Chapter 78: The Ceremony of Servitude — Moon cave

The Moon cave had existed long before the Eclipse Crown Pack itself.

No one knew who had carved it into the heart of the mountain, only that every Alpha before Malachi had spilled blood within these walls, and every sacred law that shaped the territories had been witnessed by the stone itself.

The ceiling soared impossibly high overhead, disappearing into darkness where jagged stalactites hung like the fangs of some sleeping beast. At the same time, black pillars rose naturally from the earth to support nothing except centuries of earth.

The air in here was also cold — a heavy, damp cold that seeped beneath skin and settled inside bone. Every breath carried the scent of wet stone, old ash, melted candle wax, and something the unmistakable stench of blood.

Hundreds of black candles burned inside iron sconces hammered into the cave walls, their flames trembling whenever the wind found its way through the mountain. Their light never reached every corner, leaving entire sections swallowed by darkness where shadows breathed and shifted with every flicker.

At the very centre stood the ritual dais — a massive slab of obsidian, polished until it reflected light like black water, resting upon a circular platform carved with ancient runes so old that no living wolf could translate them anymore.

Deep grooves ran across its surface, disappearing into narrow channels that flowed outward like veins carved into the stone floor itself.

Above it, the mountain opened into a perfect circle that looked to have either been carved or perhaps broken, revealing nothing but the night sky beyond.

The moon hung directly overhead of it, and tonight seemed to be extra special because behold! It was a full moon.

White enough to look almost silver.

Its light poured through the opening like liquid, descending in one perfect column until it struck the obsidian dais alone, making it glow with an eerie pale sheen while everything beyond that circle remained imprisoned beneath wavering candlelight.

It looked less like moonlight...and more like judgement.

Rows upon rows of stone seats curved around the dais in widening circles until they disappeared into the darkness at the back of the cavern, and every seat was occupied.

Alphas from every territory had answered the invitation — both those that had received the actual invitation and those that had simply heard about it.

Some wore heavy cloaks lined with wolf pelts, others ceremonial armour engraved with the crests of ancient Packs. Gold rings glinted on their powerful hands. Silver circlets rested upon brows, and battle scars crossed weathered faces that had witnessed countless wars.

Power sat in every direction of the room.

Hundreds of Alphas.

Hundreds of predators.

Their voices blended into a low murmur that rolled through the cavern thunder, rising and falling as servants moved silently between them, carrying dark wine, polished goblets and smoking platters that no one seemed interested in really touching.

At least not after all of them had gotten a taste of the Alpha’s slave that was to be served to them very soon.

Every eye kept drifting back to the empty dais sooner or later.

Waiting.

At the highest point overlooking the ritual floor stood the Elders’ stone gallery, carved directly into the mountain itself, and the eight ancient figures that had a huge hand in this were now seated and cloaked in ceremonial black.

Elder Ravaryn occupied the centre, one weathered hand holding his cane, while the other rested calmly upon the carved armrests as though tonight were nothing more than another page in history.

Below him stood the throne of Eclipse Crown, and unlike every other seat in the cavern, it remained untouched by candlelight.

Malachi Astridge sat alone upon black stone, and his ceremonial robes flowed over the edges of the throne like darkness, silver embroidery catching the pale glow whenever he shifted almost imperceptibly.

One elbow rested upon the armrest, one hand supporting his jaw, while his icy eyes remained fixed upon the empty ritual dais before him.

Expressionless.

Motionless.

The picture of an Alpha who had already buried every emotion beneath duty.

No one approached him at all. Even the visiting Alphas instinctively kept their distance — a wise choice.

A little farther away sat Leopold and Beatrice.

She wore ivory silk beneath a crimson cloak, every strand of her dark hair perfectly arranged, every smile flawlessly measured as she greeted passing nobles with effortless grace. Leopold remained beside her, proud to have such a beautiful wife upon his arm, never noticing how her eyes wandered elsewhere.

Toward Malachi.

Toward every movement inside the cavern.

Her eyes always remained calculating, and tonight they were beaming so hard.

Finally! That sister of hers was going to get the worst of it all!

Across the chamber, Selene looked no less magnificent. Silver fabric clung elegantly to her figure, the moonlight making her appear almost ethereal as she exchanged polite smiles with arriving Alphas. More than once, her gaze drifted toward Malachi.

Not once did he look back.

And hidden deeper within the crowd, leaning silently against one of the towering stone pillars where darkness concealed half his face...

Cassian waited.

His silver eyes never left the empty path leading toward the entrance, because sooner or later, especially now that everyone had arrived, those massive stone doors would open.

And the woman of the hour would walk in.

As expected, the doors were pushed open, and everyone’s attention was caught.

All signs of whispers and chatter died the moment it did, followed by the sound of rattling chains and scruffy feet dragging across the earth.

Her eyes were barely open.

Her skin had lost all of its colour.

Her eyes were bloodshot from pain, and her lips were stained with blood.

Her hair looked dishevelled and dirty, stuck with sand and dirt.

She couldn’t even walk on her own, and the guards were pulling her as they walked into the cave, her toes dragging harshly against the floor.

They pulled her up to the awaiting ritual stone table, and threw her on it. Her body rolled once and came to a flat stop, her eyes barely peering open to look at the Moon above her head as she heard the rattling and clicking noise of both hands, feet and body being strapped tightly to the stone.

Once it was done, they climbed down.

The silence didn’t relent.

Then, Malachi cleared his throat.

The Night was finally about to begin!