The forest stayed silent for several seconds after Magnus disappeared.
No footsteps.
No wolves.
No movement.
Just the wind passing quietly through the trees.
At the center of the clearing, Aria was still holding her wrist.
The silver light from the crescent mark had faded again, but the heat remained.
It felt like her veins were filled with restless energy.
She exhaled slowly.
"I'm starting to hate dramatic exits."
Beside her, Alpha Kael watched the forest carefully.
His wolf was still tense beneath his skin.
"He'll be back."
Aria rolled her eyes.
"Oh good. I was worried he didn't like us."
Kael didn't smile.
Instead, his gaze moved toward the carved message on the tree.
The moon grows stronger.
So does the chain that will bind it.
Kael's jaw tightened.
"He's planning something bigger."
Aria rubbed the crescent mark again.
"Yeah… the creepy ritual thing."
A wooden staff tapped lightly against the ground.
Tok.
Ikechukwu stepped closer, examining the carving carefully.
"That chain matter serious."
Aria groaned.
"You too?"
Ikechukwu shrugged.
"Magnus no dey talk nonsense all the time."
Kael frowned.
"You think the ritual is real?"
Ikechukwu scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"Ancient wolf magic get plenty strange things."
Aria blinked.
"So you're saying there's actually a way to bind me to someone through blood?"
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"Possible."
Aria stared at him.
"Great."
She pointed toward the forest where Magnus had vanished.
"So the psycho villain wants to perform a magical marriage ceremony with my power."
Kael's voice dropped.
"That won't happen."
Aria glanced at him.
"You're very confident about that."
Kael looked at her seriously.
"I won't let him take you."
Something in his tone made Aria pause.
But before she could respond, Ikechukwu spoke again.
"Hmm."
Aria sighed.
"What now?"
The old man was staring at her wrist again.
"The power no calm yet."
Aria frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Before Ikechukwu could answer—
The crescent mark flared again.
A sudden pulse of silver light burst from Aria's arm.
"Ah!"
She grabbed her wrist again.
The ground beneath them trembled slightly.
Kael stepped closer instantly.
"What's happening?"
Aria shook her head.
"I don't know!"
The silver glow spread along her arm again, brighter than before.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She could feel something rising inside her chest.
Like a storm building pressure.
Ikechukwu's eyes narrowed.
"The moon power dey respond again."
Aria clenched her teeth.
"Well tell it to stop!"
The light flickered wildly.
Suddenly—
A loud howl echoed across the forest.
Every wolf in the territory froze.
Aria's eyes widened.
"That wasn't one of ours."
Kael turned sharply toward the forest.
His wolf reacted immediately.
More howls answered.
Then more.
Aria felt the energy in her wrist react instantly.
The silver glow intensified again.
"What is happening tonight?!"
Kael's voice became deadly calm.
"Magnus."
Aria stared at the forest.
"You think he's attacking again?"
Ikechukwu shook his head slowly.
"No."
Aria blinked.
"Then what?"
The old man tapped his staff gently.
"That howl no be war signal."
Kael frowned.
"Then what is it?"
Ikechukwu's eyes remained on the dark forest.
"Summoning."
Aria felt a cold chill crawl down her spine.
"Summoning… what?"
Before anyone could answer—
A massive shadow moved between the trees.
Branches cracked loudly.
The ground vibrated slightly with heavy footsteps.
Aria's stomach dropped.
"That doesn't sound like a wolf."
Kael's expression darkened.
"You're right."
The trees at the edge of the clearing suddenly shook violently.
Then something stepped into the moonlight.
It was a wolf.
But not a normal one.
This creature was enormous.
Twice the size of a normal wolf.
Its fur was dark like smoke, and strange red markings covered its body.
Its eyes glowed with unnatural light.
Aria whispered slowly.
"That thing is huge."
Kael's voice dropped.
"Magnus didn't come back himself."
Aria looked at him.
"Then what is that?"
Before Kael could answer, Ikechukwu spoke quietly.
"That one…"
He tapped his staff once.
"…na war beast."
The giant wolf growled deeply.
The sound shook the clearing.
Aria stared at the monster.
"You're telling me Magnus has pet monsters now?"
The beast lowered its head.
Its glowing eyes locked onto her.
And then—
It charged.