Chapter 5: Whispers of the Past
Aria sat by the edge of a small creek, watching the water rush over the smooth stones. The night air was cool against her skin, but she barely felt it. Her mind was too full—too tangled with the impossible power that had once again exploded from her when she needed it most.
It wasn't normal. No rogue had power like this. No ordinary wolf could shake the ground or send warriors flying with a mere touch.
She needed answers.
But where could she even start?
A Fading Memory
Aria closed her eyes, searching for anything—any memory from her childhood that might explain what she was.
She remembered her mother's voice, soft like a lullaby. Her father's strong arms lifting her high into the sky. The warmth of their pack, their love.
And then… the fire. The betrayal. The pain.
But something flickered in between those memories. Something she had never questioned before.
A story.
Her mother had once whispered it to her on a cold winter night. A tale about an ancient bloodline—wolves who were different, blessed with a power unlike any other.
"They were not just werewolves, my little moon," her mother had said, tucking a strand of hair behind Aria's ear. "They were something more. Their power came from the Moon Goddess herself."
Aria's eyes snapped open.
Could it be possible? Could she be one of them?
The Search Begins
She needed to find proof.
If there was even a sliver of truth in her mother's words, then someone out there had to know more.
Aria stood, determination settling deep in her bones.
The nearest pack town was days away, but she knew of a smaller settlement—one that sat at the very edge of the werewolf kingdom. A place where outcasts and wanderers gathered.
If anyone had answers, it would be there.
The Journey Through Shadows
Aria traveled swiftly, keeping to the thickest parts of the forest. She didn't trust open roads—Kieran's warriors could still be hunting her.
Days passed in restless silence. She hunted sparingly, slept lightly, always listening for danger.
Then, on the third night, she finally saw it.
A cluster of wooden houses hidden between the trees. Faint lantern light flickered through the darkness. This was the place.
But before she could step closer, a scent filled her nose.
Wolves.
Her muscles tensed. Had she been followed?
No. These weren't warriors.
They were rogues like her.
A shadow moved behind her.
"You don't belong here."
Aria spun, coming face to face with a tall woman. Her silver hair gleamed in the moonlight, and her sharp green eyes held no warmth.
"I need information," Aria said, keeping her voice steady.
The woman's gaze flickered over her. Then, something strange passed through her expression. Recognition.
"You…" she murmured, stepping closer. "You have her eyes."
Aria's breath hitched. "Who?"
The woman didn't answer. Instead, she turned sharply. "Follow me."
Without another word, she led Aria toward the village.
And for the first time in years, Aria felt like she was about to learn the truth.
End of Chapter 5