Chapter 8 The Alpha Of Shadows

• The grove trembled as Ayaan collided with the corrupted Garun warrior. The force of their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the ancient sanctuary, shaking loose the silver-lit leaves overhead. Meher stumbled back, barely keeping her balance as the two alphas battled before her.
• But this was no ordinary fight.
• The intruder’s aura was wrong—tainted, heavy with the stench of dark magic. His once-proud wolf form now twisted, his claws elongated into jagged weapons, his fur streaked with inky black veins that pulsed with every movement.
• “Ayaan, be careful!” Meher shouted, heart pounding.
• Ayaan didn’t answer, his golden eyes locked on his foe. Every strike, every dodge was a silent war of wills. He knew this wolf—or what was left of him.
• “Karan,” Ayaan growled between gritted teeth. “You were my brother.”
• The name echoed through the grove like a dirge. Karan, once Ayaan’s most loyal packmate, now nothing more than a puppet of the curse. His laughter was a hollow, mocking sound.
• “Brotherhood means nothing under the Shadow’s reign,” Karan sneered. “You should have accepted the curse’s gift, Ayaan. Instead, you cling to false hope… to her.”
• His blackened eyes flicked toward Meher, and she felt the weight of his malice settle upon her chest.
• Before Ayaan could react, Karan lunged—not at him, but at her.
• Meher didn’t hesitate. With a swift motion, she unsheathed the Chandrakirpan. The silver blade shimmered with ancient light, meeting Karan’s corrupted claws with a deafening clang.
• The impact sent a jolt through her arms, but she stood her ground.
• “I am not afraid of you,” she said, her voice steady.
• Karan’s lips curled into a snarl. “You should be.”
• He lashed out again, but this time, Meher was ready. Drawing upon the lessons from Elder Ridhima, she summoned a barrier of light, weaving it into a protective shield. The cursed claws scraped against it, unable to pierce through.
• Behind her, Ayaan roared, shifting fully into his wolf form. With a powerful leap, he tackled Karan, sinking his teeth into the corrupted wolf’s shoulder. The force of the blow sent them both crashing to the ground.
• Elder Ridhima appeared beside Meher, her hands weaving complex sigils into the air.
• “He’s not fully lost yet,” the elder said. “But his soul is drowning. You must sever the curse’s hold.”
• “How?” Meher asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
• “The bond you share with Ayaan—the light within you—can cut through the shadow. But it requires your will. Your heart must be stronger than the curse’s hunger.”
• Meher’s grip on the dagger tightened.
• She understood.
• As Ayaan struggled to hold Karan down, Meher stepped forward, the Chandrakirpan glowing brighter with every heartbeat.
• “Karan!” she shouted, her voice ringing with power. “This is not you. You are Garun. You are brother to Ayaan. The curse has no claim on your soul!”
• For a moment, something flickered in Karan’s blackened eyes. A tremor in his snarl. Doubt.
• Meher pressed on, lifting the dagger high.
• “In the name of the Ancients, in the light of the bond, I sever the shadow’s chains!”
• The dagger descended, not to kill, but to strike the corrupted mark seared into Karan’s chest.
• As the blade made contact, a brilliant surge of silver light erupted, engulfing Karan’s form. His agonized howl echoed through the grove, rising, twisting, before fading into a breathless hush.
• When the light dimmed, Karan lay motionless, his wolf form restored, the black veins receding into nothingness.
• Ayaan shifted back, panting, his body bruised but his eyes filled with cautious hope.
• “Karan?” he whispered.
• Slowly, Karan stirred. His eyes, now clear and golden once more, met Ayaan’s.
• “Brother,” he rasped. “Forgive me.”
• Ayaan pulled him into a fierce embrace, the bond of their pack reforged.
• Meher exhaled, relief washing over her.
• But Elder Ridhima’s expression remained grave. “This was but a fragment of the Shadow’s will. The Alpha of Shadows has yet to reveal himself. This was a warning.”
• Ayaan helped Karan to his feet, his gaze hardening. “Let them come. They’ll find we are not so easily broken.”
• Meher stood beside him, their hands finding each other, their bond humming with newfound strength.
• “The curse fights harder because it fears us,” Meher said. “It knows its time is ending.”
• But deep within the cursed lands, the guardian’s wrath boiled into something far more dangerous.
• From the dark waters, a new figure emerged.
• Tall. Cloaked in shadow. Eyes like twin voids.
• The true Alpha of Shadows had awoken.
• And his next move would shatter more than bonds.
• It would threaten the very heart of the Garun world.
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