I didn't stop running. Of course, no one wants to die young.
The forest roared in my ears as my feet hit the ground, faster than ever. My lungs burned, my heart pounded, but something pushed me on.
"Aria Run".
The voice wasn't his it was mine. Something inside me stirred. I didn't look back, but I felt them: multiple presences, moving with deadly precision. They weren't clumsy like human hunters, but fast, organized wolves not like the ones I'd left behind. Their scent, mixed with blood, hit me. My stomach twisted.
"Don't slow down". Panic surged through my veins for a moment, my human instincts tried to take over, but something else in me rose up stronger. I stumbled into a clearing and skidded to a stop, my chest breathing heavily. At one point, I turned.
Three massive wolves, larger than any natural creature, stepped out. Their fur was dark, almost melting into the night, and their eyes glowed red.
"Found her,"
"Stay back," my inner wolf voice whispered.
One of them came forward. Testing me. Fur spread across my arms, and my vision became brighter.
I wasn't human anymore.
A snarl ripped from my throat as I slammed into the closest one. We hit the ground hard, claws tearing and teeth snapping. He was shocked.
"Impossible"
I didn't let him finish.
My jaws clamped down, and a cry of pain echoed through my voice, but before I knew it, something slammed into my side.
Pain shot through my body. I was outnumbered.
"Careful," one of them said, walking towards me.
"We need her alive."
Struggling to stand, I asked.
"Why are you hunting me?"
"Because," he said, "you are not supposed to exist".The Blood Moon line ended years ago," he continued. "Your father made sure of that when he died."
Another one added, grinning darkly. "And now we fix that mistake."
"I'm not mistaken," I replied.
"Oh, you are."
A massive force collided, sending him to the ground. He stood between them and me, his body radiating pure dominance.
"She is under my protection."
"Then you'll die with her." A heavy fight started.
With the force on its claws, teeth, and raw power colliding in a blur of movement. I could barely keep up with what was happening. The black wolf moved like a storm, faster and stronger. He could fight all three alone.
He was just different from the rest, something about him that seemed ancient. When my eyes met his, I could feel recognition.
"Blood Moon," he whispered.
I knew this was not just about me being an heir, but something awaited me in the future.