Everything moved at once.
Trackers rushed forward.
The stranger attacked first.
Fast. Ruthless.
One wolf hit the ground instantly.
I barely had time to react before another came for me.
I dodged sideways.
Too slow.
His blade sliced my arm.
Pain shot through me.
Sharp.
Hot.
My wolf snarled violently.
Bad move.
Very bad move.
Something inside me snapped.
Energy exploded from my body.
Silver light burst outward so hard it threw everyone back.
The ground cracked beneath my feet.
Silence.
Complete silence.
I stared at my glowing hands.
Breathing hard.
"What… Did I just do?"
No one answered.
The trackers looked terrified now.
Good.
The stranger, however
Look worried.
Like he actually looks worried.
That was new.
The scarred wolf slowly stood.
Blood trickled from his mouth.
His eyes stayed fixed on me.
"It's true," he whispered.
Fear crept into my chest.
"What's true?"
His expression shifted into something darker.
"Her bloodline awakened."
My stomach tightened.
Again with the bloodline.
I was officially tired of bloodlines.
"I don't know what that means," I snapped.
The scarred wolf laughed weakly.
"No," he said. "But they will."
"They?" I asked.
Before he could answer
A powerful pressure slammed into the forest.
Every wolf froze.
Even the stranger.
The air suddenly felt heavy.
Dangerous.
Wrong.
Then
A howl echoed through the trees.
Not normal.
Not a wolf.
Ancient.
My wolf instantly dropped low inside me.
Fear.
Real fear.
I swallowed hard.
"What was that?"
The stranger grabbed my wrist again.
This time harder.
"We're leaving."
"That's becoming a habit."
"Diana."
His tone stopped me.
Seriously.
Urgent.
I looked at him properly.
And for the first time
He looked unsettled.
That scared me more than the howl.
The scarred wolf suddenly laughed.
It actually laughed.
"You're too late."
The stranger's expression darkened instantly.
"Shut up."
"They felt her awakening," the scarred wolf continued. "They're coming now."
A cold spread down my spine.
"Who's coming?"
No one answered immediately.
Which I hated.
Then
The stranger looked at me.
"The Originals."
Silence.
I blinked once.
"The what?"
"The first bloodlines," he said quietly. "The wolves that existed before packs."
That sounded impossible.
And terrifying.
Another howl echoed.
Closer.
The trees around us shook slightly.
The trackers immediately stepped back.
Afraid.
Very afraid.
Good.
At least someone knew what was happening.
Because I definitely didn't.
The stranger looked at me again.
"Can you run?"
I frowned.
"That depends. Are things trying to kill me again?"
"Yes."
"…Then probably."
A small smile almost appeared on his face.
Almost.
Then it vanished.
"We move now."
The scarred wolf backed away slowly.
"You can't hide her anymore."
The stranger's gaze turned deadly.
"Watch me."
Then
He pulled me forward.
We ran.
Again.
But this time felt different.
Worse.
Because now
Something ancient knew I existed.
And somehow…
I knew it was hunting me.