The night did not sleep.
After Magnus's soldiers left, the pack grounds remained restless. Warriors patrolled the borders. The air was thick with tension, like the calm before a violent storm.
Aria sat near the great fire at the center of the camp, staring at the glowing mark on her wrist.
It pulsed slowly.
Like a heartbeat.
Across from her, Alpha Kael stood speaking quietly with his warriors, giving orders. His posture was calm, but Aria could see the tension in his shoulders.
The threat of Alpha Magnus was no longer just a story.
It had arrived.
A soft tap echoed beside her.
Tok… Tok…
Ikechukwu's wooden staff rested against the ground as he lowered himself onto a nearby log.
He studied the moon above them.
Then he sighed.
"The night is too quiet," he said.
Aria looked at him.
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
Ikechukwu smiled slightly.
"In my village in Nigeria, elders say something."
Aria tilted her head.
"What?"
He raised one finger.
"When the forest becomes too quiet… it means the lion has started moving."
Aria felt a chill.
"So Magnus is the lion?"
Ikechukwu chuckled softly.
"My dear, Magnus is not the lion."
He pointed gently toward her glowing wrist.
"The lion is hunting you."
Aria swallowed.
The mark suddenly pulsed again.
Bright.
Hot.
"Why does everyone want this power?" she whispered.
Ikechukwu became quiet.
For the first time, the humor in his voice disappeared.
"Because power makes men forget wisdom."
Aria looked down at her hands.
"I never asked for this."
"I know."
"But the moon still chose you."
Silence fell between them for a moment.
Then Aria looked at him again.
"You said before that there were stories about the Moon Vessel."
Ikechukwu nodded.
"Yes."
"Tell me."
The fire crackled softly as he leaned forward.
"Very well."
He pointed toward the moon.
"Long before packs fought for land… long before wolves divided themselves into alphas and warriors… the moon gave a gift to the wolf world."
Aria listened carefully.
"That gift was balance," Ikechukwu continued.
"A person who could hear the moon's voice."
"The Moon Vessel."
Aria's heart beat faster.
"But there was also a warning."
Kael approached slowly, hearing the conversation. He crossed his arms.
"What warning?"
Ikechukwu looked at both of them.
"The Moon Vessel does not only bring peace."
The fire flickered.
"It also awakens war."
Aria frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It does," Ikechukwu replied.
"Because the moment power appears… someone will always try to control it."
Kael nodded slowly.
"Magnus."
Ikechukwu pointed at him.
"Exactly."
Aria looked between them.
"So Magnus wants to control the moon's power through me."
"Yes," Kael said.
"But he will fail."
Ikechukwu tilted his head slightly.
"Perhaps."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"Perhaps?"
The Nigerian man smiled calmly.
"There is one part of the prophecy many wolves forget."
Aria leaned forward.
"What part?"
Ikechukwu's voice lowered.
"The Moon Vessel cannot be controlled…"
The wind rustled the trees around them.
"…but she must choose who stands beside her."
Aria's eyes widened slightly.
"Choose?"
Ikechukwu nodded.
"In every age where a Moon Vessel appeared… there was also a protector."
Kael's gaze hardened.
"What kind of protector?"
Ikechukwu studied him carefully.
"The one the moon trusts."
Silence settled over the fire.
Aria suddenly became very aware of how close Kael was standing.
The firelight reflected in his silver eyes.
"Is that why the moon brought you to this pack?" he asked quietly.
Aria hesitated.
"I… don't know."
Her wrist pulsed again.
Bright.
Hot.
Suddenly a strange whisper echoed faintly in her mind.
The protector is near.
Aria froze.
Kael noticed immediately.
"What happened?"
She looked at him slowly.
"The moon spoke again."
Ikechukwu leaned forward.
"What did it say?"
Aria's voice was barely above a whisper.
"It said…"
Her glowing eyes lifted toward Kael.
"…the protector is near."
For a moment no one spoke.
Then Ikechukwu slowly leaned back.
A small smile spread across his face.
"Ah."
Kael sighed.
"Don't 'ah' me."
Ikechukwu shrugged.
"In my language we say something when destiny begins to reveal itself."
Kael rubbed his forehead.
"Translate."
Ikechukwu grinned.
"It means…"
He looked between Aria and Kael.
"…things are about to become very complicated."
At that exact moment—
A distant howl shattered the silence of the night.
But this time…
It was much closer.
Kael's head snapped toward the northern forest.
Warriors immediately stood.
Aria's heart began racing again.
Ikechukwu stood slowly, gripping his staff.
"Well."
Kael growled softly.
"They're back."
The wind howled through the forest.
And far beyond the trees—
A pair of red eyes opened in the darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
Alpha Magnus had begun the hunt.