The forest felt different now.
Every step Lyra took felt heavier, like the earth itself could feel the power moving through her.
The night air was cold, but her skin burned.
Sienna walked beside her, glancing at her every few seconds.
"You're still glowing a little," she whispered.
Lyra sighed.
"Please don't say that."
"I'm serious."
Sienna pointed at her eyes again.
"They keep flashing silver."
Lyra rubbed her face nervously.
She didn't know what was happening to her.
Ever since the wolves had bowed… the energy inside her hadn't stopped moving.
It felt like a storm trapped inside her body.
Wild.
Unpredictable.
And getting stronger.
They walked deeper into the forest path that led back toward the edge of the Moonridge Pack Territory.
But Lyra suddenly stopped.
Her chest tightened.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Her wolf stirred violently inside her mind.
A low warning growl echoed in her head.
Sienna noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Lyra slowly turned toward the trees behind them.
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
"We're not alone."
The forest rustled.
Leaves shifted.
Then three wolves stepped out of the shadows.
They were larger than normal wolves.
Their eyes glowed red under the moonlight.
Sienna's face went pale.
"Rogues…"
Rogue wolves.
Wolves without a pack.
Dangerous.
Unpredictable.
And often deadly.
One of them snarled, baring its teeth.
Lyra's heart pounded.
Normally, this would terrify her.
But something strange happened instead.
The power inside her surged.
Her wolf rose to the surface like a beast finally waking up.
The rogues circled them slowly.
The largest one shifted into human form.
A tall man with scars running across his chest.
His eyes locked onto Lyra.
"Well… well," he said with a cruel smile.
"Looks like we found the source of that power wave."
Lyra's stomach twisted.
"You felt it too?"
"Oh yes."
He stepped closer.
"And trust me… many others felt it as well."
Sienna tightened her grip on Lyra's arm.
"Lyra… this is bad."
The rogue leader's smile widened.
"You have no idea how valuable you are right now."
Lyra took a step back.
"I'm not valuable."
The man laughed.
"Every Alpha in the region is going to want you."
The words sent chills down her spine.
Suddenly the rogues lunged.
Sienna screamed.
But before they could reach them—
Something inside Lyra snapped.
The power exploded through her body like lightning.
Pain shot through her bones.
Her knees hit the ground.
"Lyra!" Sienna shouted.
But Lyra couldn't answer.
Her entire body burned.
Her bones cracked loudly.
Her muscles twisted violently.
The shift had begun.
For the first time in her life.
Lyra screamed as the transformation tore through her.
The rogues froze in shock.
Silver light burst from her eyes.
Her fingers curled into claws.
Her spine arched as fur spread across her skin.
Within seconds—
A wolf stood where Lyra had been.
But this wasn't a normal wolf.
Her fur shimmered under the moonlight.
Silver.
Bright.
Almost glowing.
Her eyes burned like twin moons.
The rogues stared in horror.
"What… the hell…"
The silver wolf slowly lifted her head.
A deep growl rolled from her chest.
The sound was powerful enough to make the ground tremble.
The rogues instinctively stepped back.
Because every wolf instinct screamed the same warning.
Danger.
One rogue attacked anyway.
He lunged toward her throat.
But Lyra moved faster.
Her claws sliced through the air like lightning.
The rogue crashed into a tree with a painful crack.
The other two froze.
Fear filled their eyes.
The silver wolf stepped forward.
Calm.
Dominant.
Terrifying.
Then she howled.
The sound exploded across the forest.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Royal.
Miles away, wolves across the land lifted their heads.
They felt it.
The rise of something legendary.
Back in the clearing, the remaining rogues ran.
They didn't look back.
Sienna slowly lowered her hands from her mouth.
Her voice trembled with shock.
"Lyra…"
The silver wolf turned toward her.
For a moment, those glowing eyes softened.
Then the light slowly faded.
Her body shifted again.
Bones cracking.
Fur disappearing.
Moments later, Lyra collapsed back onto the ground in human form.
Breathing hard.
Exhausted.
Sienna ran to her.
"Oh my God, Lyra!"
Lyra blinked weakly.
"What… happened?"
Sienna laughed nervously.
"You just scared three rogue wolves so badly they ran for their lives."
Lyra tried to sit up.
"My first shift?"
Sienna nodded.
"And it was the coolest thing I've ever seen."
But far away, someone else had heard that howl.
In the dark territory of the Bloodfang Pack, a dangerous Alpha slowly looked toward the distant forest.
His lips curved into a dark smile.
Alpha Darius whispered to himself:
"So… the Moonborn has finally appeared."
His eyes glowed with interest.
"Good."
"Because I've been waiting for this."
And unlike the others…
He didn't want to reject her.
He wanted to claim her power.