The moon was only a thin silver line in the sky, but the forest felt alive as if something enormous was breathing beneath the roots. Arin walked beside the Alpha guards, her steps quiet, her heartbeat loud in her ears. She had expected a welcome—maybe even warmth—but instead the clearing was full of tense faces and lowered growls.
The Crescent Fang wolves surrounded the glowing moon-stone pillar at the center of the clearing. Their eyes followed her every move, suspicious, studying, judging.
Arin felt their questions in the air:
Who is she? Why does the Alpha protect her? Why does she smell… different?
But the strongest gaze came from the center—Alpha Kael.
He stood tall, muscles coiled with authority, his dark hair pushed back by the breeze. His eyes glowed with a dangerous brightness, the exact shade she had seen in the boy who saved her seven years ago. For a moment Arin wondered if he recognized her too… but his face remained unreadable.
"Step forward," Kael commanded.
Arin forced her feet to move. She had survived years on the run, but standing before him felt harder than any fight she had survived.
Kael's voice dropped low, almost quiet.
"You trespassed on pack land. That alone can be punished with death."
The guards murmured, agreeing.
"But…" Kael's eyes narrowed as he inhaled her scent again, "you carry something I don't understand."
Arin frowned. "I don't even know what I am."
Kael stepped closer—close enough that she saw the silver flecks in his eyes. "Exactly my problem."
He lifted a glowing crystal shard from his belt. When he brought it near her, the stone flickered violently, reacting to her presence as if afraid.
The wolves gasped.
"That stone only reacts to—" a guard began.
"I know what it reacts to," Kael cut him off sharply.
Arin's heart raced. "Tell me."
But Kael didn't answer. Instead, he turned to the pack.
"She stays under watch. No one harms her. No one touches her. No one questions my decision."
Shock rippled through the wolves.
Arin blinked. "Wait—what does that mean?"
Kael's gaze returned to her. "It means until I discover what you are… you belong to the Crescent Fang."
Arin stiffened. "I don't belong to anyone."
A dangerous smirk curved on his lips.
"Then don't give me a reason to prove you wrong."
Before she could argue, a loud, sharp howl erupted from the western side of the forest. Warriors immediately tensed, grabbing weapons.
"Rogues?" one guard whispered.
"No…" Kael's eyes darkened. "Something worse."
The ground trembled under their feet.
Arin felt it too—a pulse that wasn't human, wasn't wolf… but familiar. The same strange energy in her own body.
Kael turned to her quickly. "Did you call something here?"
"What? No!" Arin stepped back. "I don't even know what's happening!"
The howl came again—closer this time, and filled with hunger.
Kael cursed under his breath.
"Everyone, form defensive lines!"
Wolves shifted around her, bones cracking, fur bursting from skin.
Arin felt her breath catch at the sight—half terror, half fascination.
Kael didn't shift. He stayed in human form, eyes glowing fiercely.
"You—Arin—stay close to me."
Arin opened her mouth to argue, but the forest exploded open before she could speak.
A colossal shadow leaped out—bigger than any wolf she had ever seen. Its eyes glowed the same strange light that flickered under her skin.
The pack stepped back in fear.
Kael bared his teeth.
"No… it can't be."
The monster locked eyes with Arin.
And it bowed.
The pack gasped.
Kael slowly turned toward her, expression unreadable but furious.
"What. Are. You?"
Arin swallowed, her voice barely a whisper.
"I… I think it came for me."
Kael grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him.
"Then you're not leaving my sight again. Whatever you are… your enemies just found you."
The creature roared, shaking the forest.
Kael's body glowed with Alpha power as he prepared to shift.
"Stay behind me," he growled.
But the monster didn't attack Kael.
It lunged straight at Arin.