Lyanna's POV
The silver light exploded from my hands like a bomb.
The rogue leader flew backward, crashing into a tree so hard the trunk cracked. He slumped to the ground, unconscious.
I stared at my glowing hands, shocked. "I... I did that?"
The other five rogues froze, their eyes wide with fear. Then the biggest one snarled and charged at me from the side.
My body moved without thinking.
I spun, and my hand shot out. Silver chains made of pure moonlight erupted from my palm, wrapping around the rogue mid-leap. He hit the ground hard, bound tight and unable to move.
"What are you?" he gasped.
"I don't know," I whispered, because it was true.
The remaining four rogues looked at each other, then at me. Smart wolves would have run. These ones attacked all at once.
My wolf surged forward, and suddenly I wasn't weak little Lyanna anymore.
I was something else. Something powerful.
I dodged the first rogue easily—so easily it felt like he was moving in slow motion. My fist connected with his jaw, and he dropped like a stone. The second rogue tried to bite my leg, but I jumped higher than I'd ever jumped before, flipping over his head.
The third and fourth rogues came at me together. I raised both hands, and silver light burst out in a wave, knocking them both flat on their backs.
Within seconds, all six rogues lay defeated around me.
I stood in the center of the clearing, breathing hard, my whole body glowing. My wolf howled inside me—not in pain this time, but in triumph. She was massive and strong and absolutely nothing like the tiny omega wolf I'd had before.
"What am I?" I asked the empty forest.
You are the Moon Judge, my wolf answered, and I nearly fell over in shock. Her voice was different too—deeper, more confident. We are what we were always meant to be.
"But I don't know how to be this!" I looked down at my still-glowing hands. "I don't know how any of this works!"
You will learn. The Goddess gave us everything we need.
I wanted to argue, but footsteps made me spin around. More rogues? But no—these wolves moved differently. Organized. Military.
Three huge warriors emerged from the trees, and they weren't rogues at all. They wore matching black uniforms with a silver wolf emblem on the chest. Royal guards.
The one in front stopped dead when he saw me, his eyes going wide. "By the Moon Goddess..."
"Stay back!" I raised my hands, ready to defend myself. Silver light crackled around my fingers.
"We mean no harm, Moon Judge." He immediately dropped to one knee, and the other two guards followed. "We've been searching for you for three days. Alpha King Caelan Stormweaver sent us when he felt the Goddess's power awaken."
"The Alpha King?" My heart pounded. "How did he know?"
"Every Alpha in the world felt it, my lady. The Moon Judge's awakening sends out a pulse of divine power." He kept his head bowed respectfully. "We're here to escort you safely to the Alpha Council Headquarters. You're expected."
Expected. Like I was some important guest instead of a rejected omega who'd been left to die.
I looked at the defeated rogues scattered around the clearing. "What about them?"
"We'll handle them. They'll face justice for attacking the Moon Judge." The guard finally looked up, and his expression was awed. "My lady, we need to leave now. The journey to the capital takes two days, and there are many who would try to stop you from reaching it."
"Stop me? Why?"
"Because corrupt Alphas fear judgment." He stood slowly, carefully, like I was a wild animal that might bolt. "There are those who would rather kill the Moon Judge than face their crimes. Please, my lady. Let us protect you."
My wolf growled inside me. Don't trust them. Trust no one.
But what choice did I have? I didn't know where the capital was. Didn't know how to survive in the wild. And apparently, I had wolves trying to kill me before I even started this job I never wanted.
"Fine," I said. "But if you try anything—"
"We are sworn to protect the Moon Judge with our lives," he interrupted. "I am Captain Reed. These are my men, Finn and Cole." He hesitated. "We also brought supplies. Food, water, clean clothes. You've been in the forest for three days."
My stomach growled loudly at the mention of food, betraying me. Captain Reed smiled gently and gestured to one of his men, who produced a pack.
"Eat while we walk, my lady. We have much ground to cover."
The next two days passed in a blur of walking, eating, and trying to understand my new powers. Captain Reed answered my questions patiently, explaining what he knew about Moon Judges from ancient texts.
"You can see truth in anyone," he said as we walked. "Their lies will appear as shadows around them. When you pass judgment on an Alpha, your word is absolute law. No one can override it, not even the Alpha King himself."
"That seems like too much power for one person," I muttered.
"That's why the Goddess chooses carefully. The last Moon Judge served for fifty years before she died. She was known for her fairness and mercy, even to those who deserved neither."
I thought about Dante and felt sick. Would I have to judge him? Could I be fair to someone who'd hurt me so badly?
Yes, my wolf said firmly. Because we are better than him.
On the afternoon of the second day, we crested a hill, and Captain Reed pointed ahead. "There. The capital."
I stopped breathing.
A massive city sprawled across the valley below, bigger than anything I'd ever imagined. At its center stood an enormous fortress with towers reaching toward the sky. Even from here, I could feel the power radiating from it.
"The Alpha Council Headquarters," Captain Reed said. "And that's where Alpha King Caelan Stormweaver awaits you."
My stomach twisted with nerves. An Alpha King. The most powerful wolf in the world. What if he was like Dante? What if he tried to control me or diminish me?
Then we'll show him our power, my wolf said.
We descended the hill and entered the city gates. Wolves stopped to stare as we passed. They could see my glowing silver eyes, could sense what I was. Some bowed. Others looked afraid. A few looked angry.
Captain Reed led me through the streets to the fortress. The gates opened, and we entered a massive courtyard filled with warriors training. They all stopped to watch me pass.
We climbed marble steps into the fortress itself. The hallways were huge and intimidating, filled with Alphas in formal clothes who whispered as I walked by.
Finally, we reached enormous double doors. Captain Reed knocked twice.
"Enter," a deep voice commanded from inside.
The doors swung open, revealing a council chamber. Dozens of Alphas sat around a curved table, all staring at me. And standing at the head of the table, radiating power and authority, was the most intimidating man I'd ever seen.
Tall. Muscular. Ice-blue eyes that seemed to look straight through me. His presence filled the entire room.
Alpha King Caelan Stormweaver.
He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to my absolute shock, he knelt.
"Moon Judge," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "We have awaited your awakening."
Every other Alpha in the room immediately dropped to their knees.
I stood frozen in the doorway, glowing and terrified, with the most powerful wolves in the world bowing before me.
Then Caelan looked up, and something flashed in his eyes—recognition, relief, and something else I couldn't name.
"Welcome home," he said softly.
And I realized with horror that I had no idea what he meant.