The forest remained tense long after the laughter faded.
Standing in the center of the clearing, Aria crossed her arms confidently.
"You want an alliance," she said to Alpha Lucien. "Then it happens on my terms."
Lucien studied her for a moment.
Behind him, his wolves shifted slightly, clearly surprised by her boldness.
But instead of anger, a slow smile appeared on his face.
"I underestimated you."
Beside Aria, Alpha Kael didn't smile.
His silver eyes stayed sharp.
"She's not joining your pack."
Lucien raised a hand calmly.
"That was never the plan."
Kael didn't look convinced.
Aria sighed.
"Can both of you stop acting like rival football captains?"
Neither Alpha answered.
Behind them, Ikechukwu chuckled quietly.
"Two lions no dey share one forest easy."
Aria looked at him.
"That's not helping either."
Lucien finally spoke again.
"So what are your rules?"
Aria pointed at herself.
"Rule number one: I'm not property."
The glowing crescent on her wrist pulsed faintly as she spoke.
Lucien nodded.
"Fair."
Aria continued.
"Rule number two: no one controls my power."
Kael glanced at her wrist carefully.
Lucien nodded again.
"Agreed."
Aria raised a third finger.
"And rule number three…"
She looked directly at him.
"If Magnus shows up, we deal with him together."
At the mention of Magnus, the wolves around the clearing shifted uneasily.
Lucien's expression turned serious.
"That was always the plan."
Aria watched him for a moment.
Then she nodded slowly.
"Good."
Before anyone could speak again—
The crescent mark on her wrist suddenly burned.
Aria gasped.
"Ah!"
The glowing symbol flared bright silver.
The light spread up her arm like moonlight flowing through her veins.
Kael moved instantly.
"Aria!"
She staggered slightly, gripping her wrist.
"What is happening?"
Ikechukwu stepped forward quickly.
His eyes were sharp now.
"The moon power dey react."
Lucien frowned.
"To what?"
Then the answer came.
A low distant howl echoed across the forest.
Not close.
But powerful.
Every wolf in the clearing froze.
Even Lucien's warriors stiffened.
Aria felt the burning in her wrist grow stronger.
"What… is that?"
Daniel, the hunter, spoke quietly.
"That…"
His voice was tense.
"…is not a normal wolf."
Kael's expression darkened.
Only one wolf's presence could trigger that kind of reaction.
The howl echoed again.
This time louder.
Closer.
Aria's glowing wrist pulsed violently.
Her breath caught.
"Oh no."
Lucien looked toward the dark forest.
"So he finally arrived."
Aria slowly lifted her head.
"You mean…"
Kael's voice finished the sentence.
"Magnus."
A cold wind rushed through the clearing.
The wolves surrounding them began growling uneasily.
Aria felt the moon power inside her stirring again.
Stronger than before.
More alive.
Her voice came out as a whisper.
"He found us."
Ikechukwu tapped his staff firmly against the ground.
Tok.
"My sister…"
Aria looked at him.
"Yes?"
The old man gave a small grin.
"Looks like the real story don start now."
Aria sighed.
"Fantastic timing."
Another howl cut through the forest.
Closer.
Much closer.
And this time…
Something massive moved in the shadows between the trees.