My stomach cramped with hunger. Inside that store would be food. And if the hunters were tracking me through the forest, maybe they wouldn't expect me to go toward people.
I watched the gas station for a few minutes, checking for danger. Only one person seemed to be inside, a young guy behind the counter, his head down like he was reading something. No other customers, no cars in the lot.
I could do this. I could go in, buy food with Cassidy's money, and get out before anyone noticed anything strange about me.
I adjusted my scarf to make sure the silver streaks in my hair were covered, then took a deep breath and walked out of the forest toward the gas station. Each step toward civilization felt dangerous, like I was exposing myself. But I needed food if I was going to survive.
The bell above the door chimed when I entered. The guy behind the counter looked up briefly, assessed that I wasn't a threat, and went back to his phone. The fluorescent lights were harsh after the darkness of the forest, making me squint.
I grabbed a basket and started loading it with things I could carry protein bars, bottled water, some fruit that looked close to spoiling and was marked down. My hands shook as I selected items, hyperaware of every sound and movement around me.
"That everything?" the clerk asked in a bored voice when I brought my items to the counter.
"Yes, please," I said quietly, keeping my eyes down.
He rang up my items without really looking at me. "Twenty-eight fifty."
I pulled out Cassidy's money and counted out the bills carefully. My math wasn't great, but I thought I'd have about fifteen dollars left after this. Not much, but enough for maybe one more meal.
The clerk bagged my items and handed them over. "Have a good night."
"Thank you," I said, already turning toward the door.
But as I reached for the handle, the bell chimed again. Three men walked in, and my blood turned to ice when I recognized one of them—he'd been at the pack house earlier, talking with Victor Strand.
I froze, my back to them, praying they wouldn't notice me.
"Evening," one of them said to the clerk. "We're looking for someone. Young girl, dark hair, probably looks scared and lost. You seen anyone like that?"
The clerk shrugged. "Just that girl there."
No. No, no, no.
I felt their attention shift to me, felt their eyes on my back. I turned slowly, keeping my head down, the bag of food clutched to my chest.
"Hey," one of the men said, taking a step toward me. "Look at me, girl."
I had no choice. I lifted my head and met his eyes, and I saw the recognition dawn on his face.
"It's her," he said to his companions. "Victor's girl. We found her."
They moved to block the door. The clerk looked confused but stayed behind his counter, smart enough not to get involved in wolf business.
"You need to come with us," the first man said, his voice falsely friendly. "Victor just wants to talk, that's all. No one needs to get hurt."
He was lying. I could hear it in his voice, smell it on him. If I went with them, I'd never see another sunrise.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I said, surprised by how steady my voice sounded.
The man's fake smile dropped. "We can do this easy, or we can do this hard. Your choice."
My wolf snarled in my mind. "Fight. We're stronger than them."
But there were three of them and one of me, and I'd never been in a real fight in my life. Even with my new strength, I didn't know if I could take them all.
Unless I used my power.
I set the bag down carefully, buying myself a second to think. The silver light was already stirring under my skin, responding to my fear and need. Could I do more than just hide myself? Could I actually use it as a weapon?
Only one way to find out.
"Last chance," the man said, reaching for me.
I held up my hands and let the power explode outward. Silver light burst from my palms like a shockwave, hitting all three men at once. They flew backward, crashing into shelves and sending products scattering everywhere.
The clerk yelped and ducked behind his counter. I grabbed my bag and ran for the door, leaping over the groaning men. One of them tried to grab my ankle, but I kicked free and burst outside into the night air.
Behind me, I heard shouting. They were recovering faster than I'd hoped. I ran toward the forest, but headlights suddenly blazed to life. A truck pulled out from behind the gas station, cutting off my escape route.
Two more men jumped out, and I recognized one of them immediately, Victor Strand himself, his smile cold and cruel in the harsh headlights.
"Going somewhere?" he asked.
I was surrounded. Men behind me, Victor and his associate in front, the forest just out of reach. My heart hammered as I looked for any escape route, but there was none.
"It's over, little wolf," Victor said, walking toward me slowly. "You put up a good fight, I'll give you that. Interesting trick with the light show back there. Perhaps you're more powerful than I thought. That makes you either more valuable or more dangerous." He tilted his head, considering. "I haven't decided which yet."
I backed up, but the men from the gas station were behind me now, forming a circle. I was trapped.
"Use everything we have," my wolf urged. "All our power. Now."
I didn't know what "everything" meant, but I was out of options. I closed my eyes and reached deep inside myself, to the core of the power that had awakened. I felt it there, vast and ancient, the legacy of the Silver Moon bloodline flowing through my veins.
I pulled on it, drawing it up through my body. Silver light exploded around me, brighter than before, so bright that everyone shielded their eyes. I felt my body changing, shifting, but not into a regular wolf form.
When the light faded, I stood on four legs covered in pure silver fur. I was huge, larger than any normal wolf, larger even than an Alpha should be. My eyes blazed gold, and power radiated from me in waves that made the earth itself seem to tremble.
This was my true form. This was what I was meant to be.