The next morning came slowly.
The sky was still grey when Aria stepped outside the Alpha house. The air felt cold, and the forest was unusually quiet.
She had barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered the silver light… the explosion… and the voice of Magnus whispering in the darkness.
Awaken, Moon Vessel.
Aria rubbed her wrist.
The crescent mark was still glowing faintly.
Behind her, the door opened.
Alpha Kael stepped outside.
"You're awake early," he said.
Aria shrugged.
"Hard to sleep when you think you might destroy the forest again."
Kael crossed his arms.
"You didn't destroy anything."
"Not yet," she muttered.
Kael was about to respond when a familiar voice spoke from behind them.
"Ah. The two people who like worrying too much."
They both turned.
Ikechukwu walked toward them slowly, tapping his wooden staff against the ground.
"Good morning," Aria said.
The old man nodded.
"Morning."
He looked at her wrist.
Then he nodded again.
"Good."
Kael frowned.
"What's good?"
Ikechukwu pointed his staff toward Aria.
"She did not explode overnight."
Aria blinked.
"That was a possibility?"
Ikechukwu shrugged.
"With moon power like that… anything is possible."
Kael sighed.
"You're not helping."
Ikechukwu ignored him and looked at Aria.
"Are you ready?"
Aria frowned.
"Ready for what?"
The old man smiled slightly.
"Training."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Here?"
Ikechukwu nodded.
"Yes."
Aria looked around the quiet clearing.
"This is training?"
Ikechukwu tapped his staff.
"Yes."
She crossed her arms.
"Okay… what do I do?"
The old man looked at the forest around them.
Then he pointed toward a large fallen tree.
"Lift it."
Aria stared at him.
"That thing weighs like a thousand pounds."
Ikechukwu nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Kael smirked slightly.
"This I want to see."
Aria glared at both of them.
"Very funny."
But she still walked toward the tree.
She placed her hands on the rough bark and pushed.
Nothing happened.
She groaned.
"See? Impossible."
Ikechukwu shook his head slowly.
"No."
He tapped his staff again.
"You are trying with your muscles."
He pointed to her wrist.
"Try with the moon."
Aria frowned.
"How exactly do I do that?"
The old man smiled.
"Feel it."
Kael muttered quietly.
"That sounds very helpful."
Ikechukwu ignored him.
Aria closed her eyes.
She took a slow breath.
The forest felt calm.
The wind moved gently through the leaves.
And somewhere deep inside her chest… she felt it.
A soft pulse.
The moon's power.
Her wrist began glowing.
Silver light spread across her hand.
Kael leaned forward slightly.
"Careful."
Aria pushed again.
This time—
CRACK.
The massive tree lifted slightly off the ground.
Her eyes flew open.
"Oh!"
The power surged.
BOOM.
The tree shot ten feet into the air and landed with a massive crash.
Birds exploded from the nearby branches.
Aria stumbled backward.
"I didn't mean to do that!"
Kael stared at the broken tree.
"Well."
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"Progress."
Aria looked horrified.
"I almost launched a tree into the sky!"
The old man shrugged.
"Yes."
He smiled calmly.
"But next time, maybe aim somewhere useful."
Kael laughed under his breath.
Aria sighed.
"This is going to be a long training."
Ikechukwu tapped his staff again.
"Yes."
His expression slowly became serious.
"Because Magnus will not wait forever."
Aria's smile disappeared.
Kael's eyes hardened.
The old man looked toward the forest.
"In Nigeria we say something."
Kael groaned.
"Here we go again."
Ikechukwu smiled slightly.
"When the hunter is patient…"
His eyes darkened.
"…the prey must become stronger."
The wind rustled the trees.
And somewhere deep in the forest…
Far beyond the pack territory…
Magnus was already planning his next move.