The clearing fell silent.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Thirty.
The number hung in the air like a storm waiting to break.
Rowan was the first to react.
"Thirty?" he repeated.
Aria nodded slowly, her silver-blue eyes fixed on the forest.
"I can hear them moving."
Marcus turned toward the trees, scanning the darkness.
"I don't see anything."
"You won't yet," Kael said quietly.
His voice had lost the calm tone he used earlier. Now it carried the weight of a leader preparing for a fight.
Lena crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing.
"They're testing the territory."
Rowan exhaled sharply.
"With that many wolves, it's not just testing."
Kael nodded.
"No."
Aria's heart continued to pound in her chest.
Her senses were still overwhelming.
Every movement in the forest echoed in her mind.
Every step.
Every breath.
"They're spreading out," she whispered.
Kael looked at her.
"How do you know?"
"I can hear them," she said again. "They're moving around the house."
Marcus muttered under his breath.
"They're surrounding us."
A cold feeling settled in Aria's stomach.
"That's not good, right?"
"No," Lena said flatly.
"It's not."
Kael turned toward the house.
"Inside."
Aria blinked.
"What? Why?"
"Because you're still unstable," he replied.
"I'm standing just fine."
"That's not the point."
Kael's gaze shifted back toward the forest.
"If they attack, I need you somewhere safe."
Aria looked at the dark tree line again.
The wolves were still out there.
Moving.
Watching.
Waiting.
She swallowed hard.
"Okay," she said quietly.
They quickly moved back toward the house.
As soon as they stepped inside, Marcus shut the large glass doors and locked them.
Rowan walked toward the front windows, peering into the darkness.
"They're still hidden," he said.
Lena paced slowly across the room.
"This is too organized."
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
Aria sat on the couch again, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
Her chest still felt warm, but the painful part of the transformation had faded.
Now she just felt… different.
Stronger.
More aware.
She could still hear the wolves outside.
Even through the walls.
"They're closer now," she said suddenly.
Everyone looked at her.
"How close?" Rowan asked.
Aria listened carefully.
Her enhanced hearing picked up the faint crunch of leaves.
"They're at the edge of the property."
Marcus swore quietly.
"That was fast."
Lena stopped pacing.
"They're not afraid of crossing into pack territory."
Kael's expression darkened.
"Which means they're desperate."
Aria looked between them.
"For what?"
All three of them looked at her.
Lena answered first.
"You."
Aria sighed.
"Of course."
She rubbed her forehead.
"I really wish I understood why everyone suddenly wants me."
Kael leaned against the wall again.
"Because power attracts attention."
Aria frowned.
"But I don't feel powerful."
The wolf's voice in her head spoke again.
You will.
Aria ignored it.
Kael, however, was watching her carefully.
"You will," he said quietly.
Aria rolled her eyes.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Another sound came from outside.
A long, low howl.
Closer than before.
Rowan moved away from the window.
"They're definitely here."
Marcus cracked his knuckles.
"So what's the plan?"
Kael looked toward the front door.
"We hold the line."
Aria blinked.
"The line?"
"If they cross the property boundary," Kael said, "we push them back."
"Push them back?" Aria repeated.
"With thirty wolves?"
Rowan smirked slightly.
"We've handled worse."
Aria doubted that.
The forest outside suddenly went quiet.
Completely quiet.
Even Aria's enhanced hearing couldn't pick up movement anymore.
That silence felt worse than the noise.
"They stopped moving," she said.
Lena's eyes narrowed.
"That's not good."
Kael straightened.
"They're about to make a move."
Aria's pulse quickened.
"What kind of move?"
As if answering her question—
A loud crash echoed from the front yard.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Another crash followed.
This one louder.
Marcus ran toward the window.
"Tree branch," he said.
Aria frowned.
"What?"
"They're throwing things at the house."
Lena sighed.
"Classic intimidation tactic."
Another loud thud hit the side of the house.
Aria jumped.
"This is insane!"
Kael walked toward the front door.
"They're trying to provoke us."
Rowan followed him.
"Is it working?"
Kael's golden eyes gleamed.
"Not yet."
Outside, another howl echoed.
This one sounded different.
Deeper.
Stronger.
Aria felt the sound vibrate through her chest.
Her wolf stirred again.
Alpha.
Aria froze.
"What?" she whispered.
Kael turned to her.
"What is it?"
"That howl…"
She pointed toward the forest.
"It's different."
Kael listened carefully.
His expression slowly darkened.
"You're right."
Lena looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Kael's voice dropped.
"That's not a rogue."
Rowan frowned.
"Then who is it?"
Another howl answered from the trees.
This one carried authority.
Command.
Aria's chest tightened.
"They're responding to him," she said.
Marcus swore quietly.
"Great."
Lena looked toward Kael.
"You think it's him?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Then he said one name.
"Victor's Alpha."
Aria blinked.
"The guy he mentioned earlier?"
"Yes."
Rowan's expression hardened.
"That means this isn't just a scouting party anymore."
"No," Kael said.
"It's an invasion."
Aria felt her stomach drop.
The front yard suddenly filled with movement.
Through the windows, shadows appeared between the trees.
Wolves.
Many wolves.
They stepped out of the forest slowly.
One by one.
Dozens of glowing eyes stared toward the house.
Aria counted without realizing it.
Twenty.
Twenty-five.
Thirty.
Her breath caught.
"Kael…"
"I see them."
The wolves formed a loose line across the yard.
Waiting.
Watching.
Then one final wolf stepped out of the trees.
This one was massive.
Larger than any of the others.
Its fur was dark gray, nearly black.
And its eyes burned bright yellow.
The wolf walked forward confidently.
Like it owned the territory.
Aria felt the wolf inside her react immediately.
A deep growl echoed in her mind.
Enemy.
The large wolf stopped a few yards from the house.
Then its body twisted.
Bones cracked loudly.
Fur receded.
Within seconds, a tall man stood where the wolf had been.
He looked older than Kael.
His dark hair hung loosely around his face.
And his cold yellow eyes scanned the house calmly.
He smiled slightly.
Then he spoke loud enough for everyone inside to hear.
"Alpha Kael," he called.
"I believe you have something that belongs to me."
Aria's stomach twisted.
Kael stepped closer to the door.
"No," he replied coldly.
"I don't."
The man chuckled.
"You do."
His gaze slowly shifted toward the window.
Right toward Aria.
Her heart skipped.
Because even from across the yard—
It felt like he could see her.
The man's smile widened.
"There you are."
Aria's pulse raced.
"Kael…" she whispered.
But Kael already knew.
The man outside lifted his chin slightly.
"My name is Alpha Darius," he said calmly.
"And that girl you're hiding?"
His eyes gleamed.
"She's coming with me."