Chapter 2 The pack of shadows.

The forest was darker now, the moon obscured by thick clouds. Aria's legs burned from running, her lungs ached, and her thoughts were a tangled mess of fear and questions.

But Luca didn't slow. His grip on her wrist was firm, his strides purposeful. They crossed a shallow stream, scaled a ridge, and entered a part of the forest she had never seen denser, older, almost untouched by man.

The trees here were giants, their limbs stretching like skeletal arms across the canopy.

"We're close," Luca muttered. "To what?"

Aria asked, barely catching her breath.

"The Hollowshade Den.

It's hidden from outsiders." He paused beside a twisted pine, then pressed his palm against a knot in the trunk. The ground rumbled. A crack appeared between two boulders, widening into a narrow passage. Luca tugged her forward.

"They won't hurt you. They're your family now." Aria hesitated. She thought of Grace unconscious, maybe worse. Of the dart, the fire in her dream, the voice on the phone. The Hollowshade Den wasn't a den at all. It was a network of ancient caves and stone chambers lit by flickering torches and natural light filtering through mossy cracks above.

Wolves-some in human form, some not-watched them silently as they passed.

"She's the one," a girl whispered.

"The Moonstone," a boy added. Luca led her into a wide chamber at the heart of it all.

A fire pit crackled in the center. Elder wolves sat in carved stone seats, eyes glowing with age and power. An old woman stood to greet her. Her hair was silver, her presence commanding.

"I am Maera. Luna of Hollowshade.

Welcome, Aria Moonstone." Aria swallowed. "You know me?" Maera nodded.

"We've waited seventeen years for you."

Aria looked to Luca, "You said something about a prophecy.

About me being a key." Luca nodded.

"The Prophecy of the Crimson Howl." Maera raised a hand.

"Long ago, the High Alpha ruled all packs, a wolf with the blood of both the Moon and the Flame. But the Flame betrayed the Moon, and the High Alpha was slain. Since then, the packs have fractured. But the prophecy says a child born under the blood moon, marked by fire and shadow, will either reunite the packs... or destroy them."

"And you think that's me." Maera pointed to Aria's shoulder.

"Show them." Aria hesitated, then slipped off her jacket. On her skin was a crescent moon birthmark-red as blood. Gasps filled the room. One of the elders stood.

"This changes everything. The Council will send assassins." Another added,

"She must be trained. She doesn't know the rules, the code, the hunt-"

"I don't want to be part of this," Aria said sharply.

"I want my old life back." Maera stepped forward.

"You can't go back. Not after the shift.

The wolf is awakened. You are no longer just human."

Aria's chest tightened. Panic swirled.

She turned to Luca. "Why me?"

He looked away. "Because I saw it in the fire the night your father died. You were meant to lead."

"My father" "Was the last true Alpha. And he died because he trusted the wrong wolf."

That night, Aria stood outside the den, staring at the moon through the trees. Luca approached, holding two mugs of something steaming.

"Drink it. It'll help with the pain." She took it, still trembling.

"Everything feels... broken."

"You're still healing. First shifts tear the body apart before rebuilding it."

"I saw a white wolf in the fire. In my dream.

Is that... real?" Luca's face darkened.

"The White Flame. It's the mark of the betrayer. The one who killed your father."

"Who is it?" "We don't know. But the same wolf is tied to the Council now. And if they find you before you're ready..." He didn't finish. Aria stared into the flames.

"I want to learn." Luca blinked.

"What?" "Train me.

Teach me how to fight. How to run. How to survive."

A slow smile spread across his face.

"I thought you'd never ask."

The training began at dawn. The Hollowshade clearing an open ring surrounded by black pine-became her battleground. The air smelled of wet earth and morning frost. Maera, along with two warriors, watched as Luca paced in front of her.

"Shift," he said. Aria hesitated.

"It'll hurt." "It always hurts. You'll get used to it." She closed her eyes, summoned the fire within. The wolf stirred. Pain bloomed in her spine. Bones cracked. Clothes tore. When she opened her eyes again, she stood on four legs, heart pounding.

"Good," Luca said. "Now let's see what you can do."

He shifted in a blink-his black wolf form towering and muscular.

He lunged. She leapt aside, claws scraping earth, instincts flaring. They circled. Fangs flashed. He struck again-this time knocking her off her paws.

"Focus,"

his voice echoed in her mind. We're telepathic in this form. Feel me. Read my energy. She snarled, shook herself, and attacked. This time, she landed a hit. Luca growled approvingly. But the moment of victory was short-lived. A scream echoed from the treeline. They broke form instantly, racing toward the sound. A young wolf-barely more than a pup-stumbled into the clearing, blood soaking her side.

"They found us," she gasped.

"Rogues. Five of them. Coming fast."

Maera barked orders. Warriors shifted. Sentries howled. Luca grabbed Aria's hand.

"Stay here." "No." "This isn't training anymore. This is war." "I want to fight." He stared at her. Then nodded. "Don't hold back."

They shifted together. The pack met the rogues at the edge of the Hollowshade. Chaos erupted. Claws tore. Teeth snapped. Blood soaked the leaves. Aria fought beside Luca, instincts guiding her.

A grey rogue lunged she ducked, twisted, sank her teeth into its leg. Luca crushed another's spine with his jaws. But then a howl. Cold. Cruel. Familiar. A white wolf stood at the treeline. Its eyes locked on Aria. Then it turned and fled. She bolted after it.

"Aria, no!" Luca shouted. She didn't stop. She chased the white wolf through shadows and fog until they reached a cliff. The white wolf turned, shifted into a tall figure cloaked in black.

A woman. "You don't know what you are," the woman said, voice like ash. Aria bared her teeth. The woman smiled.

"But I do. And when the second moon rises, your choice will end us all." Before Aria could lunge, the woman vanished. Aria collapsed, heart pounding.

Behind her, Luca arrived, bloodied but alive.

"Are you okay?" he asked. She didn't answer. Because the woman's last words echoed louder than any howl. When the second moon rises... And Aria knew: This was only the beginning.