The street went completely silent.
Aria stood frozen behind Kael, her heart hammering so hard she could feel it in her throat. The three men across the road had stopped moving the moment Kael appeared, their eyes narrowing as they studied him.
The wind stirred the leaves along Pine Street, carrying a tense, dangerous energy through the air.
Kael didn't move.
But the growl that rumbled from his chest was anything but human.
The first rogue smirked.
"Well, well," he said slowly. "The Alpha himself."
Aria blinked.
Alpha?
Her gaze snapped to Kael's back.
He stood tall, shoulders squared, completely blocking her from the three men like a wall.
"Leave," Kael said quietly.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
The second rogue laughed.
"You think we came all this way just to walk away?"
Kael's golden eyes burned brighter.
"You crossed into my territory," he replied. "You're already lucky I haven't killed you."
Aria felt a chill crawl down her spine.
Something about the way he said that made it sound less like a threat…
And more like a fact.
The first rogue tilted his head slightly.
"We're not here for trouble."
Kael didn't react.
"You're rogues," he said flatly. "Trouble follows you everywhere."
The third man's lips curled back slightly, revealing sharp teeth.
"We just want the girl."
Aria's stomach dropped.
Behind Kael, she instinctively took a step back.
Kael's body immediately shifted.
He moved slightly to block her even more.
"No," he said.
The word carried a dangerous edge.
The first rogue sighed dramatically.
"You really want to do this the hard way?"
Kael's voice dropped into a low growl.
"You have five seconds to leave my town."
The rogue's smile vanished.
"And if we don't?"
Kael's eyes flashed.
"Then you die."
For a brief moment, no one moved.
Then the first rogue laughed.
"You really think you can take all three of us?"
Kael didn't answer.
But the air around him suddenly changed.
His posture shifted.
His muscles tensed.
And a deep, animalistic growl rolled from his chest.
Aria felt the sound vibrate through her bones.
Her heart raced.
What is happening?
The rogues exchanged glances.
Then the first one shrugged.
"Fine."
His body suddenly twisted unnaturally.
Bones cracked loudly.
His back arched.
Aria gasped as fur exploded across his skin.
Within seconds, the man was gone.
In his place stood a massive gray wolf.
The other two shifted just as quickly.
Three wolves now stood in the middle of the street.
Aria's mind went blank.
Her legs felt weak.
"This… isn't possible," she whispered.
But the wolves were real.
Their glowing yellow eyes locked onto her.
Saliva dripped from their sharp teeth.
One of them growled.
And suddenly—
Kael moved.
His body shifted faster than Aria could process.
One moment he was standing in front of her.
The next—
His bones snapped and twisted as dark fur burst from his skin.
Aria stumbled backward in shock.
A massive black wolf now stood between her and the rogues.
He was enormous.
Far larger than the other wolves.
His fur was black as midnight.
And his golden eyes burned with pure rage.
The rogues hesitated.
Clearly they hadn't expected him to shift so quickly.
The black wolf lowered his head.
A deep growl shook the street.
The challenge was clear.
Leave.
Or die.
For a moment, the three rogues seemed uncertain.
Then the largest gray wolf lunged.
The fight exploded instantly.
The wolves crashed together in a blur of fur and teeth.
Aria staggered backward toward the sidewalk, her mind spinning.
The sounds were terrifying.
Growls.
Snarls.
The snap of jaws.
The black wolf moved with incredible speed, slamming one rogue into the pavement before spinning and snapping at another.
The third wolf lunged from the side.
But Kael twisted away, his claws raking across the rogue's shoulder.
The wolf yelped in pain.
Aria's breath came in short gasps.
Wolves… they're all wolves…
Her entire world had just shattered.
Nothing made sense anymore.
The black wolf slammed into the largest rogue again, sending both of them crashing into a parked car.
Metal dented loudly.
The rogue tried to bite his throat—
But Kael was faster.
His jaws clamped around the rogue's neck.
The wolf shrieked.
Then went still.
The other two wolves froze.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then one of them snarled and bolted down the street.
The last rogue hesitated for a split second—
Then followed.
They disappeared into the forest at the edge of town.
Silence returned to Pine Street.
Aria's legs gave out slightly and she leaned against a fence, trying to breathe.
Her heart pounded wildly.
The massive black wolf turned toward her.
His golden eyes locked onto hers.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then slowly—
The wolf's body shifted again.
Bones cracked.
Fur disappeared.
And Kael stood there once more, breathing heavily.
His shirt was torn and streaked with blood.
But his golden eyes were focused entirely on her.
Aria stared at him.
"You…"
Her voice trembled.
"You turned into a wolf."
Kael ran a hand through his dark hair, clearly annoyed.
"Yes."
Aria blinked rapidly.
"You… actually turned into a wolf."
"Yes."
"You're serious right now?"
Kael sighed.
"This isn't a joke, Aria."
Her mind raced.
The rogues.
The glowing eyes.
The transformation.
It was impossible.
And yet she had seen it with her own eyes.
Her chest began to burn again.
The same strange heat from earlier.
The voice inside her mind stirred.
Now you understand.
Aria grabbed her head.
"What is happening to me?"
Kael's expression changed instantly.
Concern replaced irritation.
"What do you mean?"
Aria looked up at him, panic rising in her voice.
"I keep hearing something in my head!"
Kael went completely still.
"What kind of voice?"
Aria swallowed hard.
"It sounds like…"
She hesitated.
Like saying it out loud would make it real.
"It sounds like a wolf."
Kael's face lost all color.
For a moment, he looked genuinely shocked.
Then something even worse replaced the shock.
Fear.
Real fear.
"You heard it?" he asked quietly.
Aria nodded.
"Yes."
Kael ran a hand over his face.
"That's not possible," he muttered.
Aria's frustration exploded.
"Everyone keeps saying that!"
Kael suddenly grabbed her shoulders.
His grip was firm, but not rough.
"Aria," he said seriously.
"You need to listen to me very carefully."
Her heart pounded.
"What?"
Kael's golden eyes locked onto hers.
"If you're hearing your wolf…"
Aria's stomach twisted.
"My wolf?"
Kael's voice dropped to a grave whisper.
"Then your awakening has already started."
Aria blinked.
"My what?"
Kael didn't answer right away.
Instead, he slowly looked toward the dark forest beyond the street.
His jaw tightened.
Because if Aria's wolf was waking up…
Then her scent would grow stronger.
Stronger enough for every supernatural creature within miles to sense it.
And the rogues who attacked earlier?
They wouldn't be the last.
Kael turned back to her.
His voice was suddenly urgent.
"We have a serious problem."
Aria's heart sank.
"What problem?"
Kael took a slow breath.
"Now that they've found you…"
A distant howl suddenly echoed from the forest.
It was long.
Low.
And not alone.
Kael's expression hardened.
"…they're coming back."
And this time—
There were many more.