The creature's roar shattered the night, sending birds exploding into the sky. Wolves all around Arin shifted fully, their howls rising in response, but none of them moved fast enough.
The monster was already airborne—massive claws outstretched, jaws snarling, its glowing eyes locked solely on her.
Arin froze.
Something inside her chest pulsed — hot, urgent, familiar — as if someone was knocking on a locked door inside her soul. But she still had no idea how to open it.
"ARIN!" Kael's voice cut through the chaos.
He shifted mid-air — bones twisting, fur ripping through flesh, muscles expanding in a flash of blinding white light. A heartbeat later, his wolf form landed between her and the beast, fangs bared.
The Alpha wolf.
Huge. Silver-furred. Markings glowing like moonfire.
He slammed into the monster with enough force to crack the ground. The two beasts rolled across the clearing, tearing up grass and dirt.
"Defensive line! Surround the intruder!" a warrior shouted.
The wolves obeyed, forming a tight ring. But none dared jump in — the creature was too unstable, too unpredictable.
Arin stared, heart pounding, hands shaking. She didn't know Kael well, but seeing him fight for her sent a strange ache through her chest — fear, guilt, and something else she couldn't name.
She took one step forward.
The creature snapped its head toward her.
It shoved Kael aside with terrifying strength and charged again. Kael recovered instantly, but the monster was faster than anything Arin had ever seen.
"No—NO!" Arin stumbled back.
Before anyone could react, the monster skidded to a stop directly in front of her.
Then—
It lowered itself.
Its giant head bowed at her feet.
Silence fell.
The pack stared, stunned.
Kael's wolf froze mid-lunge, confusion and fury blazing in his glowing eyes.
Arin's breath trembled. "Why… why is it bowing?"
The creature made a low sound — not a growl, but something closer to a whine — and nudged its massive forehead against her hand.
Her fingers brushed its fur.
The world flashed white.
A memory slammed into her mind:
A burning village.
Wolves screaming.
Blood on the moon.
And a voice — ancient, broken, whispering:
"Find the lost heir… Protect her… until she awakens."
Arin jerked her hand back, gasping.
Kael shifted back into human form, fury burning through him.
His chest rose and fell with rage and confusion.
"Arin," he said, voice sharp. "Explain what just happened."
"I—I don't know!" she stammered.
Kael's brows knitted. "Then why does an Eclipse Beast bow to you?"
Arin flinched. "What is that?"
Kael stepped closer, eyes narrowing.
"An Eclipse Beast is older than werewolves themselves. They only obey one thing."
She swallowed. "What?"
Kael's voice dropped, deep and dangerous:
"Royal blood."
The pack gasped.
Arin's world tilted. "I'm not royalty. I'm not even a wolf!"
Kael shook his head. "You smell human… but that creature reacts as if you're its master."
Arin hugged herself, trembling. "I don't remember anything before I was five. Maybe I'm not who I thought I was…"
Kael clenched his jaw. "We will find out. Until then—"
But before he could finish, the Eclipse Beast rose to its full height and released a roar so powerful it shook the trees.
Kael's eyes widened.
"Everyone, retreat! NOW!"
But the beast wasn't attacking.
It was warning.
Another sound echoed from the forest — dozens of footsteps, fast and heavy.
A pack of rogue werewolves emerged from the shadows, eyes blackened, fur matted with blood. Their leader stepped forward, smirking.
"Well, well," he snarled. "We finally found the girl."
Arin's stomach dropped. "They're after me?! Why?!"
The rogue leader's grin widened, revealing sharp teeth. "Because you are the key to the Blood Moon Throne."
Kael moved instantly, dragging Arin behind him, his voice filled with protective rage.
"You're not taking her."
The rogue wolves laughed.
"We're not here to take her…"
"We're here to kill her."
Arin's heart pounded.
The Eclipse Beast growled, stepping in front of her again, ready to tear the rogues apart.
Kael's body glowed with Alpha power.
"Arin, stay behind me."
Arin shook her head. "If they're here for me… I can't hide."
Her skin shimmered with faint light — the same glow as the beast.
Kael stared. "Arin… what are you awakening?"
"I don't know," she whispered, "but I think it's something they fear."
The rogues charged.
Kael roared and leaped into battle.
And beside him…
Arin's power finally sparked alive.