Chapter One: The Boy Who Was Always There
The first time Aria met Kael, she punched him in the nose.
She was six.
He was seven.
And he had stolen the last honey cake from the village festival.
“Ow!” Kael yelped, clutching his nose.
Blood trickled between his fingers as he stared at the little girl in disbelief.
“You deserved it,” Aria declared proudly, planting her hands firmly on her hips.
Kael blinked at her for a moment.
Then he burst into laughter.
“You hit hard.”
“You steal.”
He looked down at the honey cake still in his hand.
“You want half the cake?”
Aria tried to stay angry.
“...Yes.”
That was how their friendship began.
Ten years later, nothing had changed.
Except everything had.
The Moon Fang Pack was the strongest werewolf pack in the Northern Mountains, known for producing powerful Alphas, gifted healers, and fearless warriors.
Aria, however, had absolutely no interest in becoming a warrior.
She dreamed of following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Grandma Elira—the Moon Fang Pack’s Master Healer and oldest Seer.
Still, today wasn’t about herbs or healing.
She preferred climbing trees, annoying the elders, and racing Kael through the forest until one of them inevitably tripped over a root.
Usually Kael.
“You’re getting slower,” Aria teased as she balanced effortlessly on a fallen log.
Kael rolled his eyes.
“I’m carrying three rabbits.”
“Excuses.”
“I’m carrying your dinner.”
“...Fair point.”
She jumped down beside him and snatched one rabbit from his arms.
“You thief.”
“You taught me.”
“I absolutely did not.”
“You stole my honey cake.”
Kael groaned.
“You’re never going to let that go, are you?”
“Never.”
They both laughed.
The sound echoed through the forest like music.
Kael smiled without realizing it.
He always smiled when she laughed.
Always.
“Race you home!” Aria shouted.
Before Kael could answer, golden light surrounded her body.
Bones cracked.
Fur burst through skin.
Within seconds, a sleek silver wolf stood where the girl had been.
She barked playfully before darting into the trees.
“Oh, you’re cheating!” Kael called after her.
He quickly placed the rabbits on the fallen log.
“I’ll be back for you.”
Golden light engulfed him.
Moments later, a massive black wolf leapt into the forest after her.
Leaves scattered beneath their paws.
Birds burst into the sky.
The forest became a blur of green and gold.
Aria reached the village first.
She shifted back into human form, grinning from ear to ear.
“I win.”
Kael arrived only seconds later.
“You started before I agreed.”
“I still won.”
“You’re impossible.”
“You can’t get rid of me.”
Kael sighed dramatically.
“Unfortunately.”
She laughed again.
Neither of them noticed the older wolves exchanging knowing smiles.
Everyone in Moon Fang believed the Moon Goddess had already chosen them as destined mates.
Everyone...
Except Aria and Kael.
That evening, the entire pack gathered around the Sacred Fire.
The air felt strangely heavy.
Alpha Rowan rose to his feet.
“My wolves...”
His deep voice silenced the crowd.
“The Blood Moon rises in three nights.”
Whispers spread through the gathering.
The Blood Moon.
It appeared only once every hundred years.
Legend said the Moon Goddess revealed powerful destinies beneath its crimson light.
Alpha Rowan continued.
“This year...”
“...our next Alpha will begin the path toward leadership.”
More whispers followed.
Every young wolf looked excited.
Except Kael.
He looked worried.
Aria nudged him.
“You’ll probably be chosen.”
“I don’t want to.”
She frowned.
“What?”
He shrugged.
“I’d rather spend my life hunting with you than sitting through endless council meetings.”
A smile spread across Aria’s face.
“You’d make a terrible Alpha.”
“I know.”
“You’d forget important things.”
“I absolutely would.”
“You’d fall asleep during council meetings.”
“I definitely would.”
“You’d—”
“I get it.”
They laughed together.
Across the fire, Alpha Rowan watched them quietly.
Beside him stood Grandma Elira.
Her gaze rested on Kael and Aria.
A shadow crossed her face.
“They don’t know,” she murmured.
Rowan’s expression hardened.
“No.”
“They’ll lose the childhood they’ve barely begun to live.”
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Rowan looked into the flames.
“I know.”
Later that night...
Aria couldn’t sleep.
Something felt...
Wrong.
The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Even the insects had stopped singing.
A cold breeze brushed against her skin.
Then she heard it.
A howl.
Not from the Moon Fang Pack.
A stranger.
Another howl answered.
Then another.
Dozens.
Aria’s heart pounded.
She rushed outside.
Kael was already there.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them spoke.
They didn’t need to.
Danger had found the Moon Fang Pack.
And it was coming fast.
Love the plot
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Great plot..