The forest smelled of smoke and damp earth, the aftermath of the previous night's battle still lingering in every twisted root and broken branch. Nyra moved carefully, her silver veins faintly glowing under the pale sunlight, eyes scanning for the faintest disturbance in the ground.
Kael walked beside her, silent but alert. His golden eyes swept the surrounding woods, muscles coiled as if ready to spring at any moment. Nyra could feel his energy pulsing through their bond, steadying her when doubt threatened to cloud her focus.
"This way," Nyra whispered, pointing to a trail that glimmered faintly in the moonlight from the night before. It was subtle, almost invisible, but her senses — sharpened by the Blood Moon — guided her.
Kael nodded. "Good. But be careful. Whoever sent that shadow wolf knows how to strike from the shadows. They might be waiting."
Nyra's chest tightened. The thought of another attack made her pulse quicken, yet a strange thrill ran through her veins. The more she faced her power head-on, the more confident she felt — even if the visions still haunted her at night.
They followed the trail deeper into the forest, where shadows clung to the twisted branches like living things. Each step forward was measured, careful, as if the forest itself were holding its breath.
Suddenly, Nyra stopped. The air shifted, thick with a dark energy that made the hairs on her arms rise.
"Something's here," she murmured. Her silver glow flared instinctively, illuminating the clearing.
From the shadows, a faint growl echoed. Not the shadow wolf — something smaller, quicker, testing them. Nyra tensed, ready to strike, when Kael's hand gently touched hers.
"Focus," he murmured. "Don't let fear guide you."
Nyra took a deep breath, centering herself. The bond between them pulsed strongly, her energy intertwining with Kael's presence. Then, without warning, a pack of wolves emerged from the shadows. Not rogue wolves this time — wolves she didn't recognize, but they weren't immediately hostile.
"Who are you?" Kael demanded, stepping slightly in front of Nyra.
The leader of the unfamiliar wolves stepped forward, a tall, silver-furred wolf with eyes like molten gold. "We've been watching," he said, voice calm but wary. "We mean no harm. But we know what is coming — and we know of her power."
Nyra's veins flared with silver. "You know about me?" she asked, voice trembling with both curiosity and suspicion.
"Yes," the wolf replied. "And if you wish to survive what's coming… you'll need allies beyond Shadowfang."
Kael's brow furrowed. "Allies? You expect us to trust strangers now?"
The wolf's gaze hardened. "You don't have a choice. The shadow wolf you faced is only the beginning. There are forces gathering — dark, ancient, and relentless. Your pack alone cannot withstand them."
Nyra glanced at Kael. He was tense, but his eyes softened as he studied her expression. "What do you think?" he asked quietly.
Nyra's silver light pulsed faintly. She felt the truth in the wolf's words. The visions had shown this — battles far larger than any rogue pack attack, enemies she had yet to even glimpse.
"We listen," she said firmly. "But any betrayal, and we fight back."
The golden-eyed wolf nodded. "Fair. But first… you must understand the shadows you are about to face. Lucien is not just a hunter. He is preparing an army, and he will come for you directly. Blood Moon heir or not — he will not stop until he has your power."
Kael growled low, his wolf instincts flaring. "Then we prepare. Together."
Nyra felt a warmth spread through her chest, her confidence building. The pack might still doubt her, the prophecy still haunted her, but with Kael by her side and now potential allies appearing, she felt ready.
As they moved deeper into the forest to meet the new wolf's pack, Nyra's hand brushed against Kael's. The touch sent a wave of reassurance through her, a reminder that no matter the darkness, they faced it together.
The shadows ahead seemed thicker now, almost alive, whispering promises of war and chaos. Nyra's veins flared once more. She had survived the beginning — now, the true hunt was about to start.