The night grew colder after the battle.
The pack territory was quiet again, but nobody truly slept.
Guards moved between the trees. Warriors patrolled the ridges. The forest that once felt like home now felt like a battlefield waiting to explode.
At the center of the clearing stood Aria.
She stared at the crescent mark glowing faintly on her wrist.
The light pulsed softly.
Like a heartbeat.
She frowned.
"Why does it feel like it's… calling me?"
A voice behind her answered.
"Because it probably is."
She turned to see Alpha Kael walking toward her.
The moonlight reflected in his silver eyes.
He looked tired, but alert.
Aria sighed.
"Tell me you're here to say everything is under control."
Kael stopped beside her.
"I'd be lying."
She laughed quietly.
"Good. At least you're honest."
For a moment they both looked toward the forest.
The darkness between the trees seemed deeper tonight.
Aria rubbed her wrist again.
"This prophecy thing…"
She shook her head.
"…I don't like it."
Kael crossed his arms.
"You don't have to believe it."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"You do."
Kael didn't deny it.
He looked at her wrist.
"I've seen what your power can do."
Aria followed his gaze.
The mark flickered again.
"That power feels like it has its own brain sometimes."
Kael's voice softened.
"You're learning."
Aria smirked.
"I almost threw three wolves across the forest tonight."
Kael allowed a small smile.
"Yes."
She pointed at him.
"And you didn't even look impressed."
Kael shrugged.
"I was busy trying not to kill Magnus."
The smile faded from Aria's face.
"Yeah… about that."
She leaned against a nearby tree.
"He seemed way too confident."
Kael's eyes darkened.
"Magnus always is."
Aria looked up at the moon.
"I hate the way he talks like I belong to him."
A wooden staff tapped the ground nearby.
Tok.
Both of them turned.
Ikechukwu walked toward them slowly.
He stretched slightly like someone waking from a nap.
"Hmm… this night long o."
Aria folded her arms.
"You were sleeping?"
Ikechukwu shrugged.
"Small rest."
Kael shook his head.
"During a war."
Ikechukwu grinned.
"Alpha, if person no sleep, brain no go work tomorrow."
Aria chuckled.
"Fair point."
But Ikechukwu's expression soon turned serious.
He looked at Aria's glowing wrist.
"The mark stronger tonight."
Aria sighed.
"Trust me, I noticed."
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"That mean the moon dey push your power wake."
Kael frowned.
"Push it how?"
Ikechukwu pointed toward the sky.
"The moon full tomorrow night."
Aria blinked.
"So?"
Ikechukwu's voice lowered.
"That when the Moon Vessel power dey grow fastest."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Meaning Magnus will attack again."
Ikechukwu nodded.
"Most likely."
Aria groaned.
"Fantastic."
She pushed away from the tree.
"So tomorrow night I get stronger…"
She pointed toward the forest.
"…and the crazy wolf king probably shows up again."
Ikechukwu shrugged.
"Something like that."
Kael stepped closer to Aria.
"You won't face him alone."
Aria smiled slightly.
"You better not let him hear you say that."
Kael's voice was calm.
"I don't care if he hears it."
The moment hung quietly between them.
Then suddenly—
Aria's wrist burned.
"Ah!"
The silver crescent flared with bright light.
Both Kael and Ikechukwu turned sharply.
Aria grabbed her arm.
"What the—"
The light spread up her arm like flowing energy.
Her eyes widened.
"I didn't do that!"
Ikechukwu stepped closer quickly.
"Relax."
Aria shook her head.
"I'm not controlling this!"
The silver glow intensified.
Moonlight suddenly poured through the trees.
The air around them seemed to vibrate.
Kael stepped forward protectively.
"What's happening?"
Ikechukwu stared at the sky.
"The moon dey respond."
Aria gasped as a wave of energy pulsed outward from her body.
Leaves lifted from the ground.
The trees trembled.
Several wolves in the distance howled suddenly.
Kael's wolf stirred violently inside him.
"This power…"
Aria looked terrified.
"I can't stop it!"
Ikechukwu tapped his staff firmly on the ground.
"Breathe."
Aria tried to focus.
The silver light flickered wildly.
Then slowly…
The glow faded.
The forest became still again.
Aria leaned forward slightly, catching her breath.
"That was not normal."
Kael looked at her wrist carefully.
"What did you feel?"
Aria swallowed.
"It felt like…"
She hesitated.
"Like something far away noticed me."
The three of them exchanged uneasy looks.
Because deep inside the forest…
Far beyond the territory…
Someone had indeed noticed.
Standing on a rocky cliff under the moonlight, Magnus slowly lifted his head.
His red eyes glowed with satisfaction.
He had felt it.
The awakening.
His smile grew wider.
"Well…"
His voice was quiet in the night.
"It begins."