Light swallowed everything.
The forest blurred into streaks of white fire and shadow, twisting around Amina as if the world itself had come undone. She didn't feel her body—just heat, sound, memories that weren't hers and yet were.
A woman's voice screamed.
A man chanted.
Lightning cracked against stone—
And a baby cried.
Amina's heart stopped.
My parents…
The memory surged again, clearer this time:
A woman with storm-white eyes held an infant wrapped in dark cloth. Wind spiraled around her, wild but controlled. Beside her stood a man in armor, tattoos glowing faint gold.
"Amina," the woman whispered, brushing the infant's cheek. "Forgive us."
The infant—HER—reached out tiny hands.
And then—
A burst of red light.
A roar of wolves.
A hooded figure tearing through the doorway.
Screams.
Amina jolted as the memory ripped away, replaced by darkness.
Then—
She hit the ground.
Hard.
The explosion's force had shot her across the clearing. Dirt and leaves scattered around her, the forest smoldering with smoke and magic residue.
Amina gasped, choking on ash. Her vision spun violently.
"Amina!"
Her heart leapt.
Kade.
He stumbled through the smoke toward her—half-shifted, blood streaking his shoulder, one side of his face cut open. But his eyes—they burned for her. Desperate. Furious. Alive.
He dropped to his knees beside her. "Amina—look at me. Stay with me."
She reached up, fingertips brushing his jaw. "I'm fine…"
"You're lying again," he growled, gathering her into his arms. "Don't ever scare me like that."
Her chest tightened. "I saw something. I think… I think it was my parents."
Kade froze.
Before he could speak, a cold laugh rolled through the smoke.
"You saw exactly what I wanted you to see."
Amina stiffened.
Varyn stepped forward, leaning on his staff, robe scorched but body untouched. His silver wolf lay wounded behind him, struggling to stand but not dead.
Kade rose slowly, placing Amina behind him. His voice turned feral. "You won't touch her."
Varyn smirked. "Oh, little brother… you still don't understand. I don't need to touch her. Her power is already waking on its own."
Amina felt it—magic humming under her skin like a storm ready to break. Her palms glowed faintly even without trying.
Kade's body tensed. "Amina… your eyes."
She blinked. "What about my eyes?"
"They're glowing," he whispered. "White. Like lightning."
Before she could react, a gust of wind tore through the clearing—violent, circular, ripping up leaves and dust. Amina gasped as the wind responded to her heartbeat, gathering around her hands like it was waiting for her command.
Varyn lifted his chin. "The storm remembers you. And soon, you'll remember the rest."
"No," Amina said, stepping out from behind Kade despite his grip tightening.
Kade hissed, "Amina—get back."
She didn't.
"I'm tired of being afraid. I want answers."
Varyn smiled beneath the hood, pleased. "Then ask."
Her voice trembled—but not with fear. With power. "What did you do to my parents?"
Varyn stroked the staff lazily. "I ended them."
Kade's body shook with rage, a tremor that traveled through the bond like a blade. Amina grabbed his arm before he lunged.
"No," she whispered. "Not yet."
Her eyes returned to Varyn. "Why?"
"Because they betrayed the ancient pact," Varyn said, voice indifferent. "Elementals were never meant to breed with wolves. Their power…" He pointed his staff at her chest. "Your power… is something the world was never supposed to have again."
Amina's stomach twisted. "My parents died because of me?"
Kade snarled, "Don't you dare believe him."
But Varyn continued, calm as death. "You were born with enough raw storm-energy to shatter continents. They hid you. Buried you. Let you grow small and powerless in a human world."
Amina's breath stuttered. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I want you to understand," Varyn said softly, "that the Alpha-Link between you and my brother? It shouldn't exist. You should have killed him the moment it formed."
Amina stepped back in horror.
Kade's eyes widened, pain flashing across his face. "Amina—don't listen to him."
She looked at Kade.
Then at Varyn.
Then down at her hands—where wind curled like living silk, lightning flickering across her fingers.
"My magic reacted to Kade," she whispered. "It protected him. It strengthened him."
Varyn's voice hardened. "It will destroy him."
Kade stepped in front of her again. "I don't care."
Amina's heart lurched.
Varyn exhaled in disappointment. "So foolish, brother."
Before anyone could move, Varyn slammed his staff into the earth—
and the ground cracked open beneath Amina's feet.
Kade lunged, roaring her name—
But the earth swallowed her, a vortex of dark energy dragging her into the depths.
Kade's furious scream echoed as she fell—
"A—MI—NA!"
And the storm inside her burst free.