The forest felt colder after Lyra's first shift.
The moon hung high above the trees, glowing pale silver through the branches. The light reflected softly on the damp ground, but Lyra barely noticed it.
Her body ached.
Every bone felt sore from the transformation.
She leaned against a large tree, breathing slowly as she tried to steady herself.
Across from her, Sienna was still staring.
Not blinking.
Not speaking.
Just staring.
Finally Lyra groaned softly.
"Sienna… stop looking at me like that."
Sienna shook her head slowly.
"I can't."
Lyra sighed.
"It was just a shift."
"Just a shift?" Sienna nearly shouted.
"You turned into a glowing silver wolf and scared three rogue wolves into running for their lives!"
Lyra rubbed her temples.
When Sienna said it out loud… it sounded even more unbelievable.
"I didn't mean to do that," Lyra said quietly.
"It just… happened."
Sienna crossed her arms.
"Well whatever 'just happened' nearly gave me a heart attack."
Lyra gave a small tired smile.
For a moment the tension eased.
But only for a moment.
Because suddenly Lyra's wolf stirred again.
A warning.
Low.
Uneasy.
Lyra froze.
Her head slowly lifted.
"Sienna."
The seriousness in her voice made Sienna immediately stop talking.
"What?"
Lyra's eyes scanned the forest.
"I think someone is watching us."
The wind moved softly through the trees.
Leaves rustled.
But the forest felt… wrong.
Too quiet.
Sienna stepped closer to Lyra.
"Please tell me it's not more rogues."
Lyra didn't answer.
Because she wasn't sure.
Her wolf growled softly inside her mind.
Then—
A voice echoed from the darkness.
"Impressive."
Both girls spun around instantly.
A man stepped out from the shadows.
He moved slowly, confidently, like someone who had absolutely nothing to fear.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Dark hair falling loosely over sharp eyes.
His presence alone made the air feel heavier.
Sienna whispered nervously,
"Who is that?"
Lyra didn't know.
But her wolf reacted instantly.
Not with fear.
With alertness.
The stranger stopped a few steps away from them.
His golden eyes studied Lyra carefully.
"So you're the one," he said quietly.
Lyra's heart tightened.
"The one what?"
The man smiled faintly.
"The one who shook the entire region tonight."
Sienna looked confused.
"What does that even mean?"
But Lyra understood.
"You felt it too," she said.
The man nodded.
"Oh yes."
He crossed his arms.
"That kind of power is impossible to ignore."
Lyra felt uneasy.
"Who are you?"
The man hesitated for a moment.
Then he answered calmly.
"I'm Kieran Vale."
The name meant nothing to Lyra.
But Sienna suddenly inhaled sharply.
Lyra looked at her.
"What?"
Sienna whispered quickly,
"Kieran Vale… he's a traveler."
"A rogue?"
Lyra asked.
Kieran chuckled softly.
"I prefer the term… independent."
He took a step closer.
But Lyra's wolf immediately pushed forward.
A warning growl escaped her throat.
Kieran stopped.
His eyes flashed with interest.
"There it is again," he said.
"That power."
Lyra's patience was running thin.
"What do you want?"
Kieran's expression suddenly became serious.
"To warn you."
The words surprised her.
"Warn me about what?"
Kieran looked toward the distant mountains.
His voice dropped slightly.
"You've awakened something ancient."
Lyra folded her arms.
"I already figured that part out."
"Yes," he said.
"But what you don't understand yet… is that others have figured it out too."
A cold feeling crept into Lyra's stomach.
"Others?"
Kieran nodded slowly.
"Powerful Alphas."
Sienna whispered nervously,
"That doesn't sound good."
Kieran looked directly at Lyra again.
"One of them already knows about you."
Lyra felt her heart beat faster.
"Who?"
Kieran's answer came quietly.
"Alpha Darius."
The name carried a strange weight.
Lyra frowned.
"I've never heard of him."
"You're lucky," Kieran replied.
"Because he's not the kind of Alpha you want to meet."
The forest grew even quieter.
"Why?" Lyra asked.
Kieran's eyes darkened.
"Because he collects power."
Lyra didn't like the sound of that.
"What does that mean?"
"It means," Kieran said calmly,
"If he finds you… he won't reject you."
Lyra blinked.
"Then what will he do?"
Kieran's voice became cold.
"He'll try to control you."
Sienna grabbed Lyra's arm tightly.
"That's not happening."
Lyra stayed silent.
Her mind was racing.
Another Alpha hunting her?
Great.
Just what she needed.
Kieran studied her carefully.
"You're stronger than you realize," he said.
"But right now you're also vulnerable."
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you helping me?"
Kieran looked up at the moon.
For a moment he didn't answer.
Then he said quietly,
"Because the world of wolves is about to change."
His gaze returned to her.
"And you're the one who's going to change it."
Far away, inside the dark territory of the Bloodfang Pack, Alpha Darius stood on a cliff overlooking his land.
A rogue wolf knelt before him.
"We tracked the location of the silver wolf, Alpha."
Darius smiled slowly.
"Good."
His eyes glowed with cruel excitement.
"Prepare the hunters."
The rogue hesitated.
"Do you want her captured… or killed?"
Darius laughed softly.
"Neither."
He looked toward the distant forest.
"I want her brought to me."
His smile widened dangerously.
"Alive."
Back in the forest, Lyra suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
Like something dark had just set its sights on her.
Her wolf growled quietly.
And deep down…
She knew the real danger was only .