Aria
The night air was thick with tension, shadows stretching unnaturally across the forest floor. The trial had ended, but I could feel it—the presence lurking beyond the trees. My wolf growled low, coiling tight, sensing the predators circling us, testing the bond, waiting for the first mistake.
Kael's silver eyes scanned the darkness, energy rippling faintly around him. "They're here," he murmured, voice barely audible. "The hunt begins."
My chest tightened. The rogue leader's warnings had come to life. The Starborn Blood pulsed violently inside me, responding to the threat, feeding off my fear and anticipation.
"They're close," I whispered, wolf snarling. "I can feel them."
Kael nodded. "Then stay sharp. Every movement matters. Every strike must count. Remember the bond."
The wind shifted. Shadows moved like smoke, coiling around the trees, circling. Predators, scouts, and something… older. Smarter. Waiting. Watching.
Kael
I could feel her pulse through the bond—rapid, excited, and alert. Her wolf surged beneath the surface, impatient and hungry for the fight. I mirrored it, coiling around her instinctively, protective and ready.
"They're not just scouts," I whispered, scanning the shadows. "This is more organized. Someone—or something—directing them."
The rogue leader had been only a precursor, a test. The real enemy was moving. The prophecy wasn't idle—it was hunting us.
I tightened my fists. My wolf coiled violently. "Aria… this is your first real battle outside training. Trust the bond. Trust yourself. Trust me."
Her hands glowed faintly, energy coiling. I could feel her determination. She is ready. But danger never sleeps.
Aria POV—First Ambush
Suddenly, the shadows struck. Scouts lunged from the trees, energy crackling, eyes glowing red in the darkness. They were fast, predatory, coordinated.
I roared, energy surging, wolf leaping. My hands glowed brightly, coiling around the first scout. He staggered back, surprised by the precision and control of my strikes.
Kael mirrored me, coiling energy and wolf instinct around my movements, amplifying every attack, protecting every vulnerable angle. Together, we were nearly unstoppable—but the scouts were relentless.
One leapt from above, dark energy spiraling like whips. I blocked, wolf snarling, energy coiling outward in defense. The bond pulsed violently, guiding me, warning me, demanding I act with precision.
The scouts faltered under our coordinated assault—but more were coming. And I could sense it: the true enemy was observing, learning, adapting.
Kael POV—Enemy Strategy
The bond pulsed violently. The enemy wasn't just attacking—they were probing us, testing our coordination, our control, and our bond.
I moved closer to Aria, energy coiling around her, wolf circling, protective. "Aria, keep the focus. Precision, not power. Let the bond guide your instincts—but don't let it control you."
She nodded, chest heaving, wolf coiling, hands glowing brighter. I could feel her energy flowing through the bond, synchronized with mine.
Good. She's ready. But they will adapt. And when they do… this will be more than training.
Aria POV—The True Enemy Reveals
Amidst the chaos, a shadow detached from the darkness. Taller, older, eyes glowing red like embers. Energy radiated from him in waves, oppressive and dangerous.
I froze for a moment, wolf coiling, senses screaming. The bond pulsed violently, warning, screaming.
"You've awakened," he said, voice low, cruel, deadly. "But awakening does not mean survival. The hunt begins now, Starborn."
My wolf snarled, coiling violently. I could feel Kael tense beside me, energy humming, wolf circling.
"Show me," I said, voice steady, hands glowing, energy coiling like fire. "Show me what you've got."
He laughed, dark energy crackling around him. "You are strong… but the Starborn Blood is a weapon I will claim. And you… you will fall before it consumes everything you love."
Kael POV—The First True Threat
The bond screamed warnings. This enemy was not a scout. Not a rogue. This was something ancient, predatory, and calculating. He knew the Starborn Blood, the bond, and he would use every weakness against us.
I coiled around Aria, protective, lethal. Energy flared, wolf snarling. "Aria… you strike, I protect. Every move must be perfect. Do not falter!"
The enemy lunged, dark energy colliding with ours, a shockwave ripping through the clearing. The scouts followed, but they were secondary. This enemy—he was the master predator, testing us, learning us.
The bond pulsed violently, alive, screaming survival. I could feel her fear, her anger, her determination. Together, we were ready. But the battle had only begun.
Aria POV—Bond in Overdrive
Energy surged inside me, wolf coiling, bond screaming guidance. I struck with precision, each attack amplified by Kael's energy, each defense synchronized perfectly.
The enemy staggered slightly, surprised by the coordinated assault. He had expected raw power, fear, hesitation—but we delivered controlled intent, precision strikes, and unstoppable will.
"You… are stronger than I expected," he hissed, energy flaring. "But power alone cannot protect you from the hunt!"
The bond pulsed violently, warning me of traps, strategies, and unseen attacks. My wolf leaped instinctively, energy flaring, striking another scout attempting to flank.
Kael barked instructions through the bond, guiding my energy, coiling around mine, protective and lethal. Together, we pushed them back—but I could feel it: the enemy was learning.
Kael POV—Preparing for the Hunt
This was no ordinary battle. This was a prelude. The enemy's scouts were testing us, probing our strengths, weaknesses, and the bond.
I could feel the bond thrumming violently, alive, protective, hungry. Aria's wolf mirrored mine, coiling, ready. I had to ensure she survived, controlled her energy, mastered her instincts.
"Aria," I whispered through the bond, "the scouts are secondary. Focus on the predator. Learn his patterns. Strike together. Survive."
She nodded, hands glowing brighter, wolf leaping, energy coiling like fire. Her fear was gone. Determination had replaced it. She is Starborn. And she is ready.
Aria POV—Rising Power
The clearing erupted into chaos as the scouts fell back. The predator advanced, energy crackling like molten fire. I could feel the bond screaming, guiding, warning.
I stepped forward, wolf coiling, energy pulsing. The bond amplified, Kael beside me, protective, lethal. We struck in perfect synchronization, energy clashing with the enemy, shockwaves tearing through the clearing.
He faltered for a moment—then laughed. Cruel, calculating. "Impressive… but the true hunt is only beginning."
The wind shifted. Shadows moved in the trees. I could feel it—ancient predators closing in, watching, waiting. The bond pulsed violently, wolf snarling, energy humming.
The hunt had begun.
Cliffhanger
The enemy disappeared into the shadows, leaving only whispers and ominous laughter. The scouts scattered, energy flickering, retreating—but the forest felt alive, watching, hungry.
Kael's wolf coiled protectively around me, energy flaring. I mirrored him, wolf leaping, hands glowing faintly. The bond pulsed violently, alive, warning, insistent.
The prophecy was no longer a warning. It was real. And the true hunt—predators far older, stronger, and more dangerous than anything we had faced—was coming.
The Starborn Blood pulsed inside me, hungry, alive. And I knew, without a doubt: survival would demand every ounce of strength, every instinct, and every bond I had.