The dense jungle of Katalara was alive with whispers, both natural and supernatural. Every leaf seemed to vibrate with the pulse of the earth itself, every shadow hiding secrets too old for time to unravel. Beneath the canopy, a silver glow sliced through the mist like a blade through water—tonight, the moon would rise at its fullest, casting its light on the secrets that lurked beneath the surface.

Lena had been warned.

Her grandmother's voice echoed in her mind as she stepped carefully through the underbrush, her eyes scanning the path ahead. "The wolves of Katalara aren't like others. They are born from the moon, not the earth. Their blood is ancient, and their hunger… insatiable."

But Lena was not one to be swayed by superstition. A year of searching had brought her to this wild, untamed land. A year since the night her sister had vanished without a trace, only a single wolf's howl breaking the silence before the silence stretched too long.

The villagers here were reluctant to speak. The elders only offered cryptic warnings, their eyes shifting uneasily whenever she asked about the pack that roamed these forests.

Tonight, she would find the truth.

The full moon bathed the jungle in an eerie light as Lena reached the clearing. A stone altar, overgrown with vines, stood in the center. From the moss-covered edges, a deep growl rumbled through the air, vibrating in her chest. Lena's heart quickened.

She wasn't alone.

Stepping out from the shadows, a figure emerged—a man, tall and sinewy, with eyes that glowed amber like molten gold. His skin was bronzed by the sun, his long, black hair tangled with leaves and twigs. A strange, wild aura surrounded him, primal and intoxicating. His gaze locked onto hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

"Who are you?" Lena demanded, her voice steady despite the rush of adrenaline.

The man smiled, but there was something feral about it, something that made her question everything she thought she knew about the world.

"You're brave," he said, his voice low, like the rumble of thunder before a storm. "Or foolish. Maybe both."

Lena's breath caught as she realized he wasn't entirely human. His gaze flickered for a moment, his pupils narrowing like a wolf's.

"I'm looking for my sister," Lena said, stepping closer, ignoring the voice that told her to retreat. "She was taken by your pack. I need to know what happened to her."

The man tilted his head, studying her as if weighing her every word. Then, he stepped forward, his presence overwhelming. "The pack doesn't take. We don't steal. But if your sister came to us, she may have made a choice."

"A choice?" Lena's mind reeled. "You mean she wanted to be a part of this?"

The man's eyes softened for just a moment, the amber glow dimming. "She wanted to become something greater. The moon has that power over us. Some can resist, others… they give in."

Lena's pulse thundered in her ears. "And what are you?"

"Me?" The man smiled again, and the air between them seemed to grow thicker with every word. "I am Kian. The Alpha of this land. And you, Lena… you are standing on the edge of a choice as well."

A howl echoed through the trees, sharp and haunting. It was close.

Lena's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't ready. She couldn't be.

But Kian's gaze held her, and in that moment, she wasn't sure anymore if she wanted to run or step closer to the unknown. Would she fight for her sister, or would she, too, be pulled into the shadowed world of the moon, the wildness of the wolves, and a desire she couldn't yet comprehend?

"Come with me," Kian whispered, his voice like a dark invitation. "You have more to learn than you know."