The forest was quiet, the air thick with the scent of pine and the sound of rustling leaves. Cinder stood on the edge of the pack's territory, her heart beating fast. Something was different tonight, a strange pull tugging at her very soul. She didn't understand it, but it made her feel both curious and uneasy.
Jason was nearby, his sharp eyes scanning the trees. "Are you okay, Cinder?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I… I think so," Cinder replied, though the strange feeling lingered. "It's just—something feels… off."
Before Jason could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows. He was tall, with piercing green eyes and hair as dark as midnight. His presence was powerful, commanding, yet unfamiliar. The pack members who had been standing guard tensed, ready to defend their Luna.
The stranger raised his hands, palms open in a gesture of peace. "I mean no harm," he said, his voice calm and deep. "I come seeking the one they call Cinder."
