BOUND TO THREE ALPHAS
Chapter 44: THE ALPHA’S CHALLENGE

Chapter 44: THE ALPHA’S CHALLENGE

Chapter 44: The Alpha’s Challenge

The darkness lasted only minutes, but when the eclipse passed, everything had changed. Wolves snarled at their own packmates. Brothers turned on sisters. The magical rot had poisoned their minds. "This is madness," Rowan gasped, trying to hold back a fighter who was clawing at his own face. In the middle of the chaos, Liana stood frozen.

Selene’s control was slipping as the real Liana fought desperately to break free. "Look what your power has done," she thought. "They’re destroying themselves." A new voice cut through the noise. Deep, authoritative, and full of rage. "Enough!" Beta Marcus stepped forward, his scarred face twisted with fury. Behind him stood a group of senior wolves, all staring at Kael with open hostility. "You’ve brought shame to this pack," Marcus stated, pointing an accusing finger at Kael. "Your weakness for that cursed omega has doomed us all." Kael’s grey eyes blazed. "Watch your tongue, Beta." "I’ll watch nothing!" Marcus spat. "Look around you! Wolves are going mad because you chose her over your job. You picked love over leadership." Murmurs of agreement rippled through some of the Shadowfang dogs. The rot made their anger burn hotter, their judgment cloudier. "My personal choices don’t affect—" "Don’t they?" Marcus interrupted. "She shows up with an army, claims our area, and now dark magic poisons our land. All because you couldn’t make the hard choice." Liana felt her heart break. Even through Selene’s influence, she could see the uncertainty creeping into some pack members’ eyes. "You’re wrong," Jace stepped beside his brother. "Kael is the strongest Alpha we’ve ever had." "Then why is our territory falling apart?" Marcus shot back. "Why are our wolves turning savage?" Elder Sara, one of the oldest pack members, stumbled forward. Her old eyes were filled with sadness. "Marcus talks truly. The Alpha’s first job is to the pack.

Always." More wolves nodded. The magical rot fed on their fears, making them desperate for someone to blame. Kael’s face went pale as he understood what was happening. "You’re challenging me." Marcus smiled coldly. "By ancient rule, I claim the right of Alpha Challenge. You’ve proven unfit to lead." Gasps rang through both packs. An Alpha Challenge was serious business—a fight to the death or submission. "Kael, no," Liana whispered, her true self breaking through Selene’s control for a moment. But pack law was holy. Kael couldn’t refuse without losing all respect. "I accept," he said quietly. The corrupted magic pulsed again, making everyone’s anger spike. What should have been a structured challenge became something darker, hungrier. "The circle!" Magnus called out. Both packs made a ring around the two challengers. Marcus began to shift, his bones cracking as he took his wolf form. He was massive—a dark brown beast with yellow eyes full of hate. Kael started his own change, but something was wrong. His shift was slower, more painful than usual. "The corruption is affecting him too," Rowan realized with fear. Liana pushed forward, breaking free from the crowd. "Stop this! Can’t you see what’s happening? The dark magic is making us all crazy!" "Stay back, witch," Marcus snarled in his wolf voice. "You’ve done enough damage."

Several Shadowfang wolves blocked her path, their eyes wild with unnatural rage. "Let me help him," she begged, silver light starting to glow around her hands. "No," Kael’s voice rang out clear and strong. Even in his wolf form, his dignity remained intact. "I fight for my pack’s honor. I win on my own merit." "But you’re hurt," Liana cried. "The corruption is weakening you!" Kael’s grey wolf eyes met hers across the circle. For a moment, the love between them blazed brighter than any magic. "Trust me," he said simply. The fight started with brutal intensity. Marcus was bigger, but Kael was faster. They crashed together in the middle of the circle, fangs and claws flashing. Blood sprayed the ground within seconds. Marcus went for Kael’s throat, but the younger wolf turned away, raking his claws across the Beta’s shoulder. "Kill him!" someone yelled from the crowd. The greed made everyone bloodthirsty. What should have been a noble challenge became a savage spectacle. Kael dodged another attack, but he was slowing down. The poisoned magic drained his strength with each passing moment. Marcus noticed and pressed his edge. His huge jaws clamped down on Kael’s hind leg.

Bone cracked. Liana screamed. "Stop! He’s going to kill him!" "That’s the point," Magnus said grimly. "Alpha Challenges don’t end in submission anymore. The corruption has made everyone too angry for charity." Kael stumbled backward, bleeding heavily. Marcus circled him like a predator, smelling victory. "You were always too soft," the Beta growled. "Alphas need to be ruthless." But Kael wasn’t finished. Drawing on reserves of strength he didn’t know he had, he threw himself forward in a desperate gambit. His fangs found Marcus’s throat. The Beta tried to shake him off, but Kael held on with everything he had. They rolled across the ground, both wolves snapping and scratching.

Finally, Marcus went limp. He changed back to human form, unconscious but breathing. The circle exploded in cheers and boos. Some wolves celebrated Kael’s win, while others seemed disappointed by Marcus’s defeat. Kael shifted back too, swaying on his feet. Blood ran down his leg from multiple cuts. "The challenge is decided," Elder Sara announced. "Kael remains Alpha." But as the words left her mouth, something terrible happened. Kael fell. "Brother!" Jace and Rowan rushed to his side. Liana broke through the crowd, her heart pounding with fear. "Kael! Kael, stay with me!" His grey eyes were dazed, burning with fever. "Something’s wrong," he gasped. "I can feel... darkness spreading." Rowan grabbed his brother’s hand and quickly jerked back. "The curse," he whispered in horror.

"It’s transferred to him." "What?" Liana knelt beside Kael, putting her hands to his wounds. "The blood oath we made as children," Rowan explained desperately. "We swore to share each other’s responsibilities. The curse that was in me... it’s moved to him." Kael’s body began to writhe. Dark veins emerged under his skin, spreading outward from his heart. "He’s turning rogue," Elder Sara breathed. "The curse is accelerating because of the corruption." Liana poured her silver power into him, but it barely slowed the change. "I can’t stop it. The dark power is too strong." Around them, both packs watched in stunned quiet. Their Alpha was dying, changing into the very thing they all feared most. "How long?" Jace asked, his voice breaking. Rowan closed his eyes, consulting information that came with the curse. "Hours. Maybe less." Kael’s hand found Liana’s. "Promise me," he whispered. "Don’t let the pack fall apart. Don’t let them blame you for this." "You’re not dying," she said furiously. "I won’t let you." But even as she spoke, the dark lines spread further. His breathing became strained. "The eclipse strengthened all curses," Magnus noted grimly. "When it happens again tomorrow night..." He didn’t need to finish.

Everyone understood. If they couldn’t break the curse by the next eclipse, Kael would become a rogue forever. And rogues couldn’t be saved. They had to be killed. "There has to be a way," Liana insisted, but her voice shook with hopelessness. In the distance, Celeste’s laughter echoed across the darkened sky. She had separated them perfectly. Their Alpha was cursed, their packs were fighting, and tomorrow night would bring the final eclipse. Kael squeezed Liana’s hand one last time before sleep claimed him. The fight for his soul had begun.