Chapter 1 The Weight of the Moon

Asher stood at the edge of the cliff, his eyes fixed on the moon as it rose higher in the sky. It was full tonight, its light bathing the world below in an eerie glow. The wind ruffled his dark hair, and the cold air cut through his skin, but he didn't flinch. He was used to the chill by now.

Tonight wasn't just any night-it was the night he would finally step into his role as the alpha of the Shadowfang pack. A role he had been raised for, trained for, and expected to embrace without question. The pack's eyes were on him, waiting for him to take the lead. The world would change tonight, and so would he.

Despite the honor and responsibility that came with being the alpha, Asher felt a knot of doubt twist in his gut. He was ready in every way-he had spent years learning the customs of the pack, understanding the laws that governed them, and mastering the ways of the wolf. Yet, something inside him stirred-a restlessness that couldn't be ignored. Maybe it was the weight of the title itself, the history that hung like a shadow over his shoulders.

The Shadowfang pack was strong. They were fierce and loyal, and Asher had always believed that the strength of the pack depended on the strength of its leader. He had grown up with this belief, watching his father rule with an iron fist. His father, the previous alpha, was respected by all, feared by their enemies, and loved by his pack. Asher had always admired him, but he never truly felt the same fire burning inside him. He knew he wasn't his father, but could he be the leader they needed?

Asher had never been one to shy away from duty, but there was something else gnawing at him tonight. The moon was high, its pull growing stronger with each passing minute. He could feel the change inside him, the shift of power that came with every full moon. It was the nature of the beast inside him-his wolf.

Tonight, however, it wasn't just the usual transformation. No, this night felt different. The energy was heavier, more intense. It was as though the moon itself was pressing down on him, urging him to discover something about himself. Asher clenched his fists, trying to shake off the unease that settled in his chest.

"Is something wrong, Asher?"

The voice pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to see his mother, Lyanna, standing behind him, her gaze gentle yet filled with concern. Her long, silver hair shone faintly in the moonlight, and the lines on her face spoke of years of wisdom and experience. She was a powerful wolf in her own right, though she had never held the title of alpha. She had always been content supporting her mate, guiding Asher as he grew, and offering him counsel when needed. But there was always a distance between them, a space that no one could cross.

"No," Asher replied, his voice rough. "I'm just... thinking."

She stepped closer, her presence comforting yet commanding. "It's natural to feel unsettled. Tonight is a big step for you."

"I know," he muttered. "But it's more than that. It's like something is... calling me. Pulling me in a direction I don't understand."

Lyanna's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but she didn't press him further. Instead, she placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch warm. "Your father felt the same way when his time came. It's the burden of leadership. You carry the weight of the pack, but you are never alone. We stand with you."

"I know," he said again, though the words felt hollow. The truth was, Asher didn't feel entirely ready to take that weight. Not yet. Maybe never.

He turned his gaze back to the moon. As the moonlight bathed him, a sharp pain ran through his chest, and his skin prickled with the stirrings of the wolf within. It was then that he heard it-the unmistakable sound of a voice, low and urgent, calling his name from behind him.

"Asher."

It was a voice he didn't recognize, a voice that sent a shiver down his spine. He turned around quickly, his heart racing in his chest, but there was no one there. Just the sound of the wind, the rustling of the trees, and the distant howls of wolves in the distance.

But then, a figure appeared in the shadows at the edge of the clearing.

A man, cloaked in dark garments, his face obscured by the hood of his cloak. Asher's instincts went on high alert, his wolf surging to the surface, ready to fight. He stepped forward, his muscles coiling with tension.

"Who are you?" Asher demanded, his voice low and threatening.

The man raised his hand slowly, a gesture of peace. "I mean no harm, young alpha. I've come to speak with you. There are things you must know."

Asher's eyes narrowed. "I don't know you. Leave now."

The man smiled faintly, but his eyes were unreadable. "You don't know me, but I know you. I know the truth of your bloodline, Asher. The truth of what you are."

The words hit Asher like a bolt of lightning. He stepped back, his breath catching in his throat. "What are you talking about? My bloodline? I don't know what-"

The man interrupted, his tone growing more serious. "You're not just the son of Alpha Darius. You're not merely the heir to the Shadowfang pack. There is more to your bloodline than you've been told, more than your family has kept hidden from you."

Asher felt the ground beneath his feet shift, and the strange pull he had been feeling earlier deepened. Something inside him stirred, something ancient and powerful.

The man continued, his voice a whisper carried by the wind. "I'm here to help you understand your true power, Asher. To help you discover what lies within you. You were born for more than just leading this pack. You are destined to wield a power that has been buried for centuries."

"What are you talking about?" Asher's voice trembled, despite himself. "What power? What do you know about me?"

"I know everything," the man said cryptically. "And I'm here to show you the truth. But you must come with me. There are things you need to see, things you need to understand if you are to truly embrace what you are meant to be."

Asher's mind raced. He knew there was something more to his family's past-his father had always kept the history of their bloodline hidden from him. But this? This was something he had never expected. A secret buried deep within his blood, a power he didn't even know existed.

"I don't know you," Asher said, his voice shaking with a mix of confusion and anger. "Why should I trust you?"

The man's smile faded, and his eyes grew dark. "Because, Asher, you have no choice. Your destiny is already written. And tonight, you'll begin to understand just how much you've been kept in the dark."

Asher's heart pounded in his chest. He didn't want to follow this stranger into the unknown, but a part of him-something deep within-urged him to listen, to take the first step into a world he had never known.

The moonlight glowed brighter, and Asher felt the first stirrings of his wolf, urging him forward. Tonight was the night everything would change.