Chapter 2 THE AWAKENING.

She raised her arms to the sky, her head tilting back as she called upon the power of the moon. The silver light bathed her in its glow, and for the first time in years, she felt truly alive. The magic was hers to command, and as it swirled around her, she felt the bond that had once tethered her to Damian-the bond that had once made her feel weak-finally snap. She wasn't bound to him anymore.

Her body trembled as the power surged through her, and for a moment, she could hear the sound of her own heartbeat echoing in her ears, growing louder and stronger, syncing with the rhythm of the world around her. She was no longer just an omega. She was a force to be reckoned with.

"Damian," she whispered under her breath, the name tasting bitter on her tongue. "You may have rejected me, but I'm no longer the girl you abandoned. I don't need you. Not anymore."

As she stood there, bathed in moonlight, her body alive with the power she had unlocked, Selena realized that she had never been truly lost. She had always had the strength within her-it had just taken this moment of betrayal to uncover it. And now that it was unlocked, there was no going back.

Her breath steadied, each inhalation a declaration of her newfound freedom. The weight that had once crushed her chest-those years of being dismissed, ignored, cast aside like nothing more than an afterthought-began to feel lighter. She was no longer defined by the pack's expectations of her, by the role they had assigned to her simply because of her place in the world. She was no longer defined by Damian's rejection.

For the first time, Selena felt like she was standing on her own, untethered and unbroken.

The wind shifted, a cool breeze rustling the leaves around her, carrying the scent of the forest. But there was something else beneath it-a shift in the air, a warning. Her senses, now sharpened by the power she had claimed, immediately went on high alert. She wasn't alone.

Her eyes snapped open, her pulse quickening. She didn't need to turn around to know that someone was watching her, but instinct told her to do so anyway.

Behind her, in the shadows, she saw a figure emerge. Tall, with the silhouette of a man outlined against the moonlight. His presence was immediate, overwhelming, and yet, there was something almost familiar about him. His scent was that of the forest-wood, earth, and something more primal.

"Selena," the man said, his voice low and measured. The words sent a ripple of recognition through her, but she couldn't place it. She instinctively stepped back, defensive. "Who are you?"

The man took a step forward, his eyes glowing faintly with the same power she had just embraced. There was no fear in his gaze, no hesitation. Just quiet understanding. "My name is Elias," he said, his voice carrying an edge of authority. "And I've been waiting for you."

She frowned, confusion knitting her brows together. "Waiting for me?" She took another step back, every muscle in her body coiled, ready to strike if necessary. Her magic thrummed under her skin, eager to respond.

Elias nodded, his expression softening just slightly. "Yes. You've awakened. And now, there are things you need to know. You're not alone in this."

"I'm not interested in-" Selena began, her words cutting off as a memory surged forward. Angela's teachings, the whispered warnings of dangers that went beyond the pack, beyond anything she had understood.

Elias's eyes locked onto hers, reading the flicker of recognition in her gaze. "I know what you're thinking. I've seen it in your eyes. You're wondering about the prophecy, about your mother, aren't you?"

Selena's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never spoken about her mother to anyone but Angela. How could this stranger know? "Who are you?" she demanded again, her voice more forceful now, the remnants of fear laced with a spark of anger.

Elias smiled, a touch of amusement playing at the corners of his lips. "I told you. I'm Elias. And I'm here to help you understand what's happening to you." She shook her head, disbelief warring with her anger. "Help me? No one can help me. Not after-"

"Not after Damian left you?" Elias interrupted gently, his voice soft but firm. "I know the pain you're feeling. But you must understand this: Damian is not the source of your power. He never was." Her mouth went dry at his words. Her thoughts scrambled to keep up. "What do you mean?"

Elias's eyes never left hers, his gaze unwavering as he took a slow step toward her. "Your true power comes from something far older. It's connected to your bloodline, to your mother. There's a legacy there-a legacy that you've only just begun to tap into."

Her mind spun, the fragments of her past flashing before her eyes. The secrecy, the whispers, the things Angela had hinted at but never fully explained. Her mother's disappearance. The night she had died, and the strange feeling that had always lingered in her memories, like something was missing.

"You're saying all of that... is connected to me?" Selena's voice faltered as she absorbed the weight of his words.

"Yes," Elias confirmed, his tone steady. "And there are others who would stop at nothing to ensure you don't realize your full potential. You've made a powerful enemy, Selena. But you've also made an ally-me."

She was silent for a moment, absorbing the information. Her chest felt tight, her heart racing. Could she trust this man? Could she trust anyone? And if I don't want any part of this?" she asked, her voice low, determined.

Elias paused, the moment stretching between them. "You don't have a choice, Selena. You never did. The magic that's awakened inside you? It's not something that can be ignored. It will either consume you... or you will learn to control it."

She wanted to run, to flee, to turn her back on everything that had happened. But she couldn't. The power inside her was too strong now, too consuming. She wasn't the same girl she had been before. Not anymore. "I don't need your help," she said, but her voice lacked the conviction she wanted it to have.

"You will," Elias replied, his voice unyielding. "But in your own time. Just know this: there's much more to the world than what you've seen. And there are others like you. Powerful, dangerous, and ready to fight."

She could feel the weight of his words, their implications sinking deep into her bones. Before she could respond, Elias turned, the darkness swallowing him whole. "We'll meet again, Selena. Soon." And then he was gone.

Alone in the moonlit clearing, her thoughts swirled in a frenzy of uncertainty and revelation. The future ahead of her was uncertain, but one thing was clear: she wasn't alone in this fight. The power inside her was just the beginning. And she was ready.