The world blew apart in white fire.
Amina felt the explosion before she heard it—the force lifting her off the ground, hurling her through the air like a thread caught in a hurricane. The sound came next: a deafening crack as the cabin walls split, the roof ripped away, wood and stone scattering into the night.
She braced for impact—
But strong arms wrapped around her mid-fall.
Kade.
He shielded her as they crashed through a shattered beam and rolled across the forest floor. He took the hit, his wolf body absorbing the worst of it, skidding hard until dirt and leaves kicked up around them in a heavy cloud.
Amina coughed, disoriented. "I—I'm okay—"
Kade shifted back mid-movement, not fully human, not fully wolf. His eyes still glowed, claws still half-extended. His breathing was ragged, every inhale a growl.
He cupped her face, frantic. "Are you hurt? Amina—tell me."
"I'm fine," she lied—because her ribs throbbed, and her palms burned with leftover magic. But she needed him focused.
Behind them, the remains of the cabin smoldered in splinters. Trees had snapped in half. The ground pulsed with leftover energy, white streaks of lightning flickering through the soil like veins.
The explosion hadn't just destroyed the cabin.
It had ripped open the earth.
The silver alpha-wolf stepped from the smoke, limping but alive, one eye swollen shut. It snarled, muscles trembling.
And the cloaked man—Varyn—stood behind it untouched, like the explosion had been nothing more than wind brushing his robe.
Kade pulled Amina to her feet and shoved her behind him, placing himself squarely between her and his brother. His voice rumbled, low and lethal.
"Varyn. Leave her out of this."
The hooded head tilted. "She was never out of it, little brother. She was the beginning."
Kade's body tensed so violently Amina felt it through the bond like a physical shock.
"This ends now," Kade growled.
Varyn laughed. "You think you can kill me? You couldn't kill me at twelve. You couldn't kill me at sixteen. And you certainly can't kill me now."
Amina blinked. "He tried to kill you?"
Varyn chuckled darkly. "He didn't tell you? Oh, Kade is full of secrets."
Kade's fists shook. "Amina—don't listen—"
"He killed our father, Amina."
The world froze.
Amina's breath caught. "What…?"
Kade spun, fury and panic flaring. "He's lying!"
Varyn lifted his staff; green energy pulsed. "Is that what he told you happened? That I killed Father? Or the rogues killed him? You believed him so easily. How disappointing."
Amina stepped closer to Kade. "Kade…?"
His jaw clenched, eyes flashing gold. "Amina, NO. Do not look at him."
"What really happened?" she whispered.
Kade closed his eyes. His silence said everything.
Her heart cracked—not with fear.
With the ache of truth.
Varyn smiled. "Tell her, brother. Tell her how you lost control. How Father tried to tame your wolf. How you—"
"ENOUGH!" Kade roared, shifting again, black fur bursting through his skin.
But Amina grabbed his arm. "Kade—stop—"
The contact sent a violent surge through the bond. Kade gasped, his wolf form halting mid-shift. His claws slid halfway back, his breath stuttering.
The bond pulsed wildly, mirroring her panic, his grief, their confusion.
Varyn raised his staff. "This bond… it's unstable. Raw. Beautiful. Dangerous."
Amina tried to steady her breathing. The ground trembled beneath her feet again.
"Why do you want me?" she demanded.
Varyn stepped closer, the silver wolf snarling beside him. His voice softened—too soft.
"Because you are the last Elemental heir. The only one who can command storm-magic freely." He pointed the staff toward her heart. "And when the blood moon rises next month, you will unlock the power to control not just storms… but wolves."
Amina felt cold to her bones.
Control wolves?
Varyn's smile widened. "With your power, you could command every pack in the world. And with my guidance… you could command me."
Kade let out a snarl that shook the leaves on the trees. "You're not touching her."
Varyn raised a brow. "You think she belongs to you? This bond is a mistake. Her blood was never meant for an Alpha."
Amina's hands trembled. Heat flickered under her skin. "I don't belong to either of you."
Varyn blinked—actually surprised. "Oh. You think you have a choice."
Amina's magic pulsed; wind whipped through the clearing.
"I do."
Kade stepped forward, protective, furious, wolf energy radiating from him like heat. "Amina—don't face him alone."
She shook her head, eyes glowing faint white. "I have to."
Varyn lifted his staff as the air crackled. "Then let's test your awakening."
The silver wolf launched at her.
Amina's magic exploded white-hot, lightning whipping from her palms.
Kade leapt between them.
Varyn swung his staff down.
And the three forces collided—
magic
wolf
power
—in a blinding, earth-shattering blast.
The forest screamed.
The night split.
And Amina realized one horrifying truth as the light swallowed them all:
Her power wasn't awakening.
It was remembering.