Updated Mar 22, 2026 • ~5 min read
Chapter 22: Growing Threats
Twins are six months old.
Aldric and Elara thriving.
Vega is devoted big sister.
Constantly hovering. Protecting. Teaching.
“Aldric, you’re holding it wrong.”
He’s six months old.
Can’t hold anything.
But Vega doesn’t care.
She’s determined.
Future duchess in training.
Pack expands daily.
Two hundred fifty wolves now.
Largest in history.
Word spreads.
Duchess with three heirs.
United Scotland. Allied Europe.
Powerful beyond measure.
Some see strength.
Others see threat.
Anonymous threat arrives.
Letter. No signature.
Blood-stained parchment.
*”Three heirs is greed. Power hoarding. You’ll lose them all. Watch and wait. —Unknown”*
Magnus destroys the letter.
“Coward. Won’t even sign threat.”
“But serious. Someone’s watching. Planning.”
“Then we increase security. Triple guards. Constant vigilance.”
Astrid agrees.
But worry gnaws.
Unknown enemy is worst enemy.
Can’t prepare. Can’t strategize.
Just wait.
Vulnerable.
Odin visits.
Uninvited as always.
“I felt disturbance. Dark magic. Directed at pack.”
“Who?”
“Unknown. But powerful. Ancient. Not European. Something older.”
“How do we fight unknown ancient power?”
“Carefully. With preparation. With unity.”
Not helpful.
But expected.
Odin deals in cryptic warnings.
Always.
He studies the children.
Vega. Aldric. Elara.
“Three heirs. Three powers. Three destinies.”
“What does that mean?”
“Each child has role. Vega: warrior duchess. Aldric: diplomat king. Elara: magic keeper. Together, unstoppable.”
“They’re babies.”
“They’re futures. Protect them.”
He leaves.
Mystery unsolved.
Astrid increases training.
Personal. Intensive.
Duchess power at maximum.
She’s stronger now.
Post-pregnancy power surge.
Common in duchess bloodline.
Each child amplifies magic.
Three children means triple power.
She’s formidable.
Possibly unstoppable.
But formidable attracts attention.
Two weeks later.
Attack.
Not physical. Magical.
Curse.
Targeting children.
Sickness spell.
All three fall ill.
Simultaneously.
Fever. Convulsions. Weakness.
Rowena can’t heal it.
“This is dark magic. Old magic. Beyond my skill.”
“Then who can heal it?”
“Odin. Maybe.”
They summon him.
Emergency. Desperate.
Children dying.
Odin arrives.
Studies the sickness.
“Death curse. Targeting bloodline. Specifically duchess heirs.”
“Who cast it?”
“Someone who wants line eliminated. Someone with grudge.”
“Can you break it?”
“I can try.”
He works for hours.
Chanting. Drawing runes. Bleeding.
Magic battles magic.
Light versus dark.
Finally. Breakthrough.
Curse breaks.
Children gasp.
Breathing. Healing. Surviving.
“They’re safe. For now.”
“For now?”
“Curse caster isn’t done. They’ll try again. Different method. Different angle. This is war. Magical war.”
“Against babies?”
“Against duchess legacy. Children are symbols. Eliminate them, eliminate future.”
Astrid’s fury erupts.
Duchess power exploding.
“Find who did this. Hunt them. I want them dead.”
Magnus restrains her.
Gently.
“We will. But carefully. Magical enemies are dangerous. We need strategy.”
She knows he’s right.
But rage demands action.
Someone hurt her children.
That’s unforgivable.
They mobilize pack.
Intel gathering.
Who benefits from dead heirs?
Who has dark magic?
Who hates duchess enough?
List is surprisingly long.
Former Fenrir loyalists.
European rivals.
Old bloodlines.
Dark covens.
Countless enemies.
Power makes targets.
Children make vulnerability.
Combination is deadly.
Dmitri sends warning.
“Russian dark coven interested in duchess children. Rumored bounty. High price for heir elimination.”
“How high?”
“Territory. Power. Eternity. They’re offering everything.”
“Who would take that contract?”
“Anyone desperate. Ambitious. Stupid.”
They prepare.
Ashenmoor becomes fortress.
Guards tripled.
Magic wards installed.
Children never alone.
Never unprotected.
Prison of protection.
Necessary. Suffocating.
Vega notices.
Five years old but perceptive.
“Why can’t I play outside?”
“Dangerous right now.”
“Always dangerous. You taught me that.”
“This is different. Someone wants to hurt you.”
Her silver eyes harden.
“Let them try. I’ll hurt them back.”
Five years old.
Already warrior.
Astrid’s heart breaks.
And swells with pride.
Complicated motherhood.
Months pass.
No attacks.
But constant tension.
Waiting. Watching.
Enemy is patient.
They must be too.
But patience is exhausting.
Then breakthrough.
Soren’s intel network finds source.
Romanian coven.
Ancient. Powerful. Ruthless.
Led by witch named Morana.
She hates werewolves.
Hates duchess line specifically.
Elara killed her sister.
Three hundred years ago.
Grudge eternal.
“Revenge for centuries-old death?”
“Witches live long. Remember longer. She’s been waiting. Gathering power. Now she strikes.”
“How do we stop her?”
“Kill her. Permanently.”
“How?”
“Silver and fire. Ancient method. Only method for her age.”
They plan.
Strike team. Again.
Targeting Morana.
Romania. Her territory.
Dangerous. Necessary.
Children’s lives depend on it.
“I’m going,” Astrid says.
“No. You’re staying. Protecting children.”
“Children need enemy dead. I’m killing her.”
“Astrid—”
“NON-NEGOTIABLE. She cursed my babies. I’m ending her. Personally.”
Magnus sees her determination.
Knows arguing is useless.
“Then we go together. Leave children with Rowena. Maximum protection.”
“Agreed.”
They prepare.
Again.
Another mission.
Another enemy.
Leadership is endless war.
But this time different.
This time personal.
Someone hurt her children.
Threatened her family.
That’s unforgivable.
Morana will die.
Slowly. Painfully.
Duchess vengeance is absolute.
They tell children.
Vega understands.
“You’re hunting bad witch.”
“Yes.”
“Kill her for us.”
“I will.”
“Promise?”
“I swear it.”
Vega hugs her.
Fierce. Desperate.
“Come home. Please come home.”
“Always. I always come home.”
“You better. I need you.”
“I need you too, little wolf.”
They leave at dawn.
Strike team assembled.
Magnus. Astrid. Soren. Lyra. Dmitri.
Heading to Romania.
To end witch.
To protect family.
To secure future.
The fight is coming.
Magical. Deadly.
Witch versus duchess.
Ancient grudge.
Modern stakes.
Winner takes all.
Loser dies.
Simple.
Brutal.
Necessary.
Astrid’s ready.
Fury fueling power.
Mama bear protecting cubs.
Duchess defending legacy.
Fated mate preserving family.
She’s unstoppable.
And Morana will learn.
The hard way.
You don’t threaten duchess heirs.
You don’t curse her children.
You don’t attack her family.
Because duchess protects what’s hers.
With everything.
Including life itself.
Morana chose wrong enemy.
Challenged wrong bloodline.
Threatened wrong children.
And now she’ll pay.
In blood. In magic. In death.
Duchess vengeance is coming.
And nothing stops it.
Not magic. Not time. Not fate.
Nothing.
They’re coming, Morana.
And they’re bringing war.
Final. Brutal. Total.
Family is everything.
And Thornhearts protect family.
Always.
Forever.
To the death.
Yours.
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