The clearing stayed silent for several seconds after the tree split in half.
Pieces of bark slowly fell to the ground.
Even the warriors looked stunned.
At the center of the clearing, Aria stared at her hands like they belonged to someone else.
"I… did that."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
The silver glow around her fingers slowly faded, but the crescent mark on her wrist still shone under the moonlight.
A few steps away, Alpha Kael was watching her carefully.
His expression was calm, but inside he felt something else.
Concern.
He had seen powerful wolves before.
But this…
This was different.
Aria looked at the broken tree again.
"I didn't even touch it."
Kael stepped closer.
"That's called power."
Aria exhaled slowly.
"That's called terrifying."
Behind them, Ikechukwu tapped his wooden staff once against the ground.
"Good."
Aria turned toward him.
"Good?"
The old man nodded calmly.
"Yes."
She pointed toward the destroyed tree.
"I just sliced a tree in half!"
"Yes."
"And that's good?"
"Yes."
Aria stared at him.
"You're a very strange teacher."
Ikechukwu smiled slightly.
"In Nigeria we say something about power."
Kael groaned quietly.
"I knew it was coming."
Ikechukwu continued anyway.
"When a child first holds fire…"
He raised his staff slightly.
"…the first thing it burns is the ground."
Aria frowned.
"So… I'm the child?"
"Yes."
"And the forest is the ground?"
"Yes."
Kael crossed his arms.
"That actually makes sense."
Aria sighed.
"Great. I'm burning forests now."
Ikechukwu shook his head slowly.
"No."
He pointed to her wrist.
"You are learning."
Aria looked down at the glowing crescent mark again.
The power inside her felt calmer now.
Like a river settling after a storm.
But something still bothered her.
She looked at Ikechukwu again.
"You said something earlier."
"What?"
"That Magnus wanted me strong."
The old man's expression became serious.
"Yes."
Aria crossed her arms.
"Why?"
Before he could answer, Kael spoke.
"Because Magnus doesn't want to fight a weak enemy."
Aria looked at him.
"That doesn't make sense."
Kael's eyes darkened.
"It does for someone like him."
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"In my homeland we say something about warriors."
Kael sighed again.
"Another one."
"Yes."
The old man's voice lowered slightly.
"The greatest hunters do not chase weak prey."
He looked toward the forest.
"They chase legends."
Aria felt a chill run through her body.
"You're saying Magnus wants to fight me… when I'm stronger?"
Kael answered this time.
"Yes."
Aria stared at the dark forest surrounding the clearing.
"That's insane."
Ikechukwu tapped his staff again.
"No."
His voice was calm.
"It is pride."
The wind rustled through the trees again.
Somewhere far away an owl hooted.
Aria rubbed her arms.
Suddenly the night felt colder.
Kael noticed.
"You feel that?"
She nodded.
"Yeah."
The old man looked toward the trees.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hmm."
Kael looked at him.
"What?"
Ikechukwu tapped his staff once more.
"The forest is restless tonight."
Aria frowned.
"What does that mean?"
The old man didn't answer immediately.
Instead he listened to the wind carefully.
Then he sighed quietly.
"In Nigeria we say something about storms."
Kael rubbed his temples.
"Please don't."
Ikechukwu ignored him again.
"When the wind begins whispering…"
His voice grew quieter.
"…the storm is already near."
Aria felt her stomach tighten.
"Magnus?"
The old man shook his head slowly.
"No."
Kael frowned.
"Then what?"
Ikechukwu's eyes moved toward the deeper forest.
Something had shifted.
Something dangerous.
His voice became very quiet.
"Something else."
The warriors around the clearing suddenly tensed.
A distant howl echoed through the trees.
But it didn't sound like one of their wolves.
It sounded… wrong.
Aria felt the crescent mark on her wrist pulse again.
Harder this time.
Kael stepped forward.
His voice dropped into Alpha command.
"Everyone stay alert."
The forest around them suddenly felt alive.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somewhere in the darkness…
Even Magnus paused to listen.
Because whatever was coming…
It wasn't part of his plan.