The days after the training field incident passed quietly but not peacefully.
Lucian kept to herself, still learning her duties, still trying to earn the respect of a pack that hadn't chosen her. Alex remained distant, always moving through the mansion like a ghost cold and unreadable. But every now and then, their eyes would meet, and she'd remember how he'd defended her.
The memory gave her strength. that evening, the sky turned gray early. Thick clouds rolled in like waves, covering the sun. Lucian stood by the window in the reading room, her hands resting on the window frame. The wind whistled softly. Something about it felt wrong.
Too quiet. Too still. then, it happened. a loud crash exploded from the back of the mansion, followed by shouting.
The hallway filled with the sound of feet pounding on the wooden floor. Warriors barked commands. A window shattered somewhere. Screams echoed from the garden.
The mansion was under attack. Lucian's heart raced. She stepped out into the hallway just as Lena came running. "Get back inside! Lock your door!" Lena shouted. "What's happening?" Lucian asked, fear tightening her throat. "Rogues," Lena said. "They're after something or someone." lucian didn't wait to hear more. She turned to run back toward her room, but she didn't make it far.
A sharp growl rang out behind her. She turned and froze. A rogue had broken into the mansion. Tall, with wild yellow eyes and blood on his claws. His growl was aimed directly at her. Lucian stepped back, panic rising in her chest. Her feet felt glued to the floor.
He moved toward her. "Help!" she screamed, closing her eyes but before he could touch her, something inside her cracked open.
A burning heat flooded her chest, rushing through her veins like fire. A pulse of golden light burst from her, knocking the rogue backward with such force that he crashed into the wall and slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Lucian stared at her hands, glowing faintly. What.. what just happened?
Lena ran over, panting. She'd seen it too.
"Lucian," she whispered, eyes wide. "That power, you're not just any wolf."
"I don't understand," Lucian whispered. but she had no time to think. More footsteps thundered down the stairs.
Alex appeared with Xavier and two warriors, shifting into a wolf and tearing into another rogue near the entrance. Alex's wolf was massive, dark gray, with glowing silver eyes. Deadly and fast. He tore through the attackers like they were nothing.
Lucian remained frozen, her heart pounding, her hands still faintly glowing.
alex shifted back to human form, blood smeared on his chest, his eyes sharp. He looked around, taking in the damage and then his eyes landed on her.
He paused. something flashed in his eyes, "She's safe," Lena said, stepping in front of Lucian protectively. "But Alpha you should have seen it. She did something. Something powerful."
Alex didn't respond. His gaze swept over Lucian again before he turned away, barking orders to the warriors to clean up and secure the area.
But as he walked off, Lucian noticed something. his hands were clenched tighter than usual. and his back was tense.
Later that night, the mansion was quiet again, though the smell of blood and smoke still stayed
Lucian sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands. they looked normal now. but she remembered the feeling that heat, that power. It had saved her life. She didn't know where it came from, or what it meant. She had never felt anything like that before. she didn't feel stronger.she just felt different.
The door creaked open. It was Lena. "you should rest," Lena said gently. "Something's wrong with me," Lucian whispered. "I'm not normal."
Lena walked over and sat beside her. "No, Lucian. You're not normal. But that's not a bad thing."
Lucian looked at her. "Then what am I?"
"I don't know," Lena said. "But I think Alex does. Or at least he suspects something."
Lucian's heart sank. "He doesn't trust me." "He protected you," Lena reminded her. "Twice now. That means something." Lucian nodded slowly.
But she couldn't shake the feeling that everything had just changed.
Deep in the woods beyond the mansion, a figure stood in the shadows. Watching. Waiting.
"So... she has awakened."