Chapter 1 Among the Whispers of the Forest

The evening breeze drifted lightly through Aetherwood's leaves, bearing the smell of wet earth, old moss, and secrets never spoken aloud. Deep breath Aria took let the breath of the woods flow her lungs. Tonight felt different, despite this place never being absolutely still. No rustling underbrush, no cracking limbs. Even the wind declined to whisper.

Her feet were feather-light along the hunter's track, the earth familiar under her shoes. Aria was not, though, a hunter. She had a little leather pouch at her waist loaded with water and a few herbs she had discovered to recognize from her late father's collapsing ancient volumes, nothing more than that.

She was not sure why she returned here constantly. Something in her had changed since her eighteenth birthday. Like unseen strings tying her body to the forest itself, a wordless, old, and primal call had begun to draw at her.

She had attempted to oppose it. The pull was just too intense this evening.

Moonlight passed across the canopy, silver rays grazing her skin. She looked at her palm and there it was again. The weak glow from her pores. Not hot. not agony. Only odd.

"Am I even human?" she mumbled to herself.

Always shying from inquiries regarding the past, her father Gerrard Moonvale had She only knew he discovered her on his doorway, bundled in a soaked blanket with only a crescent moon necklace. No mention. No name. No responses.

She stopped by a little river with a sigh. Between mossy stones, the water was crystal clear. Tonight it seemed different though she had been here many times. The air vibrated subtly, as though the forest was holding its breath. Then she saw him.

Too still, too silent to be simply a tourist, a tall man waited the river. His silver eyes mirrored the moon above, and his hair was black like a starless sky. Like a predator spotting its target, his eyes fixed on hers.

Aria gasped. Her body stopped not from fear. Not quite. Something inside her knew him.

He stood still. Just watched as though reading her spirit. Then he spoke with a voice like thunder going over the mountains.

"Why are you in our territory?"

Aria opened her lips but her voice broke. "I... I didn't understand this was anyone's. I was only walking."

He disappeared inches from her face before she could finish. She could smell the wild forest clinging to his skin and feel the warmth of his body so nearby.

His eyes grew brighter. His jaws stiffened. His breathing became more intense. Aria backed away, but then stopped. Running made no sense. Not from him.

His hand ascended. His nails developed into claws. Aria's heart beat like a war drum. She was confident for a brief time that he would strike.

He stopped, though. Frozen, nostrils flared as he sniffed her. His entire body contracted.

"This scent... the moon," he mumbled.

The claws pulled back in a flash. Though his eyes were still sharp, something had changed; he was now shocked rather than furious. Or maybe recognition.

"You're not merely human," he murmured.

Aria could not respond. Though her heart still thunderous in her chest, something else was replacing the panic she felt. An odd warmth flowering deep within her core. a desire she still did not comprehend.

"Who are you?" she gasped.

He stared for a moment before answering, "Kael Thorne. Alpha of the Aetherfang pack."

Alpha. The word reverberated in her memory. She would pore over the tales of werewolves, of covert communities among mankind. She had never, though, anticipated seeing one face face to face.

She responded, "Aria Moonvale."

Kael said nothing. His gaze lingered on her, as though looking for something still buried. He next retreated silently into the gloom.

She stood alone close to the river. Her body quaked. Her breathing was fast and shallow. Still her heart burned.

Aria went home once more alone after the meeting. Her adoptive father was never around at night; always gone on some indistinct business he refused to explain. Every time she inquired, he always answered the same.

"I'm hunting in the woods."

She had never witnessed the rewards of a hunting trip, though. None meat. No skins. Just the lingering scent of blood and earth on his garments.

He prepared his regular tea the following morning, perused the ancient newspaper, and inquired her how her day went as though nothing had changed. Thick clouds approaching rain hung low and heavily above the town.

Aria was left no option but to get firewood again from the forest. Although the supply was almost depleted and the evenings were chilly, she disliked being outside when the weather changed.

Eyes searching for dry twigs, she followed her usual path deeper into the forest. This time, though, something felt wrong. She was not alone.

There were other footfalls. Heavy. Many. Then came a bizarre fragrance. She saw them from behind a dense bush men wearing hunting garb, rough faces, and hungry eyes locked onto her the instant they recognized her presence.

"Well, you see that." One of them murmured, loud enough for her to hear: "Pretty little thing."

Dark chuckles came from the others. "Alone."

Aria tightened her muscles and swallowed hard. She backed away slowly, but a branch broke under her shoe.

"She heard us! Get her!"

She turned and sprinted, heart racing, lungs burning. Trees became blurry past. Rain started to drop, making the ground slick. She slid more than once but kept going. She couldn't turn off. Someone then emerged from the shadows and haze.

A young man, lean and wild eyed, with tousled dark brown hair and eyes that burned like embers. Without a word, he lunged straight toward the pursuers.

Fists and kicks landed with brutal speed. The men dropped one after another. Those still standing fled, dragging their battered companions with them.

Lean, wild-eyed young man with tousled dark brown hair and embers that burned like flames. He dove directly at the pursuers without a word.

Fists and kicks hit with ferocious speed. One by one the males fell. Those still standing fled, pulling their damaged friends with them.

Turning toward her, the young man had blood and mud still adhering to his coat. He grinned crookedly, boylike.

"Hey, is all good? Rowan here, by the way."

Aria gazed at him breathless, then gave a little nod. She mumbled, "Thank you," then walked off without another word.

Brow wrinkling in thought, Rowan watched her departing figure. Another person appeared from the trees calm, cold, authoritative not long after. Silver eyes shining under his hat.

"What are you doing here, Beta Rowan?" Kael said sharply.

Rowan flinched. "A-Alpha Kael... I was just... enjoying the scenery."

Kael moved closer, his gaze focused. "Don't waste your time. Finish your patrol and come home."

Turning and vanishing into the darkness without a second look, he Rowan exhaled a long sigh and dropped his head before going on.

Aria arrived home saturated and weary. Her boots were coated in mud. Her arms had no firewood. Her body throb, and images of Kael and Rowan continued to swirl in her head.

She lived in a quiet home. Once more her father had vanished. none message. no indication Only silence. She headed for the bath, seeking to wash away the turmoil of the day. But before she could even get dressed.

BANG!

The front door fell open; Aria sprang, instincts taking over. She grabbed the only weapon her father had ever given her, the silver dagger stashed behind the kitchen shelf.

He had cautioned, "Use it only when your life is literally in peril."

With eyes glassy and wild, numerous burly men stormed inside in dark apparel. Aria ducked behind the wall, holding her breath. She waited for the ideal time.

She leaped when one of them entered the main room and forced the knife into his shoulder.

He yelled, but another snatched her from behind. Though she kicked, bit, thrashed, they were too strong. She was overpowered and carried out into the storm-ravaged night.

The woods completely devoured them. Aria realized her entire life was over as thunder boomed in the heavens above. Her true tale had barely started.