The forest trembled.
Silver light poured from Aria like a storm breaking loose from the sky.
Leaves spun violently in the air.
Branches snapped like dry bones.
The warriors backed away instinctively.
Even the strongest wolves in the pack felt the pressure of the power building around her.
Her feet were no longer touching the ground.
She floated slightly above the earth, wrapped in a swirling glow of moonlight.
Her eyes were completely silver now.
Cold.
Ancient.
Unfamiliar.
Nearby, Alpha Kael pushed himself to his feet after being thrown across the clearing.
His chest rose and fell as he stared at her.
"Aria…"
But she didn't respond.
It was as if she couldn't hear him.
Or worse…
As if she was somewhere else entirely.
The wind roared louder.
From behind them, Ikechukwu remained calm.
He watched the storm of power with thoughtful eyes.
Then he muttered quietly,
"Hmm."
One of the warriors looked at him nervously.
"Oga… is she going to explode?"
Ikechukwu tapped his staff slowly against the ground.
"In my village," he said calmly, "when the river begins to flood, you do not panic."
The warrior blinked.
"What do you do?"
"You move to higher ground."
The warrior immediately took two steps backward.
Ikechukwu nodded approvingly.
"Good student."
Another shockwave burst from Aria.
BOOM.
The ground cracked beneath her feet.
Kael stepped forward despite the danger.
"ARIA!"
Her head snapped toward him suddenly.
For a moment, her silver eyes focused on his face.
Recognition flickered.
"Kael…"
Her voice sounded layered, as if two voices were speaking at the same time.
Relief crossed Kael's face.
"Yes. It's me."
But the power around her surged again.
The moonlight brightened painfully.
Aria grabbed her head.
"It's too much!"
Kael reached toward her.
"You have to fight it."
Aria shook her head desperately.
"I'm trying!"
Suddenly—
The forest exploded with movement.
A dozen wolves burst from the trees.
Dark fur.
Red eyes.
Magnus's hunters.
"Attack!" one of the warriors shouted.
The clearing erupted into chaos.
Wolves clashed violently.
Growls and snapping jaws filled the air.
Steel flashed as some warriors drew blades.
Kael's wolf surged forward instantly.
In seconds he shifted.
His massive black wolf slammed into one of the attackers, sending it crashing across the ground.
But the hunters weren't focused on the pack.
They were focused on Aria.
Two of them lunged toward her glowing form.
Ikechukwu sighed.
"Ah."
He lifted his staff slightly.
"You people like trouble too much."
Before the wolves could reach her—
Aria's power exploded.
BOOOOM.
A massive wave of silver energy blasted outward.
Every attacker was thrown through the air like rag dolls.
Several crashed violently into the trees.
One hit the ground and didn't move again.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
The surviving wolves backed away slowly.
Fear filled their eyes.
Even Magnus's hunters had not expected this.
Aria lowered slowly toward the ground.
The power around her flickered like unstable lightning.
Her breathing was ragged.
She looked exhausted.
But the silver glow in her eyes remained.
Then…
A slow clap echoed through the forest.
Everyone froze.
From the shadows of the trees stepped Magnus once again.
His red eyes shone with excitement.
"Magnificent."
Kael snarled loudly.
"You planned this."
Magnus smiled.
"Of course."
He gestured toward the fallen hunters.
"Sacrifices are sometimes necessary."
The pack growled in anger.
Magnus didn't care.
His gaze remained fixed on Aria.
"You see?" he said softly.
"You are becoming exactly what you were meant to be."
Aria glared at him.
Her voice trembled with anger.
"You did this."
Magnus nodded proudly.
"Yes."
Kael stepped forward protectively.
"You're insane."
Magnus tilted his head slightly.
"No."
His red eyes burned with ambition.
"I am patient."
He looked back at Aria.
"The Moon Vessel must awaken completely."
Aria's wrist burned again.
Magnus continued speaking, almost like a teacher explaining a lesson.
"When that happens…"
His smile darkened.
"The world will belong to whoever controls her."
Kael's voice dropped dangerously low.
"You will never control her."
Magnus chuckled softly.
"Alpha Kael."
He took one slow step forward.
"You misunderstand something very important."
His gaze shifted between them.
"Power always demands a price."
Then he looked directly at Aria.
"And soon…"
His smile widened.
"She will have to decide who owns her power."
The wind suddenly stopped.
Magnus's voice dropped to a whisper.
"The moon chose you…"
His red eyes gleamed with dangerous promise.
"But in the end…"
He pointed slowly to himself.
"You will belong to me."
Kael's wolf roared in fury.
The warriors prepared to attack.
But Magnus only laughed.
And in the next second—
He vanished into the forest once again.
The clearing fell silent.
Aria's silver glow finally began to fade.
Her knees buckled.
Kael rushed forward and caught her before she hit the ground.
Her eyes slowly returned to normal.
She looked weak.
Confused.
"Kael…"
"I'm here," he said quietly.
She swallowed hard.
"Did I hurt anyone?"
Kael shook his head.
"No."
Ikechukwu walked closer, tapping his staff again.
"Well…"
He looked at the broken trees, cracked ground, and unconscious attackers.
"That was exciting."
Kael sighed.
"You call that exciting?"
Ikechukwu nodded.
"In my experience…"
He smiled slightly.
"Things are about to become much worse."
Aria looked at them both nervously.
"How much worse?"
Ikechukwu's expression turned serious.
"Magnus has seen your power now."
The old man tapped his staff one last time.
"And men like him…"
His eyes darkened.
"Never stop hunting what they want."