The storm had quieted, leaving behind a forest soaked in silver moonlight. Mist drifted between the trees, curling like ghostly fingers, and every breath Aurora drew was heavy with damp earth and fear. She pressed her palm to her chest, feeling the rapid thrum of her heart. She had survived another night, but her body ached, her wounds stung, and exhaustion weighed on her like chains.
Still, she could not stop. Ronan's words echoed in her head—You are mine. Her jaw clenched. No. She would never belong to him again. He had broken his oath, shattered her trust, and left her to bleed in the wild. The bond that once tethered her to him had become a chain she was determined to break.
She stumbled deeper into the forest, her golden eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. The air carried strange energy here, ancient and unsettling, as if the land itself was watching her. Each step echoed with destiny. She was not only running; she was being led.
The faint sound of rushing water reached her ears. Hope flickered in her chest. Water meant a stream, and a stream might mean a moment's safety. She followed the sound until she found it—a narrow river winding between jagged rocks. She knelt by the bank, cupping her hands to drink. The water was ice-cold, but it steadied her.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her strength, when the hairs on the back of her neck rose. Someone was watching.
Her golden aura sparked instinctively, a flicker of light dancing across her palms. She stood, body taut, eyes scanning the mist.
From the fog stepped a figure. Tall, lean, moving with a predator's grace. He wore dark clothes torn from travel, his boots caked with mud, and his cloak dripped with rain. But what caught her breath was his eyes—piercing blue, bright as a frozen lake, sharp and unreadable.
Aurora's heart thudded painfully. He was not from Ronan's pack. His aura was different, wild yet controlled, dangerous yet calm.
"Stay back," she warned, her voice steady despite the tremor in her limbs. Golden sparks crackled at her fingertips.
The man raised his hands in mock surrender, lips curving into the faintest of smiles. "If I wanted you dead, Luna, you would already be."
Her stomach tightened. He knew. He knew what she was.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing.
He stepped closer, the mist swirling around him like a veil. "A traveler. A survivor. And, it seems, the only one foolish enough to walk into the storm while your Alpha hunts."
Aurora flinched at the word Alpha. Her anger burned hot. "He is not my Alpha. Not anymore."
The stranger tilted his head, studying her. "Good. Then you might live."
His words were cryptic, but there was no mockery in his tone. He gestured to her trembling hands, the faint golden light still flickering in her palms. "You've barely scratched the surface of your gift, yet it sings so loudly the forest itself shivers."
Aurora took a step back, her instincts caught between fear and curiosity. "How do you know about my power?"
His eyes gleamed, sharp and knowing. "Because I carry it too. Not like yours, but enough to recognize it. Power is a curse when it's untamed, Luna. And right now, you are a beacon. Every wolf within miles will come to test you."
Aurora's breath hitched. His words rang true—already she had been hunted, already she had felt the pull of her aura drawing predators near.
"What do you want?" she asked.
The man studied her for a long moment, then said simply, "To see if you are strong enough to survive."
Before she could respond, the forest erupted with movement. Three wolves burst from the shadows, snarling, their eyes burning with malice. Aurora spun, ready to fight, but exhaustion dragged at her limbs.
The stranger moved faster than her eyes could follow. His blade flashed silver in the moonlight, striking with deadly precision. One wolf fell, then another, blood staining the wet earth. The third lunged at Aurora, jaws snapping. She raised her hands, golden light exploding in a brilliant flare that sent the beast sprawling into the river.
Her chest heaved, her aura blazing uncontrollably, sparks of light crackling through the mist. The stranger watched her, his blade dripping with blood, his expression unreadable.
"You see?" he said softly. "Raw power. Untamed. You will burn yourself alive before you burn them."
Aurora staggered, clutching her side. "Why help me?"
His lips curved into that faint, enigmatic smile again. "Because, Luna, you are not the only one betrayed by an Alpha's oath."
Her golden eyes widened. For the first time since leaving Ronan's pack, she felt a flicker of something new—connection. Maybe even… hope.
The stranger sheathed his blade and turned toward the mist. "If you wish to live, follow me. If not, stay here and wait for your Alpha to find you."
Aurora's heart hammered. She did not trust him—not yet—but something in his eyes, something in his voice, told her that he spoke truth. She glanced back into the forest, where the howls of Ronan's pack echoed closer.
Her choice was clear.
She stepped toward the stranger, her resolve hardening. The path ahead was uncertain, but uncertainty was better than captivity. She would rise, no matter what it took.
And she would make every oathbreaker regret ever underestimating the betrayed Luna.
✨ Author's Note:
A new ally—or rival? 👀 Aurora has met a mysterious stranger who knows about her power and carries secrets of his own. Do you think she can trust him? 🌙🔥 Support Aurora's rise by dropping a Power Stone ⚡ and sending free gifts 🎁—your love fuels her destiny!