Bloodlines of Betrayal-Chapter 3: Part : The Rise of the Alpha

Title : Bloodlines of Betrayal

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.

Written By : Reviline James Wang

Genre : Paranormal Romance | Alpha Werewolf | Billionaire | Vampire | Family Drama.

The clearing fell erily quiet after the final strike. The sounds of battle had ceased, replaced only by the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. Celestia stood over Lucien's lifeless body, her chest heaving, her claws still dripping with blood. The battle was over, but the weight of her actions settled heavily upon her. She had killed her brother.

The silence stretched, broken only by the distant howls of the pack retreating, sensing their Alpha's fall. She glanced at the fallen warriors, her mind running through everything that had led to this moment. Her hand shook, but not from fear-it was from the intensity of the power now coursing through her veins. The power she had just awakened.

Behind her, Draven stepped forward, his gaze fixed on her. His eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight, but there was no judgment there, only a quiet understanding. "You did what had to be done."

Celestia didn't answer immediately. She turned back to the body of her brother, the coldness of his death creeping into her heart. Lucien had been a monster-her monster,but he had still been her brother. The bond that had once been unbreakable was now shattered, and it felt like a void had opened inside her.

"I didn't want to," she murmured. "But I had no choice."

Draven nodded, his voice soft. "Sometimes the hardest choices are the only ones that can save us." He walked toward her, his footsteps silent on the forest floor. "You've proven yourself, Celestia. The Moonviel bloodline is yours now,and so is the world that lies ahead."

Celestia felt the weight of his words, the implications of her new reality. She had not just slain her brother,she had claimed her birthright.

"I don't want it," she said quietly, though deep down, she knew that was a lie. "I don't want to lead a pack built on betrayal and death."

Draven stepped beside her, his cold eyes piercing the night. "You don't have a choice. The pack will come for you, whether you're ready or not."

He was right. The Moonviel Pack would need a new leader, and Celestia was the only one left to fill that role. But she couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility pressing on her shoulders. Was she ready for this?

"I'll never be my father," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I won't repeat his mistakes."

Draven's gaze softened, though there was a hard edge to it. "No one is asking you to be your father. You are Celestia Elizabeth Moonviel. And in your blood flows the power to shape the future."

Her gaze shifted to Lucien's body, the bitter taste of vengeance still lingering in her mouth. "I just killed my brother, Draven." Her voice broke, the reality of what she had done crashing down on her like a wave. "I don't know if I can live with that."

"You won't have to," he said, his voice almost too gentle. "Not alone. You have me."

His words lingered between them, thick with unspoken promises. Celestia turned to look at him, her heart pounding for reasons she couldn't explain. His presence,both comforting and unsettling,was now intertwined with her own.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked, though she already knew part of the answer. "You could have taken the pack, you know. The Moonviel bloodline is yours for the taking."

Draven's lips twitched into a faint smile. "And why would I want a pack of weak, fractured wolves when I have something much more powerful?"

Celestia arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what is that?"

Draven's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes dark with intensity. "You, Celestia. You are more than just a werewolf or a vampire. You are the future,the key to everything. Your blood, your power, your ambition... They are exactly what I need."

Her breath caught in her throat. For the first time, Celestia realized just how much Draven had planned. He wasn't just offering her a partnership,he was offering something much more dangerous.

"Then what?" she whispered. "What do you want from me?"

Draven stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "I want us to rule together, Celestia. Not just this pack, but everything. The werewolves, the vampires, the humans... they will bow to us."

Celestia stood still, her heart pounding as his words echoed in her mind. The idea was both intoxicating and terrifying. Was she ready to wield this kind of power?

"You would ask me to join you in this... war?"

Draven nodded, his gaze unwavering. "It's not just a war, Celestia. It's an evolution. The world is on the brink of change, and we have the power to shape it however we see fit."

She swallowed, the weight of his offer sinking in. What was she willing to sacrifice for that kind of power?

Before she could answer, a rustling sound broke the moment. They both turned, alert and ready.

From the shadows of the forest, the remaining members of the Moonviel Pack began to emerge,warriors and elders, all of them now looking to Celestia for leadership. The pack was fractured, yes, but it still stood, and they still needed a leader.

Celestia inhaled deeply, her resolve hardening. She turned to Draven, her eyes steady and unwavering.

"I'll lead them," she said, her voice firm. "But not with fear. I'll lead them with strength, with honor. I will not rule with an iron fist."

Draven's lips curled into a smile, an approving glint in his eyes. "Then you are exactly what they need."

As the pack gathered around her, Celestia felt a sense of finality. This was it. The battle was over, and the future had begun. But the real war was only just starting.

********* Unraveling Alliances ************

The night felt colder now, the moon hanging in the sky like a silent witness to the devastation that had unfolded. The body of Lucien lay still behind her, and the weight of the pack's future pressed down on Celestia's shoulders. The warriors of Moonviel gathered around her, their eyes filled with uncertainty, longing, and fear. They had no leader now, no Alpha to guide them.

Draven stood beside her, his cold presence both comforting and unnerving. There was no doubt in his eyes,he knew what had to be done, and Celestia's fate was tied to it.

She took a deep breath, letting the power coursing through her veins settle, the energy that had surged from the battle beginning to ebb. Her gaze swept across the pack, lingering on the faces of the warriors who once bowed to Lucien, now looking to her. To her.

"The Moonviel Pack will not fall tonight," Celestia declared, her voice steady and commanding. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she stood tall, unwilling to show weakness. "We will rebuild. We will rise."

The pack members exchanged glances, and one by one, they dropped to one knee before her. The gesture was both an acknowledgment and a test. Would she lead them? Would she live up to the legacy of the Moonviel name?

Draven stepped closer, his cold gaze fixed on the kneeling pack. "They'll follow you, Celestia. But be careful." His voice dropped to a low whisper. "Power attracts enemies, both within and beyond your pack."

Celestia nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle like a stone in her stomach. The pack had already been divided, weakened by betrayal and bloodshed. If she didn't act swiftly, it could unravel entirely. But she wasn't alone. Not anymore.

She turned back to the warriors, her eyes fierce and unwavering. "Get up," she commanded. "We don't bow to anyone. Not even to power. We rise on our own terms."

One by one, the warriors stood, their faces a mix of admiration and uncertainty. The silence stretched, thick with anticipation. Then, an elder from the pack stepped forward,a tall, silver-haired man who had been by Lucien's side for as long as anyone could remember.

"Alpha Celestia," the elder said, his voice low and respectful, "You have slain Lucien and claimed your place as Alpha of the Moonviel Pack. But there are those who will challenge your rule. You will need more than strength to keep them in line."

Celestia met his gaze, her expression unreadable. She didn't need to say anything; the pack already knew that her bloodline carried the power to command,but would they accept her as their true Alpha?

Draven's voice cut through the tension. "Celestia may be new to this, but her blood is as strong as any Alpha's. The pack will respect her, or they will face consequences."

The elder narrowed his eyes at Draven, the tension between the two palpable. "And what of you, vampire? What role do you play in this?"

Draven's lips curled into a smirk, his fangs just barely visible. "I play the role of protector for now. I have no interest in taking the pack. But I have a stake in Celestia's success."

The elder glanced back at Celestia, his gaze searching her face for any sign of doubt. "Then prove it. The Moonviel Pack doesn't follow weakness, Alpha. We need a leader who can unite us not just someone who's strong, but someone who understands the balance of power."

Celestia felt her heart quicken. It was clear now the pack was divided, their loyalty uncertain. But she couldn't let that show. She had to be the leader they needed.

"I will unite the pack," she said, her voice unwavering. "But unity doesn't come through fear or power alone. It comes through respect. Through understanding. I will lead, but I will not rule with an iron fist."

A murmur rippled through the pack, and Celestia knew it was a test. She had to prove that she was more than just a warrior, more than just a survivor. She had to prove that she could be the Alpha they needed a leader not defined by her bloodline, but by her actions.

The elder finally nodded. "We shall see, Alpha Celestia. We shall see."

Celestia's gaze flickered to Draven, who watched her closely. His approval was there, but there was something else,something deeper, darker, lurking in his eyes. She could feel it.

"You're not done yet," he murmured, his voice low and intense. "You've made your claim, but you have to hold it. Others will come for the Moonviel Pack. Your bloodline is too powerful to ignore."

"I'll be ready," she said, her voice steady. But even as she spoke the words, doubt gnawed at her insides. Could she really lead them all? Could she unite them under her rule when so much had been torn apart?

Draven tilted his head, his gaze never leaving her face. "I'll be with you, Celestia. But I can't protect you from everything."

As the pack slowly dispersed, leaving the clearing, Celestia remained rooted to the spot, her mind racing. She had slain her brother, taken the throne, and made her mark on the pack. But that was only the beginning. The real battle had yet to come.

And now, with the weight of the Moonviel legacy on her shoulders, she would have to face the consequences of her decisions.

******** Shadows of the Past**************

The days that followed Lucien's death were filled with tension and uncertainty. Celestia had taken her place as Alpha of the Moonviel Pack, but the pack was not yet hers. The warriors who once followed Lucien hesitated, uncertain of the new Alpha's strength and resolve. Trust had to be earned, and Celestia knew it wouldn't come easily.

She spent her days in the pack's territory, overseeing training, managing the fractured alliances within the pack, and making difficult decisions. It was a burden she hadn't expected,the weight of leadership, of responsibility but she bore it with a strength that surprised even herself.

Draven was never far from her side, his cold eyes constantly watching, his presence both reassuring and unsettling. He had become more than just an ally; he was a constant reminder of the world Celestia had stepped into, a world of vampires, werewolves, and power struggles that she had only begun to understand.

"You're doing well, Celestia," Draven said one evening, his voice low as they walked through the woods surrounding the pack's territory. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows on the ground. "But you know this is just the beginning."

"I know," Celestia replied, her voice steady but tired. "There are still those who don't respect me. They'll challenge me."

"You've already proven yourself," Draven said, his eyes dark with something she couldn't quite place. "But power,,'true power comes from controlling your enemies, not just defeating them."

Celestia stopped in her tracks, turning to face him. "What do you mean by that?"

Draven's expression hardened, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of something dangerous in his gaze. "There are those who will come for you. Not just the werewolves who lost to your brother, but vampires, too. Your bloodline is a weapon, Celestia. And there are those who want it."

Her heart skipped a beat, a cold shiver running down her spine. She had known that her brother's death would send ripples through the pack, but she hadn't considered that other supernatural forces might take notice. Her bloodline was powerful, but it was also a threat to others.

"I'm not going to let anyone take what's mine," Celestia said, her voice firm. "But I need to know who my real enemies are."

Draven nodded, a ghost of a smile playing at his lips. "You will. But first, we need to deal with the past."

"The past?" she asked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"There's more to your family's history than you know, Celestia," Draven said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "Lucien wasn't the only one with secrets. Your father he wasn't just an Alpha. He made deals, alliances with forces darker than you can imagine."

Celestia felt a pang in her chest at the mention of her father. She had spent so many years hating him for what he had done to her family, for the way he had treated her mother. But now, as she stood on the precipice of ruling the pack, she realized there was so much more she didn't understand about the Moonviel legacy.

"What do you know about my father?" she demanded, her voice sharp.

Draven's gaze darkened. "I know that your father's actions set a dangerous precedent. His dealings with vampires, with dark magic, are what set this chain of events into motion. Lucien was the result of those deals,he was part of something far larger than either of us realized."

Celestia's mind raced. Dark magic, vampire alliances... her father had been involved in all of it? The very thought made her stomach turn. But there was one thing that stood out above all else.

"If Lucien was the result of these deals, what about me?" she asked, her voice trembling with the weight of the question. "What am I?"

Draven's expression softened for a brief moment, but his eyes were still filled with a cold intensity. "You're the key, Celestia. Your blood, your power... it's the final piece of a puzzle your father started decades ago. He made a deal that will change the course of this world."

Celestia felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her. Everything she thought she knew about her family, about her place in this world, was a lie. She wasn't just the heir to the Moonviel Pack,she was a part of something much darker.

"You're telling me I'm... a pawn in some game my father played?" she whispered, her heart sinking.

"No," Draven said, his voice steady but firm. "You're not a pawn, Celestia. You're the Queen. And it's time for you to take control of the game."

Celestia's mind reeled. She had never asked for this power, never wanted to be the center of some grand scheme. But the truth was undeniable,her bloodline held the key to something far greater than just the future of the Moonviel Pack.

Before she could process everything Draven had told her, a shadow flickered in the distance, drawing her attention. A figure emerged from the trees,tall, with dark hair and eyes that gleamed like fire. He was dressed in black, his presence commanding and predatory.

Celestia instinctively stepped back, her senses on high alert. Draven's hand brushed the hilt of his blade, his eyes narrowing.

"Who are you?" Celestia demanded, her voice steady despite the tension coursing through her.

The man smiled, a dangerous, knowing smile. "I am someone who has been waiting for this moment. For you, Alpha Celestia."

Draven's grip tightened. "Stay back, Celestia," he warned, his eyes flicking to the stranger. "He's not just anyone."

The man stepped closer, his smile growing. "I am Caleb, the firstborn of the Darkblood Clan. And I've come to claim what's rightfully mine."

The air thickened with the promise of violence. Celestia could feel the darkness surrounding him, a dangerous aura that sent a chill down her spine. This was no ordinary vampire,this was someone with a stake in the power that she now held.

Her heart pounded as she faced the newcomer, unsure of how to move forward. The past was catching up to her, and she was about to be thrust into a war she never asked for.

But there was no turning back now.