BOUND TO THREE ALPHAS
Chapter 43: DIVIDED LOYALTIES

Chapter 43: DIVIDED LOYALTIES

Chapter 43: Divided Loyalties

Three hundred Moonshadow wolves marched through Shadowfang land like ghosts returning from the dead. Liana walked at their head, the silver cap blazing in the afternoon sun. But inside her head, a war raged between her true self and the ancient queens who wanted control. "Stop," she ordered as they reached the tree line overlooking the main compound. The pack stopped instantly, their silver eyes focused on her every move. Magnus stepped beside her, his weathered face tense with expectation. "My Queen, shall we announce our arrival?" Liana closed her eyes, fighting the sounds in her head.

For a moment, she was herself again. "No weapons," she said strongly. "We come in peace." Selene’s attitude pushed back. "Peace is for the weak!" the ancient wolf growled in her mind. "Peace," Liana repeated, louder this time. Some of the Moonshadow wolves looked confused, but they followed. Talia squeezed her friend’s hand. "You’re still in there. Keep fighting." Together, they descended toward the complex. Shadowfang guards spotted them first, running to sound the alarm. Within minutes, wolves poured from buildings, forming defense lines. Then Kael appeared, surrounded by Jace and Rowan. Relief filled Liana’s heart when she saw they were safe. "Liana!" Jace called out, starting toward her. "Stop." Kael’s words cut through the air like steel. His grey eyes took in the crown, the silver glow surrounding her, and the troops at her back. "What is this?" "It’s me," Liana said, but her voice carried that strange echo that made everyone step back. "I’ve come home." "With an army?" Rowan’s blue eyes were hurt and confused. Magnus stepped forward, his chin raised proudly. "We are the true children of this land. The Moonshadow Pack has returned to recover what was stolen." Angry murmurs rippled through the Shadowfang dogs. Hands moved to guns. "Stolen?" Kael’s voice turned dangerous. "This is our land. Our home." "Built on lies," Selene spoke through Liana’s mouth. "Built on the bones of my ancestors." Kael’s face went pale. "Liana, what happened to you?" For a heartbeat, her real self broke through. "Kael, I... the crown showed me things. Terrible things about how the pack system started. About what they did to my people." "So you brought an army to our doorstep?" Jace’s green eyes flashed with hatred. "I brought family," Liana shot back. "Something you triplets should understand."

The words hit like physical blows. Kael stepped back as if she’d hit him. "Enough talking," Magnus stated. "Alpha Kael, you will submit to the true Queen or face the consequences." "Over my dead body," Kael growled, his wolf rising to the surface. The Shadowfang pack moved into strike position. The Moonshadow wolves did the same. The air crackled with energy. "Wait!" Talia jumped between the two groups. "Please, stop! This is exactly what Celeste wants!" But her words were lost as a new sound reached them. A low, evil hum that made everyone’s skin crawl. In the distance, a pillar of dark energy shot up from the trees. Then another. And another. "The convergence points," Rowan breathed. "She’s completed the ritual." As if summoned by his words, Celeste’s voice echoed across the land, carried by dark magic. "Foolish wolves, still fighting amongst yourselves while I remake the world.

The third cover is broken. Soon, Astor will rise, and your petty squabbles will mean nothing." The moment her voice faded, something terrible happened. Every wolf present began to change. Their eyes turned wild. Fangs extended. Claws emerged. "What’s happening?" Talia gasped, backing away from a Shadowfang warrior whose face had twisted with rage. "The ritual," Liana realized, her own anger spiking dangerously. "It’s ruining the land. Making us all more aggressive." A Shadowfang beta lunged at a Moonshadow adult. Within seconds, fights broke out everywhere. The magical corruption fed on their existing tensions, turning arguments into violent rage. "Control yourselves!" Kael roared, but even his voice carried an edge of anger. Liana raised her hand, silver light burning from the crown. "Stop fighting!" Her power crashed over both packs like a wave, forcing them to their knees. But the work cost her.

Selene’s personality pushed forward, stronger than ever. "See?" Selene spoke through her. "They’re animals. All of them. Only power can control them." "That’s not true," Liana fought back weakly. Kael stumbled to his feet, his grey eyes now burning with unnatural anger. "You did this. You brought chaos to our home." "I brought truth," Selene answered coldly. "Your precious pack system is crumbling, and you’re too proud to see it." "Our system works," Jace snarled, his usual charm replaced by hostility. "We don’t need some lost princess telling us how to live." The words cut deep. Even Rowan, sweet Rowan, looked at her with suspicion and hurt. "I’m trying to save everyone," Liana whispered, but the ancient queens’ words drowned her out. "Then why does it feel like you’re tearing us apart?" Kael’s voice broke with pain and rage. The tainted magic pulsed again, stronger this time. Several wolves shifted unconsciously, unable to control themselves. "We need to work together," Liana begged, her true self fighting for control. "Celeste is using our division against us." "Work together?" Kael laughed bitterly.

"You show up with an army, claim our territory, and now you want cooperation?" "I never claimed—" "The crown says otherwise," Magnus interrupted, nodding to her. "My Queen, why do we waste time with these upstarts? You have the power to rule them all." Several Shadowfang dogs growled at the word "upstarts." More Moonshadow wolves nodded agreement with Magnus. The magical rot fed on their anger, making it worse. Liana could feel herself losing the battle in her own mind as Selene got stronger. "Choose," Kael demanded, his voice shaking with rage and heartbreak. "Us or them. You can’t have both." Liana’s heart shattered. This was exactly what Celeste wanted—division, chaos, broken bonds. "I choose—" she began, but another pulse of dark energy cut her off. This time, the corruption was too strong. Wolves all around them began shifting uncontrollably, their humanity slipping away. "The eclipse," Rowan gasped, looking at the sky where the sun had begun to dim. "It’s starting early." Dark clouds swirled overhead, blocking out the light.

The temperature dropped twenty degrees in seconds. "Astor rises," Magnus breathed in terror. In the growing darkness, Liana felt Selene take complete control. When she spoke, her voice carried the authority of ancient queens. "Kneel before your true Alpha," she commanded, silver light pouring from her skin. Half the Shadowfang pack actually started to obey, their wills overwhelmed by her power. Kael fought against the compulsion, his face twisted with effort and betrayal. "This isn’t you, Liana. This isn’t who you are." Deep inside, the real Liana screamed for him to run. But Selene’s voice came out instead. "This is who I was always meant to be." The eclipse reached totality. Darkness fell like a curtain. And somewhere in that darkness, something ancient and hungry began to laugh.

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