Aria stared at the forest.
At first she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.
But the longer she looked, the more certain she became.
Dozens of faint yellow lights glowed between the trees.
Eyes.
Watching.
Her throat went dry.
"Kael…" she whispered.
He was already looking.
His expression had turned completely serious again.
"They didn't go far," he muttered.
The wolves were still out there.
Waiting.
Aria slowly backed away from the edge of the street.
"How many are there?" she asked quietly.
Kael inhaled deeply, letting the wind carry their scent to him.
"More than before."
"That's not helpful."
"They're scouting," he said.
"For what?"
Kael glanced at her.
"You."
Aria's stomach twisted.
"Why me?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he grabbed her wrist again.
"Come on."
She pulled back slightly.
"Where are we going?"
"To the pack house."
"You said that earlier."
"And I meant it."
Aria hesitated.
Just hours ago, she had believed the world was completely normal.
Now wolves were chasing her, voices were talking in her head, and a guy who could turn into a giant wolf kept grabbing her arm.
But standing in the open street with glowing eyes watching them from the forest felt even worse.
"Fine," she said finally.
Kael nodded once and started walking again, this time faster.
Aria stayed close behind him.
They moved through the quiet streets of Blackridge while the sun slowly dipped lower behind the mountains.
Shadows stretched across the town.
The forest seemed to grow darker by the minute.
Aria glanced back once.
The glowing eyes were gone.
But somehow that made it worse.
"Kael," she said after a moment.
"Yes?"
"You said I'm a Luna."
"Yes."
"And that's supposed to mean… what exactly?"
Kael glanced at her briefly.
"In simple terms? A Luna is the female counterpart to an Alpha."
Aria frowned.
"So… like a leader?"
"Yes."
"Of wolves."
"Yes."
She sighed.
"This conversation is ridiculous."
Kael didn't react.
"You saw me shift," he reminded her.
Aria groaned quietly.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"So you know werewolves are real."
"That still doesn't explain why I'm apparently one of them."
Kael slowed slightly.
"That's the part I'm still trying to understand."
Aria looked at him.
"You don't know either?"
"No."
That answer surprised her.
"You seemed pretty confident earlier."
"I'm confident about one thing," he said.
"What?"
"You're my mate."
Aria almost tripped.
"Your what?"
"Mate."
"That word again."
Kael kept walking calmly.
"In wolf packs, mates are bonded partners. Chosen by instinct."
"So like… destiny or something?"
"Something like that."
Aria stared at him.
"And you think I'm yours?"
"I know you are."
"That's a little creepy."
Kael smirked faintly.
"You'll get used to it."
"I doubt that."
They turned onto a road leading away from the center of town.
The houses became larger here, spaced farther apart.
Tall iron fences surrounded several of the properties.
At the end of the road stood a massive house perched on a hill.
Aria stopped walking.
"Wait."
Kael kept going a few steps before noticing.
"What?"
"That's your house?"
"Yes."
Aria looked at the building.
It wasn't just a house.
It looked more like a mansion.
Three stories tall, with large stone pillars and huge windows overlooking the valley below.
"This is your pack house?" she asked.
"Yes."
Aria crossed her arms.
"Of course it is."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
They walked up the long driveway toward the front entrance.
Before they even reached the door, it opened.
Three people stepped outside.
Rowan.
Marcus.
And a woman Aria had never seen before.
She looked to be in her early twenties, with dark curly hair and sharp green eyes.
All three of them immediately focused on Aria.
Rowan spoke first.
"You took your time."
Kael ignored the comment.
"Any movement?"
Marcus nodded toward the forest.
"They're circling the territory."
Aria swallowed.
"Still?"
Rowan's gaze shifted toward her.
"Looks like the rogues brought friends."
The woman stepped forward slightly.
"And you must be the girl causing all this chaos."
Aria blinked.
"Hi?"
The woman studied her carefully.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting."
Kael sighed.
"Not now, Lena."
So that was her name.
Lena folded her arms.
"You realize every wolf within fifty miles can probably smell her now, right?"
Aria frowned.
"That's not creepy at all."
Kael ran a hand through his hair.
"I know."
Rowan looked toward the forest again.
"Which means we don't have much time."
Aria's anxiety returned.
"Time for what?"
No one answered immediately.
Instead, Lena stepped closer to her.
Up close, Aria noticed something strange.
Lena's eyes were slightly brighter than normal.
Almost like Kael's.
"You really don't know anything, do you?" Lena asked.
Aria shook her head.
"About what?"
Lena glanced at Kael.
"He didn't explain yet?"
"Not really."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"We just dealt with a rogue attack."
"And?" Lena said.
"And I was trying to get her somewhere safe first."
Lena sighed.
"Fair enough."
She turned back to Aria.
"Alright, new girl. Let's start with the basics."
Aria braced herself.
"You're standing in the center of a supernatural war zone."
Aria blinked.
"A what?"
"Blackridge isn't just a town," Lena continued. "It's pack territory."
"Meaning wolves live here."
"Lots of them."
Aria looked around slowly.
"The people in town…?"
"Most of them are human," Rowan said. "But the important ones are wolves."
Aria felt dizzy again.
"So the entire town just… knows about this?"
"Some do," Marcus said.
"Most don't."
Aria rubbed her temples.
"This is insane."
Lena shrugged.
"Welcome to reality."
Kael stepped forward again.
"Inside," he said firmly.
They all walked into the house.
The inside of the pack house was just as impressive as the outside.
High ceilings.
Dark wooden floors.
Large windows overlooking the mountains.
Aria barely noticed any of it.
Her mind was still spinning.
Kael led them into a large living room.
"Sit," he told her.
Aria sat on one of the couches.
The others stood nearby.
Waiting.
Watching.
"Okay," Aria said after a moment.
"Start explaining."
Kael leaned against the wall.
"Werewolves live in packs. Each pack has an Alpha."
"You," Aria said.
"Yes."
"And a Luna?"
"Yes."
Aria frowned.
"But you said earlier you didn't have one."
Kael nodded.
"I didn't."
Aria pointed at herself.
"And now suddenly I'm one?"
"Possibly."
"That's a terrible explanation."
Lena laughed softly.
"He's not great with emotional conversations."
Aria sighed.
"What makes someone a Luna?"
"Power," Rowan said.
"Strength," Marcus added.
"Leadership," Lena finished.
Aria looked confused.
"And I have those?"
Kael's eyes met hers.
"You will."
Aria leaned back on the couch.
"This is too much."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then Aria spoke again.
"What happens if you're right?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"If you really are a Luna…"
Aria waited.
Kael's expression turned serious again.
"…then every Alpha in the region will want you."
Aria blinked.
"That sounds like a dating problem."
"No," Rowan said quietly.
"It's a power problem."
Aria frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Lena answered this time.
"A true Luna doesn't just lead one pack."
Aria's chest tightened.
"Then what?"
Lena's eyes were intense.
"A true Luna can command all of them."
The room fell silent.
Aria stared at them.
"You're joking."
No one laughed.
Her stomach dropped.
"You're serious."
Kael nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Aria stood up suddenly.
"This is insane. I'm just a normal girl!"
Her chest suddenly burned again.
Hotter than ever before.
The voice inside her mind rose sharply.
No.
Aria froze.
Her breathing quickened.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered.
Kael stepped forward instantly.
"Hear what?"
The voice came again.
Stronger.
Clearer.
You are not normal.
Aria clutched her chest.
The burning sensation exploded through her body.
Pain shot down her spine.
Her knees nearly buckled.
Kael caught her before she fell.
"What's happening?" Rowan asked.
Aria gasped.
"My chest—"
Her eyes widened suddenly.
Because across the room—
The large mirror on the wall reflected her face.
But her eyes…
Her eyes were glowing.