# **Chapter 3: Awakening**
---
Aria stared at her reflection, at those impossible glowing violet eyes, and waited for Moira to laugh. To tell her it was a joke, or a trick of the light, or some side effect of the medicine she'd been given.
But Moira didn't laugh. She just stood there, staring at Aria with an expression caught between wonder and concern.
"True Alpha," Aria repeated slowly, testing the words. They felt foreign in her mouth. "That's... that's impossible. True Alphas are extinct. Everyone knows that."
"Everyone is wrong." Moira moved closer, peering at Aria's eyes with intense focus. "Or rather, everyone believes what they were meant to believe. That the True Alpha bloodline died out over a century ago." She paused. "But some survived. They had to hide what they were, suppress their power, live as ordinary wolves. Your mother was one of them."
Aria's head was spinning. "My mother was just... she was just a regular pack member. She wasn't anything special. She—"
"She was special enough that someone bound your power when you were very young," Moira interrupted. "Probably around age five, which would explain why you don't remember it. The binding was meant to protect you, to hide what you are."
"But I'm weak," Aria protested, even as her eyes continued to glow that eerie violet. "I've always been weak. I can barely shift without exhausting myself. I have no strength, no—"
"You were weak because your true power was locked away!" Moira's voice was sharp now. "Don't you understand? Everything you've struggled with your entire life—the difficulty shifting, the constant exhaustion, the feeling of being less than everyone else—it was because you were trying to function with only a fraction of your actual strength."
The words hit Aria like a physical blow. All those years of being told she was pathetic, useless, weak... and it had been a lie? No, not a lie. She *had* been weak. But only because something had been done to her. Something her parents had done to protect her.
"The rejection," Moira continued, settling back into her chair. "The trauma of having your mate bond severed—it must have shattered the binding. That's why you nearly died. Your body was trying to cope with the rejection while simultaneously experiencing an awakening of power that had been suppressed for nearly twenty years."
Aria looked down at her hands. They looked the same as they always had—small, unremarkable. But as she focused on them, she could feel something humming beneath her skin. Energy. Power. Something that definitely hadn't been there before.
"I don't understand," she whispered. "What does this mean? What am I supposed to do?"
"For now? Nothing." Moira stood and moved to a shelf lined with old books. She pulled down a leather-bound volume that looked ancient. "You need to understand what you are before you can decide what to do about it. And that starts with learning about True Alphas—the real history, not the sanitized version most packs tell their children."
She opened the book to a page marked with a faded ribbon. There was an illustration of a wolf with glowing eyes—eyes that looked remarkably like Aria's did right now.
"True Alphas," Moira began, her finger tracing the illustration, "were the first werewolves. The original children of the Moon Goddess. They were given power beyond normal wolves—enhanced strength, speed, and healing. But more than that, they could do things with their wolf nature that regular werewolves cannot."
"Like what?" Aria asked, leaning forward despite herself.
"Healing others with just a touch. Creating pack bonds so strong they were almost unbreakable. Reading emotions and intentions. Projecting their will so powerfully that other wolves had no choice but to obey." Moira paused. "And in rare cases, abilities unique to the individual. Some could see the future. Others could communicate over vast distances. There are even legends of True Alphas who could manipulate the elements themselves."
It sounded like something out of a fairy tale. Impossible.
But Aria's eyes were still glowing violet, so apparently impossible wasn't what it used to be.
"If True Alphas were so powerful," Aria said slowly, "why were they hunted? Why would anyone want to destroy them?"
Moira's expression darkened. "Because power frightens people. And because one True Alpha—one corrupt, power-hungry individual—nearly destroyed the werewolf world a hundred and twenty years ago."
She turned the page, revealing an illustration that made Aria's stomach turn. Wolves fighting wolves. Blood and death and chaos rendered in stark black ink.
"His name was Malakai," Moira continued, her voice heavy with old pain. "He believed that True Alphas were meant to rule over all other wolves. That regular werewolves were inferior and should submit to their 'natural superiors.' He started a war, gathering followers and attempting to subjugate every pack on the continent."
"What happened to him?"
"He was defeated. Eventually. But the damage was done. The war had shown regular wolves exactly how dangerous True Alphas could be. So when it was over, when Malakai was dead and his followers scattered..." Moira closed the book with a heavy thud. "They decided that all True Alphas were a threat. And they hunted them. Systematically. Ruthlessly. Until everyone believed the bloodline was extinct."
Aria felt cold despite the fire crackling in the hearth. "But some survived."
"A few. The smart ones. The ones who bound their power and hid in plain sight." Moira looked at her meaningfully. "Like your mother."
"So she bound my power to protect me from being hunted." Aria was starting to understand. "And now the binding is broken, which means..."
"Which means you're in danger," Moira finished bluntly. "If word gets out about what you are, there are wolves who will try to kill you simply for existing. The fear runs deep, Aria. Generations deep."
Perfect. Just perfect. As if being rejected by her mate and nearly dying wasn't enough, now Aria had to worry about being murdered for something completely beyond her control.
"This is insane," she muttered, pressing her palms against her eyes. When she pulled them away, she noticed the violet glow was fading. Her eyes were returning to their normal brown. "I don't want this. I didn't ask for any of this."
"None of us ask for what we're born to be," Moira said, not unkindly. "But we still have to deal with it."
Before Aria could respond, the door to the cabin opened. Marcus stepped inside, his arms full of firewood. He froze when he saw Aria sitting up, his eyes widening.
"You're awake." He set down the wood carefully. "And conscious. That's... good."
"Apparently I'm hard to kill," Aria said, surprised by the bitter edge in her own voice.
Marcus studied her for a long moment, and Aria had the uncomfortable feeling he was seeing more than she wanted him to. His eyes were sharp, assessing.
"Moira told you," he said finally. It wasn't a question.
"About being a True Alpha? Yeah. She told me." Aria laughed, and it came out slightly hysterical. "Because my life wasn't complicated enough already."
"It's a lot to process," Marcus said, moving to sit in the other chair near the fire. "But for what it's worth, I don't think you're a threat. And I've seen a lot of threats in my time."
"You don't know me."
"True. But I know what it's like to be judged for something you didn't do. To have people fear you for no good reason." His expression was hard. "The pack that exiled me did it because they were afraid. Afraid of what I might do, what I might become. They didn't wait to find out if their fears were justified. They just... acted."
Aria heard the pain beneath his gruff words. "I'm sorry that happened to you."
Marcus shrugged. "It made me who I am. Taught me not to judge people based on what others say about them. To make my own decisions about who's dangerous and who's not."
"And you've decided I'm not dangerous?"
"I've decided you're a girl who's been through hell and is trying to survive. Everything else is just details."
Something in Aria's chest loosened at those words. It was such a simple thing—being seen as a person rather than a threat or a burden or a disappointment. She'd forgotten what that felt like.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For finding me. For bringing me here. I know you didn't have to."
"Kael wouldn't have left you there even if I'd argued," Marcus said with a slight smile. "He's got a savior complex the size of the moon."
"I heard that." The door opened again, and Kael stepped inside, shaking snow from his dark hair. "And it's not a complex if I actually save people."
He looked different than Aria remembered from her fever dreams. More solid, more real. His golden eyes went straight to her, and relief flooded his face.
"You're awake. Really awake this time." He crossed the room quickly, crouching down beside her chair. "How do you feel?"
"Like I got trampled by a stampede and then set on fire," Aria admitted. "But alive, apparently."
"Alive is good." Kael's smile was warm and genuine. "We were worried for a while there. You were touch and go for the first two days."
"Moira's a good healer," Aria said, glancing at the old woman.
"Moira's a miracle worker," Kael corrected. "And you're tougher than you look."
Aria wasn't sure about that. She felt fragile, like she might shatter into a thousand pieces if someone looked at her wrong. But she appreciated the sentiment.
"Kael," Moira said, her tone serious. "Aria's awakened."
Kael's eyebrows shot up. "Awakened? You mean—"
"True Alpha. Yes."
For a moment, Kael just stared at Aria. Then he let out a low whistle. "Well. That explains a few things."
"Like what?" Aria asked.
"Like why your scent felt different when we found you. Why the power coming off you seemed disproportionate to your apparent strength." He sat back on his heels. "True Alphas have a distinct presence once you know what to look for. I thought I was imagining it, but..."
"You weren't," Moira confirmed. "The binding was already starting to crack when you found her. The awakening just accelerated after she was safe."
"This is going to complicate things," Marcus said grimly.
"It doesn't have to," Moira countered. "Not if we're careful. Aria's appearance has changed—the silver hair, the violet eyes when her power is active—but she can learn to control the visible manifestations. As long as she stays here, stays hidden while she learns to manage her abilities, no one needs to know what she is."
"Stay here?" Aria repeated. "For how long?"
"As long as it takes." Moira's expression was firm. "You can't go back to your old pack. Even if they'd take you back—which they won't—it would be far too dangerous. And you can't just wander off on your own. You're untrained, unstable, and a target for anyone who recognizes what you are."
"So I'm a prisoner." The words came out harsher than Aria intended.
"You're a student," Moira corrected. "There's a difference. I'm offering to teach you, Aria. To help you understand your power and learn to control it. To give you the tools you need to survive in a world that will fear you simply for existing."
Aria wanted to argue. Wanted to say she didn't need help, that she could figure it out on her own. But even she wasn't that delusional. She had no idea how to be a True Alpha. Hell, she barely knew how to be a regular werewolf.
"And if I agree to stay?" she asked. "To learn from you? What then? What happens after?"
"After, you decide what you want to do with your life. Where you want to go, what kind of wolf you want to be." Moira's expression softened slightly. "You'll have choices, Aria. Real choices. But first, you need to survive long enough to make them."
Lyra stirred in Aria's mind, her presence stronger and clearer than it had been in days.
"She's right," her wolf said. "We need to learn. We need to be strong enough that no one can ever hurt us again."
Aria thought about Damien. About the way he'd looked at her with such cold dismissal. About Seraphina's triumphant smile. About the pack laughing as she fled in humiliation.
"You're too weak."
Maybe she had been. But she didn't have to stay that way.
"Okay," Aria said, looking Moira straight in the eye. "I'll stay. I'll learn. Teach me everything."
Moira smiled—actually smiled—and there was approval in her cloudy eyes. "Good. Then we begin tomorrow."
"Why not now?" Aria asked.
"Because right now, you need to rest. Your body is still recovering from the awakening. You've been unconscious for three days, and the transformation took a lot out of you." Moira stood, moving toward a small kitchen area. "I'll make you something to eat. Then you sleep. Real sleep, not the fever dreams you've been having."
"I can help—" Aria started to stand, but her legs immediately buckled.
Kael caught her before she hit the floor, steadying her with gentle hands. "Easy. Moira's right—you need to take it slow."
Aria hated how weak she felt. Hated needing help for something as simple as standing. But she also couldn't deny that her body felt like it had been wrung out and left to dry.
"Fine," she grumbled, letting Kael help her back into the chair. "But tomorrow, we start training."
"Tomorrow," Moira agreed. "Tonight, you rest."
---
Dinner was simple—stew and bread—but it was the best thing Aria had ever tasted. Or maybe she was just starving after three days of unconsciousness. Either way, she ate two full bowls and probably would have gone for a third if Moira hadn't physically taken the pot away.
"You'll make yourself sick," the old woman scolded. "Your stomach needs to adjust."
After dinner, Marcus excused himself to sleep in a small outbuilding behind the cabin. Kael lingered, clearly reluctant to leave.
"I need to get back to my pack," he said, but he didn't move toward the door. "I've been gone for four days. They'll be wondering where I am."
"Go," Aria told him. "I'll be fine."
"I know. It's just..." He hesitated, then seemed to make a decision. "I'll come back. In a week or so. Bring supplies, check on your progress. If that's okay."
Why did he sound nervous about it?
"Sure," Aria said, confused by his concern. "I mean, you saved my life. I think that earns you visiting rights."
Kael smiled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "I'll hold you to that."
After he left, Moira showed Aria to the small bedroom she'd been recovering in. It was simple but comfortable—a bed, a chest for clothes, a small mirror on the wall.
"There are nightclothes in the chest," Moira said. "They were my daughter's. She's long gone now, but I think they'll fit you."
"Thank you." Aria paused. "For everything. I know you didn't have to take me in."
"No, I didn't," Moira agreed. "But when Kael brought you here, when I saw what you were..." She trailed off, her expression distant. "Let's just say I have my reasons for wanting to help you."
There was clearly a story there, but Aria was too exhausted to pry. She changed into the nightclothes—soft and worn from years of use—and crawled into bed.
She expected to lie awake, her mind spinning with everything she'd learned. Expected to spiral into panic or despair or anger.
Instead, the moment her head hit the pillow, she was asleep.
---
Aria dreamed.
Not the fever dreams that had plagued her for the past three days, but something different. Something that felt more like a vision than a dream.
She was standing in a forest clearing bathed in moonlight. The trees around her were ancient, massive things that seemed to touch the sky. And in the center of the clearing stood a wolf.
But not just any wolf. This one was enormous, easily the size of a horse, with fur that seemed to shimmer with silver light. Its eyes were the same violet as Aria's had been when they glowed.
"Hello, little one," the wolf said, and its voice was female, warm and ancient all at once.
"Who are you?" Aria asked, surprised she could speak.
"I am Lyra. Your wolf. Your other half." The massive creature padded closer, and Aria could feel the power radiating from her. "We've never been able to truly speak before. The binding prevented it. But now..."
"Now we're free," Aria finished.
"Now we're free," Lyra agreed. "And we are so much more than they ever let us be."
Aria looked down at herself and realized she wasn't in her human form. She was a wolf too—smaller than Lyra, but still larger than any wolf she'd ever seen. Her fur was silver-white, gleaming in the moonlight.
"Is this real?" she asked. "Or just a dream?"
"Does it matter?" Lyra settled onto her haunches, her massive head tilted. "Real or dream, this is the first time we've been able to meet like this. To see each other as we truly are."
Aria sat too, mirroring her wolf's posture. "I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know how to be... this."
"None of us do, at first. But you'll learn. We'll learn together." Lyra's eyes were kind. "We've been broken, Aria. Broken by the binding, by the pack's cruelty, by his rejection. But we're not weak. We never were."
"Then why does it feel like we are?"
"Because they convinced us we were. Because we believed them." Lyra leaned forward, touching her nose to Aria's. "But that ends now. No more believing their lies. No more accepting their limitations. We are True Alpha. We are powerful. And we will make them all see how wrong they were."
There was something fierce in Lyra's voice. Something dangerous.
"Is that what you want?" Aria asked. "Revenge?"
"I want them to regret underestimating us. I want them to fear the power they tried to suppress. I want—" Lyra stopped, her ears flattening. "I want them to hurt the way they hurt us."
Aria understood that feeling. Gods, did she understand it. The desire to make Damien feel even a fraction of the pain he'd caused her. To watch Seraphina's smug smile disappear. To force the entire Shadowmoon Pack to acknowledge that they'd been wrong about her.
"But first," Lyra continued, her voice softening, "we survive. We learn. We grow strong enough that no one can ever break us again."
"And then?"
"And then we decide who we want to be. Merciful or merciless. Forgiving or vengeful." Lyra's eyes gleamed. "But either way, we do it from a position of strength. Never again from weakness."
The dream was starting to fade, the clearing growing hazy around the edges.
"Wait," Aria called out. "I have so many questions—"
"We have time," Lyra assured her. "All the time we need. Rest now, Aria. Tomorrow, we begin to reclaim everything they took from us."
The clearing dissolved, and Aria found herself sinking into deep, dreamless sleep.
---
She woke to sunlight streaming through the window and the smell of breakfast cooking. For the first time in... she couldn't remember how long... Aria felt rested. Actually rested, not just exhausted and forcing herself to function.
She sat up slowly, half expecting her body to protest. But while she was still sore, the crushing weakness from yesterday was gone. She felt... good. Better than good, actually.
Strong.
Aria stood and walked to the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her—silver-white hair that she was still getting used to, plain brown eyes that she knew could glow violet, a face that looked somehow sharper than it had before. More defined.
She looked different. She felt different.
She *was* different.
"No going back now," she murmured to her reflection.
"Would you want to?" Lyra asked in her mind.
Aria thought about that. Thought about what going back would mean—returning to being weak, dismissed, invisible. Returning to a pack that had never valued her. Returning to a life where she was defined by other people's low expectations.
"No," she said firmly. "I wouldn't."
"Good. Because today, we start becoming who we were always meant to be."
Aria dressed in simple clothes she found in the chest—practical pants and a tunic that fit reasonably well—and went to face whatever Moira had planned for her first day of training.
In the main room, she found Moira cooking breakfast while Marcus sat at the table sharpening what looked like a very large knife.
"Morning," Aria said.
They both turned to look at her, and something in their expressions made Aria pause.
"What?" she asked, suddenly self-conscious.
"Your eyes," Marcus said. "They're glowing again."
Aria looked down at her hands and saw that he was right. There was a faint violet shimmer to her skin, barely visible in the daylight but definitely there.
"I didn't even feel it happen," she admitted.
"That's because your power is active now," Moira explained, setting down her cooking spoon. "Before, when it was bound, you had to consciously work to access your wolf. Now, the line between human and wolf is much thinner. Your power will leak through when you're emotional or not focusing on controlling it."
"So how do I stop it?"
"Practice. Lots and lots of practice." Moira gestured to the table. "But first, breakfast. You'll need your strength."
They ate quickly—eggs and some kind of meat Aria didn't recognize but tasted delicious. When the plates were cleared, Moira stood and headed for the door.
"Come," she said. "We're going outside."
"Outside?" Aria followed her. "Why?"
"Because the first lesson in controlling True Alpha power is learning to shift properly. And I'd rather you practice that away from my cabin." Moira glanced back with a slight smile. "Just in case."
Marcus chuckled. "Smart woman."
They filed outside into the crisp morning air. The cabin sat in a small clearing surrounded by dense forest, with mountains visible in the distance. It was beautiful and isolated—perfect for hiding from a world that would fear what Aria was.
"Now then," Moira said, turning to face her. "Tell me about your wolf. Have you spoken to her? Really spoken, not just felt her instincts?"
"Last night," Aria said. "In a dream. Her name is Lyra."
"Good. That connection is important. Your wolf is not separate from you—she *is* you, just a different aspect. The stronger your connection with her, the stronger you'll be overall." Moira gestured to the clearing. "I want you to shift. Fully. Let Lyra come forward."
Aria had been dreading this. Her shifts had always been painful, difficult, exhausting. Even with the binding broken, she wasn't sure it would be different.
"What if I can't?" she asked quietly.
"You can," Moira said with certainty. "The binding is gone, Aria. You have your full power now. Trust it. Trust yourself."
Aria closed her eyes and reached for Lyra. Her wolf was right there, closer to the surface than she'd ever been.
"Ready?" Aria asked her.
"I was born ready," Lyra replied. "Let me show you what we can really do."
Aria took a deep breath and let go.
The shift was instantaneous. One moment she was standing on two legs, the next she was on four paws. But there was no pain, no struggle, no exhaustion. It was as natural as breathing.
And the wolf she'd become...
Aria looked down at herself and froze. She was massive—easily three times the size of her previous wolf form. Her paws were huge, her body powerful and muscular. And her fur was the same silver-white as her hair, shimmering in the morning sunlight.
"Holy shit," Marcus breathed from behind her.
Aria turned to look at him and Moira. From this perspective, everything looked different. Sharper. Clearer. She could see every detail of their faces, could smell their individual scents with perfect clarity. Could hear their heartbeats, steady and strong.
"Beautiful," Moira said softly. "You're absolutely beautiful."
Lyra preened at the praise. Then, because she apparently had no sense of restraint, she took off running.
The world blurred around them as they raced through the clearing and into the forest beyond. Aria had never moved this fast before. Never felt this free. Trees whipped past in streaks of brown and green, the ground flew beneath her paws, and for the first time since the rejection, she felt something other than pain or fear.
She felt powerful.
They ran in a wide circle, eventually returning to the clearing where Moira and Marcus waited. Aria shifted back to human form, and again, it was effortless. Natural.
She was laughing—actually laughing—as she stood there in the grass.
"That was amazing!" She couldn't keep the joy out of her voice. "I've never felt anything like that!"
Moira was smiling, really smiling. "And that's just the beginning. You haven't even started to explore your real abilities yet."
"There's more?" Aria asked, almost giddy.
"So much more." Moira's expression turned serious. "But Aria, I need you to understand something. This power you have—it's dangerous. Not just to others, but to you. If you lose control, if you let your emotions overwhelm you, people could get hurt. You could get hurt."
The joy Aria had been feeling dimmed slightly. "I understand."
"Do you?" Moira stepped closer, her cloudy eyes boring into Aria's. "Your power is tied to your emotions. Every feeling you have—anger, fear, joy, grief—it can all trigger a response. The stronger the emotion, the stronger the response. Which means you need to learn control. Real control, not just of your wolf, but of yourself."
Aria thought about the broken coffee cup from yesterday. About how easily her power had lashed out without her even meaning to.
"How do I do that?" she asked.
"Practice. Patience. And acceptance." Moira gestured for her to sit on the grass. She did, and Moira settled across from her. Marcus leaned against a tree, watching silently.
"Close your eyes," Moira instructed. "Feel the power inside you. Don't try to control it yet. Just feel it. Acknowledge it. Understand that it's part of you."
Aria closed her eyes and focused inward. Immediately, she felt it—a wellspring of energy that seemed to originate from her chest and radiate outward. It pulsed with her heartbeat, warm and alive and vast.
"It's so much," she whispered. "How do I even begin to control something this big?"
"You don't control it," Moira said. "Not really. You learn to work with it. To guide it rather than suppress it. Think of it like a river—you can't stop the flow, but you can direct where it goes."
They spent the next hour working on basic exercises. Breathing techniques to center herself. Meditation to quiet her mind. Visualization to help her picture the power as something she could shape rather than something that shaped her.
It was hard work, requiring a level of focus Aria had never had to maintain before. But unlike before, she didn't tire easily. Her body and mind kept up with the demands she placed on them.
When Moira finally called a break, Aria was mentally exhausted but physically fine. No crushing fatigue. No desperate need to sleep.
"You're doing well," Moira said, offering her water from a skin. "Better than I expected for a first session."
"What's next?" Aria asked after drinking.
"Next, we talk about the less pleasant aspects of being a True Alpha." Moira's expression grew grave. "The things I mentioned before. The dangers. The people who will hunt you if they learn what you are."
Marcus pushed off from the tree, coming to sit with them. "She needs to know how to defend herself. Not just with power, but with actual combat skills."
"I agree," Moira said. "Which is why you're going to teach her."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You want me to train her to fight?"
"You're a warrior. One of the best I've seen. Who better to teach her?" Moira looked at Aria. "Power alone won't keep you safe. You need to know how to fight, how to defend yourself, how to kill if necessary."
The casual way she said "kill" made Aria's stomach clench. But she forced herself to nod. Moira was right. If there were really people out there who would try to murder her for existing, she needed to be able to defend herself.
"When do we start?" Marcus asked.
"Tomorrow," Moira decided. "Today, we focus on control and understanding. Tomorrow, we start combat training." She looked at Aria seriously. "This is going to be hard, Aria. Harder than anything you've ever done. Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Aria thought about everything she'd been through. The years of dismissal and cruelty. The rejection that had nearly killed her. The awakening that had changed everything.
She thought about Damien's cold eyes and Seraphina's triumphant smile. About a pack that had never valued her. About a world that would fear her simply for existing.
And she thought about Lyra's words: "We will make them all see how wrong they were."
"I'm ready," Aria said, and she meant it. "Teach me everything."
Moira smiled. "Then welcome to your new life, Aria Winters. May you survive long enough to enjoy it."
As ominous as those words were, Aria felt a thrill of anticipation rather than fear.
For the first time in her life, she had power. Real power. And she was going to learn to use it.
They would all see.
Starting with Damien Blackwood.