The Great Pack house was unusually silent that night. Wolves moved quietly through the halls, whispering about the shockwave Hailey had released earlier. Some were frightened… others amazed… but all of them could feel it:
Something powerful was changing in Hailey Black.
Hailey sat curled on the couch in her room, a blanket wrapped tightly around her. She still felt the phantom rush of energy under her skin—hot, wild, uncontrollable. Every now and then, her fingers sparkled faintly with silver light she couldn't turn off.
Claire sat beside her, rubbing her back.
"You're okay, Hails. You didn't hurt anyone."
Hailey whispered, voice hoarse, "But I could have."
Liam and Della stood by the door, watching her with worry they tried to hide. Jason leaned against the wall, arms crossed but eyes soft.
A knock sounded downstairs.
A strange knock.
Slow. Hollow. Echoing.
Every wolf in the house froze.
Della's breath caught.
"No… it can't be…"
Liam's eyes widened, tension rippling through his aura.
"She came. Della, she actually came."
Hailey sat up.
"Who?"
Della whispered, "Your great-aunt. The seer."
Claire blinked.
"Wait—the seer? The one who disappeared? The one who once predicted a war before it happened? The one who—"
Jason elbowed her. "Claire, shut up."
Liam opened the front door—and the temperature in the entire house dropped.
A woman stood on the porch, cloaked in deep midnight blue. Her hair flowed down her back in silver waves, the same shade as Hailey's wolf. Her eyes glowed faintly violet, filled with knowledge and something far older than any wolf living.
Power rolled off her in slow, steady waves—ancient, heavy, commanding.
Hailey's breath caught.
She didn't look like a rogue.
She didn't look like a wanderer.
She looked like a goddess in human form.
Liam bowed his head.
"Elder Aria."
Aria's voice was quiet, but it echoed like wind through mountains.
"I felt the surge."
Hailey's heart hammered.
Aria stepped into the house without waiting for permission. Every wolf instinctively backed away. Her aura was not Alpha… it was something beyond Alpha.
Something primal.
Her eyes locked onto Hailey instantly.
"You," Aria said softly. "Come here."
Hailey stood, knees shaking, and approached. Aria reached out and gently touched Hailey's cheek.
The moment their skin connected—Hailey gasped.
Images flashed through her mind:
Silver wolves running through ancient forests.
Moonlight forging power like molten metal.
A wolf howling so loudly it cracked the earth.
Aria pulled her hand back.
"The Moon Goddess did not make a mistake," she murmured. "You are chosen. Marked."
Hailey shook. "Marked for what? I can't control anything. I'm hurting people. I—"
Aria placed one finger on her lips, silencing her.
"Power does not frighten me, child. What frightens me is a world where you never learn to use it."
Liam stepped forward.
"Elder Aria… can you help her?"
Aria turned, her cloak whispering like shadows.
"I did not travel across territories for nothing."
She looked directly at Hailey again.
"The energy inside you is awakening too fast. If left alone, it will consume you. Or destroy this pack."
Hailey swallowed hard.
"So… you're going to train me?"
Aria's lips curved into a small, mysterious smile.
"No, child. I am going to unleash you—safely."
The room went silent.
Aria lifted her hand, and silver energy rippled across her palm like liquid moonlight.
"Tomorrow, at dawn," she said. "Your real training begins."
Hailey exhaled, fear and hope twisting inside her.
Aria's gaze softened.
"You are not cursed, Hailey Black. You are becoming."