Chapter 3 Prince of frame

A flash of silver flickered between the trees, followed by the unmistakable sound of wings. Ariana's heart hammered in her chest, but she couldn't move. Something was coming toward her-something powerful.

A creature emerged from the shadows, and her breath caught in her throat. It wasn't a wolf. It wasn't even human.

A dragon. A man, but with the unmistakable aura of a dragon. His eyes were a glowing crimson, and his silver hair cascaded down his broad shoulders. His presence radiated power, the kind of power that could crush her with a single glance.

"You shouldn't be here," the man said, his voice a deep, rumbling growl.

Ariana's heart pounded. "I didn't know anyone lived here."

The dragon-man stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "They don't. Only death lives here."

She stood up, wiping the blood from her palm, meeting his gaze. "Then maybe I came to find it."

His expression shifted, something ancient flickering in his eyes. "Or maybe you came to find me."

The dragon-man led Ariana to a hidden glade, where an ethereal fire danced in the air, floating like lanterns. The flames glowed with an unnatural light, and the heat from them felt different-ancient, primal. Ariana stood in awe as she took in the sight.

"My name is Drayce," the man said, his tone softer now. "I am the last of the dragon-shifter princes."

Ariana blinked, unsure whether she should believe him. Dragons had been nothing more than myths, stories told around campfires. But the energy in the air, the power that emanated from him, told her otherwise.

Drayce's gaze softened as he looked at her. "The forest is a place of death, but it also has its secrets. Secrets that have been waiting for you."

Ariana frowned. "What do you mean?"

He smiled faintly. "Your scent is different from the others. Part wolf. Part human. And something else."

"Something else?" she asked, confused.

He nodded. "Something older. Something powerful. The bond you once had with that Alpha... it was never meant to be. You are more than a rejected mate."

She took a step back, feeling a surge of confusion and fear. "What are you talking about?"

Drayce stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "You are the one who will unite our world, Ariana Moon. The prophecy speaks of you."

Ariana's breath caught in her throat. "Prophecy?"

He nodded. "You're not just a wolf. You're the key to unlocking the old magic. And I will help you find it."

Drayce took Ariana deeper into the heart of the forest, to a hidden cavern filled with ancient stone tablets covered in glowing runes. The air hummed with the power of ages long past, and Ariana couldn't help but feel both awed and terrified by the sheer magnitude of the place.

Drayce led her to a wall where a massive mural had been carved. It depicted a woman with silver hair and golden eyes, standing between a wolf and a dragon, her hands raised to the heavens.

"The one who is broken will become whole, and her fire shall awaken the realm."

Ariana's heart pounded in her chest as she read the words aloud. "What does this mean?"

Drayce's voice was heavy with reverence. "It means you, Ariana. You are the prophecy reborn. The one who will reunite the wolf and dragon realms."