The night had grown colder.
After Aria's vision, no one spoke for a long moment. The forest seemed to listen, as if the trees themselves were waiting for what would happen next.
Aria's breathing was still uneven.
The images from her vision refused to fade.
Flames.
Blood.
A war beneath a red moon.
And she had been standing in the middle of it.
Alpha Kael noticed the fear in her eyes.
"Sit down," he said quietly.
Aria shook her head.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
His voice was firm but not harsh.
Before she could protest again, Ikechukwu gently placed a hand on a nearby tree and spoke calmly.
"Let her breathe small."
Kael frowned.
"Translate."
"It means give her a moment."
Aria took a deep breath.
The burning in her wrist had finally started to fade, leaving only a faint glow beneath her skin.
But the feeling of dread remained.
"I saw wolves fighting everywhere," she said slowly.
Kael crossed his arms.
"That doesn't mean it will happen."
Ikechukwu shook his head quietly.
"Sometimes visions are warnings."
Aria looked at him.
"Warnings about what?"
Ikechukwu did not answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the dark forest beyond the clearing.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Something is wrong."
Kael followed his gaze.
"What do you mean?"
Ikechukwu pointed toward the ground where the rogues had fallen earlier.
"Those wolves."
"What about them?"
"They were not ordinary rogues."
Kael's voice grew sharp.
"I already said someone was controlling them."
"Yes."
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"But not someone weak."
The wind rustled through the branches above them.
Aria wrapped her arms around herself.
"Who would control rogue wolves?"
Kael answered quietly.
"Only a very powerful Alpha… or something worse."
Aria's stomach twisted.
"Worse?"
Ikechukwu spoke calmly.
"There are old wolves who do not follow pack laws."
Kael's eyes darkened.
"You're talking about warlords."
Ikechukwu nodded.
"Yes."
Aria looked confused.
"What are warlords?"
Kael turned toward her.
"They are Alphas who abandoned the pack system long ago."
"They rule through fear," Ikechukwu added.
"And they believe power should belong only to the strongest."
Aria swallowed.
"And they would want the Moon Vessel."
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
Ikechukwu sighed softly.
"My people warned that when the Moon Vessel returns…"
"…those who crave power will start hunting."
A cold silence filled the clearing.
Aria looked down at her glowing wrist.
"So I'm the target."
Kael stepped closer immediately.
"No."
She looked up at him.
His silver eyes were steady.
"You're under my protection."
Ikechukwu chuckled softly.
"Oga Alpha, protection go hard small."
Kael sighed.
"Translate."
"It means protecting her will not be easy."
Kael didn't look amused.
"I never said it would be."
Suddenly—
A warrior rushed into the clearing.
"Alpha!"
Kael turned sharply.
"What is it?"
"The scouts found something near the northern border."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Speak."
The warrior hesitated.
"There's… a symbol carved into the trees."
Aria felt a chill.
"What symbol?"
The warrior swallowed nervously.
"A red crescent moon."
Ikechukwu's calm expression disappeared.
"That is not good."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"You recognize it."
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Aria looked between them.
"What does it mean?"
Kael answered grimly.
"It means someone has already claimed the hunt."
Aria's heart pounded.
"Hunt?"
Ikechukwu looked directly at her.
"In the old wolf world…"
"…when a warlord wants something valuable…"
He paused.
"…they mark the territory first."
The wind suddenly blew stronger through the clearing.
Aria's mark pulsed again.
Her voice trembled.
"So someone powerful is coming."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
Aria looked at Ikechukwu.
"You said the Moon Vessel appears when the world is about to change."
Ikechukwu nodded slowly.
"That is what the stories say."
Aria swallowed.
"And the war I saw…"
Her voice dropped.
"…that hasn't started yet."
Ikechukwu looked toward the distant mountains.
His eyes were serious.
"No."
The moon shone brightly above them.
And somewhere far beyond the forest—
A lone wolf howled.
Ikechukwu finished quietly.
"It has already begun.