Ariana followed Lucien deeper into the northern woods, her legs aching and her hands sore from climbing through thick branches and slippery paths. She had never been this far from the Blackthorn Pack territory. The trees here were taller, older, and everything was covered in fog like the whole forest was holding its breath.
Lucien didn't talk much as he led the way. He just moved quietly, stopping sometimes to sniff the air or look around with those sharp eyes of his. Ariana stumbled a few times, but he never scolded her. Once, when she tripped over a root, he offered his hand to steady her. It was rough and warm. She didn't take it, but it made her chest feel a little warmer inside.
After what felt like hours, they stopped in front of a waterfall. The water was clear and crashed into the rocks loudly. Ariana was about to ask why they stopped when Lucien pointed to a shadow behind the falling water. There was a cave hidden behind it.
"We stay here tonight," he said.
Ariana looked at the cave. It was dark and kind of scary, but after everything she had been through, it also looked like safety. She nodded and followed him through the curtain of water. The cave was damp and cold, but it was dry inside and the sound of the waterfall blocked out everything else.
Lucien took out a small bundle from his bag and pulled out a few matches and dry sticks. Ariana helped him gather more sticks from just outside the cave entrance. Her hands were freezing, but she didn't complain. When the fire finally lit, a soft orange glow filled the cave. Ariana sat near it, rubbing her hands together, watching the flames dance.
Lucien sat across from her, sharpening a knife with a small rock. He looked so calm, like this was nothing to him. Ariana was still shivering a little, but she could already feel the cold fading. She looked at him and whispered, "Thank you."
He nodded once, not looking at her. She didn't mind. Somehow, his quiet way felt safer than loud voices.
The next morning, Lucien woke her up early. The fire was out, and the cave felt even colder. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and saw him already stretching outside.
"You are going to learn how to fight," he said.
Ariana blinked. "What?"
"You don't know how to defend yourself. That changes now."
Ariana's chest tightened. She remembered how helpless she had felt when the rogues attacked. She didn't want to feel like that again. "Okay," she said softly. "Teach me."
Lucien didn't smile, but something in his eyes changed. He nodded and motioned for her to come outside. The training started with simple things. How to stand. How to throw a punch without hurting her wrist. How to dodge. Ariana was slow and clumsy at first. She fell down a lot. She even cried once when she hit the ground too hard and scraped her knee.
Lucien didn't yell. He didn't laugh either. He just helped her up and said, "You have more power than you know."
That one sentence made something inside her shift. She wiped her tears and tried again. And again. By the time the sun was high in the sky, her arms were sore, and her body felt like it would fall apart, but she didn't stop.
Later that night, Ariana lay near the fire with her eyes closed. Her whole body ached, but she felt proud. She had made it through the day without giving up.
And that was when she heard it.
A voice. Not outside. Inside her head.
"Ariana."
Her eyes flew open. She sat up, looking around. Lucien was outside, standing guard.
"Who's there?" she whispered.
"I am here. Finally."
The voice was soft but strong. It was female and had a calming feel, like moonlight in the middle of the night.
"Who are you?" Ariana asked inside her mind.
"I am your wolf. My name is Moonfire."
Ariana's heart skipped. She had never heard her wolf's voice before. Not clearly. Not like this.
"You can talk?"
"I always could. You just couldn't hear me before."
"Why now?"
"Because you are changing. The pain, the rejection, the fear, it all woke me. Your powers are awakening too."
Ariana felt cold and warm at the same time. "What powers?"
"You are more than what they said you were. You are not cursed. You are chosen."
Moonfire's voice faded, leaving Ariana with so many questions. But also a strange feeling of hope. For the first time in her life, she didn't feel completely broken.
The next day, while gathering firewood, Ariana found something strange near a mossy rock. It was a broken chain. Old and rusty. Next to it was a bloodied shirt, torn at the shoulder. She picked them up and brought them back to the cave.
Lucien saw them and froze. He stared at the items in her hands, and for the first time, his face looked full of pain.
"Where did you find that?" he asked, voice low.
"Near the trees," Ariana said. "Do you know what it is?"
Lucien took the chain and shirt gently. "These were mine."
Ariana waited as he sat by the fire and stared into it. After a while, he said, "I was once a prisoner. Alphas from a powerful pack captured me. They wanted to use me for my strength. I was locked up, beaten, and nearly killed."
Ariana's chest tightened. "Who were they?"
Lucien didn't answer, but the firelight flickered in his eyes, and something told her he was thinking about the Blackthorn Pack.
"I escaped," he said. "But I lost everything."
Ariana sat beside him. She didn't touch him. She just sat there quietly, feeling like she understood him more now. Maybe they were both broken. But maybe they didn't have to stay that way.
Far away, back in Blackthorn Pack, Lira was pacing angrily in her room. Kael hadn't spoken much since the ceremony. He didn't train. He didn't even smile. And worst of all, he didn't choose her.
Lira slammed a mirror against the wall. "She's gone," she hissed. "Why is he still acting like this?"
Outside the room, the elders talked to Kael.
"You did what needed to be done," one of them said. "The cursed girl is out of the picture."
Kael said nothing. His eyes were empty. But once they left, he sat alone and clenched his fists. A sharp sound cut the air as a glass in his hand shattered. His palm bled, but he didn't even flinch.
That night, Kael had a dream.
Ariana stood in the middle of a burning forest. Her eyes glowed silver, her hair floated like flames. She looked at him and said only one word.
"Traitor."
Kael woke up gasping. Sweat soaked his sheets. His wolf howled in his head. He was angry. Restless. No matter how hard Kael tried, he couldn't push her away. She was always there.
Back in the forest, Lucien's eyes narrowed. He sniffed the air and looked around.
"What is it?" Ariana asked, hugging her coat tighter.
"Something is wrong," Lucien said. "We are not alone."
Ariana looked around nervously. The forest was quiet. Too quiet.
Lucien turned to her. "We need to leave this place soon. It's not safe anymore."
"Why? Who would come all the way here?"
Lucien looked serious. "There are whispers. Someone has put a price on your head. They call you the silver blue eyed girl."
Ariana's blood ran cold. "Why? Why would anyone want me dead?"
Lucien didn't answer. He just packed their things and put out the fire. Ariana helped, though her hands were shaking.
As they got ready to leave, she reached for one of the bags and accidentally touched Lucien's hand. A spark jolted through her skin. She gasped and pulled back.
Inside her head, Moonfire growled. Not angry. Not warning. But something deeper. Something curious.
Ariana stared at Lucien. "Did you feel that?"
Before he could answer, a voice came from outside the cave.
"You can't hide her forever, Lucien."
Lucien moved fast. He grabbed Ariana's hand and pushed her behind him. His body blocked the entrance as a dark figure stepped out of the shadows.
The night held its breath.
And so did Ariana.