The shadows hit the earth like a tidal wave.
Wolves were thrown backward — Ironfang, Moonfall, Bloodmoon — it didn't matter. Warriors screamed as black tendrils slammed them into trees, pinned them to the ground, or swept them off their feet like toys.
The forest howled with power not felt in centuries.
Evelyn stood in the center, breath steady now, eyes pure midnight. The shadows swirled around her like a crown of living darkness, answering her silent command.
The Bloodmoon alpha's expression finally cracked — just a flicker — a shadow of surprise.
"You should not be this strong yet," he muttered.
Her gaze focused on him, sharp and cold.
"Maybe you should stop assuming what I am."
His jaw clenched, crimson eyes narrowing.
"You don't understand your own blood."
"And you don't understand my choice."
A low whisper rippled through the clearing — the shadows reacting to her words, growing sharper, more defined. They gathered beneath her feet, lifting her a few inches off the ground like she stood on darkness itself.
Ronan stared at her — bruised, bleeding, breath trembling — not with fear.
With awe.
With something like… relief.
Like seeing her choose herself meant she had chosen him too, in the way that mattered.
The Bloodmoon alpha took a single step forward.
The shadows reacted instantly — a violent lash of black cutting through the air and stopping inches from his throat.
His lip curled.
"You dare threaten me?"
Evelyn didn't blink.
"You came into my territory. You attacked my people. You tried to claim me."
Her voice rang, clear and unyielding.
"So yes. I dare."
For the first time, murmurs of approval rose from Moonfall wolves.
She wasn't just defending Ronan.She wasn't just protecting herself.
She was taking her place.
Not as a victim.Not as prey.Not as someone's destined weapon.
But as Shadowborn.
The Bloodmoon alpha bared his teeth.
"You have raw power. But you have no discipline. No training. You are a child playing with a divine curse."
Evelyn stepped forward — shadows following like loyal soldiers.
"And you underestimated a child."
Ronan managed to push himself to his feet, leaning against a fallen log, chest heaving. His shift flickered, half-wolf, half-human, eyes glowing a stormy silver.
"Evie," he rasped, voice rough."Be careful. He's stronger than—"
"I know," she murmured, not taking her eyes off the alpha.
The Bloodmoon alpha looked between them.
Then he laughed.
A low, dark, cold sound.
"So that is what this is," he said slowly."You think he is your shield?"
Ronan bared his fangs.
"And you think you can touch her?" he snapped, voice shaking with fury."I'll rip—"
"You?" Bloodmoon cut him off with a scoff."You can barely stand."
Ronan lunged anyway, instincts overriding pain, but Evelyn's shadows surged out and caught him, holding him back gently but firmly.
He froze.
Eyes wide.
"Evie—?"
She shook her head.
"No. This one is mine."
A murmur spread through the packs — a mix of awe and terror.
The Bloodmoon alpha smiled again, slower this time.
"So the Shadowborn rises," he said."But tell me… do you even know why we want you?"
"No," she said."And I don't care."
He stepped closer — and the shadows hissed like snakes.
"You should care."
Evelyn's hand lifted.The shadows coiled into a spear.
"Not interested."
The Bloodmoon alpha's smile vanished.
"Then let me show you."
He raised his hand — and red energy flickered around his fingers like fire made of blood.
Ronan stiffened.
"Evie! MOVE!"
But she didn't need the warning.
Her instincts kicked in.Her shadows surged upward.A black shield formed in front of her just as a wave of red energy blasted toward her.
The collision cracked like lightning.
Evelyn slid back a step, boots digging into the dirt, but the shield held.
The Bloodmoon alpha's eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
He flicked his hand again — faster, harder.
Three strikes.
Red lightning.
Red claws.
Red fire.
Each met by her shadows — and for the first time, the forest saw even ground.
Evelyn lowered her hand, chest rising and falling.
"Are we done?"
The alpha stared at her for a long, calculating moment.
Then he snapped his fingers.
Bloodmoon wolves stood up in unison.
Not attacking.Not charging.Waiting.
He stepped back into his formation.
"We will return," he said quietly."You are not ready to face the truth of what you are. But you will be."
His eyes burned like coals as they locked onto hers.
"And when you are… you will come to us willingly."
Evelyn's shadows surged protectively.
"Not happening."
He tilted his head.
"We shall see."
Then the Bloodmoon pack melted into the trees, disappearing like ghosts.
Silence followed.
Heavy.Unreal.Electrified.
Ronan stumbled toward Evelyn, shifting fully back into his human form, bleeding but determined.
"Evie…"
Her shadows lowered her gently to the ground as she swayed, exhaustion finally crashing into her bones.
Ronan caught her before she collapsed, arms tight around her.
"You scared the hell out of me," he whispered into her hair.
Her knees buckled.
"I'm okay," she breathed.
"Liar," he muttered, pulling her closer.
She melted into him, trembling.
The battle was over.
But nothing felt won.
Because as she leaned into Ronan, shadows curling around them both in exhausted affection, a horrible truth settled in her stomach:
Bloodmoon hadn't come to capture her.
They had come to warn her.
And whatever she had awakened tonight…
It was only the beginning.