The training continued for most of the morning.
The clearing behind the pack territory now looked completely different.
Broken branches were scattered everywhere. A cracked tree leaned dangerously to one side. The ground itself had several deep marks where power had exploded from Aria's attempts.
Aria wiped sweat from her forehead.
"I think the forest officially hates me now."
Nearby, Alpha Kael leaned against a tree, watching her with folded arms.
"The forest will survive."
Aria pointed at the broken trees.
"You're very confident about that."
Kael shrugged.
"Wolves break trees all the time."
From the other side of the clearing, Ikechukwu slowly tapped his wooden staff against the ground.
"No, Alpha," he said calmly.
"Wolves break trees."
He pointed his staff toward Aria.
"This one launches them."
Aria groaned.
"Please stop reminding me."
The old man smiled slightly.
"That means you are improving."
Aria frowned.
"I don't feel like I'm improving."
"You are."
He walked closer and studied the crescent mark glowing faintly on her wrist.
"The power listens to you faster now."
Kael nodded slightly.
"That's true."
Aria looked down at her hand.
"I still feel like it's stronger than me."
Ikechukwu tilted his head.
"That is because it is."
Aria stared at him.
"That's not comforting."
The old man chuckled quietly.
"In my village we say something."
Kael sighed loudly.
"Of course you do."
Ikechukwu continued anyway.
"When you ride a strong horse, you do not try to overpower it."
He tapped his staff once.
"You learn how to guide it."
Aria thought about that for a moment.
"Guide the power… not fight it."
The old man nodded.
"Yes."
Suddenly—
One of the scouts ran into the clearing.
"Alpha!"
Kael straightened immediately.
"What happened?"
The scout stopped in front of them, breathing heavily.
"We found tracks near the northern border."
Kael frowned.
"What kind of tracks?"
The scout swallowed.
"Not wolves."
The clearing went quiet.
Aria felt a strange chill.
"Then what are they?"
The scout hesitated.
"Human."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Humans don't come this deep into the forest."
The scout nodded nervously.
"That's not the strange part."
Everyone waited.
The scout continued.
"The strange part is… they weren't alone."
Aria felt her stomach tighten.
"What do you mean?"
The scout looked directly at Kael.
"There were wolf tracks walking beside them."
Kael's expression turned dark.
"That's impossible."
Ikechukwu shook his head slowly.
"No."
He tapped his staff against the ground.
"It is not."
Aria looked at him.
"You know what this means?"
The old man sighed.
"Yes."
Kael crossed his arms.
"Explain."
Ikechukwu's voice became serious.
"In Nigeria we say something about hunters who cannot win a fight."
Kael groaned quietly.
"Why do I feel like I won't like this proverb?"
Ikechukwu smiled slightly.
"When the hunter cannot defeat the lion…"
He paused.
"…he hires other hunters."
Aria's eyes widened.
"You think Magnus is working with humans?"
Kael's jaw tightened.
"That would be dangerous."
The scout nodded.
"There's more."
Kael looked at him sharply.
"What else?"
The scout hesitated again.
"They left something carved on a tree."
Aria's chest tightened.
"The red crescent?"
The scout shook his head.
"No."
Kael frowned.
"Then what?"
The scout's voice dropped.
"Your name."
The air went cold.
Aria felt her heart stop for a second.
"My… name?"
The scout nodded slowly.
"Carved into the tree."
Silence filled the clearing.
Then Kael spoke, his voice dangerously calm.
"Show me."
Moments later they reached the northern border.
The forest there felt darker.
Colder.
Aria stepped closer to the large tree the scout pointed at.
And there it was.
Carved deep into the bark.
ARIA
But beneath the name were more words.
Aria leaned closer to read them.
Her stomach dropped.
You cannot hide forever.
Behind her, Kael's voice became deadly quiet.
"Magnus."
From somewhere deep in the forest…
A low laugh echoed through the trees.
The sound sent chills down Aria's spine.
Then a voice followed.
Soft.
Amused.
"Training already?"
Aria's heart raced.
She recognized that voice instantly.
Magnus.
Hidden somewhere in the forest…
Watching them.