Chapter 21

Chapter

Twenty-One

C olt stood panting, his body still thrumming with the residual energy of the elements he had wielded. The shadow beasts had retreated, leaving him alone in the eerie landscape of the Duat. But as the adrenaline of the fight faded, a new sensation washed over him. A deep, unsettling emptiness where his bond with Ariana should have been.

His heart raced, panic clawing at his chest. The connection that had been a constant presence since their mating, even in this strange realm, now felt muted, distant. It was as if Ariana had suddenly vanished, leaving only a faint echo of their bond behind.

“Ari?” he whispered, his voice hoarse. There was no response, not even the faintest flicker of acknowledgment through their link.

His mind raced. Was this another trial? Another test of his resolve? Or had something happened to Ariana? The thought of her in danger, possibly hurt or worse, made his wolf howl with anguish. He closed his eyes, trying to center himself, to push past the fear and doubt clouding his thoughts. As an alpha, he had learned to trust his instincts, but here in the Duat, everything felt off-kilter. He couldn’t be certain of anything.

“Is this real?” he growled, his eyes scanning the barren landscape as if expecting Anubis to materialize at any moment. “Or is this just another fucking mind game?”

The silence that greeted him was deafening.

He clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms hard enough to draw blood. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to find Ariana, to abandon this trial and search for his mate. But a small, rational part of his mind whispered caution. What if this was exactly what the trial wanted? What if leaving now meant failing not just himself, but his entire pack?

The conflict tore at him, threatening to overwhelm his senses. He was an alpha, meant to protect and lead. But how could he lead when he couldn’t even trust his own perceptions?

A flicker of movement caught his eye, and Colt whirled, dropping into a defensive stance. But instead of another shadowy beast, he found himself face to face with Hannah, her flaming red hair a stark contrast to the muted tones of the Duat.

“Hannah?” His voice was a mixture of surprise and relief. “What are you doing here?”

Hannah’s bright blue eyes met his, determination etched into her features. “I’ve been fighting my own trials, Alpha. Somehow, I ended up here with you.”

Colt studied her, noting the signs of battle on her clothes and the weariness in her stance. Yet, there was a strength in her he hadn’t seen before. She stood tall, her chin lifted in defiance of the challenges they faced.

“Have you… have you felt anything strange?” Colt asked, his voice catching slightly. “About Ariana?”

Hannah’s brow furrowed. “I felt a shift, like something fundamental had changed. I don’t think Ariana is in Duat any longer.”

His heart thudded in his chest. “How can you be certain?”

“My father is a guardian, the first created by Zarek. Therefore, I am connected to all the guardians.”

He tried to steady his breathing. Panic would do no one any good. “Our bond has weakened. Do you…” The words were like acid in the back of his throat. “Do you think she is dead?”

Hannah shook her head. “No. I believe she has left. Whether she was sent back or went of her own accord, I cannot say.”

The urge to abandon the trial and search for her surged within him, but he forced it down. He was an alpha, responsible for more than just his mate. He had a pack to protect, a mission to complete. They needed to know how to stop Selene and the blade.

“Do you find it odd we are together? Why not Maya?”

“I make you uncomfortable. Therefore, it makes sense that we would be placed together. I think we can both agree the next trial involves both of us.”

He only grunted.

“We need to keep moving then,” Colt said. “Whatever’s happening, we can’t lose sight of why we’re here.”

Hannah nodded, falling into step beside him as they continued their journey toward the looming pyramid. As they walked, Colt found himself grateful for her presence. The demigoddess might set him and his wolf on edge, but she was a reminder that he wasn’t alone.

“Tell me about your trials,” he said, partly to distract himself from his worries about Ariana, partly out of genuine curiosity. “What have you faced?”

Hannah’s eyes flickered with pride, perhaps, or determination. “I’ve been tested in ways I never imagined,” she said. “Fire, mostly. Challenges that pushed me to my limits and beyond.” She grimaced. “Hades was right, burning fucking sucked.”

Colt nodded. “I just want this fucking thing over.”

“Agreed.”

As they continued their journey, the surrounding landscape shifted. The eerie, muted tones of the Duat darkened further, shadows creeping in from all sides like encroaching tendrils of night. The hair on the back of his neck stood. His wolf bristled beneath his skin.

“Hannah,” he said, his voice low and tense, “stay close.”

“Right.” Her bright blue gaze scanned their surroundings. The air grew heavy with an ancient magic that seemed to press down on them from all sides. Colt’s chest tightened, each breath a struggle against the oppressive atmosphere.

Suddenly, the darkness ahead of them split, revealing a massive portal. It towered over them, its surface rippling like liquid obsidian. Strange symbols flickered across its surface, pulsing with an otherworldly light that made his eyes water if he looked at them for too long.

“What is that?” Hannah whispered, her voice barely audible over the low, ominous hum emanating from the portal.

Colt swallowed hard, his mouth becoming dry. “I think… I think it’s our next trial.”

As they approached, the air vibrated with tension. Power radiated from the portal, ancient and unfathomable. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back, to flee from this unknown danger. But he knew they had no choice. Whatever lay beyond that portal, they had to face it.

He glanced at Hannah, saw the fear in her eyes, but also determination. She met his gaze and nodded, a silent affirmation of her readiness.

“Whatever’s on the other side,” Colt said, his voice tight with suppressed emotion, “we face it together.”

Hannah’s hand found his and squeezed. “Together,” she echoed.

Taking a deep breath, Colt stepped forward, Hannah at his side. As they approached the threshold of the portal, the symbols flared, their light almost blinding. The hum grew to a deafening roar, and Colt felt a pull, as if some unseen force was drawing them in.

As they stepped through the portal, the world around them dissolved into a swirling darkness. When the shadows finally cleared, they stood on a narrow stone bridge suspended over a bottomless chasm. The air was thick with an oppressive energy that seemed to press down on them from all sides. At the far end of the bridge stood a figure cloaked in shadows, its features indistinct but radiating an aura of ancient power. As Colt took a step forward, the figure’s voice boomed across the chasm, each word resonating with otherworldly authority.

“Alpha of the Moonshadow pack,” it intoned, “you stand at the precipice of choice. To proceed, a sacrifice must be made.”

His heart raced, his mind reeling at the implications. He glanced at Hannah, seeing the fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

“What kind of sacrifice?” Colt demanded, his voice steady despite the turmoil roiling within him.

The figure gestured, and suddenly, the bridge crumbled. Cracks spread across its surface, chunks of stone falling away into the endless void below. Hannah stumbled, nearly losing her footing as the ground shifted beneath them.

“One life to save another,” the figure declared. “Step forward, Alpha, and offer yourself to the void. Only then will the bridge be restored, allowing your companion safe passage.”

His blood ran cold. The choice before him was impossible. Could he sacrifice himself, abandoning his pack and leaving them vulnerable? And what of Ariana? The muted bond between them ached like an open wound, reminding him of all he stood to lose.

He looked at Hannah. “Your powers?”

She shook her head. “Gone.”

“Choose and whoever remains will be granted an audience with Anubis,” the figure announced. “Delay and you both will die where you stand.”

“Colt, no,” Hannah whispered, reaching for him. “There has to be another way.”

His mind raced. His heart pounded in his chest as he faced the impossible choice before him. The crumbling bridge beneath their feet sent shards of stone tumbling into the endless abyss, a stark reminder of the urgency of their situation. He glanced at Hannah, saw the fear and determination warring in her eyes, and felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders.

“Your time is ticking. Will you return to your pack? To your mate? Will you be able to win the war against the darkness?” the figure asked. “Brute force is how you settle your battles, but will that be enough to save the world?”

“The world.” He looked at Hannah. She had powers he never would. Even calling upon Ariana’s, he could never will them like his mate did. The blade wasn’t simply a tool of destruction, it was a weapon that could bring down even the gods. The thought of such destructive power in the hands of Selene chilled him to his core.

“Colt? You know this isn’t real,” Hannah said, but there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes.

“Do you wish to test her theory, Alpha?”

Every instinct screamed. This was no test. Hadn’t Hades mentioned some never came back? “You have abilities I never will.”

She shook her head. “Ariana will break if you leave her.”

He inhaled, closed his eyes, and pictured his mate. The thought of her death, of her beautiful light being snuffed out, shredded him to his soul. “I would ask one favor to be granted.”

“You may name it, but there is no promise it shall be granted.”

“Anubis will erase me from Ariana’s memory. She should never feel the pain of losing me.” The thought of being erased, not even a distant memory, was almost worse than death, but the idea of his mate bearing the pain of his loss was even worse.

The figure shifted. “That is an admirable request. Does that mean you have chosen?”

“I will give my life for Hannah.”

Hannah shook her head. “But you’re the alpha! The pack needs you. Ariana needs you.”

At the mention of Ariana’s name, he felt a sharp pang in his chest. The muted bond between them seemed to pulse with a renewed intensity, as if reminding him of all he stood to lose. But even as doubt and fear clawed at his heart, he knew what he had to do.

“The pack will survive,” he said, forcing conviction into his voice. “They’re strong. And Ariana… she’s stronger than anyone I’ve ever known. They’ll find a way forward without me.”

He took a step toward the edge of the crumbling bridge, feeling the stone shift beneath his feet. Hannah reached for him, her eyes wide with panic, but he gently pushed her hand away.

“Colt, please,” she begged, tears welling in her eyes. “Don’t do this.”

He met her gaze, saw the anguish there. “Hannah, listen to me,” he said, his voice steady despite the fear churning in his gut. “You’re going to make it out of here. You’re going to find Ariana and the others, and you’re going to tell them… tell them I’m sorry. Tell them I did what I had to do.”

The bridge groaned beneath them, more chunks falling away into the void. Time was running out. Colt took another step toward the edge, steeling himself for what was to come.

“A true alpha protects his pack,” he said, as much to himself as to Hannah. “Even if it means sacrificing everything.”

“But I’m not one of your pack!”

Colt paused, Hannah’s words hitting him like a physical blow. She was right—Hannah wasn’t officially part of the Moonshadow pack. Yet, she had volunteered to come to the Duat. For a moment, doubt crept in, making him hesitate at the edge of the crumbling bridge. But then he looked at her, really looked at her. He saw the fierce determination in her eyes, the strength that had brought her this far. And he realized that pack wasn’t just about official boundaries or bloodlines. It was about connection, about the bonds forged in the face of adversity.

“You may not have been born into my pack,” Colt said, his voice low and intense, “but you’re here now. You’re fighting alongside us. That makes you pack in every way that matters.”

Hannah’s eyes widened, a mix of surprise and emotion flickered across her face. Colt continued, feeling the truth of his words as he spoke them.

“Being an alpha isn’t just about protecting those who were born under my leadership. It’s about making the hard choices, about sacrificing for those who need it most. Right now, that’s you.”

The bridge shuddered beneath them, another section falling away into the abyss. Colt knew he was out of time. He met Hannah’s gaze one last time, pouring all his determination and resolve into his words.

“You have a destiny to fulfill, Hannah. I can feel it. Whatever power courses through your veins far outweighs mine. Save them. Don’t let my death be in vain.”

With that, he turned away from her and faced the endless void before him. He took a deep breath, centering himself as he prepared for what was to come. In that moment, his mind filled with thoughts of Ariana, of the love they shared and the future they had been robbed of. He thought of his pack, of the trust they had placed in him and the responsibility he bore. And he thought of Hannah, standing behind him, a demigoddess who would have far more power to help Ariana… his pack fight what was to come.

“I’m sorry, Ari,” he whispered, feeling the ghost of their bond flutter in his chest. “I love you.”

Then, without further hesitation, Colt stepped off the edge of the bridge and into the waiting darkness below.