The forest remained silent long after Magnus disappeared.
Even the wind seemed afraid to move.
No one spoke.
All the warriors stood frozen, staring at the empty space where he had been only seconds ago.
Finally, Alpha Kael turned slowly toward the pack.
"Everyone back to the territory," he ordered.
His voice was firm, but Aria could hear the tension beneath it.
"We prepare immediately."
The warriors nodded and began moving, though many of them still looked shaken.
A few glanced nervously at Aria.
Not in fear.
But in awe.
She had felt it too.
Something had changed.
The crescent mark on her wrist pulsed again.
Hot.
Too hot.
Aria winced.
Kael noticed instantly.
"What is it?"
Aria grabbed her wrist.
"It burns."
Kael stepped closer.
"Let me see."
The moment he touched her hand, the mark suddenly flashed with silver light.
A sharp pulse of energy shot through Aria's body.
She gasped.
The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly.
The nearby warriors stopped walking.
"What was that?" one of them whispered.
Behind them, Ikechukwu slowly tapped his staff against the earth.
"Ah."
Kael turned to him quickly.
"Ah what?"
Ikechukwu's eyes were focused on Aria's glowing wrist.
"The moon is stirring."
Aria's breathing grew heavier.
"I don't like that sentence."
The burning sensation spread from her wrist to her arm.
Then to her chest.
Her heartbeat started racing.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The forest wind suddenly picked up.
Leaves swirled violently around them.
One of the warriors cursed.
"Alpha, something's wrong."
Kael already knew.
He grabbed Aria's shoulders.
"Look at me."
But Aria's eyes had begun glowing faintly silver.
"I… can't control it."
The power surged again.
BOOM.
A shockwave burst from her body, pushing several warriors backward.
One of them slammed into a tree.
Kael held his ground.
His grip tightened.
"Aria!"
But her voice sounded distant.
"The moon… it's loud."
Kael frowned.
"What do you mean loud?"
Aria's breathing became shaky.
"It's like… voices."
The wind roared louder.
Branches shook violently.
Ikechukwu watched carefully.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Do not fight it."
Kael looked at him sharply.
"She's losing control!"
Ikechukwu shook his head.
"No."
His voice remained steady.
"She is waking up."
Aria suddenly dropped to one knee.
The mark on her wrist burned brighter than ever before.
Silver light spilled across the ground.
Kael crouched beside her.
"Aria, listen to me."
She grabbed his arm desperately.
"I feel… everything."
"What everything?"
"Every wolf."
Her voice trembled.
"The forest… the pack… the moon…"
Her eyes widened.
"And Magnus."
Kael froze.
"You can feel him?"
Aria nodded slowly.
"Yes."
A chill ran through everyone present.
"He's still nearby."
The warriors immediately looked around the forest.
But Ikechukwu remained calm.
"Of course he is."
Kael stood up instantly.
"You knew?"
Ikechukwu shrugged slightly.
"In Nigeria we say something."
Kael groaned.
"Now is not the time."
Ikechukwu ignored him.
"The hunter never leaves after showing his face."
His gaze darkened.
"He stays close enough to watch the trap close."
Aria suddenly screamed.
A massive burst of silver light exploded from her body.
CRACK.
Several nearby trees split down the middle.
The ground shook violently.
The warriors staggered backward.
Kael barely managed to stay standing.
"ARIA!"
Her eyes had turned completely silver now.
Not human.
Not wolf.
Something older.
Something powerful.
The air vibrated with energy.
Aria slowly stood.
Her voice echoed strangely.
"The moon sees everything."
Even Ikechukwu looked slightly impressed.
"Well…"
He tapped his staff again.
"That escalated quickly."
Kael stepped forward cautiously.
"Aria… it's me."
Her glowing eyes turned toward him.
For a moment, she looked confused.
Then the power pulsed again.
BOOM.
Kael was thrown backward across the clearing.
He crashed into the ground hard.
The warriors rushed toward him.
"Alpha!"
Kael groaned but pushed himself up.
"I'm fine."
But his eyes were locked on Aria.
She was floating slightly above the ground now.
Silver light swirling around her like a storm.
Ikechukwu watched quietly.
Then he muttered something in Igbo under his breath.
Kael looked at him.
"You're just going to stand there?"
Ikechukwu raised an eyebrow.
"Would you like me to wrestle the moon?"
Kael glared.
Ikechukwu sighed.
"Very well."
He walked slowly toward Aria.
The power around her crackled dangerously.
Kael shouted.
"Careful!"
But Ikechukwu didn't stop.
He planted his wooden staff into the ground.
THUD.
The sound echoed strangely.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Child of the moon."
Aria's glowing eyes shifted toward him.
"The power you carry is not your enemy."
The wind slowed slightly.
Ikechukwu continued.
"You must breathe."
Aria's voice echoed again.
"I can't stop it."
Ikechukwu smiled gently.
"Of course you can."
He pointed his staff toward her glowing wrist.
"The moon chose you."
His eyes sharpened.
"But it did not choose to destroy you."
For a moment…
The silver light flickered.
Aria's breathing slowed slightly.
Kael watched in disbelief.
"It's working…"
But then—
From deep in the forest…
A low laugh echoed.
Magnus.
His voice drifted through the trees.
"Beautiful."
Everyone turned sharply.
But he remained hidden.
Magnus spoke again, his voice full of fascination.
"Yes… this is exactly what I was waiting for."
Aria's glowing eyes widened.
The power surged again.
Magnus whispered from the darkness.
"Awaken, Moon Vessel."
And the forest trembled once more.