The howl echoed through the mountains like thunder.
Deep.
Powerful.
Dominating.
Aria felt the sound hit her chest like a physical force.
Every wolf in the yard reacted instantly.
Several members of the Blackridge pack lowered their heads instinctively.
Marcus whispered,
"…that's him."
Rowan nodded slowly.
"No doubt about it."
Kael's golden eyes burned as he stared into the forest.
"Varkos."
The trees trembled as something massive moved through them.
Not quietly.
Not cautiously.
Confident.
Like the forest itself belonged to him.
Aria felt her heartbeat speeding up again.
Her wolf stirred inside her.
Alpha.
"No kidding," she muttered under her breath.
Cassian looked thrilled.
"Oh this is exciting."
Lena shot him an irritated look.
"You're enjoying this way too much."
Cassian shrugged.
"I appreciate dramatic entrances."
Branches snapped.
Leaves scattered.
And then—
He stepped out.
Aria's breath caught.
Alpha Varkos was enormous.
Even in human form he towered over everyone in the clearing.
His shoulders were broad and covered in thick muscle.
His dark hair hung loosely around his face.
But it was his eyes that made Aria freeze.
They glowed a deep, violent gold.
Far brighter than Kael's.
And filled with absolute confidence.
Behind him—
Wolves poured out of the forest.
Dozens.
Then dozens more.
Within seconds, the clearing was surrounded.
A sea of wolves.
Exactly like Kieran said.
Over two hundred.
Marcus whispered,
"…well."
Rowan sighed.
"This escalated quickly."
The wolves spread out, forming a massive circle around the clearing.
Their growls rumbled low and constant.
Kael stepped forward, his posture straight and unafraid.
But even he looked smaller compared to the army behind Varkos.
Aria felt the tension building like a storm.
Varkos looked around the clearing slowly.
He studied the pack.
The house.
The broken porch.
Then his eyes landed on Kael.
"You're the Alpha."
His voice was deep.
Heavy.
Commanding.
Kael didn't back down.
"Yes."
Varkos nodded slightly.
"You fought well tonight."
Marcus whispered,
"He heard about the rogue fight already?"
Cassian replied casually,
"Oh he hears everything."
Varkos's gaze shifted across the group.
Rowan.
Marcus.
Lena.
Alder.
Cassian.
His eyes paused slightly on Alder.
"Interesting."
Alder didn't react.
Then—
Varkos looked at Aria.
And everything changed.
His entire focus locked onto her.
The wolves behind him grew quieter.
Almost respectful.
Aria felt the strange pull again.
The same feeling she had earlier when the rogues bowed.
But stronger.
Much stronger.
Varkos slowly stepped forward.
"So."
He studied her carefully.
"You're the Luna."
Aria forced herself to stand straight.
"Yes."
Varkos's gaze sharpened slightly.
"You don't smell like a normal Luna."
Marcus muttered quietly,
"Because she's not."
Varkos ignored him.
His eyes never left Aria.
"Your power is unusual."
Aria didn't answer.
Varkos smiled faintly.
"I like unusual."
Kael stepped forward immediately.
"That's close enough."
Varkos's eyes shifted to him.
For a moment, the two Alphas simply stared at each other.
The tension between them was thick.
Then Varkos chuckled softly.
"You're brave."
Kael's voice was cold.
"I'm territorial."
Varkos nodded.
"I respect that."
He gestured toward the wolves behind him.
"Which is why I brought witnesses."
Marcus frowned.
"To what?"
Varkos looked back at Aria.
"To a claim."
The word made Kael growl.
"No."
Varkos raised an eyebrow.
"You're refusing before hearing it?"
"I already know the answer."
Varkos didn't look offended.
Instead, he seemed amused.
"You misunderstand."
His golden eyes gleamed slightly.
"I'm not asking."
The wolves behind him growled louder.
Rowan whispered,
"Here we go."
Aria felt her wolf pushing harder inside her chest.
Now.
Her heart pounded.
"Now what?"
Lead.
Aria stepped forward.
Kael grabbed her arm.
"Aria."
She gently pulled free.
"I have to try."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"This could go very wrong."
"It already has."
She walked past him.
Toward Varkos.
Marcus whispered loudly,
"Oh my god she's actually doing it."
Rowan shook his head.
"This is insane."
Cassian leaned forward excitedly.
"Oh this is going to be good."
Aria stopped several feet away from Varkos.
His golden eyes watched her with curiosity.
"You're brave," he said.
Aria took a slow breath.
"I'm not your property."
Varkos chuckled.
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
His voice became calm.
"Because power attracts power."
Aria lifted her chin.
"And what if I refuse you?"
Varkos looked genuinely interested now.
"You refuse an Alpha with two hundred wolves behind him?"
"Yes."
The clearing went completely silent.
Even the wolves stopped growling.
Varkos studied her face carefully.
Then he smiled.
"Good."
Aria blinked.
"What?"
Varkos's golden eyes gleamed with excitement.
"I hate weak wolves."
Marcus whispered,
"I think he likes her."
Rowan whispered back,
"That's not comforting."
Aria's voice stayed steady.
"You said you came to claim me."
"Yes."
"What if I give you another option?"
Varkos tilted his head slightly.
"Oh?"
Aria felt her wolf rising inside her chest again.
Her voice grew stronger.
"Follow me."
The words echoed across the clearing.
Every wolf froze.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Marcus whispered,
"…she said it."
Rowan nodded slowly.
"She actually said it."
Varkos stared at her.
Then—
He laughed.
Not mocking.
Not angry.
Just genuinely surprised.
"You want my pack to follow you?"
Aria held her ground.
"Yes."
Varkos's laughter slowly faded.
His golden eyes burned brighter.
"That's bold."
Aria didn't move.
Her wolf pushed harder.
Command.
Her voice rose slightly.
"You came for power."
"Yes."
"Then you're looking at it."
The wolves behind Varkos shifted uneasily.
They could feel it.
The strange pull.
The pressure.
Varkos noticed too.
His smile slowly disappeared.
His voice dropped.
"Careful."
Aria stepped one step closer.
"I'm not afraid of you."
For the first time—
Varkos's eyes flashed with real interest.
Then he said quietly,
"You should be."
Before anyone could react—
His body suddenly twisted.
Bones cracked.
Muscles expanded.
And in a single violent moment—
Alpha Varkos shifted. 🐺