Chapter 1 The Beginning

The wind howled through the trees, its sound cutting through the stillness of the forest like some sort of warning. Above, the full moon cast down an eerie, silver light upon the dense thicket. Luna crouched low against the earth, her breathing shallow, her senses heightened. She could feel the hunters nearby, the scent of musk lingering in the air. They drew closer. Much closer.

She had run for days, her feet sore, her muscles screaming for rest. Yet she couldn't afford to stop-not now, not when they were so close. She'd learned through hard experience that vulnerability was death to a werewolf like her. And she wasn't ready to die. Not yet.

Luna's claws raked the dirt as she shifted her weight, moving soundlessly through the underbrush. Her senses were keen, every rustle of a leaf, every snap of a twig sending her into a state of hyper-alertness. The hunters were relentless, and they were close. Too close.

She had no pack, no family, no home. Luna was lost. A lone wolf, with no memory of who she once was or what had happened to her pack, all she had was the primal instinct to survive.

A flash of movement far away-there! Two shadows darted between the trees. Werewolves. Her heart pounded in her chest, the rush of adrenaline both familiar and terrifying. She wasn't ready to fight, but she couldn't outrun them either. She had to make a choice.

Luna's breath came faster now. She crouched lower, her muscles coiling in preparation to either flee or fight. She could feel the wolf side fighting to take the surface, urging her to give into its tint, to show these hunters what she truly was. There was, however, a part of her that became fearful of what she might become if she relinquished the tiniest sliver of humanity she held onto.

"Come on, Luna," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. "You've survived worse."

With a roar, the first hunter lunged, claws extended, eyes burning with feral rage.

But Luna was faster.

Luna's heart raced in her chest as she darted through the underbrush, her bare feet merely grazing the ground. The forest was a maze of shadows and rustling leaves, yet her instincts guided her with precision. She ran with all her might, but the hunter's growl echoed behind her, closer than it needed to be.

She forced herself to go faster, her legs ablaze with the effort. Her breath came in shallow gasps, but there was no time for slowing down. The hunter was gaining ground, its presence like a dark storm closing in around her. Luna could feel the change rising, the power surging deep inside of her, and she fought it back, terrified of losing control.

Just ahead, the trees opened up into a small clearing. Luna's eyes darted around, her gaze seeking out any escape route. She could hear the hunter's footsteps now, right at her heels.

Not good.

Without warning, the ground beneath her feet gave way, and she tumbled forward into a deep hole-the earth swallowing her whole. She landed painfully, but she didn't have time to process the pain. She scrambled to her feet, her senses on high, trying to take stock of her surroundings. It was dark, too dark to see anything, but she could hear the echo of movement above her. The hunter had reached the edge of the hole.

Luna's pulse quickened. There was no way out. No way to escape.

She crouched close to the earth, ready for her battle. Her claws extended, her teeth bared. She could feel the change taking hold, her wolf's side urging her to unleash her fury. The hunter above let out a low growl; its eyes glowed weakly in the dark. Luna's mind was racing-if she shifted completely, she might be able to overpower the hunter. But that would leave her exposed, vulnerable. She couldn't afford to make that mistake.

The sudden emergence of another sound, that of a sharp, quick snap of branches breaking, broke the hunter's growl.

Luna froze.

The figure in the trees above her moved with speed and grace, like a shadow in the night. There was a flash of silver, then the unmistakable sound of claws clashing against flesh. The hunter above her let out a blood-curdling howl, a cry of pain and surprise. It was dragged backwards, out of sight.

Luna's breath caught in her throat as she cautiously stood up, peering into the darkness. Her senses were heightened, and she could smell the familiar scent of another werewolf. But it wasn't the stench of the hunters-it was something different. Something unexpected.

A low voice reached her ears, calm and controlled, but with a dark edge. "You're not alone."

Luna's heart missed a beat. She knew that voice. She could feel the strength in it, and she knew it was a warning.

The figure dropped into the hole, landing silently in front of her. His eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, but it was not in the way a hunter would. No, this was different; it was as if they were familiar.

"I wasn't sure if you'd still be alive," he said softly. "But it seems the Lost Luna isn't as easy to kill as they thought."

Luna tensed, the words hitting her like a slap. The Lost Luna. She'd heard whispers of that name, rumors passed in hushed tones. The heir to a fallen pack. The one who had vanished without a trace. But how did this stranger know her?

"Who are you?" Luna's voice was low, a growl almost escaping from her throat as she stood her ground, wary and ready for anything.

The stranger stepped closer, but not threateningly. His gaze softened, as if he understood her fear. "My name is Ethan," he said quietly. "I've been looking for you."

Luna's mind reeled as she tried to assimilate his words. Seeking her? How could anyone know she was out here, obscurely hidden in the wilderness and alone?

"I don't know who you are," she stammered, stepping away from him. "And I don't trust you."

Ethan's face turned slightly, his eyes not flashing in anger, but an understanding that unnerved her. "I am not here to hurt you; I promise you that. But you need to trust me, Luna. You are not safe here.

Luna's heart was racing as she weighed her choices. Her instinct shouted to run, to be as far away from him as possible. But there was something in his eyes, something that tugged at her, making her pause.

"You know my name," Luna said suspiciously. "But I don't remember you."

Ethan didn't flinch at the coldness in her tone. He nodded instead. "You wouldn't. But I know who you are. You're the last of the Sablefangs. Rightful Alpha of the Crescent Pack."

Her breath caught in her throat. The Sablefangs. The Crescent Pack. Memories-poignant, painful flashes-forwarded in her mind in a rush, yet were indistinct and distorted. She couldn't recall faces, names, just the blood, the screams, the burning. A war. Her pack had been destroyed in a brutal coup, but the details-why they'd been betrayed, who had led the attack-were lost to her.

"Why do you think that?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

"Because I've been searching for years to find you," he said in a quiet, firm voice. "The Alpha who betrayed your pack is still alive, Luna. He's hunting you. And he won't stop until you're dead. Or until he takes you and makes you join him."

Luna's heart pounded in her chest as his words finally sunk into place. She felt the weight of them, the crushing reality of the truth.

"I don't know who I am," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "I don't know who I can trust."

Ethan's gaze softened, and for a moment, Luna could see the flicker of something familiar in him, something she couldn't place. "I know what it's like," he said gently. "To lose everything. But you're not alone anymore."

She swallowed hard, her throat tight. She didn't know if she could trust him, but something inside her-a voice she couldn't ignore-told her that Ethan might be the only chance she had at surviving what was coming.

"Alright," she said, her voice firm but shaking. "I'll go with you. But if you try anything..."

Ethan's lips twitched into a small smile, and there was a glimmer of something in his eyes-maybe it was respect, maybe something deeper. "You'll be the first to know."