Aria's pov.
After clenching my fist I stood in the clearing as the cool night breeze brushed against my skin; my heart raced with the determination of not feeling weak anymore.
Being humiliated by the pack causes a lot of fear and trauma. The Moon shadow pack weighed a heavy pain on my shoulders, but tonight, I was ready to change that.
As the clouds become dim the moon hangs high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the forest.
I had snuck out again, far from the pack's judgmental eyes, to train in Secret.
My muscles kept aching from the hours of punches and kicks against an old tree trunk, but I refused to stop.
"You've got this Aria, and you need to be strong," I whispered to myself, wiping sweat from my forehead. "I'm stronger than they think."
A strange warmth spread through my chest as I steadied my breathing. It was different from the usual burn of exhaustion. This was something... primal.
I could hear the rustle of leaves and the distant howl of wolves with startling clarity.
At that moment, my senses became sharpened.
"What the—?" I stumbled, gasping back as an unfamiliar energy surged through me.
My vision blurred for a moment, and then everything snapped into focus. I felt wild, powerful, and untamed.
A branch cracked behind me. I whirled around, my instincts on high alert.
“Who's there?” I demanded, my voice steadier than I expected as Whispers to myself. “Could it be Liam the mysterious stranger?”
Everywhere became silent. But I knew someone was watching. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end.
“Show yourself,” I growled, surprising myself with the ferocity in my tone.
Ryder emerged from the shadows, his dark eyes gleaming under the moonlight.
His presence always carried an intensity that unsettled me, but tonight, I wasn't intimidated.
“Training in secret again, huh?” he said, his voice smooth but edged with curiosity.
I narrowed my eyes. “What are you doing here, Ryder? I wasn't expecting to see you or are you spying on me?”.
He shrugged, leaning casually against a tree. “You make it hard not to watch when you're practically glowing with power”.
My jaw tightened. “I don't need an audience; after all, you told me I was weak.”
“I know I made such a horrible statement,” he smirked. “But you should be careful because unlocking that kind of power can attract unwanted attention”.
I stepped closer, defiance burning in my chest. I don't need your warnings; I can handle this myself”.
Ryder's gaze softened for a fleeting moment. “I'm not your enemy, Aria”.
“Then stop lurking in the shadows like one,” I snapped.
“Meaning?”. He curiously asked.
“You heard me clearly; after all, your rejection has created a lot of discoveries about myself.”
He sighed running a hand through his messy hair. “Look I get it. “You want to prove you're strong. But this—-” he gestured to me—is dangerous. Do you even know what you're tapping into?”
I hesitated. The truth was, I didn't but admitting that to Ryder was the last thing I wanted.
“Is none of your concern. I'll figure it out myself” I stubbornly said.
“You might not get the chance,” he warned. “Power like that doesn't go unnoticed”.
My frustration boiled over. “Why do you even care, Ryder? You've never cared before. So why now?”.
He looked at me, his expression unreadable. “Maybe I care more than you think”.
Silence stretched through for a moment between us; it was thick with unspoken words.
“If you care why then do you reject me? I don't even need your pity,” I said, my voice cracking slightly.
“It's not a pity, I didn't reject you intentionally. It was a mistake, it was something else”.
My heart raced, but I pushed the feelings aside. I couldn't afford distractions, not when I was finally finding my strength.
“A mistake? C'mon, save those lies to yourself,” I swiftly interjected. “Stay out of my way, Ryder,” I warned, turning to leave.
"Aria," he called after me.
I paused but didn't look back.
"Be careful with that power," he said. "It has a way of changing people."
I clenched my fists so tight with the determination of not letting his words shake me.
After walking deeper into the forest, my mind raced. Ryder's warnings echoed in my head, but I couldn't turn back now. I had tasted power, and I wanted more.
The warmth in my chest flickered again, reminding me of the dangerous energy coursing through me.
"What am I becoming?" I whispered to myself.
And why did Ryder seem so certain that I was on the edge of something I couldn't control?
The forest grew silent eerily as I moved deeper into the shadows. My breathing started, but my senses heightened.
Every step is guided by an unseen force, pulling me towards something unknown.
The strange warmth in my chest was strongly pulsed like a heartbeat that wasn't my own.
Without hesitation, I pushed through a thick cluster of trees and stumbled into a clearing that I had never seen before.
The air here is different and heavier, charged with energy with the ground faintly shimmering under the pale moonlight as if dusted with silver.
“I’ve no idea what this place is all about?” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
My skin prickled by the warmth in my chest flaring, and spreading through my entire body.
Then a gust of wind suddenly whipped through the clearing, carrying with it a scent that made my head spin—earthy, wild, and ancient.
My bones felt like they were stretching, twisting beneath my skin. Fear gripped me as I suddenly dropped to my knees, gasping as pain shot through me.
"No," I groaned, clutching my sides. "Not now..."
I could feel my body trembling, torn between shock and exhilaration as the transformation was coming, faster and fiercer than before.
I kept struggling to stay in control, but the beast within me roared to be set free; my teeth were champing and fighting for its liberty.
A binding light suddenly shot up from the earth as the ground beneath me cracked, encircling me in a shimmering barrier.
"What the—?" My shield and panic surged through me.
My breathing hitched as I stared at it, my heart pounding as the light began to fade, leaving behind a strange symbol that was etched into the ground—a glowing crescent moon surrounded by ancient runes.
Why did this place feel like it was meant for me? And what did the symbol mean?
