✨ Chapter 7 – Shadows of the Past
The instant the hooded figure disappeared, Kai's entire posture changed.
His wolf rose behind his eyes—silent, fierce, ready to tear something apart.
Ariana had never seen him look like that.
"Kai?" she whispered.
"Stay behind me," he said sharply.
The softness in his voice was gone.
This was the leader of the Four Pillars.
The strongest wolf in the Academy.
The one teachers said had never lost a fight.
And he was afraid.
Not for himself.
For *her.*
---
## **Reporting to the Headmaster**
Within minutes, Kai escorted Ariana out of the Hybrid Den and toward the main building. He didn't touch her, but stayed close enough that their auras almost fused.
Her wolf calmed instantly at his presence.
"Kai," she whispered, "who could that have been?"
"I don't know," he growled. "But they weren't a student. And they weren't a teacher."
Her heart thudded painfully.
"That means—"
"Yes," Kai said quietly. "They were here for you."
Ariana hugged her arms around herself.
"Why? They don't even know me."
Kai stopped walking and turned to face her.
"Ariana. You're the first lunar-blood wolf in four centuries. People will know you. People will look for you. And not all of them with good intentions."
Ariana's breath shook.
"You're scaring me."
He sighed, expression softening.
"I'm not trying to. I'm trying to prepare you."
They reached the Headmaster's office—a tall wooden door carved with runes.
Inside, Headmaster Solarin stood by a window, hands clasped behind him, silver eyes piercing.
Kai explained everything swiftly and clearly.
The hooded figure.
The disappearance.
Ariana sensing them before they spoke.
When he finished, the Headmaster turned to Ariana.
"…You saw them before they moved?"
Ariana nodded slowly.
"Yes. My wolf sensed them."
The Headmaster exhaled—a sound heavy with knowledge.
"I feared this," he murmured. "Your wolf is awakening. And with it, the attention of those who should not notice."
Ariana clenched her fists.
"What kind of people?"
The Headmaster didn't answer right away.
Kai did.
"Hunters," he said flatly.
Ariana felt the room tilt.
"Hunters? Like… the old stories?"
The Headmaster nodded.
"There are factions who believe lunar wolves are too dangerous to let live."
Ariana's heart pounded.
"Are they coming for me?"
Headmaster Solarin stepped forward gently.
"We do not know. But the moment you stepped onto the Placement Circle, your aura announced itself to anyone who knows how to sense such things."
Ariana swallowed painfully.
So attending Elmwood didn't just expose her to training—
it exposed her to enemies she didn't even know existed.
Kai took a step closer, voice low and steady.
"I won't let anything happen to you."
Ariana looked up at him—really looked—
and saw he meant every word.
---
## **Training, Again**
The Headmaster insisted Ariana return to training immediately.
"You must learn control," he said. "Now more than ever."
Kai led her back to the Hybrid Den, this time walking beside her so closely their arms almost touched.
Her wolf purred.
Great. Just what she needed.
When they returned, the instructor raised a brow at Kai.
"Welcome back. Now then—Ariana Sterling?"
Ariana stepped forward nervously.
"Yes?"
"You'll begin your first controlled wolf exercise."
Ariana froze.
"My first what?"
Kai took her hands gently.
"Breathe. I'll walk you through it."
Her skin tingled where he touched her.
Her wolf shivered in recognition.
Ariana closed her eyes.
"Okay," she whispered.
Kai's voice softened.
"Feel your wolf. Don't fight her. Don't force her. Just… listen."
A warm pulse stirred inside her chest.
A gentle one this time.
Curious.
Awake.
Not angry.
Ariana gasped softly as her wolf peeked through—just enough to sharpen her senses.
She could hear breathing across the room.
She could smell pine leaves on someone's uniform.
She could sense the exact shift in Kai's heartbeat—
Steady. Calm. Protective.
Then—
"Very good," the instructor said quietly. "She's waking but not taking over."
Ariana exhaled shakily.
"I… I can feel her. She's not scared."
Kai smiled faintly.
"She feels safe."
Ariana opened her eyes and found Kai watching her with a strange emotion she couldn't place.
"Why me?" she whispered. "Why is she reacting so strongly to you?"
Kai hesitated.
Then… very carefully… he half-shifted.
His wolf ears appeared.
Claws extended.
Eyes glowed bright silver-violet.
Ariana's wolf rose instantly—
not violently,
not in fear,
but like she recognized her equal.
Ariana's breath caught.
Her wolf whispered inside her.
**"His."**
Ariana stumbled backward.
"No, no—stop. She's confused!"
Kai shifted back immediately, eyes wide.
"I didn't do anything!"
Ariana pressed her hands to her face.
"She keeps saying weird things when you're near!"
Kai swallowed.
"That's… normal."
"How is THAT normal?!"
Kai ran a hand through his hair.
"Lunar and sun wolves were created in pairs. They're drawn to each other. Not romantically—just spiritually."
Ariana's cheeks burned.
"Oh."
Kai nodded, relieved she wasn't panicking.
"But if that's true," she whispered,
"was my mom's wolf also… paired with someone?"
Kai looked at her gently.
"Yes," he said softly. "And I think your father knows who it was."
Ariana's heart stopped cold.
"My dad?"
Kai nodded.
"And I think it's time you ask him."
A/n: I'm really tired of having no comments and likes. Please just tell me what you think about my book