The full moon still ruled the sky.
Silver light covered the forest like a thin veil, making every shadow deeper and every sound sharper.
At the center of the clearing stood Aria, her breathing uneven as the strange power inside her slowly settled.
Moments ago, the energy had exploded through her body like lightning.
Now it pulsed quietly beneath her skin.
Alive.
Waiting.
Around the clearing, dozens of wolves remained gathered, their glowing eyes reflecting the moonlight as they watched her.
Not attacking.
Not leaving.
Just watching.
Aria swallowed.
"This is officially the strangest audience I've ever had."
Beside her, Alpha Kael stood tall, his posture tense as he faced the man standing across the clearing.
His enemy.
Magnus.
Magnus looked completely relaxed despite being surrounded by hostile wolves.
His red eyes glowed faintly as they studied Aria with unsettling interest.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he said calmly.
Aria frowned.
"What is?"
Magnus gestured around them.
"The way the forest answers you."
Aria glanced at the wolves surrounding the clearing.
"They're not answering me. They're staring."
Magnus chuckled softly.
"That's the beginning."
Kael stepped forward slightly, placing himself more firmly between Magnus and Aria.
"You've seen enough."
Magnus barely acknowledged him.
His attention remained on Aria.
"The Moon Vessel awakens under the full moon."
He tilted his head slightly.
"And the wolves come to witness it."
Aria crossed her arms.
"You say that like I planned this."
Magnus smiled faintly.
"Oh, you didn't."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"But fate did."
Kael's patience snapped.
"You talk too much."
In a flash, Kael's claws extended.
The wolves of his pack tensed instantly.
The clearing filled with dangerous energy.
But Magnus simply sighed.
"So predictable."
Then suddenly—
The ground trembled.
A deep howl erupted from the forest.
Not one.
Not two.
But several.
Aria's stomach dropped.
"That doesn't sound like normal wolves."
From the darkness between the trees, shapes began to emerge.
Large wolves.
Bigger than normal.
Their eyes glowed red under the moonlight.
Aria's heart raced.
"Those are Magnus's wolves."
Magnus finally looked amused.
"Ah."
He spread his arms slightly.
"My hunters have arrived."
Kael growled low in his throat.
"You brought an army."
Magnus shrugged.
"Preparation."
More wolves stepped into the clearing.
Ten.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Soon the number was impossible to count.
The pack warriors moved closer to Kael.
The tension thickened.
Aria glanced at Ikechukwu, who stood quietly behind them.
Ikechukwu tapped his staff lightly against the ground.
"Wahala don land."
Aria blinked.
"That means trouble, right?"
Ikechukwu nodded calmly.
"Big one."
Magnus took another step forward.
"Relax."
His red eyes locked onto Aria again.
"I didn't come to start a war tonight."
Kael's voice turned cold.
"Then why are you here?"
Magnus smiled slowly.
"To begin the hunt."
Aria frowned.
"Hunt?"
Magnus pointed toward her glowing wrist.
"You."
The clearing fell silent.
Kael's claws extended further.
"You'll never take her."
Magnus laughed quietly.
"Oh, Alpha."
He shook his head.
"You misunderstand."
His gaze returned to Aria, burning with dangerous confidence.
"She doesn't belong to you."
Aria rolled her eyes.
"Can everyone stop talking about me like I'm a lost phone?"
Magnus ignored the comment.
Instead, he spoke softly.
"The moon chose her."
His voice dropped lower.
"But the hunt will decide who owns her."
The wolves behind him growled.
Kael stepped forward, fury blazing in his silver eyes.
"You're not leaving this forest."
Magnus smiled wider.
"Oh, I am."
Then his gaze sharpened.
"But the hunt has already begun."
Suddenly—
The wolves behind him scattered into the forest.
Running.
Fast.
Aria frowned.
"Why are they leaving?"
Magnus began walking backward toward the trees.
Because the moment she leaves this territory…"
His red eyes glowed under the moonlight.
"…every wolf in the forest will come for her."
Aria's stomach tightened.
"That's insane."
Magnus disappeared into the shadows.
But his voice echoed through the trees one last time.
"Run, little Moon Vessel."
The forest fell silent again.
Aria slowly turned to Kael.
"Please tell me he's bluffing."
Kael's expression was deadly serious.
"He's not."
Aria sighed deeply.
"Great."
She looked toward the dark forest.
"So basically…"
She rubbed her glowing wrist.
"…I just became the most wanted person in the wolf world."