BOUND TO THREE ALPHAS
Chapter 62: THE RESISTANCE

Chapter 62: THE RESISTANCE

Chapter 62: The Resistance

The moonlight shield faded, leaving Liana staring at the person who shouldn’t exist. Her heart hammered against her ribs as the stranger stepped closer. He wore a black cloak that seemed to eat the sun around it. "Impossible," Elder Mira gasped from behind them. "You’re supposed to be dead." The figure laughed, a sound like breaking glass. "Death is just another cage, old woman. And I’ve gotten very good at picking locks."

Chaos exploded around them. Pack members screamed and scattered. Warriors drew guns. The Alphas shouted directions that nobody could hear over the panic. "Who are you?" Liana ordered, surprised by how steady her voice sounded. "I’m hurt you don’t remember me, little Luna." His smile showed teeth sharp as razors. "Though I suppose we’ve never truly met. I’m Shadowbane, the first Alpha to be cast out by the Moon Goddess. The one your precious predictions forgot to mention." Kael stepped protectively in front of Liana. "You’re a dream. A scary story to tell pups." "Am I?" Shadowbane raised his hand, and every wolf within fifty feet dropped to their knees, forced down by unseen weight. "Does this feel like a story?" Only Liana stayed standing. The moonlight shield flashed around her again, weaker this time. "Interesting," Shadowbane mused. "The Moon Goddess still plays favorites, I see." "What do you want?" Liana tried to help Kael up, but he couldn’t move against the crushing force. "What I’ve always wanted. To prove that power makes right, not some cosmic accident of birth or divine gift." His eyes burned like black fire. "You represent everything I despise—an omega who thinks she can rule over Alphas." "I don’t rule anyone!" "No? Then why are thousands of wolves changing their entire way of life because of you?" Shadowbane pointed to the construction site around them. "Why are ancient laws crumbling at your feet?" Before Liana could answer, Alpha Thorne pushed through the gathering. His face was pale but determined. "Shadowbane," he said, bowing slightly. "We weren’t expecting you so soon." Liana’s blood turned to ice. "You knew he was coming?" Thorne’s jaw clenched. "We called him. The Iron Fang Coalition made a deal with forces beyond the mortal realm to stop this madness." "You made a deal with a monster?" "We made a deal with order," Thorne snapped. "Someone had to save the old ways before you destroyed everything." Shadowbane lost his hold on the crowd. Wolves stumbled to their feet, gasping and shaking. But the damage was done—terror filled every face. "How many packs are in this Coalition?" Kael commanded, helping his brothers stand. "Enough," Thorne responded. "Seven major packs from the northern regions. We control half the trade routes and most of the hospital supplies." "You’re cutting us off," Liana realized with growing fear. "As of tonight, no pack allied with your little experiment will receive food shipments, medicine, or safe passage through our lands." Thorne’s voice carried no sorrow. "Submit to proper Alpha leadership, and the blockade ends." "You’ll starve innocent wolves to protect your pride?" "We’ll starve rebels to protect civilization." Shadowbane clapped slowly, mockingly.

"Such fire.

Such justice. It reminds me of another omega who thought she could change the world." "Another omega?" Elder Mira whispered. "Oh yes. This has all happened before." Shadowbane’s grin widened. "Every few centuries, the Moon Goddess gets bored and sends another chosen one to shake things up. Each time, the triplet bond forms. Each time, war follows." Liana felt sick. "You’re lying." "Am I? Ask your pet teacher here." He pointed at Rowan. "I bet he’s been finding very interesting things in those dusty old books." All eyes turned to Rowan. The smallest triplet looked like he’d swallowed poison. "Tell them," Shadowbane ordered. "I... I found records," Rowan said quietly. "Hidden in the storage basement. Stories about other omegas who rose to power. About triplet links that split packs apart." "How many?" Kael asked, his voice deadly quiet. "Seven different times over the past thousand years." Rowan’s hands shook as he spoke. "Each one ended in civil war. Each one left thousands dead." The crowd gasped. Several wolves stepped away from Liana, fear replacing loyalty in their eyes. "But those were different times," Liana argued. "We’re building something better—" "Are you?" Shadowbane laughed. "Look around, little Luna. Your wedding is ruined. Your union is cracking. Your fans are already doubting." He was right. Liana could see it in their faces—the uncertainty, the growing fear. Some wolves were already backing toward the tree line, ready to run. "The pattern is always the same," Shadowbane continued. "First comes the chosen omega. Then the triplet link. Then hope for change. Then protest from those who refuse to submit. Then war. Then death. Then everything returns to how it was before." "Not this time," Liana said furiously. "No? Then prove it." Shadowbane spread his arms wide. "I’ll give you one month to show me this partnership of yours can survive real pressure. No food supplies. No medical help.

No safe travel. And if any of your ally packs attack the Coalition to break the blockade, I’ll consider that an act of war." "And if we survive?" "Then I’ll face you in single battle. Winner takes all—if you win, I’ll disappear forever and take my power with me. If I win..." His smile turned aggressive. "Well, dead omegas make excellent examples." "Liana, no," Jace started forward. "You can’t—" "I accept," she said quickly, before anyone could stop her. Shadowbane bowed mockingly. "Excellent. One month, little Luna. Let’s see if your precious union can survive its first real test." He disappeared in a swirl of dark smoke, taking Alpha Thorne and his warriors with him. The event ground fell silent except for the wind rustling through abandoned decorations. Beta Thompson was the first to speak. "We need to call an emergency council meeting. Figure out our supply situation." "Some of my border wolves are already reporting Coalition patrols," Alpha Sarah added sadly. "They’re not bluffing about the blockade." As the crowd began to disperse, whispering uncomfortably among themselves, Liana found herself alone with the triplets and Elder Mira.

"You shouldn’t have made that deal," Mira said softly. "I had to. If we’d refused, he would have started the war right here." "This is worse," Rowan said, his face pale. "Liana, the records I found... every omega who faced this choice before ended up dead. All of them." "Well then," Liana said, trying to sound braver than she felt, "I guess I’ll have to be the first one to survive." But as she looked out at the half-built foundation, at the scattered stones that were meant to represent hope and unity, doubt crept into her heart like ice water. What if Shadowbane was right? What if this was all just history repeating itself? What if she was taking everyone she loved straight into another war they couldn’t win? Thunder rumbled overhead, and the first drops of rain began to fall on the broken celebration ground.