The strange howl echoed again through the forest.
Long.
Low.
Wrong.
Every wolf in the clearing froze.
Even the warriors who had faced enemies before felt their fur rise instinctively.
At the center of the clearing, Aria felt the crescent mark on her wrist pulse harder.
Not like before.
This time it felt… like a warning.
She rubbed her wrist uneasily.
"Did you hear that?"
Beside her, Alpha Kael was already looking toward the dark forest.
"Yes."
His voice was calm, but his eyes had turned sharp.
"That's not one of ours."
Another howl followed.
Closer this time.
The warriors around the clearing shifted into defensive positions.
Several wolves began shifting partially, their claws extending and muscles tightening.
Kael stepped forward slightly.
"Everyone stay ready."
Behind them, Ikechukwu slowly tapped his wooden staff against the ground.
Tok.
Tok.
Tok.
The old man was listening carefully to the forest.
His eyes narrowed.
"Hmm."
Aria glanced at him.
"You know that sound?"
Ikechukwu sighed quietly.
"Yes."
Kael turned toward him immediately.
"What is it?"
The old man leaned slightly on his staff.
"In my homeland we say something about spirits of the wild."
Kael muttered under his breath.
"Another proverb."
Ikechukwu ignored him.
"When the forest howls with a broken voice…"
His expression darkened.
"…it means something unnatural walks inside it."
Aria frowned.
"Unnatural?"
Another howl cut through the air.
This one was much closer.
Suddenly—
CRACK.
A branch snapped somewhere beyond the trees.
The warriors immediately turned toward the sound.
Kael's voice dropped into command.
"Form a line."
Several wolves moved quickly, standing between the forest and the clearing.
Aria felt her heart beating faster.
"What exactly are we expecting?"
Before anyone answered—
Something moved in the shadows.
A shape stepped slowly into the moonlight.
It looked like a wolf.
But something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Its body was too thin.
Its fur was patchy.
Its eyes glowed an unnatural dull yellow.
And its movements were stiff… almost like something was controlling it.
Aria whispered.
"That… doesn't look healthy."
Kael's expression turned dark.
"No."
The creature stepped closer.
Then another shape appeared behind it.
And another.
Three.
Four.
Five wolves.
But none of them looked normal.
Their movements were jerky.
Their eyes empty.
Their breathing uneven.
Ikechukwu tapped his staff once.
"Ah."
Kael glanced at him.
"You recognize this?"
The old man nodded slowly.
"Yes."
His voice became serious.
"In Nigeria we say something about men who play with death."
Kael sighed quietly.
"I'm starting to expect that sentence."
Ikechukwu pointed his staff toward the strange wolves.
"When a wicked man cannot create life…"
He paused.
"…he steals it."
Aria felt a chill run down her spine.
"You're saying Magnus did this?"
Kael's jaw tightened.
"It wouldn't surprise me."
Suddenly one of the wolves let out a twisted snarl.
Then it charged.
Fast.
Too fast.
The warriors leaped forward immediately.
The clearing exploded into movement.
Claws.
Growls.
Snapping jaws.
Aria stepped back instinctively.
Another creature rushed toward her.
Kael shifted instantly.
In a blur of fur and power, his massive wolf slammed into the creature and tore it aside.
But something strange happened.
The creature didn't bleed.
It simply collapsed… twitching.
Aria stared in shock.
"What the hell—"
Before she finished speaking—
Two more rushed toward her.
Her wrist flared with silver light.
The moon power surged.
Without thinking—
She raised her hand.
A wave of silver energy burst outward.
BOOM.
The two creatures were thrown across the clearing, slamming into trees.
Silence followed.
The remaining wolves suddenly retreated into the forest.
As quickly as they came…
They disappeared.
Everyone stood still, breathing heavily.
Kael shifted back into human form.
He looked at the fallen creature on the ground.
It was completely still now.
Aria walked closer slowly.
Her stomach twisted.
"What… is this?"
Ikechukwu crouched beside the body.
He studied it carefully.
Then he sighed.
His voice was quiet.
"Magnus is experimenting."
Aria's eyes widened.
"Experimenting on wolves?"
The old man nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Kael's expression hardened.
"That's not just cruel."
His voice turned cold.
"That's war."
Far away in the forest…
Hidden in the shadows…
Magnus watched the entire battle with calm interest.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Good."
His red eyes glowed faintly.
"The Moon Vessel is getting stronger."