All she could feel was Alpha Kael's arm around her waist.
Strong. Unmoving. Possessive.
His body shielded hers as if he had already decided she belonged under his protection.
Or his control.
Her heart pounded wildly.
"L-let go of me," she whispered nervously.
Kael didn't move.
His silver eyes were fixed on the arrow stuck in the altar behind them.
The arrowhead was black.
Poisoned.
A low growl vibrated in his chest.
"That arrow was meant to kill instantly," he said quietly.
Aria's stomach tightened.
"Why would anyone want to kill me?" she asked.
Kael slowly looked down at her.
"You still don't understand?"
His gaze dropped to the glowing crescent mark on her wrist.
"That mark just changed the balance of power between every pack in the north."
Aria swallowed.
"I'm just an omega."
Kael's eyes darkened.
"No," he said.
"You were an omega."
His words sent a strange chill through her.
For years, she had been treated like the lowest wolf in the pack—someone weak, someone useless.
But tonight the moon had chosen her.
And apparently that made her dangerous.
The elder approached them carefully, his expression pale.
"Alpha… this situation is highly unusual."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"You think?"
The elder cleared his throat.
"In all our history, the Moon Goddess has never chosen an omega to become Luna."
Aria lowered her gaze.
Even now, people looked at her like she didn't deserve the mark.
The elder continued.
"This could mean one of two things."
Kael crossed his arms.
"Speak."
"Either the Moon Goddess has made a mistake…"
The crowd murmured nervously.
"Or," the elder continued slowly, "the girl carries a power we do not yet understand."
Silence spread across the clearing again.
Aria's chest tightened.
Power?
That couldn't be right.
She had never even been able to shift properly like other wolves.
Kael stepped closer to her.
Too close.
"Tell me something, Aria."
The way he said her name sent a strange shiver down her spine.
"Yes… Alpha?"
"Have you ever wondered why the pack treated you as an omega?"
Her eyebrows furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Because weakness is rarely natural."
She blinked in confusion.
Kael continued calmly.
"In nature, every creature is born with a purpose. Even the smallest wolf has strength somewhere."
Aria thought about that.
Her grandmother used to say something similar.
Everyone has a gift, she would whisper. Sometimes the world hides it until the right moment.
Kael suddenly grabbed Aria's wrist again.
She gasped softly.
The Luna mark was glowing brighter now.
Almost pulsing.
Kael frowned.
"That shouldn't be happening."
The elder leaned closer to examine it.
His eyes widened.
"Alpha…"
"What?"
"This is not just the Luna mark."
The crowd leaned forward in curiosity.
"What do you mean?" Kael demanded.
The elder's voice trembled slightly.
"Look closely at the crescent."
Aria looked down.
Inside the crescent moon symbol, a second mark had begun appearing.
A tiny glowing star.
The elder stepped back in shock.
"This mark hasn't appeared in over three hundred years."
Kael's expression hardened.
"What mark is it?"
The elder looked directly at Aria.
"The mark of the Moon Vessel."
Whispers spread through the wolves like wildfire.
"Moon Vessel?"
"That's just a legend."
"The wolves who could control moon power…"
Aria felt dizzy.
"I… I don't understand."
Kael's gaze turned dark and calculating.
"The Moon Vessel is said to carry the wisdom of past Lunas," he said slowly.
"They can strengthen or destroy entire packs."
Aria's breath caught.
"Destroy?"
Kael looked at her with a faint smile.
"Yes."
Then his voice lowered dangerously.
"Which explains why someone tried to kill you the moment the mark appeared."
Aria suddenly felt the weight of hundreds of eyes staring at her.
Not with mockery anymore.
With fear.
She had spent her entire life being ignored.
Now everyone was watching her.
And for the first time…
They were afraid.
Kael leaned down slightly so only she could hear him.
"Congratulations, little omega."
His voice was smooth.
"But let me teach you something important."
Aria looked up at him.
"In this world," he continued, "power attracts two things."
"What things?"
"Enemies…"
His fingers tightened around her wrist.
"And people who want to own that power."
Her heart skipped.
His silver eyes locked onto hers.
"And from this moment on," he said quietly,
"You belong under my protection."
He paused.
A dangerous smile forming on his lips.
"Whether you like it… or not."
And somewhere deep in the forest—
Hidden in the darkness—
A pair of red eyes watched the clearing.
Watching Aria.
Waiting.
The hunt had just begun.