not the time to ask what should have happened, nor is it the time to blame those who were trying to contain the situation."

His voice hardened.

"The Grimfangs are awake and they are moving."

Everyone listened.

"If we wait until they reach the southern territories..." Kael’s gaze became colder. "...we may not have an empire left to protect."

The words struck the chamber like a blade. House Count Dranvoer finally spoke. "But Your Majesty...how do you intend to stop them?"

Kael looked toward him, and the Count continued, his voice trembling slightly. "Three centuries ago, our ancestors fought the Grimfangs and failed to eradicate them. How can we succeed now?"

Kael stood; the entire chamber instinctively straightened, and his voice echoed through the hall.

"There is only one way: we find their king and their queen."

Silence.

Kael continued.

"According to the ancient records, the Grimfangs will not return to their dens while their king and queen remain alive."

Lucein nodded. "If the king and queen are killed...the entire species will retreat into isolation."

Duke Voss frowned. "Then we simply find them."

Kael’s expression didn’t change. "If only it were that simple."

Voss’s eyes narrowed. "Then where are they?"

Kael fell silent, and that silence lasted...too long as his gaze lowered toward the map laid across the council table as he finally said.

"The problem...is that no one knows."

Every noble stared at him. Kael slowly lifted his eyes. "We know the Grimfangs are emerging. We know someone is deliberately provoking them. We know they are moving toward our territories."

His hand curled into a fist.

"But we do not know where their king and queen reside."

A chill settled over the chamber. Grand Duke Lior’s expression darkened; he looked towards his son. "Then...we are facing an enemy whose army is already moving against us, while its leaders remain hidden."

Kael nodded, then Kael placed his palm firmly against the northern region marked on the map. "Exactly, so we will go there."

Duke Voss stared at him. "Your Majesty?"

Kael’s amber eyes sharpened as his voice became absolute. "We will send an Imperial expedition into the north; we will find the Grimfang King; we will find their queen, and before those beasts reach another Wolf Clan territory..."

Kael’s fingers pressed against the map.

"...we will end this."

No one spoke because for the first time since Kael had taken the throne...the nobles understood something. Their new emperor wasn’t merely sitting upon the throne; he was preparing to march into the darkness himself.

***

[Imperial Palace — Emperor’s Office — Later]

The heavy doors of the Emperor’s Office closed behind the last council member.

CLICK.

Silence descended.

The vast chamber was quieter now, illuminated only by the afternoon light pouring through the tall windows. Ancient maps of Qashmar covered the central table—northern mountains, Wolf Clan territories, Grimfang boundaries, and the dangerous passes that separated them.

Kael stood over the map, his fingers tracing the northern route; his expression was troubled. Behind him, Grand Duke Lior watched his son for several moments before finally speaking.

"It could be dangerous for you, my son."

Kael didn’t immediately respond; his eyes remained fixed upon the map. "I know."

Lior stepped closer; his voice became heavier. "No, Kael, you know it is dangerous, but I don’t think you truly understand how dangerous."

Kael finally looked up. Lior pointed toward the northern mountains. "Those creatures aren’t ordinary beasts. The Grimfangs have wiped out entire companies of Imperial Knights in a single assault."

His jaw tightened.

"One mistake...one wrong step into their territory and you may not come back."

Kael’s expression remained calm, but his hand slowly curled into a fist. "I cannot send them there alone."

Lior stared at him. Kael continued as he glanced toward the Imperial crest hanging behind his desk.

"They are going because I ordered them to. If my knights are marching into danger because their emperor commanded it...then their emperor should be standing beside them. I cannot sit safely inside this palace while my soldiers bleed in the north."

Lior’s expression softened with pride, but concern remained in his eyes. "You have always been like this."

Kael frowned slightly. "Like what?"

"You carry everyone else’s burden as though it belongs to you."

Kael gave a faint, humorless smile. "Isn’t that what an emperor is supposed to do?"

Lior sighed. "Perhaps, but you are not only an emperor anymore."

Kael’s fingers stopped moving. Lior looked directly into his son’s eyes. "You have a husband."

The word alone made Kael’s expression shift. Lior continued quietly. "The Shadow King."

Kael’s hand twitched. "He has already made his position clear; he will not interfere in mortal affairs."

Kael looked away. "He said so himself."

"And yet..." Lior’s voice became thoughtful. "...I find it difficult to believe that your mate will simply watch you march into the northern mountains."

Kael remained silent. Lior continued, "He may be a deity; he may have laws he must obey, but he is still your mate."

Kael lowered his eyes, his voice quieter now. "I don’t know. I genuinely don’t know whether he will come."

Lior frowned. "And if he refuses?"

Kael took a slow breath. "Then I go without him."

Lior’s expression tightened. "Kael—"

"I won’t force him." Kael turned toward the window as his gaze drifted towards the distant horizon. "He has already broken divine law for me; he allowed me to take this throne even though he was forbidden from allowing his mate to rule mortals. I cannot keep asking him to break his laws whenever my empire faces danger."

Lior stared at his son; there was something strange in Kael’s voice, not anger, not resentment, something much more complicated.

Lior finally nodded. "I understand."

He turned toward the door. "I shall begin assembling the strongest knights in Qashmar; we need to choose the best. We want warriors who have survived the northern territories. Trackers. Scouts. Healers. Mages and soldiers who will not hesitate when they see a Grimfang."

Kael smiled faintly, saying, "I shall trust you with this father."

Grand Duke Lior nodded, and he opened the door before leaving; he glanced back at his son.

"And Kael...whatever happens in the north, remember that you do not have to carry everything alone."

Kael said nothing. Lior gave him one final nod before stepping out.

CLICK.

The door closed. Kael was alone, and the silence returned. He slowly walked back toward the map, his fingers resting upon the northern mountains as his gaze lowered.

"I don’t even know..." His voice barely escaped his lips. "...how much of his life I am allowed to interfere with anymore. Lytharion is my husband, but he feels more like a deity than my mate."

Kael’s fingers tightened against the map.

"He has his laws, his realm, his existence, and I..." He looked down at his emperor’s ring. "...I am only a mortal who somehow became his mate."

For a long moment, Kael said nothing, then his eyes slowly hardened. "Whatever happens...I will go north, with him...or without him."

But somewhere beyond the palace walls, far beyond the mortal realm, two golden eyes quietly opened, and Lythorian whispered through the darkness.

"...Without me?"

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