The forest remained tense long after the distant howl faded.
Wolves whispered among themselves.
Some stood guard along the tree line.
Others paced restlessly through the clearing.
Everyone felt it.
The storm was coming.
Aria stood near the edge of the yard, staring toward the mountains.
Her arms were folded.
Her shoulder still hurt, but she ignored it.
Marcus walked up beside her, holding a cup of something warm.
"You've been staring at those mountains for twenty minutes."
Aria didn't look away.
"Just thinking."
Marcus handed her the cup.
"Dangerous activity."
She accepted it.
"Thanks."
Marcus leaned against the wooden fence.
"So… do we run?"
Aria finally looked at him.
"Do you want to?"
Marcus considered it.
"…a little."
She smirked faintly.
"Too late now."
Behind them, Rowan and Lena were organizing wolves into patrol groups.
The clearing had turned into a small command center.
Warriors moved back and forth, preparing for whatever came next.
Varkos stood nearby with Kael, quietly discussing strategy.
Aria watched them.
Two powerful Alphas.
Both serious.
Both dangerous.
But neither one looked scared.
That was oddly comforting.
Marcus noticed her staring.
"Thinking about your Alpha problem?"
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"Which one?"
Marcus pointed.
"Exactly."
Before she could answer—
A sudden shout came from the tree line.
"Movement!"
Every wolf in the clearing instantly snapped to attention.
Heads turned toward the forest.
Warriors shifted into defensive positions.
Marcus straightened.
"Well… that was fast."
Rowan ran toward them.
"Something's coming."
Kael stepped forward immediately.
"How many?"
Rowan shook his head.
"Just one."
Varkos's golden eye darkened.
"Impossible."
Aria frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Varkos's voice was tense.
"He never travels alone."
The wolves along the tree line slowly backed away.
Creating space.
Something large moved between the trees.
Branches cracked softly.
Heavy footsteps approached.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Marcus whispered,
"…I don't like this."
The forest grew quiet.
Too quiet.
Then—
A massive black wolf stepped out of the shadows.
Gasps spread through the clearing.
He was enormous.
Larger than Varkos.
Larger than Kael.
His fur was midnight black, thick and sleek, with faint silver streaks along his back.
His glowing amber eyes scanned the entire clearing slowly.
Confident.
Unbothered.
Power rolled off him like heat from fire.
Even the strongest wolves stepped back instinctively.
Marcus whispered,
"Okay… that's definitely him."
Varkos's jaw tightened.
"Darius."
The name spread through the wolves like electricity.
Some of the former soldiers lowered their heads immediately.
Old instinct.
Old loyalty.
Darius noticed.
His massive wolf form slowly walked forward.
Each step calm.
Controlled.
Like he owned the land beneath his paws.
He stopped about twenty feet from Aria.
The entire clearing waited.
Then—
His body shifted.
The enormous wolf dissolved into human form.
The man standing there was just as intimidating.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
His black hair fell slightly across his forehead.
A long scar ran across his collarbone.
But his amber eyes were the most striking thing about him.
Sharp.
Cold.
Observant.
Marcus whispered,
"…he looks like trouble."
Rowan nodded.
"Major trouble."
Darius slowly looked around the clearing.
At the wolves.
At the pack house.
At Kael.
At Varkos.
Finally—
His gaze landed on Aria.
He studied her carefully.
Longer than anyone else.
Then a slow smile appeared.
"Well."
His voice was deep and calm.
"So the rumors are true."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"Rumors travel fast."
Darius chuckled softly.
"They do when someone defeats my strongest commander."
He glanced briefly at Varkos.
The giant Alpha didn't react.
Darius looked back at Aria again.
"You must be the Luna."
Marcus muttered quietly,
"This is the part where he tries to kill us."
But Darius didn't attack.
Instead—
He slowly walked closer.
Kael instantly stepped forward.
Blocking the path.
The two Alphas locked eyes.
Power crackled between them.
Darius tilted his head slightly.
"You must be Kael."
Kael's voice was cold.
"Stop walking."
Darius smiled faintly.
"Protective."
Marcus whispered,
"I kinda like that."
Aria stepped forward.
"Kael."
He glanced at her.
She shook her head slightly.
Kael hesitated.
Then stepped aside.
Marcus whispered loudly,
"Oh we're letting him through now?"
Rowan elbowed him.
Darius walked until he stood only a few feet from Aria.
Up close, his presence felt even heavier.
Like standing near a storm.
He studied her face carefully.
"You're smaller than I expected."
Aria shrugged.
"You're taller than I expected."
Marcus snorted.
Darius laughed quietly.
Then his expression changed slightly.
More serious now.
"You took something that belongs to me."
The wolves behind Aria shifted nervously.
But Aria didn't move.
"They chose to stay."
Darius tilted his head.
"Did they?"
He looked around the clearing.
Many of the former soldiers avoided his gaze.
Old fear creeping back.
Darius noticed.
His smile returned.
Then he looked back at Aria.
"Tell me something, little Luna."
Aria crossed her arms.
"What?"
Darius leaned slightly closer.
His amber eyes glowing faintly.
"Do you really think…"
His voice dropped lower.
"…you can keep them?"
The air around them suddenly felt very tense.
But Aria didn't look away.
She smiled.
And answered calmly.
"Try me."
For a moment—
Darius said nothing.
Then slowly…
He started laughing.
And that was somehow more unsettling than anger.