The clearing had barely calmed down when the howl came again.
A long, sharp sound tore through the moonlit forest.
It echoed through the ancient trees and sent a chill down Aarav's spine.
Jack's expression changed instantly.
His silver claws extended.
"That's not from our pack."
Mia's golden eyes sharpened.
"It's close."
Lyra slowly turned toward the forest, her dark wings shifting slightly.
Her crimson eyes narrowed.
"That scent…"
Kai stepped in front of Aarav.
"Stay behind us."
Aarav wanted to argue.
He hated always being told to stand back.
But the burning mark on his chest reminded him that his body was still unstable.
Elder Seraphina slowly stepped forward.
Her purple eyes moved across all of them.
"Before anyone moves, listen carefully."
Her voice was calm.
But there was a heaviness in it that made everyone fall silent.
She looked directly at Aarav first.
"From this moment on, what happened tonight must remain a secret."
Kai frowned.
"You mean the prophecy?"
Seraphina's gaze hardened.
"The prophecy."
"The Blood Moon Mark."
"And his three-blood core."
She slowly turned toward Mia, Jack, and Kai.
"No one outside this circle must know."
Mia blinked.
"Not even our families?"
The old witch's expression became colder.
"Especially not your families."
Jack frowned.
"Even our parents?"
Seraphina nodded.
"Yes."
A cold silence fell over the clearing.
Kai's crimson eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
The witch looked toward Aarav.
"Because the moment the pureblood clans learn what he carries, they will come."
Aarav swallowed.
"To help?"
Seraphina's purple eyes darkened.
"To control him."
"Or kill him."
The words hit the clearing like a blade.
Mia slowly clenched her fists.
"No one touches him."
Jack crossed his arms.
"With our lives."
Kai gave a slow nod.
"My clan will not hear a word."
Seraphina's gaze softened slightly.
"Good."
Then she looked at Aarav.
"From now on, trust no one outside us."
Aarav slowly nodded.
The secret had suddenly become heavier than the mark on his chest.
Then—
The howl came again.
Closer.
This time, it was followed by the sound of something crashing through the trees.
Jack's eyes glowed silver.
"Something's coming."
The next second—
A figure burst out from the forest.
A woman.
She stumbled into the clearing and dropped to one knee.
Aarav froze.
She had long silver-white hair touched with streaks of red.
Wolf ears stood above her head.
Behind her, a pair of fiery, feathered wings flickered weakly.
A hybrid.
Her breathing was ragged.
Blood stained her side.
Mia immediately stepped forward.
"She's injured."
The woman looked up.
Her eyes burned like amber fire.
For a moment, they locked eyes with Aarav's.
Then something strange happened.
A sharp heat spread through Aarav's chest.
The Blood Moon Mark burned.
He clenched his shirt.
No.
Not now.
Elder Seraphina noticed immediately.
Her eyes narrowed.
Lyra also saw it.
But neither said anything.
The woman suddenly tried to stand.
Her body swayed.
Jack caught her before she fell.
"Easy."
She looked at him sharply, almost feral.
"Don't touch me."
Her voice was rough but powerful.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
The woman slowly looked around the clearing.
Her gaze paused on Lyra.
Then on Aarav.
Finally, she said,
"Ember."
Mia frowned.
"Ember, what?"
The woman's fiery eyes hardened.
"Ember Nightflame."
Lyra's expression changed.
"The Stormfire Clan?"
Ember gave a slow nod.
Aarav frowned.
Stormfire?
Elder Seraphina's voice turned grave.
"Wolf and phoenix blood."
Ember looked at the old witch.
"So you know what I am."
Lyra folded her arms.
"The heir of a fallen hybrid clan."
Ember's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Say that again."
The air around her suddenly heated up.
Small flames danced along the edges of her fiery wings.
Jack immediately moved between them.
"Enough."
Mia stepped closer to Ember and looked at the wound on her side.
A silver arrow was lodged deep in her flesh.
Hunter weapon.
Kai's expression darkened.
"They found her."
Aarav's chest tightened.
Before anyone could ask—
Ember grabbed Jack's arm.
Her voice dropped.
"They're coming."
The forest suddenly went silent.
No wind.
No birds.
Nothing.
Then—
THWIP!
A silver arrow shot through the darkness.
It struck the tree right beside Aarav's face.
The wooden bark exploded.
Everyone froze.
Another arrow came.
Jack instantly slashed it aside with his claws.
Kai's crimson eyes glowed.
"HUNTERS!"
Three shadowy figures stepped out from the darkness.
Long silver coats.
Cross-shaped insignias.
Weapons glowing with holy light.
The Church Hunters.
The one in front spoke coldly.
"Target located."
His eyes moved directly to Aarav.
Then to Ember.
Then Lyra.
His lips curved into a cruel smile.
"Well."
"Tonight's hunt is richer than expected."
Mia's golden eyes flashed.
Jack stepped forward with a growl.
Kai's fangs slowly emerged.
Lyra spread her dark wings.
Ember struggled to stand despite her wound.
Aarav's heart pounded.
For the first time—
He was standing in the middle of a real war.
The hunter captain slowly raised his silver blade.
"Eliminate the hybrid heir."
The words echoed through the clearing.
Aarav's mark burned again.
Hotter.
Stronger.
His eyes slowly began glowing crimson.
The hunters had come for him.
And this time—
Running was no longer an option.