The forest at dawn was alive in ways I hadn't noticed before. Birds chirped nervously, and the wind shifted with purpose. Today was the beginning of my full training with the pack, and even though Kael had promised guidance, I couldn't help but feel a weight pressing down on my chest.
"You're awake early," Kael said, appearing silently beside me. His golden eyes scanned the trees as if the forest itself might answer his questions.
"I didn't sleep well," I admitted. "Too many thoughts."
Kael nodded knowingly. "Tomorrow, your body will demand rest after what you'll learn today. But today… you'll begin to understand why you are different."
Different. That word had followed me since the Blood Moon, following me like a shadow. But Kael meant something more. Something I wasn't ready for yet.
We moved deeper into the forest, the trees thickening around us. Mira and two other pack members fell into line behind, silent observers. Kael's hand hovered near my shoulder—not touching, just a reminder of presence and protection.
"You've seen your strength," Kael said quietly. "But strength without control is dangerous. And the rogues will exploit anything uncontrolled within you."
I nodded, letting my wolf rise slightly inside me, feeling the tension in my muscles, the keen awareness in my senses.
"Today," Kael continued, "you will face not just combat, but truth. About yourself. About your bloodline."
I frowned. "My bloodline?"
Kael's expression darkened. "There's more to your silver than you know. Your transformation wasn't random. And it wasn't just the Blood Moon. Your lineage has been hidden for centuries."
My pulse quickened. "Hidden? Why?"
"Power attracts enemies," Kael said. "And yours… is legendary."
We arrived at a clearing I had never seen before. In its center, a shallow pool reflected the rising sun, golden light shimmering across ripples. Kael gestured for me to look into it.
"Focus," he instructed. "See not just your reflection… but your essence."
I leaned over the water hesitantly. My eyes met the reflection of my human face… then blurred as the silver wolf I had become flickered across the surface. But there was something else—a shadow beneath the reflection. Something I didn't recognize.
"Concentrate," Kael murmured. "Your bloodline carries the mark of the Ancient Lunars. You are descended from wolves that could awaken without a claiming bite, wolves whose power alone commanded respect across the lands. That is why you are 'hidden.' To survive."
I swallowed, the words heavy. "So… I'm… royalty?"
Kael's golden eyes softened. "Not royalty in the human sense. But in the wolf world, yes. You carry authority in your blood. The mark beneath your collarbone is not just a claim—it is recognition of your heritage."
My wolf stirred inside, proud and fierce. "Recognition," I whispered aloud. The word resonated through me like a drumbeat.
"Exactly," Kael said. "But your heritage comes with responsibility. And danger. The rogues you've seen… they were only scouts. More will come, and they will not hesitate to strike if they perceive weakness."
I clenched my fists, feeling heat crawl beneath my skin. "Then I'll be ready."
Kael's lips curved slightly. "Good. First, control. Then, focus. Then, you will begin learning the art of leadership—how to command respect without dominating, how to harness power without losing yourself."
Mira stepped forward, eyes sharp. "The exercises will be difficult, Aria. And they will test your limits. But you are ready. We all sensed it last night."
I nodded, determination growing. My wolf surged at the acknowledgment. I could feel the pack's energy around me, almost as if the forest itself bent toward recognition of my rising power.
Kael placed a hand briefly on my shoulder. "Tonight, the rogues will return. And this time, they will test the bloodline. Not just the wolf. You. Do you understand?"
I swallowed hard. "Yes. I… I'm ready."
The forest was quiet now, almost holding its breath, waiting for what was coming. I could sense the balance shifting, the pull of destiny stronger than ever. My hidden lineage, the mark, the silver wolf inside me—they weren't just parts of who I was. They were my weapons, my shield, my truth.
Tonight, I would face the rogues again. But this time, I would face them as who I truly was: a silver wolf, marked by the Alpha, and heir to a legacy no one could hide.
The Night of the First Howl was over. But the Night of Awakening—the night of my true power—was just beginning.