The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the dense forest. A soft breeze whispered through the trees, carrying the scent of pine and earth. It was the perfect night for a hunt.

But tonight, the hunt was not what Xavier, Alpha of the Nightshade Pack, sought.

Xavier stood at the edge of the clearing, his sharp gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The pack members were scattered around the camp, preparing for the full moon that would rise within hours. His wolf stirred restlessly beneath his skin, the pull of the moon’s power always a reminder of his duties. Yet, his thoughts were far from the pack.

For weeks, his dreams had been haunted by a pair of hauntingly familiar eyes—eyes that didn’t belong to a wolf. They belonged to a human.

Raine.

The human woman had wandered too far into the territory of the Nightshade pack. She was a stranger—unimportant. But there was something in her gaze, something that sent a jolt through Xavier’s chest. He’d felt it the moment their eyes locked.

A bond. A connection. A pull stronger than the one to his pack.

Xavier had fought it, but deep down, he knew the truth.

The ancient laws of the werewolves were clear: humans and werewolves do not mix. Such bonds were cursed, bringing destruction and war. Xavier knew better than anyone the cost of breaking the rules.

And yet, as the moon rose higher, casting its light upon the world below, Xavier could no longer ignore the way his heart raced every time he thought of Raine. It was a dangerous path to walk, but he had already taken the first step.

Raine's limbs ached with exhaustion, but sleep refused to come. She lay curled on a pile of soft furs Xavier had thrown together, the echo of that glowing light still etched in her mind.


She had glowed. Not metaphorically. Not symbolically. Her skin had lit up like a star. What kind of person—what kind of creature—did that?


A rustle drew her attention. Xavier paced at the entrance of the cavern, jaw clenched, eyes distant. His aura was tense, like a storm waiting to break.


He stopped pacing, turning to her. "Not at you. At the Council."


He nodded. "The ruling body of my pack… of all packs, really. They sensed the shift when your blood awakened. They've summoned me."


She pushed herself upright. "That's bad, isn't it?"


He hesitated. "They'll want answers. And if I tell them what I think you are, they might see you as a threat."


Raine stood, the weight of her new reality sinking into her bones. "Then don't tell them."


Xavier gave a bitter laugh. "It's not that simple. They'll send a Seer if I don't show up. They'll sniff the truth out themselves. And if they even suspect you're Lunaris-born—"


"Lunaris?" she interrupted. "What's that?"


He looked at her, expression grave. "A forgotten bloodline. Thought extinct. The first wolves born not of man, but of the moon itself. Raw magic. Untamable. Their children were hunted, their bloodlines erased."


"And you think I'm one of them?" she whispered.


"Then why save me?" she asked. "Why not turn me in and let them deal with me?"


Xavier stepped close, eyes dark with something unreadable. "Because I felt the bond. Because your scent burns in my chest every time you breathe. Because even if the world turns against you—"


He brushed a strand of hair from her face.


But before she could speak, the earth trembled slightly. A low, resonant howl rose in the distance.


Xavier's face went hard. "They're already watching."


"No," he said grimly. "Rogues. Again. And this time… they brought a bloodhound."


Raine's stomach dropped. "What does that mean?"


Chapter 4 - Chapter 4