The forest fell into a tense silence.
Three Alphas stood beneath the moonlight.
No wolf dared to move.
Lyra's heart pounded as she looked at him.
Kael Nightfang.
The wolf who had rejected her.
The wolf who had broken her.
For a moment, memories flooded her mind—his voice during the rejection, the cold look in his eyes, the humiliation in front of the entire pack.Her claws dug into the soil.
"You lost the right to say my name," she repeated coldly .Kael's jaw tightened.
The words clearly hurt him more than he wanted to show.Before he could answer, Darius Bloodmoon laughed softly.
"Well… this is awkward."His golden eyes moved between them with clear amusement.
"The famous rejection story," he said. "I heard whispers, but seeing it in person is far more entertaining."Kael shot him a dangerous glare."This doesn't concern you, Bloodmoon."Darius only smiled wider."Oh, I think it does."His gaze slowly shifted to Lyra again.
"Especially if the rumors about her are true."
Lyra frowned.
"Rumors?"The scarred hunter wolf stepped forward.The Moonborn,he said quietly.
The word hung heavily in the air.Lyra felt the strange energy inside her pulse again, reacting to the word like it recognized it.
"What is Moonborn?" she demanded.
No one answered immediately.
Then Darius spoke.
"A legend," he said.
"A bloodline older than any pack alive today."
Lyra's chest tightened.
"And why does everyone keep saying it's me?"The scarred leader studied her carefully.
"Because of what you just did."Lyra remembered the shockwave she released.
The power had exploded from her without warning.
"I don't even know how that happened," she said.Kael suddenly stepped closer.
Too close.
His silver eyes burned as they studied her.
"You should come back to the pack," he said quietly.ach
Lyra stared at him in disbelief.
"Come back?"Anger exploded inside her.
"You rejected me," she snapped. "You humiliated me in front of everyone."
Kael looked away briefly.Regret flashed across his face.
"I made a mistake."The words shocked everyone.
Even Sienna gasped softly.
But Lyra only laughed bitterly.
"A mistake?" she said.
"You shattered the mate bond like it meant nothing.''
Her voice trembled with pain she hadn't fully healed from.
"And now suddenly you want me back?"
Kael stepped closer again.
"This isn't about the bond anymore," he said.
His voice was tense.
"It's about keeping you safe."
Darius chuckled again.
"Safe?"He crossed his arms casually.
"That's rich coming from the Alpha who rejected her."Kael growled low in his throat.
"Stay out of this."But Darius ignored him.
Instead, he looked directly at Lyra.
"You should be careful," he said calmly.
"Now that the Moonborn power has awakened, every pack will start searching for you."Lyra's stomach dropped.
"What?"
The scarred hunter leader nodded.
"You are no longer just a lone wolf," he said.
"You are power."
Sienna moved closer to Lyra protectively.
"So what does that mean?" she asked nervously.Darius answered simply.
It means war.
The forest went silent again.Lyra's heart pounded harder
"Packs will fight for control of that power," he continued.
"Some will want to claim you."
His golden eyes darkened slightly."Others will want to kill you."
A chill ran through Lyra's spine.Kael stepped forward instantly.
"No one will touch her."
The authority in his voice was absolute.
But Darius smirked.
"That depends," he said.
"Does she still belong to your pack?"
All eyes turned to Lyra.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
For the first time since the rejection…
Her choice mattered.Lyra slowly stood tall.Her voice was calm, but firm.
"I don't belong to any pack."
The power inside her pulsed again, stronger than before.
The ground beneath her feet trembled slightly.
Even the Alphas felt it.
The scarred hunter leader whispered in awe
"The Moonborn truly has awakened."
Lyra lifted her eyes toward the glowing moon above.
Deep inside her chest, something ancient stirred.
Something powerful,Something that had been sleeping for centuriesAnd it was only just beginning to wake.