The word echoed through the clearing.
Never.
Varkos stood tall despite the blood running down his body.
Despite the silver power filling the air.
Despite the fact that nearly his entire army was now kneeling.
His golden eye burned with stubborn pride.
The wolves surrounding the battlefield had lowered themselves completely now.
Hundreds of heads bowed toward the glowing silver wolf standing in the center.
Only one wolf remained standing.
Their Alpha.
Marcus whispered,
"…he's still resisting."
Rowan nodded slowly.
"That's pure Alpha pride."
In the clearing, Aria stood motionless.
Her silver fur glowed brighter than ever.
The strange energy flowing through her body pulsed like a living heartbeat.
She could feel the wolves around her.
Every single one.
Their instincts.
Their fear.
Their loyalty shifting.
But Varkos…
Varkos stood alone against it.
His massive chest rose and fell slowly as he faced her.
His voice echoed through the mind-link again.
You are powerful.
Aria's wolf didn't move.
I know.
The giant Alpha's tail flicked behind him.
But power alone does not make a leader.
Aria stepped forward.
The ground cracked beneath her paw.
And stubbornness does not make you one.
The wolves around them stirred nervously.
Marcus muttered,
"…this is intense."
Rowan nodded.
"Very."
Varkos slowly began circling her again.
His movements were slower now.
More careful.
But the defiance in his eye hadn't faded.
They are bowing because your power forces them.
Aria's silver eyes gleamed.
No.
She took another step forward.
They bow because they feel it.
The giant Alpha growled softly.
Feel what?
Her answer came instantly.
Truth.
That word rippled through the clearing.
Several wolves lowered themselves even further.
Varkos saw it.
His golden eye burned with frustration.
They are my pack.
Aria didn't hesitate.
Then why are they choosing me?
The silence that followed felt enormous.
Varkos had no immediate answer.
His breathing grew heavier.
Blood continued dripping from his wounds.
The fight had taken its toll on him.
But he refused to kneel.
Marcus whispered quietly,
"He's going to fight to the death."
Lena frowned.
"He might."
Kael watched the battlefield carefully.
His voice came out low.
"Or he might finally understand."
In the clearing, Varkos suddenly lunged again.
One last desperate attack.
His massive body shot forward like a storm.
But Aria was ready.
Her silver wolf moved faster than ever before.
She dodged his charge and slammed into his side with full force.
The impact knocked the giant Alpha off balance.
Before he could recover—
Her claws struck his shoulder.
Hard.
The massive wolf collapsed onto one knee.
Gasps exploded across the clearing.
Marcus shouted,
"SHE DROPPED HIM!"
Rowan stared in shock.
"I didn't think that was possible."
Varkos tried to stand again.
But his injured body trembled beneath him.
Aria stepped forward slowly.
Now she stood directly in front of him.
The glowing silver wolf towering over the wounded Alpha.
Her voice echoed through the mind-link again.
Calm.
Steady.
Powerful.
The fight is over.
Varkos growled weakly.
Not yet.
He tried to stand again.
But his legs shook violently.
Blood dripped steadily onto the dirt.
Aria watched him carefully.
Her wolf felt no anger.
No hatred.
Only certainty.
You are strong, she said.
The giant Alpha's golden eye lifted toward her.
Strong enough to know when to stop.
The wolves surrounding them waited breathlessly.
The entire army watching their Alpha's next move.
Marcus whispered,
"…this is it."
Rowan nodded slowly.
"He either kneels…"
"…or dies."
Varkos's chest rose and fell heavily.
His golden eye shifted slowly across the clearing.
He looked at his wolves.
Hundreds of them.
Every single one bowing.
Waiting.
Then his gaze returned to Aria.
The glowing silver Luna standing before him.
The one who had defeated him.
Silence stretched for several long seconds.
Then—
Varkos slowly lowered his head.
The giant Alpha dropped to both knees.
Gasps rippled through the army.
Marcus's jaw dropped.
"…he did it."
Rowan exhaled.
"I can't believe it."
The massive wolf bowed his head fully to the ground.
Submission.
Complete.
Absolute.
His voice echoed quietly through the mind-link.
Luna.
The word carried across the entire clearing.
Hundreds of wolves lifted their heads slightly.
Then—
Every single one of them howled.
A deafening sound of loyalty and submission.
Aria stood still in the center of it all.
Her silver fur glowing beneath the moon.
Two hundred wolves now belonged to her.
Marcus laughed loudly.
"She actually did it!"
Rowan shook his head in disbelief.
"She stole an entire army."
Kael stared at Aria with a mixture of pride and amazement.
Alder's silver eyes gleamed quietly.
"The Luna has risen."
But in the middle of the celebration—
Cassian suddenly stopped smiling.
His sharp gaze lifted toward the distant mountains.
Far beyond the forest.
Far beyond Blackridge.
His voice came out quietly.
"…well."
Marcus looked at him.
"What?"
Cassian's expression had grown serious.
"Now the real problem begins."
Kael frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Cassian looked back toward Aria.
And then toward the dark horizon.
"The wolves you just took…"
His voice dropped slightly.
"…used to belong to someone far worse than Varkos." 🐺