Aarav did not sleep.
Even after Elder Seraphina's prophecy, his mind refused to calm down.
The broken mirror pieces still lay on the wooden floor, reflecting the flickering candlelight.
The words kept echoing in his head.
Blood Moon Heir.
Three blood guardians.
Nine hybrid brides.
It all sounded impossible.
And yet—
His body told him it was real.
A sharp pain suddenly ran through his chest.
"Ah—!"
Aarav grabbed the edge of the bed.
His breathing grew heavy.
Something was wrong.
No.
Something was changing.
His heartbeat became louder.
Too loud.
Then he realized—
It wasn't only his heartbeat.
He could hear three different heartbeats outside the room.
Fast.
Slow.
Steady.
His eyes widened.
No way.
The door opened.
Mia stepped inside first.
Behind her came Jack and Kai.
The moment Mia entered, Aarav froze.
He could hear her heartbeat.
Clearly.
Every beat.
Every breath.
Even the soft sound of her footsteps on the wooden floor.
His senses had become terrifyingly sharp.
Kai immediately noticed his expression.
"It started."
Jack crossed his arms.
"First awakening."
Aarav looked at them.
"What's happening to me?"
Before anyone answered—
His nose suddenly caught a scent.
Sweet.
Warm.
Metallic.
Blood.
A tiny cut was visible on Mia's finger.
Probably from the shattered mirror.
Aarav's pupils suddenly narrowed.
His breathing changed.
His throat burnt.
The scent became stronger.
Too strong.
Kai's face darkened.
"Aarav."
But Aarav could barely hear him.
All he could smell was blood.
His body moved on its own.
Too fast.
In one second, he was sitting on the bed.
The next—
He was standing right in front of Mia.
Mia's eyes widened.
"Aarav?"
His eyes glowed crimson.
Sharp fangs slowly appeared.
Kai instantly moved.
He grabbed Aarav's shoulder and pulled him back.
"Control yourself!"
Aarav blinked.
For a second, his vision cleared.
Then shame hit him.
He quickly stepped away.
"I… what was that?"
Kai let out a slow breath.
"Your vampire blood."
Mia gently hid her injured finger.
Her expression was worried, not afraid.
Jack stepped forward.
"That's not all."
Before Aarav could ask—
Another sharp pain ran through his body.
His muscles tightened.
His bones cracked.
He fell to one knee.
"Ahhh!"
A silver glow spread through his arms.
His nails suddenly sharpened.
They had become claws.
Aarav stared in horror.
No.
This couldn't be happening.
Jack knelt beside him.
"Moon wolf instincts",
Mia moved closer.
"Don't panic."
But Aarav's body wasn't listening.
His hearing sharpened even more.
He could hear footsteps outside the house.
Bird wings from the trees.
The wind brushes against leaves.
Every sound crashed into his mind at once.
He grabbed his head.
"It's too loud!"
Mia immediately placed both hands on his shoulders.
"Look at me."
Her voice was calm.
Gentle.
Aarav slowly looked up.
Her golden eyes glowed softly.
"Breathe slowly."
"In and out."
Her voice was strangely calming.
Aarav followed.
Slow breath in.
Slow breath out.
The sounds around him slowly became bearable.
The crimson glow in his eyes faded.
The claws slowly returned to normal.
Kai let out a breath.
"Good."
Jack stood up.
"That was only the first stage."
Aarav stared at his hands.
He could still feel the power inside.
Three different instincts.
Blood hunger.
Moon senses.
Wolf strength.
Kai leaned against the wall.
"You need training."
Jack nodded.
"Immediately."
Mia gave a small smile.
"Don't worry."
"We'll help you."
For the first time since waking up, Aarav felt slightly relieved.
At least he wasn't alone.
Behind Elder Seraphina's house was an open training ground surrounded by ancient trees.
Moonlight fell softly across the clearing.
Jack stepped into the centre.
"First lesson."
"Strength control."
Aarav frowned.
Jack threw a wooden training post in front of him.
"Punch it."
Aarav blinked.
"That's it?"
Jack smirked.
"Try."
Aarav walked closer.
He raised his fist.
Then punched.
CRACK!
The wooden post exploded into pieces.
Aarav froze.
His eyes widened.
"What the—"
Jack gave a satisfied nod.
"Royal alpha strength."
Kai crossed his arms.
"Now speed."
He suddenly vanished.
A shadow blurred behind Aarav.
Then Kai appeared beside him.
"Try to follow me."
Before Aarav could react—
Kai moved again.
A blur.
Another blur.
Then another.
Aarav turned his head.
But something strange happened.
For a split second—
He could actually follow Kai's movement.
Not fully.
But enough to see the shadow trail.
Kai stopped.
His crimson eyes narrowed with interest.
"You're adapting fast."
Mia stepped forward next.
"Now instincts."
She closed her eyes.
"Tell me what you hear."
Aarav frowned.
Then slowly focused.
Leaves moving.
Jack's breathing.
Kai's heartbeat.
Then—
footsteps.
His eyes snapped open.
"Someone's outside."
Jack and Kai immediately looked toward the trees.
A shadow moved.
Mia's expression darkened.
"That's impossible."
Elder Seraphina suddenly stepped into the clearing.
Her face was grave.
"They found him."
Kai's fangs slowly appeared.
"Already?"
The witch nodded.
"The prophecy has spread faster than expected."
Jack's claws extended.
A low growl escaped his throat.
A cold female voice suddenly echoed from the darkness.
"So this is the Blood Moon Heir."
A woman slowly stepped out from the trees.
Silver hair.
Crimson eyes.
Black dragon horns.
And dark wings touched with moonlight.
A hybrid.
Aarav's heart pounded.
The first bride had arrived. realised