The forest remained quiet long after Magnus and his wolves disappeared into the darkness.
Too quiet.
The warriors in the clearing stood alert, their eyes scanning the trees, their senses stretched to the limit.
At the center of it all, Aria exhaled slowly.
Her heart was still racing.
"That man seriously knows how to ruin a peaceful night."
Beside her, Alpha Kael didn't smile.
His gaze remained locked on the dark forest.
"He didn't come here just to talk."
Aria folded her arms.
"Obviously."
She paused.
"But if he wanted to attack, why didn't he?"
Before Kael could answer, a familiar voice spoke from behind them.
"Because that man like to play with his food."
Leaning on his wooden staff, Ikechukwu stepped closer.
He looked relaxed, but his eyes were sharp.
Aria turned toward him.
"That's a disturbing way to describe me."
Ikechukwu shrugged.
"Abeg, no take am personal. Predator behavior be like that."
Kael crossed his arms.
"He's testing us."
Aria frowned.
"So we're an experiment now?"
Ikechukwu nodded.
"Something like that."
The wind shifted through the trees.
For a moment, everything seemed calm again.
Too calm.
Kael suddenly turned his head toward the western ridge.
His wolf growled low inside him.
Aria noticed immediately.
"What?"
Kael didn't answer right away.
Instead, he lifted his hand slightly.
The warriors around the clearing froze.
Listening.
Then they heard it.
Leaves rustling.
Branches cracking.
Movement.
But this time…
It wasn't one wolf.
It was many.
Aria's stomach tightened.
"Please tell me that's not—"
Suddenly a loud snarl exploded from the forest.
Then shadows burst through the trees.
Wolves.
Fast.
Aggressive.
Charging straight toward the clearing.
The warriors reacted instantly.
"ATTACK!"
The clearing erupted into chaos.
Claws flashed.
Teeth snapped.
Wolves collided violently as Magnus's hunters crashed into the pack territory.
Aria stumbled back slightly as two wolves slammed into each other just a few meters away.
The sound of fighting filled the air.
Growls.
Snarls.
Painful yelps.
It was war.
Kael moved instantly.
His body shifted with terrifying speed.
Bones cracked as his Alpha wolf burst forward.
Massive.
Powerful.
Silver eyes glowing with fury.
The moment his paws hit the ground, he launched into the battle.
One of Magnus's wolves lunged at him.
Kael tore it down in seconds.
Aria watched in shock.
"Okay… that was brutal."
Beside her, Ikechukwu leaned on his staff calmly.
"Battle no be movie, my dear."
Another enemy wolf suddenly rushed toward them.
Its red eyes locked on Aria.
Aria froze for a split second.
"Uh… Ikechukwu?"
The old man sighed.
"Ah ah… this one no get manners."
Before the wolf could leap—
THUD.
Ikechukwu's staff slammed into the ground.
A strange pulse of energy spread outward.
The attacking wolf suddenly flew sideways as if something invisible had struck it.
It crashed into a tree with a loud crack.
Aria stared.
"…You've been holding out on us."
Ikechukwu scratched his beard casually.
"Small small tricks."
More wolves rushed into the clearing.
Too many.
Aria could see the pack warriors struggling now.
Even Kael was fighting three wolves at once.
Her wrist suddenly burned.
The crescent mark glowed brighter.
Aria looked down.
"Not now…"
But the power was rising again.
The silver light began spreading across her arm.
The nearby wolves hesitated when they saw it.
Aria took a slow breath.
"Okay…"
She stepped forward.
"If you guys want a show…"
The silver glow exploded outward.
Moonlight energy burst from her hand, slamming into the ground.
BOOM.
Several enemy wolves were thrown backward instantly.
The entire clearing lit up with silver light.
Even Kael paused for a moment.
Aria stood there, breathing heavily.
Her power flickered around her like living moonlight.
For a moment, the battle stopped.
Even the enemy wolves hesitated.
But the silence didn't last long.
Because from deep within the forest—
A slow clap echoed again.
Aria's stomach dropped.
She knew that sound.
The wolves immediately stopped fighting.
Then they slowly backed away toward the trees.
Kael's wolf growled deeply.
From the darkness, a familiar figure stepped forward.
Tall.
Calm.
Watching everything with interest.
Magnus.
His red eyes glowed with satisfaction.
"Well…"
He looked directly at Aria.
"That was impressive."
Aria glared at him.
"You sent them just to test me."
Magnus smiled.
"Of course."
Kael shifted back into human form, his voice cold with rage.
"You just started a war."
Magnus tilted his head slightly.
"No."
His gaze moved back to Aria.
"I simply confirmed something."
Aria frowned.
"Confirmed what?"
Magnus's smile widened.
"That the Moon Vessel…"
His red eyes gleamed.
"…is finally waking up."
And that realization made the night feel even more dangerous.