Chapter 3: Awakening
1509 Words
Maya’s POV
The back door of my clinic flew off its hinges before we’d even taken three steps toward it.
Three creatures stormed in—twisted shadows of what might have once been human. Their eyes burned with the same red glow as the woman who’d attacked me earlier, and their claws were long, jagged, and slick with darkness.
“Shadow Wraiths,” Kai growled, pushing me behind him. His body shimmered, already starting to shift. “More of them.”
“Maya Chen,” the biggest one rasped. Its voice sounded like stone scraping against metal. “The Council grows tired of waiting. You’re coming with us.”
“Over my dead body,” Kai snapped.
The creature gave a jagged, broken laugh. “That can be arranged, Alpha.”
“Maya,” Kai said quickly, never looking away from the monsters. “When I shift, run. My truck’s in the lot. Keys are in the visor.”
“I’m not leaving you!”
“You have to. If they take you—”
“It’s too late,” the largest wraith cut in. “She’s coming. Willing or not.”
It lunged. Fast, terrifying, claws out and screaming a sound that tore at my ears.
But something inside me broke loose.
Fear, rage, adrenaline—everything twisted into a sharp, fierce need to protect Kai.
A blast of silver light shot from my hands. It hit the creature mid-air and tore it apart. It vanished in a cloud of black smoke, shrieking, and every remaining pane of glass in the clinic shattered.
The other two froze, their glowing red eyes wide.
“She’s not supposed to be awake,” one of them hissed.
I looked down at my hands, stunned. They were glowing—soft silver light pulsing with each beat of my heart. I felt power humming in my veins, wild and electric, but it didn’t hurt. It felt... right. Like I’d been waiting my whole life for this.
“Maya,” Kai said, awe in his voice. “You’re manifesting.”
“How?” I whispered. “I don’t understand…”
“Extreme stress can trigger it,” he said, watching the wraiths carefully. “Your body’s trying to protect itself.”
The two remaining creatures exchanged a look and backed away.
“This changes nothing,” one sneered. “She has no training. She’ll burn herself out.”
“Tell the Council,” the other said as they melted into the shadows. “Tell them the Moon Child has awakened. The final phase begins now.”
And just like that, they were gone.
I stood in the wreckage of my clinic, hands still glowing, breathing hard. The air smelled like ozone and burnt wood.
“Final phase?” I asked, my voice shaking. “What does that mean?”
Kai’s jaw was tight. “Nothing good. We need to get you to the pack house. You’ll be safer there.”
I looked around—shattered glass, broken furniture, burn marks. “My clinic…”
“We’ll rebuild,” he said gently. “But if the Council gets to you, we won’t get another chance.”
The light from my hands started to flicker. Suddenly, I felt like I’d been hit by a truck—drained, weak, like I could collapse.
“I feel… exhausted.”
“That’s normal.” Kai caught me before I could fall. “Your body’s adjusting. You need rest.”
“I can’t just leave,” I said weakly. “This is my life. My job. My—”
“That life is over, Maya.” His voice was soft, but there was no room for argument. “You manifested. That makes you a target now—for the Council, and for their enemies.”
“Enemies?”
“Other packs who want to use you. Vampire covens who see you as a threat. Witch circles that would drain your power for themselves.” He shook his head. “You’re the last Moon Child. Everyone will come for you.”
It hit me like a punch to the chest. The life I knew was gone. I wasn’t just Maya Chen anymore. I was Maya Silvermoon. And I was at the center of something I didn’t understand.
“I’m scared,” I whispered.
“I know.” Kai looked at me, his eyes warm and steady. “But you’re not alone. My pack—our pack—will protect you while you learn who you really are.”
“Our pack?” Something fluttered in my chest at the way he said it.
“You’re my mate, Maya. That makes you our Luna, even without the ceremony.” He touched my cheek. “They’ll follow you. They’ll fight for you. They’d die for you.”
“I don’t want anyone dying for me.”
“Then learn how to protect them,” he said simply. “That power in you—it’s real. We just have to teach you how to use it.”
Engines roared outside. Kai tensed and pulled me into the shadows.
“Friends?” I asked.
“Doubt it.” He peeked through a broken window. “Three black SUVs. Government plates. Damn.”
“Government?”
“Department of Supernatural Affairs. They monitor magic use in human zones. Your power surge just set off every alarm.”
“Are they dangerous?”
“Depends on the team. Some are decent. Some will shoot first and ask questions never.” He stepped back. “We’re not waiting to find out.”
He grabbed my hand. A jolt ran up my arm, strange and familiar all at once.
“Can you walk?”
“I think so.”
“Good. There’s a trail behind the clinic. My truck’s parked down that road.”
“You planned an escape route?”
Kai gave a sheepish smile. “I’ve been watching over you for a while. Just in case.”
“So… stalking me.”
“Protecting from a distance,” he corrected. “Big difference.”
Somehow, despite everything, I almost smiled. “Is there?”
“Yeah. Stalkers don’t usually save you from monsters.”
Fair enough.
We’d just reached the back hallway when the front door burst open. Agents in tactical gear flooded in, weapons raised.
“Department of Supernatural Affairs!” the lead agent barked. “Nobody move!”
Kai stepped in front of me. His muscles were tense. He couldn’t fight his way out of this—not against humans with government weapons.
“Agent Morrison,” he said coolly. “What a surprise.”
The man removed his helmet. Late forties, sharp blue eyes, no warmth.
“Blackwood,” he said. “Figures you’d be involved.”
“Just happened to be nearby when the wraiths attacked.”
“Convenient.” Morrison’s eyes locked on me. “And you must be Dr. Maya Chen. The source of the magical blast.”
I nodded.
“First manifestation?”
Another nod.
“Impressive. Most newbies can barely spark. You took out three wraiths.” His smile was thin and cold. “The Department could use someone like you.”
“She’s under pack protection,” Kai said.
Morrison raised a brow. “I don’t see any mating marks. No official ceremony. By law, she’s an unregistered supernatural and a public safety concern.”
My heart dropped. “Public safety concern?”
“People like you—raw, untrained—you’ve leveled city blocks before,” he said casually. “We can’t have that.”
“What are you saying?” I asked, though I already knew.
“You have two options,” he said. “Come with us for testing and training… or we mark you as a rogue and deal with you ourselves.”
The meaning was clear. Go with them or die.
Kai’s form shimmered again. “Touch her and—”
“And what?” Morrison said, amused. “Attack us? Please try.”
The other agents raised strange weapons. Their barrels glowed silver—just like my light.
“Suppressors,” Kai muttered. “They’ll knock you out. Drain your power.”
I looked at them. Their guns. Their smug faces.
Then I looked at Kai.
He was ready to fight a battle he couldn't win.
For me.
“No,” I said.
Morrison blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I said no.” I stepped forward, hands glowing again. “I’m not going with you.”
“Dr. Chen, be reasonable—”
“I am. Threaten Kai again and I’ll show you exactly what this ‘untrained manifest’ can do.”
The room went cold. Their breath misted in the air. Light flared brighter from my hands, flooding the room.
“Maya,” Kai warned softly. “Don’t let it take over.”
But it was too late.
The dam inside me broke, and everything I’d been holding back—fear, anger, power—rushed out like a tidal wave.
- Writer
