Aria stood frozen, her breath ragged and her hands glowing with the silvery light of her power. Theron advanced slowly, his golden eyes locked onto hers with a mix of fury and anticipation. The Bloodfang Alpha radiated raw dominance, and the wolves around him seemed to feed off his energy, regaining their confidence despite her display of power.
Kael, bloodied and battered, staggered to her side. His dagger dripped crimson, and his chest heaved with exhaustion. "Don't let him intimidate you," he growled. "He's just another wolf."
Theron smirked, his lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth. "Oh, Kael, you should know better than that. I'm not just another wolf. I'm an Alpha born under the Blood Moon—a predator perfected."
Kael raised his dagger, his stance unwavering despite his injuries. "And she's more than you'll ever understand."
Theron's expression darkened. "Then let's see what she's capable of."
---
Theron lunged at Aria with blinding speed. Kael intercepted him, their bodies colliding with a deafening crash. The force of the impact sent both men sprawling, but Theron recovered first, swiping at Kael with claws that glinted in the crimson light.
Aria's heart pounded as she watched the struggle. She wanted to help, but fear rooted her in place. The heat in her chest burned hotter, the light pulsing against her skin like a second heartbeat.
Focus, a voice whispered in her mind. It wasn't Kael, and it wasn't her own—it was Selara.
"Focus," Aria repeated aloud, grounding herself.
She raised her hands, summoning the light. This time, it responded instantly, flowing from her fingers in a wave that lit up the battlefield. The Bloodfangs recoiled, some yelping in pain as the light seared their flesh.
Theron snarled, throwing Kael aside as he turned his attention back to Aria. "Impressive," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "But power without control is nothing."
Aria gritted her teeth, planting her feet. She refused to back down.
Theron charged, his claws outstretched. Aria raised her hands, the light flaring brighter, but the Alpha was too fast. He was on her in seconds, his claws grazing her shoulder as she twisted to avoid the full impact. Pain shot through her arm, but she didn't falter.
The heat in her chest surged, and she let it consume her. The light erupted from her in a blinding burst, forcing Theron to stagger back. He growled, shaking his head as if to clear it.
"You're stronger than I thought," he admitted, his voice low and dangerous. "But you're still just a child playing with fire."
---
Kael pushed himself to his feet, his movements slow and labored. Blood dripped from a gash on his forehead, but his green eyes burned with determination.
"Aria," he said, his voice strained. "You have to run."
She turned to him, panic flashing in her eyes. "I can't leave you—"
"You have to!" Kael snapped, cutting her off. "If he gets his hands on you, everything is lost. Go!"
Theron laughed, the sound cold and cruel. "Touching. But there's nowhere she can run that I won't find her."
Kael didn't reply. Instead, he charged Theron with a roar, his dagger flashing in the crimson light. The Alpha met him head-on, their clash sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
Aria hesitated, torn between fleeing and fighting. The heat in her chest begged to be unleashed, but the fear of losing control held her back.
Kael shouted again, his voice desperate. "Aria, go now!"
The urgency in his tone snapped her out of her hesitation. She turned and ran, her heart pounding as she darted into the forest.
---
The forest was a blur around her as she sprinted through the trees, her breath ragged and her shoulder throbbing from Theron's attack. The moonlight guided her, illuminating her path even as the sounds of pursuit grew louder behind her.
The Bloodfangs were fast, their snarls echoing through the trees. Aria pushed herself harder, her legs burning with the effort.
You cannot outrun them forever, Selara's voice whispered in her mind. Trust your power. Let it guide you.
Aria clenched her fists, frustration bubbling to the surface. "What do you want from me?" she shouted, her voice echoing through the forest.
The answer came not in words, but in sensation. The heat in her chest flared, and she felt the hum of the moon's song guiding her steps. She turned sharply, following the pull of her power, and found herself in a clearing surrounded by ancient stone pillars.
The pillars were carved with the same swirling patterns as the shrine, their surfaces glowing faintly in the moonlight. Aria stumbled to the center of the clearing, her breath hitching as she felt the air around her shift.
---
A figure stepped out from the shadows—a massive wolf with fur that shimmered like silver. Its eyes were pale and glowing, and it moved with an otherworldly grace.
Aria froze, her chest tightening. The wolf regarded her with an unreadable expression before lowering its head and letting out a deep, resonant growl.
"Who… what are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The wolf didn't answer, but its presence filled her mind with images and sensations: the rise of the Blood Moon, the corruption spreading through the land, and her own power, still raw and untamed.
"You want me to fight?" she whispered.
The wolf growled again, its body lowering into a crouch.
Aria's hands began to glow, the heat in her chest building until it was almost unbearable. She raised her hands, the light spilling from her fingers, and the wolf charged.
Their clash was sudden and violent, the wolf's claws raking against her hastily conjured barrier of light. Aria staggered but held her ground, summoning more of her power as the wolf pressed its attack.
The battle was a blur of motion and light, each strike testing her limits. The wolf was relentless, its movements impossibly fast and precise. Aria's arms burned from the effort of holding her barrier, but she refused to back down.
Finally, she saw an opening. Summoning every ounce of her strength, she unleashed a wave of light that struck the wolf square in the chest.
The wolf howled, its body dissolving into silver mist.
Aria fell to her knees, gasping for breath. The clearing was silent, the glow of the pillars dimming as the mist swirled around her.
"You have passed the first test," Selara's voice echoed in her mind. "But the path ahead will only grow more treacherous."
Aria clenched her fists, determination hardening in her chest. She didn't know what lay ahead, but she would face it.
For Kael. For the packs. For herself.