Nyra's POV

It's been seven years. Seven years since, what broke me, endangered me, made me become a survivor and now a strong business-woman in the human world.

I was no longer that naive and weak Nyra. No, things have changed, and they've changed for the better.

The sleek glass floor to ceiling window of my office glimmered in the afternoon sunlight and below was the bustling city streets. There were piles of contracts and design sketches filling up my desk, but my focus wasn't on the life I had built, it was elsewhere.

My focus was on the mischievous six-year-old currently spinning my office chair.

"Auren, stop that before you break something," I warned, arching a brow.

He grinned, his wild curls bouncing. "But I'm bored, Mom! You said we'd go shopping after this meeting."

I sighed, pushing my laptop shut. "I did say that, didn't I?"

Auren's face lit up. "Does that mean we can go now?"

"Yes, but only if you promise to behave."

He held up two fingers in a solemn salute. "Scout's honor."

I ruffled his hair, my heart swelling with love. Auren was my entire world. Mischievous, brilliant, and far too curious for his own good. But beneath his playful nature was a power I had spent years trying to suppress.

Sometimes, when he was upset or frightened, strange things happened, lights flickering, objects shifting without touch. I never let it show, but it terrified me. The supernatural world was a part of my past, a past I had buried deep.

The Crescent Moon is just a distant memory now. Seven years had passed since I fled that pack and escaped from those rogues by a tiny chance. I had left that world heartbroken and pregnant. I have built my life all over again from scratch in this human world. I created a successful business and a safe home for Auren.

His safety was what mattered most to me.

But no matter how far I ran, a part of me always stayed on edge, waiting for something to happen.

"Mom?" Auren tugged at my hand. "Earth to Mom. You zoned out again."

"Sorry, buddy." I shook off the dark thoughts. "Let's go."

We walked the busy streets hand in hand, weaving through other people shopping. The city was alive, chaotic and bustling with energy. Auren skipped beside me, chattering about superheroes and his latest Lego creation.

I smiled, letting his voice wash over me. For a moment, everything felt normal. Safe.

We reached a small boutique filled with colorful fabrics and art supplies. Auren darted toward the markers, his eyes lighting up.

"Can I get these?" he asked, holding up a rainbow pack.

"Sure," I said, grabbing a few sketchbooks for myself. "But only if you promise not to draw on the walls again."

He gave me an innocent look. "That was an accident."

I snorted. "Right."

As we moved toward the register, a prickling sensation crawled up my spine. My steps faltered and my instincts were instantly sharpening.

I scanned the store, heart pounding. Nothing seemed to be out of place, just people shopping and chatting. But the hairs on the back of my neck stood.

"Mom?" Auren's voice pulled me back.

"Stay close to me," I said in a low and tight tone.

As we walked out of the store, the feeling of being watched grew stronger. My eyes looking around to the shadows between buildings, looking for the source.

That's when I saw them.

Three men were standing near the alleyway, their postures seem tense and their eyes glowed with something far more dangerous than curiosity. Their scents hit me like a punch, wolves. Rogues.

Panic tightened my chest.

"Auren," I said quietly, gripping his hand, "we're going to walk fast, okay? Don't ask questions. Just stay with me."

He liked confused but nodded any ways.

We moved so fast, weaving through people that filled up the street. The rogues followed and I could felt their predatory energy.

My heart raced. I hadn't been followed by wolves in years. How had they found us?

"Mom, what's happening?" Auren whispered, sensing my fear.

"Not now," I said through gritted teeth.

We turned a corner, but the crowd thinned, leaving us exposed. The rogues quickened their pace.

Damn it.

I scanned the street, searching for an escape route. An alley up ahead offered cover, but it was risky.

Before I could decide, the rogues made their move.

They rushed at us from the shadow with their fangs bared and eyes glowing with malicious intent.

"Run!" I shouted, shoving Auren ahead of me.

We sprinted down the alley, my breath ragged. One rogue closed in, snarling as he swiped at my back. I spun, delivering a kick that sent him staggering.

Another wolf lunged, and I barely dodged his claws. My instincts took over and my years of silent and self-training surged to the surface. I fought with everything I had, but they were relentless.

"Auren, keep running!" I screamed, scared.

He skidded to a halt, fear etched across his face.

One wolf broke past me, eyes locked on Auren.

"No!" I roared, shoving past the others.

The wolf leaped up from the ground, his jaws widening.

And then it happened.

Auren's eyes blazed with an otherworldly light, his small body trembling with raw energy.

A pulse of power erupted from him, sending the wolf flying backward. The other rogues yelped, scrambling away as the energy rippled through the alley.

Silence fell.

Auren's chest heaved, his glowing eyes fading back to their usual hazel. He looked at me, terrified.

I didn't waste a second. I grabbed his hand, my voice shaking so much as fear took over me.

"Baby, we need to get out of here now," I whispered.

Our cover was blown. And I knew, our safe life had just come crashing down.

Nyra's POV

The moment we got back home, I secured the lock, I dashed to my bedroom with Auren right behind me. My hands were shaking so hard as I stuffed the suitcase with clothes. It was like an automatic action because my heart was beating fast from the attack earlier.

The apartment quietness that I usually loved felt choking today, making it hard for me to breathe.

Auren sat on the couch near the bed, his face was pale and confused danced in his eyes. He held on tightly to his favorite toy, an old action figure he had owned since he was a toddler. He never slept without it.

"Mom," he said in a soft tone, breaking the heavy silence. "What happened back there?"

I zipped the suitcase with a sharp tug, trying to steady my voice. "Nothing you need to worry about, baby."

He frowned. "But I didn't mean to do that. The wolves were coming, and I was scared... then it just happened."

I walked to where he was sitting and knelt in front of him, cupping his face in my hands. His hazel eyes that are just like mine were filled with fear and guilt, causing my heart to ache.

"You did nothing wrong," I said firmly. "You were protecting yourself. That's what matters."

"But I hurt them," he whispered.

I pulled him into a hug. "Listen to me. We have to leave for a while, okay? Just until it's safe."

Auren nodded against my shoulder, but I could feel the tension in his small body.

The fear gnawed at me, sharp and relentless. I had spent years building a new life, hiding from the supernatural world. I thought I was safe. But today proved otherwise. The rogues had found us. And worse, Auren's powers had revealed themselves.

There was no going back to normal now.

I stood, forcing myself to think clearly. "Go grab your backpack, Auren. Pack your favorite things. We need to move fast."

He hesitated. "Where are we going?"

"I don't know yet," I replied to him, and it's true, I have no idea where we will go.

His lips trembled, but he didn't argue. He ran to his room, leaving me alone with my spiraling thoughts.

I began paving around the living room, trying to think of a solid plan. The rogues wouldn't stop at one attack. They had seen Auren's power. They would tell others.

And I knew exactly who would come next.

Kael Nightbane.

Just the thought of his name sent a cold shiver down my spine. He was a ruthless and cunning wolf, one without any moral compass. If he gets to find out about Auren, he would stop at nothing to get his hands on him.

I couldn't let that happen.

As I began throwing more essentials into a duffel bag, a sudden knock at the door made my entire body go rigid. I froze, and my heart hammered hard against my chest.

Auren peeked out from his room. "Mom?" He called in a scared voice that caused my heart to twist.

"Stay there, baby," I whispered, trying not to look scared.

I hurriedly grabbed a knife in the kitchen drawer and slowly approached the door like a predator would do for its prey.

"Who is it?" I demanded in a hard voice.

"Nyra Storm." The voice was low, steady. "I'm here on behalf of Crescent Moon."

I froze but then anger took over instantly, every muscle in my body was tensing. Crescent Moon. I hadn't heard that name in years, and I had no wish to hear it now.

 Especially not now that my son is in danger again.

"Go away," I said through the door.

The voice didn't waver. "You need to hear this. Your son is in danger. Kael Nightbane is coming for him."

My blood ran cold.

"How did you know about this? Who sent you?" I asked.

"Nobody sent me. I know because I see things before they happen, but I belong to no pack. I have only come here to warn you." The man said and continued without giving me a chance to ask another question.

"The Crescent Moon is the only safe sanctuary for you and your son. And even if you don't go, the Alpha Crescent Moon might end up summoning you because of something ancient." The man said in an urgent voice.

Draven.

The name found a way to the crevice of my mind, digging up memories I had fought so hard to bury all these years, his rejection, the humiliation, the betrayal.

I gritted my teeth. "Tell Draven I'm not coming back." I shouted, not caring whether the man was a part of his pack or someone mysterious.

Silence stretched on the other side of the door. Then: "You'll regret it."

The weight of his words pressed down on me, but I didn't care. I wasn't going back. I can't go back to the world that found joy in destroying me without mercy. I can't go back to the world where every corner is stained with an enemy. Where friends can suddenly turn to a foe in the blink of an eye.

I will never go back there.

I didn't move from where I was standing until the mysterious man's footsteps faded down the hallway. It was then I finally lowered the knife. My pulse was becoming fast and quickened, my breathing shallow.

Auren crept into the room, his eyes wide. "Who was that?"

"Nobody important," I lied. "Go back to your room."

He didn't move. "Mom, are we in trouble?"

I swallowed hard. "No. Everything's fine."

But as the night dragged on, doubt crept in. I paced the apartment, unable to sleep. The man's warning echoed in my mind.

Kael Nightbane is coming for your son.

My instincts screamed that I should run. But where? How far could I go before they found us again?

I stared out the window, the city lights flickering like restless stars.

"Mom?" Auren's voice trembled behind me.

I turned, my heart sinking at the fear on his face.

He pointed to the window, his voice barely a whisper. "Someone's out there."

My breath caught.

I spun back to the window, and froze.

Glowing eyes gleamed from the darkness below, cutting through the night like beacons.

Fuck! They had found us.

Draven's POV

The great hall was silent, except for the low crackles in the fireplace. Its warmth barely reached where I was sitting. This room, once filled with laughter, council meetings, and the steady rhythm of Crescent Moon Pack's daily life, now felt hollow.

Much like me.

My head rested back, looking up at the ceiling that had witnessed generations of Alphas. My chest was heavy with a weight I hadn't been able to shake since the night under the Blood Moon.

Nyra's face haunted me, her wide, devastated eyes when I rejected her in front of the entire pack. That moment is plastered in my memory. I had told myself that what I did was the best decision because I was protecting the Pack's future. Selene had political connections, influence, and the full backing of the Elders. She was the logical choice for Luna.

But logic didn't ease regret.

Selene and I had never been what the pack expected of an Alpha and Luna. She was cold, power-hungry, and manipulative. The warmth and laughter that Nyra had radiated were absent from my life. The pack had never fully accepted Selene either; they tolerated her out of respect for her position.

And now, everything was falling apart.

Crops were withering, the once fertile lands barren. Wolves were getting sick with a mysterious illness that our healers couldn't cure. Rogue attacks had grown more frequent, more organized. The Crescent Moon was on the brink of collapse, and whispers of a "Blood Moon Curse" were going around in the pack.

I clenched my jaw. Superstitions were nonsense. But the nagging thought that I had somehow brought this downfall upon us gnawed at the edges of my mind.

A knock echoed through the hall, sharp and urgent.

"Come in," I said, my voice hoarse.

Gareth, my Beta, entered, his expression grim. His broad shoulders were tense, and his usually calm demeanor had frayed. "Draven, the Elders are convening. They need you in the council chamber now."

I stood, my spine stiffening. "What's happened?"

"More wolves fell ill last night. And there was another rogue attack on the western border. This one was... coordinated." His voice dropped. "We barely held them off."

Dread settled in my gut. "Let's go."

The Elders had filled up the council chamber by the time we got there. The Elders sat in their highchairs around the large round table with worries etched on their faces. Murmurs filled the room with thick tension in the air.

I took my seat at the head of the table. "Report."

Elder Marcus, his gray hair was visible under the warm light, then leaned forward. "The crops are dying faster than we can plant them again. The sickness is spreading, and our healers are running out of supplies."

"And the rogues?" I asked.

Gareth spoke up. "They're becoming more coordinated. It's like someone is leading them."

The murmurs grew louder. Fear was palpable.

"We need answers," I said, slamming my palm on the table. "Has anyone consulted the seer?"

A hush fell over the room. The seer had not said anything in months because her visions got clouded by whatever darkness was upon us.

But then, the frail figure in the corner stirred. The seer, her eyes clouded with age and wisdom, lifted her head. Her voice was brittle but commanding. "An ancient threat has awakened," she declared. "A darkness that will consume everything unless it is stopped."

The Elders exchanged uneasy glances.

"What is this threat?" I demanded. "How do we stop it?"

The seer's gaze pierced through me. "The solution lies in what was lost and forsaken."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

My heart clenched. I knew what, who, she was referring to.

Nyra.

Guilt clawed at my insides, but I pushed it aside. I can't afford weakness now. I couldn't let my pack members see such. "There has to be a solution," I said, my voice firm. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect this pack. I will find that solution." I added, determination streaming through my blood vessels.

The Elders gave nods and mumbles of words, but their faces remained unhappy.

As the meeting came to an end , I remained in the chamber for a bit and lost in thought.

"Are you just going to sit here and watch the pack fall apart?" Selene's sharp voice cut through my moment of thinking in the silence...

I turned to see her standing in the doorway, arms crossed. Her expression was cold, condescending.

"What do you want, Selene?" I asked, my voice flat.