The Triplet Alphas' Curse: Rejected by the Wolfless Luna.

Wolf Realm:

The witches’ sanctuary had never felt this heavy. They were all one step away from being hanged and there would be no possibility to use their magic against the wolves.

The silence carried expectation.

Every pair of eyes rested upon the great crystal basin standing at the center of the chamber.

Its waters remained perfectly still.

Around it, thirteen witches stood shoulder to shoulder, with their hands joined together, and silver symbols glowing faintly beneath their feet.

Incense drifted lazily through the circular room.

The scent of crushed sage mixed with moonflowers until even breathing felt sacred.

No one dared interrupt the ritual.

The youngest witches watched nervously from the edge of the sanctuary. This might be their doom.

The High Witch inhaled deeply.

"Again." She commanded. The command barely rose above a whisper, due to uncertainty.

Immediately, the witches began chanting again.

Ancient words flowed out of their lips together like a river. The water shivered twice, then silver ripples spread across its surface.

Xander stepped forward instinctively. Nate moved beside him while Alaric remained exactly where he stood.

His hands were clasped tightly behind his back. Only the whitening of his knuckles betrayed what he truly felt.

The ripples widened, and light gathered above the basin until it became impossible to distinguish water from sky.

For several heartbeats, there was nothing.

Then, a familiar face to the witches slowly emerged.

The Light Fae King.

He looked more exhausted than before. There were shadows beneath his pale blue eyes now.

"It worked." His voice came out quieter.

The High Witch inclined her head respectfully. "My King."

He acknowledged her with a nod. Then his gaze moved across the chamber from the water.

It lingered briefly upon King Elijah.

Neither spoke, as the old hatred remained. Neither man had forgotten it, or intended to.

The High Witch broke the silence.

"We seek news."

The Light Fae King closed his eyes for a brief moment before answering. "There is news."

Every heartbeat inside the sanctuary seemed to stop.

"There would be a war in my realm immediately after this help I’m rendering." He glared at King Elijah.

King Elijah looked away from him with quiet fury.

A collective gasp swept through the chamber. Several younger witches covered their mouths.

Even King Elijah’s expression shifted.

The High Witch recovered first. "And Lady Aire?"

The King’s face darkened. "She still lives. I was able to reach her."

Relief washed visibly across the room.

It lasted only seconds.

"But..." he continued, and the single word stole it away again. "The Dark Fae continue preparing with her. They are running out of time."

King Elijah’s jaw tightened.

"So are we." Nate’s jaw clenched.

The Light Fae King nodded once.

The High Witch stepped closer to the basin. "Have you been able to persuade her?"

"No." Silence answered him. He continued anyway. "She refuses to give a strand of her hair willingly."

The High Witch asked quietly, "The voice?"

His expression softened. "She hears it."

Hope flickered across their faces.

"But she doesn’t trust it."

The hope dimmed again.

"I cannot blame her." His voice grew quieter.

"If I were imprisoned in darkness..." His eyes drifted to King Elijah again. His eyes hardened for a second. "I would not trust a stranger speaking inside my mind either."

The sanctuary fell silent once more.

Xander suddenly exhaled sharply. "So we wait?"

No one answered.

He looked between every witch present. "We just..." His frustration spilled through clenched teeth. "wait? Again?"

The High Witch remained calm. "There are so many forces moving beyond our control."

"I am tired of hearing that." Xander’s voice echoed across the sanctuary. "I’ve heard it for twelve days."

His breathing became uneven. "Twelve days."

He looked directly into the basin, straight into the fae king’s eyes. "Twelve days while she’s trapped with monsters."

His chest rose sharply. "And we’re discussing patience."

King Elijah looked toward his eldest son. He didn’t interrupt him, but he stood behind him with quiet support.

Nate stepped forward next, staring into the basin.

Unlike Xander, he wasn’t frustrated. He was furious. His entire body radiated restrained violence.

"So that’s it?" His eyes remained fixed upon the Light Fae King. "You need one strand."

The King nodded. "Yes."

"Then take it." Nate snarled at him.

The entire sanctuary stiffened.

The Light Fae King’s expression hardened immediately. "I will not."

"Why?"

"Because it must be given from her."

Nate’s patience snapped. "She’s imprisoned!" His voice thundered through the sanctuary. "You expect her to trust voices inside her own head while every person around her is trying to use her?"

His claws burst unconsciously around his fingers. Nearby candles flickered violently, and the apprentices instinctively stepped backwards.

King Elijah moved. His breathing remained harsh. "I am done waiting."

The Light Fae King met his gaze calmly. "No one cares about you. This doesn’t have anything to do with you."

That answer only made Nate angrier.

He took another step toward the basin. "If I stay forty eight hours more without any progress, I’ll tear that realm apart myself if—"

"Nate."

Alaric’s voice stopped him.

Nate paused. He looked back.

Alaric hadn’t moved. He still stood exactly where he had been since the ritual began, quiet, and thoughtful.

His eyes never left the water.

He finally spoke.

"If..." His voice remained soft. "If a voice should reach her again..." Every witch looked toward him. "could it be mine?"

The question lingered inside the sanctuary. Everybody stayed quiet for a few seconds.

The High Witch exchanged glances with the others. One by one, they looked at each other uncertainly.

No one answered immediately.

Finally, the eldest witch inhaled.

"It..." She hesitated. "has never been attempted."

Alaric nodded slowly. "But could it?"

Another silence followed, longer this time. The witches whispered quietly among themselves. They pointed out some ritual limitations and possibilities between themselves.

The Light fae King slowly left the basin.

The High Witch finally looked back at him. "It may."

Another witch nodded reluctantly.b"If the bond is strong enough..."

A third completed the thought. "...and if Lady Aire is willing to listen."

Alaric stepped toward the basin, and no one stopped him. He knelt slowly before the silver water.

His reflection trembled.

His fingers rested lightly against the stone edge. For several heartbeats, he simply stared.

Then he smiled softly. Not because he felt happy, but because he imagined she might still remember it.

His voice became almost impossibly gentle.

"Silver dove..." He stared into the water softly. "It’s Alaric." His fingers tightened slightly against the basin. "If this reaches you..." His breathing slowed.

"...I need you to take a deep breath..." His eyes softened. "and listen to me."

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