Chapter 2: Into the Night
590 Words
The cold wind stung Aria's face as she ran through the forest.
Branches scratched her arms, and stones cut into her feet, but she didn't stop.
She couldn't.
Behind her lay the Shadow Fang Pack—the home she had known all her life.
The place where her heart had been shattered.
Hours had passed since the Moon Festival ended, yet Damon's words still echoed in her mind.
"The Moon Goddess made a mistake."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
A mistake.
After everything she had sacrificed for him, that was all she was worth.
Her wolf whimpered in pain.
"I know," Aria whispered. "I know it hurts."
The bond between them hadn't disappeared. It still existed, twisting painfully inside her chest.
But she refused to let it destroy her.
Eventually, exhaustion forced her to stop.
A small clearing appeared ahead.
Moonlight filtered through the trees, bathing the ground in silver.
Aria collapsed beside an ancient oak tree.
For the first time that night, tears fell freely.
She cried for the future she had lost.
For the love that had never truly been hers.
For the humiliation of being rejected before everyone she knew.
Yet beneath the pain, another feeling slowly emerged.
Anger.
Hot.
Sharp.
Powerful.
Why should she spend her life mourning a man who never valued her?
Why should she allow one rejection to define her entire existence?
"No more," she said firmly.
The moment the words left her mouth, a strange warmth spread through her body.
A faint silver glow appeared beneath her skin.
Aria frowned.
"What was that?"
Her wolf stirred uneasily.
Before she could investigate further, a sudden growl echoed through the forest.
Aria jumped to her feet.
Three rogue wolves emerged from the darkness.
Their eyes glowed red.
Their bodies were covered in scars.
Danger.
Every instinct screamed at her to run.
The largest rogue stepped forward.
"Well, well," he sneered. "Looks like we found a little Luna wandering alone."
The others laughed.
Fear gripped her stomach.
She was outnumbered.
And exhausted.
The rogues slowly circled her.
"Stay back," Aria warned.
The leader grinned.
"Or what?"
His wolf lunged.
Everything happened in a blur.
A brilliant silver light exploded from Aria's body.
The force slammed into the rogues like a hurricane.
Trees cracked.
The ground shook.
The three wolves were thrown backward several feet.
Silence followed.
Aria stared at her hands in shock.
The silver energy disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
"What... was that?"
The rogues looked terrified.
One scrambled to his feet.
"She's marked!"
The others turned pale.
"Run!"
Without another word, they fled into the darkness.
Aria remained frozen.
Marked?
What did that mean?
Her heart pounded wildly.
Questions flooded her mind.
But before she could think further, a powerful presence swept across the forest.
The air itself seemed to change.
Every creature fell silent.
Even the wind stopped blowing.
Someone was watching her.
A shiver raced down her spine.
Far away, hidden among the mountains beyond the werewolf territories, a man stood upon a black stone balcony.
Golden eyes stared toward the distant horizon.
A dangerous smile touched his lips.
"The seal has finally broken."
For centuries, he had searched.
For centuries, he had waited.
Now he could feel her.
The girl carrying the Moon Goddess's forgotten blessing.
The woman destined to change the world.
The future queen of the Lycans.
"Prepare my army," he ordered.
The warriors around him immediately bowed.
"Your Majesty?"
The Lycan King turned toward the moon.
"At last," he said softly.
"I've found her."
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