Chapter 14- Awakening Power
1512 Words
Elara barely slept that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, the same images returned—the glowing stones, the burst of silver light, the Shadow Pack wolves being thrown backward like leaves in a storm.
And the way everyone had looked at her afterward.
Not just surprised.
Afraid.
She stared at the ceiling of her room as the pale light of dawn slowly crept through the tall windows of the Alpha house.
The mark on her wrist tingled faintly.
It had been doing that since the moment she woke up.
Like something beneath her skin was alive.
Waiting.
She groaned and rolled onto her side, pulling the blanket over her head.
“Fantastic,” she muttered. “Now my wrist is haunted too.”
A knock sounded on the door.
Elara froze.
“Come in,” she said.
The door opened slowly.
Marcus stepped inside, leaning casually against the doorframe.
“Morning, Moon Girl.”
She pulled the blanket down just enough to glare at him.
“Please never call me that again.”
He grinned.
“Fine. Moon-Chosen.”
“That’s worse.”
Marcus chuckled.
“Well, you better get used to it. Word travels fast in the wolf world.”
Elara sat up slowly.
Her hair was a mess, and she felt like she had slept for about five minutes.
“Tell me that’s a joke.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Nope.”
Her stomach dropped.
“You mean other packs already know?”
“Not all of them,” he said. “But some probably felt the surge of energy yesterday.”
She rubbed her face.
“Great.”
Marcus shrugged.
“Look at the bright side.”
“What bright side?”
“You get to train with an Alpha today.”
Elara blinked.
“Oh no.”
Marcus smiled wider.
“Oh yes.”
She fell backward onto the bed.
“I regret everything.”
Marcus laughed.
“Get dressed.”
“Why?”
“Because Kael is waiting.”
That got her attention.
She sat up again.
“Already?”
Marcus nodded.
“Training starts early.”
Elara sighed dramatically.
“Of course it does.”
Marcus pushed off the doorframe.
“I’ll meet you outside.”
He paused before leaving.
“Oh, and Elara?”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
He smiled slightly.
“Try not to accidentally explode anything today.”
The door closed before she could throw a pillow at him.
The training grounds were behind the Alpha house.
Elara hadn’t noticed them before.
A wide open clearing stretched across the back of the territory, surrounded by tall trees and thick forest.
Several wolves were already there.
Some sparring.
Others shifting between human and wolf forms.
The moment Elara stepped into the clearing, a few heads turned.
She felt their eyes immediately.
Curious.
Cautious.
Maybe even nervous.
She swallowed.
“Great,” she muttered. “Now I’m the weird supernatural exchange student.”
Kael stood in the center of the clearing.
His arms were crossed as he watched two wolves sparring nearby.
Even from a distance, his presence was impossible to ignore.
Power radiated from him in a quiet, steady way.
Like a storm waiting beneath calm water.
Marcus walked up beside him.
“She’s here.”
Kael turned.
His amber eyes landed on Elara instantly.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then he nodded once.
“Good.”
Elara walked closer, trying not to feel self-conscious under the attention of half the pack.
“So,” she said awkwardly.
“Training.”
“Yes.”
“Where do we start?”
Kael studied her carefully.
“With control.”
She crossed her arms.
“That might be a problem.”
“I know.”
Marcus leaned against a wooden fence nearby.
“This should be fun.”
Elara shot him a look.
“You’re enjoying this too much.”
“Absolutely.”
Kael ignored them.
“Elara, show me your wrist.”
She hesitated.
Then she held out her arm.
The silver mark rested against her skin like a faint tattoo.
Kael gently took her wrist.
The moment his fingers touched her skin—
A spark of warmth shot up her arm.
Elara gasped slightly.
Kael felt it too.
His eyes flickered briefly.
“Did you feel that?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Marcus straightened slightly.
“What?”
“The bond reacting,” Kael said quietly.
Elara frowned.
“The bond?”
Kael released her wrist.
“The Moon connects certain people.”
Her heart skipped.
“And we’re… connected?”
Marcus coughed.
“Very connected.”
Kael shot him a look.
Marcus raised his hands.
“Hey, I’m just stating facts.”
Elara looked between them.
“Okay, now I’m confused.”
Kael sighed.
“We’ll talk about that later.”
“Later when?”
“When you’re not about to blow up the training ground.”
Elara rolled her eyes.
“Everyone thinks that’s hilarious.”
Marcus grinned.
“It kind of is.”
Kael stepped back slightly.
“Focus, Elara.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
“The power you used yesterday came from instinct,” he explained.
“Meaning I had zero control.”
“Yes.”
She sighed.
“Sounds about right.”
Kael pointed toward a large stone near the edge of the clearing.
“Walk over there.”
She did.
“Now what?”
“Close your eyes.”
Elara hesitated.
“This feels suspicious.”
“Trust me.”
She closed her eyes slowly.
“Now breathe.”
She inhaled deeply.
“Feel the energy inside you,” Kael continued.
“Where?” she asked.
“Everywhere.”
She focused.
At first, she felt nothing.
Just the quiet rhythm of her heartbeat.
Then—
A faint warmth spread through her chest.
Like moonlight beneath her skin.
“I feel something,” she whispered.
“Good,” Kael said.
“Don’t fight it.”
The warmth grew stronger.
It flowed through her arms.
Her hands.
Down her spine.
Her wrist began to tingle again.
“Okay,” she said nervously.
“It’s getting stronger.”
“Let it.”
The mark on her wrist began glowing faintly.
Marcus whistled softly.
“That’s new.”
Elara opened her eyes.
Silver light flickered across her fingers.
“Oh no.”
Kael stepped closer.
“Stay calm.”
“I am calm!”
The light pulsed brighter.
Nearby wolves began stepping back.
“Okay maybe I’m not calm,” she admitted.
“Focus on breathing,” Kael said.
She inhaled deeply.
The light steadied slightly.
“That’s it,” Kael encouraged.
“You’re controlling it.”
Elara stared at her glowing hand in disbelief.
“I’m doing magic.”
Marcus laughed.
“Technically it’s Moon energy.”
“Same thing.”
Kael nodded toward the stone.
“Now try directing it.”
“Directing it where?”
“At the rock.”
Elara blinked.
“You want me to blast the rock?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
She hesitated.
“Okay…”
She focused on the stone.
The silver light gathered in her palm.
Her heart pounded.
“Don’t overthink it,” Kael said.
Too late.
The energy burst out suddenly.
A flash of silver light shot forward—
And exploded against the ground three feet to the left of the rock.
Dirt flew everywhere.
Marcus burst out laughing.
“Great aim.”
Elara groaned.
“Shut up.”
Kael looked amused.
“Try again.”
She tried.
And missed again.
And again.
And again.
After the fifth failed attempt, Elara collapsed onto the grass dramatically.
“I quit.”
Marcus walked over.
“That was only twenty minutes.”
“Exactly.”
Kael crouched beside her.
“You’re improving.”
“Barely.”
“It takes time.”
Elara stared at the sky.
“I used to have normal problems.”
Kael raised an eyebrow.
“Like what?”
“Exams. Laundry. Rent.”
Marcus snorted.
“Those sound terrible.”
Elara sat up suddenly.
“What if I hurt someone?”
The question hung in the air.
Kael’s voice softened.
“That’s why you’re training.”
She looked down at her glowing wrist again.
The light had faded.
“I didn’t ask for this.”
“I know.”
“But it’s happening anyway.”
Kael nodded.
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“And you’re sure you can teach me?”
He met her gaze steadily.
“Yes.”
Marcus crossed his arms.
“Besides, if she blows something up, we’ll just blame you.”
Kael rolled his eyes.
Elara laughed despite herself.
For the first time since everything started—
She felt a little less afraid.
But deep in the forest beyond the pack territory…
Another pair of glowing eyes watched from the shadows.
And far away, word of the Moon-Chosen continued spreading.
Because the moment Elara awakened her power…
The balance of the wolf world had begun to change.
- Writer
