The howls slowly faded into the night.
But the power of the moment still lingered in the air.
Two hundred wolves knelt in the clearing.
Their heads bowed.
Their loyalty now shifted.
Aria stood in the center of it all, her silver wolf glowing faintly under the moonlight. Her chest rose and fell slowly as the strange energy inside her finally began to calm.
The fight was over.
She had won.
But her body was starting to feel the price of it.
Pain pulsed through her injured leg.
Her shoulder burned where Varkos had bitten her.
Blood stained her fur in several places.
Her wolf swayed slightly.
Marcus noticed immediately.
"Uh… guys?"
Rowan followed his gaze.
"…she's about to fall."
Kael was already moving.
Before Aria could fully collapse, her body shifted back into human form.
Her legs gave out.
But strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.
Kael.
He held her tightly against his chest.
Her breathing was uneven as exhaustion washed over her like a wave.
For a moment, she simply leaned into him.
Too tired to move.
Too tired to think.
Kael's voice was low and tense.
"You pushed too far."
Aria gave a weak smile.
"But it worked."
Marcus walked closer, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You just stole two hundred wolves from a warlord."
Rowan crossed his arms.
"That might be the most insane thing I've ever seen."
Lena crouched beside Aria, quickly examining her injuries.
"You're hurt."
Aria looked down at the blood on her arm.
"Not as bad as it looks."
Lena gave her a look.
"That's exactly what people say before they pass out."
As if proving her point, Aria's vision blurred slightly.
Kael tightened his hold on her.
"Inside. Now."
Marcus looked toward the kneeling wolves.
"…and what about them?"
Slowly, Varkos stood again.
The massive Alpha shifted back into human form.
His body was covered in blood and claw marks.
But his posture was calm.
He walked forward slowly.
Every wolf in the clearing watched him carefully.
When he stopped in front of Aria and Kael, he lowered his head slightly.
Not fully kneeling this time.
But still respectful.
"My Luna."
The words carried across the clearing.
Aria blinked tiredly.
"You're… not mad?"
Marcus whispered,
"I'd be furious."
Varkos shook his head slowly.
"A true Alpha respects strength."
He looked at Aria again.
"You earned this victory."
Rowan leaned toward Marcus.
"Still weird hearing him say that."
Marcus nodded.
"Very weird."
Varkos then turned toward the army behind him.
Hundreds of wolves lifted their heads slightly.
Waiting.
Watching.
Their former Alpha spoke clearly.
"Rise."
The wolves stood.
Slowly.
Respectfully.
Then Varkos gestured toward Aria.
"From this moment forward…"
His voice grew louder.
"…your loyalty belongs to her."
The wolves looked toward Aria.
Many lowered their heads again.
Some even knelt once more.
The shift in power was complete.
Marcus rubbed his face.
"I feel like we just accidentally started a kingdom."
Rowan nodded.
"That's exactly what this looks like."
Aria laughed weakly.
"Great."
Then her vision blurred again.
Kael noticed immediately.
"That's enough."
Without another word, he lifted her into his arms.
Princess style.
Marcus smirked.
"Oh wow."
Rowan elbowed him.
"Don't start."
Kael ignored them.
He carried Aria toward the pack house.
But just before they reached the porch, Aria grabbed his shirt weakly.
"Kael."
He looked down at her.
"What?"
Her voice was soft now.
"You didn't stop me."
Kael's expression softened slightly.
"You would have done it anyway."
"Probably."
For a moment they just looked at each other.
The tension between them had changed.
Something deeper now lingered there.
Something unspoken.
Then Lena opened the door quickly.
"Inside. Before she collapses."
Kael stepped into the house with her.
Marcus and Rowan followed behind.
Outside, the massive army of wolves slowly began settling into the clearing.
Some shifted into human form.
Others remained in wolf form, resting after the long journey.
Varkos stood at the edge of the yard.
Watching the house.
Cassian stepped beside him quietly.
"Well," Cassian said.
"That was entertaining."
Varkos glanced at him.
"You knew."
Cassian smiled faintly.
"I suspected."
Varkos looked back toward the house again.
"The power she showed tonight…"
His voice trailed off.
Cassian nodded.
"Yes."
Varkos frowned slightly.
"That wasn't normal Luna power."
Cassian's smile faded.
"No."
Varkos looked at him carefully.
"Then what is she?"
Cassian's eyes drifted toward the dark mountains in the distance.
"The answer to a very old problem."
Varkos didn't look reassured.
"What problem?"
Cassian exhaled slowly.
Then he said quietly,
"The one that's coming for her." 🐺