The night was unnaturally still. Moonlight filtered through the trees, pale silver casting long shadows across Shadowfang territory.
Nyra stood at the edge of the cliffs overlooking the forest, Kael at her side. Wolves moved silently through the trees, on alert. Every sense in Nyra's body screamed that something was wrong.
"They're coming," Kael said, his voice a low growl. "Not one or two hunters. Lucien is sending everything he has — this is a full strike."
Nyra's pulse surged. "How… how do we stop them?"
Kael's golden eyes locked on hers. "Together. You, me… the pack… and your power."
A rustle, then multiple shadows shifted in the forest. Dozens of hunters emerged, faster than any normal human, cloaked in black and silver. Their weapons glimmered faintly in the Blood Moon.
"Lucien," Kael growled. "He's here. And he brought everything."
Nyra felt her bloodline stir, ancestral energy pulsing through her veins, glowing faintly under her skin. Images of past warriors, wolves, and guardians flashed before her eyes, giving her instinctive awareness of the battlefield.
Kael shifted, massive black wolf form surging. "Form up! Protect the pack!"
The first wave hit with a deafening roar. Nyra released silver energy in arcs and waves, deflecting projectiles, creating barriers around her allies. Ghostly wolf projections leapt from her fingertips, intercepting hunters before they could reach the pack.
But there were too many. Shadows moved faster than Nyra could track individually. The silver light around her flickered, dimmed under the weight of the assault.
Kael lunged beside her, teeth and claws flashing. "Anchor yourself, Nyra! Channel through me!"
Nyra grasped his arm, letting their pulses sync. Silver energy flared brighter, expanding outward in a protective wave. Hunters were thrown back, staggered, disarmed — unharmed but incapacitated.
Lucien stepped forward from the shadows, tall, calm, and deadly. His grey eyes glimmered with malice. "So… she has grown," he said. "But can she withstand this?"
From the trees, a second wave of hunters emerged — faster, stronger, more coordinated. They moved as one, flanking the pack.
Nyra's energy pulsed wildly. She extended her hands, weaving ancestral energy around the pack in protective spirals. But the attackers were relentless, forcing her energy to strain, her pulse racing.
Kael shifted beside her, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "Focus, Nyra! Let the bond guide you!"
She inhaled, syncing with his heartbeat, the bond between them amplifying her power. Silver light surged, arcs of energy forming spectral wolves that struck in unison, countering every hunter's move.
A hunter broke through the perimeter, lunging at a young wolf. Nyra reacted instinctively, releasing a controlled wave of silver energy that knocked the hunter back without harm. Her pulse surged. She was in control.
Kael growled beside her, massive and unstoppable. "You're incredible," he said mid-battle. "Never doubt your power!"
Lucien's eyes narrowed. He raised his hand, and shadows rippled across the battlefield, twisting into a mass of dark energy, forcing Nyra to defend against something she couldn't fully see.
Her pulse raced. Silver light flared brighter than ever, ancestral projections multiplying, forming a protective dome around the pack. She realized… her bond with Kael didn't just anchor her power — it amplified it. Their heartbeats, synced perfectly, allowed her to push the limits she hadn't yet touched.
With a roar, Kael leapt into the shadows, dispersing hunters in a blur of black fur and gold eyes. Nyra followed, silver energy slicing through the darkness, moving as one with him. Together, they became unstoppable, the pack following their lead with renewed courage.
Lucien's smirk faded. The first wave of his strike had failed. And yet, he remained calm, calculating, hiding a deeper plan.
Nyra's hands glowed, her chest heaving, but her eyes burned with determination. "We can do this. We will protect the pack."
Kael's hand brushed hers, grounding her. "And together, we will."
The forest was alive with energy, silver and gold streaking through the trees. The Blood Moon bathed the battle in pale light. Nyra felt the whispers of her ancestors, the strength of Kael, and the heartbeat of the pack — all converging into one unstoppable force.
Lucien disappeared into the shadows, watching.
"Interesting… she grows stronger… but I will not wait forever. The Blood Moon Heir will break, and when she does… everything will fall."
And deep in the clearing, Nyra knew one terrifying truth: the war had only just begun.