Orientation lasted two hours.

Luna sat in the Great Hall with the other first years while Headmaster Sterling explained rules, schedules, and expectations.

Don't shift without permission.

Don't leave campus without authorization.

Don't enter the forbidden forest.

Don't challenge students above your rank.

The list went on.

Luna's head spun trying to remember everything.

Nova sat beside her, taking notes frantically. "This is insane. How are we supposed to remember all this?"

"I have no idea."

Sterling dismissed them at ten. "First years report to the training grounds. Your physical assessment begins in fifteen minutes. Don't be late."

Students filed out of the Great Hall. Luna followed the crowd toward the back of the building.

The training grounds were outside. A massive open field surrounded by forest. Equipment scattered across the grass. Obstacle courses. Climbing walls. Fighting rings marked with white chalk.

And professors. Lots of professors. All of them watching as students gathered.

A man stepped forward. Tall. Muscular. Scars crossing his jaw and neck. His eyes were cold. Assessing.

"I'm Professor Marcus Thorne. Combat and physical training. For the next four years, I will break you down and rebuild you into wolves worthy of the Silverwood name. Some of you will excel. Most of you will struggle. A few of you won't make it past first semester."

He paced in front of the assembled first years. "Physical training is not optional. It is survival. In the real world, weak wolves die. Fast wolves live. Strong wolves lead. Which category you fall into depends entirely on how hard you're willing to work."

Luna's mark tingled beneath her sleeve.

"We'll start with basics. Speed. Endurance. Strength. Agility. Then we'll move to combat. Hand-to-hand first. Wolf form later. Questions?"

No one spoke.

"Good. Partner up. Now."

Students scrambled to find partners. Nova grabbed Luna's arm.

"Partners?"

"Obviously."

Thorne walked through the crowd, observing. He stopped in front of Luna and Nova.

"You two. Separate."

"What?" Nova's voice went high. "Why?"

"Because you're friends. Friends go easy on each other. I need to see what you're actually capable of." He pointed at Luna. "You. With me."

Nova shot Luna an apologetic look as Thorne pulled Luna aside.

"Luna Eclipse. Eclipse bloodline. Marked yesterday. Is that correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Your family has a history of producing powerful wolves. But history doesn't mean anything here. Power means nothing without control. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm assigning you a personal mentor. Someone who can push you harder than I can push an entire class. Someone who won't tolerate excuses or weakness."

A figure emerged from the equipment shed. Male. Maybe early twenties. Lean muscle. Dark hair. Cold expression.

He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"This is Ryder Thorn. Fifth year. Top of his class in combat. He'll be responsible for your training outside of group sessions."

Ryder looked Luna up and down. His expression didn't change. "Great. Another Eclipse."

"Problem, Ryder?" Thorne's voice carried warning.

"No, sir. No problem."

"Good. Get started. I want a full assessment by end of day."

Thorne walked away, leaving Luna alone with Ryder.

They stared at each other.

"So," Luna said finally. "You're my mentor?"

"Apparently."

"You don't sound thrilled about it."

"I'm not. I have better things to do than babysit first years."

"Then why'd you agree?"

"I didn't. My father voluntold me." Ryder crossed his arms. "Let's get something straight. I don't care about your bloodline. I don't care about your famous last name. I care about results. You show up on time. You work hard. You listen when I talk. Do that, and we'll get along fine. Waste my time, and I'll make your life miserable. Clear?"

Luna's temper flared. "Crystal."

"Good. Let's see what you've got. Run the perimeter. Two laps. Go."

"Right now?"

"You deaf? Run. Now."

Luna took off. The perimeter was huge. Easily a quarter mile around. Her lungs burned after the first lap. Her legs screamed by the second.

When she finished, Ryder was waiting with a stopwatch.

"Nine minutes. That's pathetic."

"I just ran half a mile."

"And you should've done it in six. Again."

"What?"

"You heard me. Again. Faster this time."

"I need a break."

"Breaks are for weak wolves. Are you weak?"

"No."

"Then run."

Luna ran again. Her muscles protested. Her chest ached. But she pushed through.

Eight minutes this time.

"Better. Still pathetic, but better." Ryder pointed to a climbing wall. "Climb that. Top to bottom. No stopping."

Luna approached the wall. It stretched twenty feet high. Handholds jutted out at irregular intervals.

She started climbing.

Halfway up, her arms gave out. She fell, landing hard on the mat below.

"Get up."

Luna pushed herself to her feet. "This is impossible. I've never climbed anything before."

"Then learn. Again."

"I can't."

"Wrong answer. Try again."

"I said I can't."

Ryder stepped closer. His voice dropped. "Let me tell you something about Eclipse wolves. You're either exceptional or you're dead. There's no middle ground. Your grandmother? Exceptional. Graduated top of her class. Your great-grandmother? Dead before her second year. Lost control during a shift and had to be put down. Which one are you going to be?"

Luna's mark burned. Heat raced up her arm.

"I'm not dead yet."

"No. But you will be if you give up every time something gets hard. Now climb. Don't stop until you reach the top."

Luna climbed. Her hands bled. Her muscles shook. But she reached the top.

When she dropped back to the mat, Ryder nodded once. "That's progress. Rest. Five minutes. Then we're doing combat drills."

Luna collapsed onto the grass. She watched other first years training across the field. Nova was sparring with another girl. Badly. She kept flinching before strikes even landed.

Movement caught Luna's eye.

Darius Kane. Standing at the edge of the training grounds. Watching.

Not watching everyone.

Watching her.

Luna pushed herself to her feet. "Who's that?"

Ryder followed her gaze. "Darius Kane. Fourth year Alpha. Stay away from him."

"Why?"

"Because he's dangerous. The Kanes don't like competition. And you're competition."

"I'm not competing with anyone."

"Doesn't matter. You exist. You have Eclipse blood. That makes you a threat to his position. And Darius doesn't handle threats well."

Before Luna could respond, Darius started walking toward them.

"Great," Ryder muttered. "Here we go."

Darius stopped a few feet away. Up close, he was even more imposing. Tall. Confident. Every inch the Alpha.

"Ryder. Still babysitting first years?"

"Still compensating for your father's expectations?"

Darius's jaw tightened. "Careful."

"Or what? You'll challenge me? We both know how that would end."

Darius's attention shifted to Luna. "So you're the Eclipse everyone's talking about. Marked yesterday. Thrown straight into training. Must be tough."

"I'm managing."

"We'll see. Eclipse wolves have a reputation. Big names. Big expectations. Big failures." He circled her slowly. "Which category do you think you'll fall into?"

Luna's mark pulsed. Warm. Insistent.

"I don't care about reputations."

"You should. Reputations are everything here. They determine who respects you. Who fears you. Who challenges you." He stopped in front of her. "And right now? Your reputation is nothing. You're a first year with a famous last name and zero proven skills."

"Then I guess I'll have to prove myself."

"Looking forward to it."

Something in his tone made Luna's instincts scream warning.

Her mark flared. Bright enough that light leaked through her sleeve.

Darius noticed. His eyes narrowed. "Interesting. Your mark reacts to threat. That's unusual for a first year."

"Back off, Kane." Ryder stepped between them. "She's my student. You have a problem with her, you go through me first."

"Relax. I'm just saying hello. Getting to know the new blood." Darius smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "See you around, Eclipse. I'm sure we'll have lots of opportunities to train together."

He walked away.

Ryder waited until he was out of earshot. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because your mark is glowing. And your eyes just flashed gold."

Luna looked down at her wrist. The mark blazed through the fabric. Brighter than she'd ever seen it.

"I don't understand. Why is it doing that?"

"Because you felt threatened. Your wolf responded. That's instinct. It's also dangerous if you can't control it."

"I wasn't trying to do anything."

"That's the problem. You can't let your wolf react without your permission. If you do, you'll shift at the wrong time. Hurt someone. Get yourself killed."

Luna tried to calm down. Breathe. Focus.

The mark's glow faded slowly.

"Better. But you need to practice that. Controlling your wolf when emotions run high." Ryder checked his watch. "We're done for today. Tomorrow morning, six AM, meet me here. We're working on control before anything else."

"Six AM?"

"Problem?"

"No. I'll be here."

"Good. Go clean up. Get food. Rest. You're going to need it."

Luna started walking back toward the main building. Her legs felt like jelly. Her arms ached. Her hands were blistered.

But she'd survived.

First training session complete.

A group of first years passed her heading toward the dorms. Three girls. All of them laughing.

They stopped when they saw her.

One of them gasped. "Your mark. It's glowing."

Luna looked down. The mark was still faintly visible through her sleeve. Pulsing with silver light.

"I know. It does that sometimes."

"That's not normal," another girl said. Her voice shook. "First years don't have marks that glow that bright. Not unless they're about to shift."

"I'm not shifting. I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. You look dangerous."

The three girls backed away. Fast. Like Luna might attack at any second.

"Wait. I'm not going to hurt anyone."

But they were already running.

Luna stood alone in the middle of the path. Her mark pulsed. Her reflection caught in a window nearby.

Her eyes glowed faint gold.

Just like Ryder said.

She looked dangerous.

She looked like something wild barely contained.

And she had no idea how to make it stop.

Luna made it back to the dorm without incident.

The three first-years who'd run from her must have spread the word. Students stepped aside when she passed. Conversations stopped. Eyes followed her movement.

By the time she reached her room, her hands were shaking.

Nova looked up from her desk. "Oh thank god. I heard what happened. Are you okay?"

"Define okay."

"Fair point." Nova stood. "Come on. Sit. Tell me everything."

Luna collapsed onto her bed. She told Nova about training. About Ryder's harsh methods. About Darius showing up. About her mark glowing so bright it scared other students.

When she finished, Nova was quiet for a long moment.

"That's a lot for day one."

"Tell me about it."

"Okay. So. First thing you need to understand. What happened with those girls? That's going to follow you. Word travels fast here. By dinner, everyone will know your mark glows bright enough to scare people."

"Is that bad?"

"Depends. For some students, it'll make you intimidating. Untouchable. For others, it'll make you a target. They'll see you as a threat that needs to be eliminated before you get too powerful."

Luna's stomach twisted. "So I can't win."

"Not exactly. You just need allies. People who have your back. People who can vouch for you when rumors start flying." Nova sat cross-legged on her bed. "Which brings me to dorm rules. And pack dynamics. Because if you're going to survive here, you need to understand how everything works."

"I'm listening."

"Okay. Rule one. Respect territory. Every dorm floor has unofficial pack territories. Upperclassmen claim the best rooms near the bathrooms and windows. First years get stuck at the ends of hallways. You don't cross into upperclassmen territory without permission. Ever."

"What happens if you do?"

"Depends on who's territory you cross. Some students will just warn you off. Others will challenge you. And challenges here aren't like human school fights. They're serious. Physical. Sometimes violent."

Luna touched her mark. "How do you know all this?"

"My sister told me. Before she graduated, she made me memorize everything. Said it was the difference between surviving and becoming another cautionary tale."

"Your sister sounds intense."

"She was. Is. She made it through all four years without a single challenge. That's rare. Most students get challenged at least once."

"What about you? Have you been challenged?"

"Not yet. Omegas usually get left alone in the first few weeks. We're not seen as threats. But you?" Nova pointed at Luna's wrist. "You're different. Eclipse bloodline. Powerful mark. You're absolutely going to get challenged. Probably soon."

"Great. Looking forward to it."

Nova grinned. "Look on the bright side. If you win, people will leave you alone. If you lose, well. At least you tried."

"That's not comforting."

"I'm bad at pep talks." Nova pulled a notebook from her desk. "Rule two. Dining hall hierarchy. See, the Great Hall isn't just where we eat. It's where social order gets established. Alphas sit at the front near the faculty table. Betas sit in the middle. Omegas and uncategorized students sit in the back. You don't switch sections without earning it."

"How do you earn it?"

"Rank advancement. It happens through tests, challenges, or faculty recommendation. Once you're officially ranked, you move to the appropriate section. Until then, you're stuck in the back with the rest of us."

Luna thought about breakfast that morning. How everyone had seemed to know exactly where to sit. How no one crossed invisible boundaries.

"What about Darius? Where does he sit?"

"Front. Center. Right where everyone can see him. Darius Kane is fourth year Alpha. Top of the social hierarchy. He sits wherever he wants." Nova's expression turned serious. "Why are you asking about him?"

"He confronted me during training. Said my reputation was nothing. That I needed to prove myself."

"Of course he did. That's classic Darius. He sees you as competition. Eclipse bloodline produces Alphas. If you rank up, you'll challenge his position at the top. He's trying to intimidate you before you become a real threat."

"I'm not trying to compete with anyone."

"Doesn't matter. Just by existing, you're a threat to him. And Darius doesn't handle threats well."

A knock at the door interrupted them.

Nova jumped up and opened it.

A girl stood in the hallway. Tall. Blonde. Perfect posture. Her mark was visible on her wrist. A wolf mid-leap. Detailed. Beautiful.

"You're Luna Eclipse?"

"Yeah."

"I'm Jade. Second year. We met briefly at breakfast."

Luna remembered. The girl who'd called Eclipse wolves either heroes or disasters.

"What do you want?"

"To give you some advice. Free of charge. Consider it a welcome gift."

"I'm listening."

Jade stepped into the room without invitation. Nova frowned but didn't object.

"Here's the thing about Silverwood. Power is everything. But power without control is useless. You scared some first years today. Your mark glowed. Your eyes changed. That's impressive. But it's also reckless."

"I didn't mean to."

"Doesn't matter. What matters is perception. Right now, people see you as unstable. Dangerous. That makes you a target for students looking to prove themselves. Especially upperclassmen who want to put you in your place."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"Learn control. Fast. Show people you're powerful but not chaotic. Demonstrate discipline. Otherwise, someone's going to challenge you. And if you accept a challenge before you're ready, you'll lose. Publicly. Humiliatingly."

Luna's temper flared. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"I'm not trying to be mean. I'm being realistic. Eclipse wolves are targets. Always have been. Your grandmother survived because she was exceptional. Disciplined. Controlled. If you want to follow her example, you need to stop letting your wolf react to every threat."

"My wolf?"

"The part of you that glowed today. That flashed gold in your eyes. That's your wolf. Your instinct. Right now, it's running wild because you haven't learned to control it. Until you do, you're a liability. To yourself and everyone around you."

She turned toward the door. "Oh. One more thing. Darius is planning something. I don't know what. But he's been talking to his friends. Scheming. Whatever it is, it involves you. Watch your back."

She left before Luna could respond.

Nova closed the door and locked it. "Well. That was terrifying and helpful in equal measure."

"She said Darius is planning something."

"Of course he is. That's what Alphas do. They scheme. They plot. They find ways to eliminate competition before it becomes a real problem."

"I'm not competition. I just got here."

"You're Eclipse. That makes you competition by default." Nova sat back down. "We need to figure out what he's planning. Before he makes his move."

"How?"

"Observation. We pay attention. Watch who he talks to. Where he goes. What he does. Eventually, he'll slip up. And when he does, we'll be ready."

Luna rubbed her temples. "This is exhausting. I've been here one day and I already have enemies."

"Welcome to Silverwood." Nova's smile was sympathetic. "But hey. You've also got friends. Me. Ryder, kind of. He's harsh but he's on your side. And maybe Jade? She seemed like she was trying to help in her own scary way."

"I guess."

They spent the next hour talking. Nova explained more rules. Where to study. Which professors to avoid. How to navigate the library. Which areas of campus were off limits.

By the time curfew bell rang, Luna's head was spinning with information.

"We should sleep," Nova said. "Tomorrow's another full day. More training. Classes start this week. It only gets more intense from here."

Luna changed into sleep clothes and climbed into bed.

The room went dark.

But Luna couldn't sleep.

Her mind raced. Replaying the day. Ryder's harsh training. Darius's threats. The first-years running from her glowing mark. Jade's warning.

She rolled over and stared at the window.

Moonlight filtered through the glass. The forest beyond was dark. Silent.

Except.

Something moved.

Luna sat up. Slowly. Quietly.

A figure stood at the edge of the forest. Too far away to see clearly. But definitely there. Definitely watching their dorm.

Watching her window specifically.

The figure was tall. Human-shaped. But something about the way it stood felt wrong. Too still. Too patient.

Luna's mark pulsed.

The figure tilted its head. Like it sensed her looking back.

Then it stepped backward into the trees.

And disappeared.

Luna stared at the empty space where it had been.

Her heart pounded.

Someone had been watching her.

Someone who didn't want to be seen.

She lay back down but kept her eyes on the window.

Sleep didn't come for a long time.

And when it did, her dreams were full of shadows and glowing eyes.

Luna hadn't been asleep long when the bell rang.

Not the curfew bell. Something different. Deeper. More resonant.

It echoed through the building, pulling her from uneasy dreams.

Nova sat up in bed. "Moon Circle."

"What?"

"The ceremony. It's tonight. I completely forgot." Nova scrambled out of bed and started pulling on clothes. "We have to go. Now. It's mandatory for all students."

Luna's body felt heavy. Exhausted from training and stress. "Can't we skip it?"

"No. Absolutely not. Missing Moon Circle means automatic detention. And detention here is brutal."

Luna groaned but dragged herself out of bed. She dressed quickly, pulling on jeans and a hoodie.

Her mark tingled. Warm beneath her sleeve.

They left the dorm and joined the stream of students heading downstairs. Everyone moved in silence. Some looked excited. Others looked terrified.

"What exactly happens at Moon Circle?" Luna asked.

"Ritual. Transformation practice. The full moon amplifies our wolf side. Makes it easier to shift. But also harder to control. First years usually just do partial shifts. Upperclassmen go full wolf."

"Partial shift?"

"Eyes. Claws. Teeth. Heightened senses. Basically your wolf coming to the surface without fully taking over."

They exited the building and followed the crowd toward the forest. A path of glowing stones led deeper into the trees. The stones pulsed with pale blue light, marking the way.

Luna's mark pulsed in rhythm with the stones.

"You feel that?" Nova whispered.

"Yeah. What is it?"

"Magic. The Moon Circle is ancient. Older than the academy. The stones are enchanted. They respond to marked wolves."

The path opened into a clearing.

Luna stopped walking.

The Moon Circle was massive. Stones formed a perfect ring, each one twice her height. Runes covered every surface, glowing silver in the moonlight. The center of the circle was bare earth, packed hard from centuries of use.

Students filed in and took positions around the perimeter. First years in the outer ring. Upperclassmen closer to the center.

Faculty stood at cardinal points. Headmaster Sterling at the north. Professor Thorne at the east. A woman Luna didn't recognize at the south. And at the west, an elderly figure in flowing robes.

The moon hung directly overhead. Full. Massive. So bright it cast shadows.

"That's Professor Cael," Nova whispered, nodding toward the elderly figure. "She leads the ceremony. She's been here longer than anyone. Some people say she's over a hundred years old."

Professor Cael raised her hands.

The clearing fell silent.

"Welcome to Moon Circle." Her voice carried across the space despite sounding soft. Gentle. "Tonight, the moon is full. Her power flows through these stones. Through this ground. Through each of you. For first years, this will be your first true connection to your wolf. Do not fight it. Do not fear it. Simply allow it to surface."

She lowered her hands.

The stones began to glow brighter.

Luna's mark burned.

Heat raced up her arm. Down her spine. Through her entire body.

She gasped.

"It's okay," Nova whispered. "Just breathe. Let it happen."

Around the circle, students began to change.

Eyes flashed gold. Silver. Green. Every color Luna could imagine.

Claws extended. Teeth sharpened. Some students dropped to all fours, their bodies stretching and reforming.

Luna's vision blurred.

Everything became sharper. Clearer. She could see individual leaves on trees fifty feet away. Could hear heartbeats from every student in the circle. Could smell fear and excitement and power mixing in the air.

Her hands cramped.

She looked down and watched claws push through her fingernails. Black. Sharp. Dangerous.

"Nova." Her voice came out wrong. Deeper. Rougher.

"You're doing great. Just keep breathing."

But Luna couldn't breathe.

Her lungs felt too small. Her skin felt too tight. Something inside her was trying to get out and she couldn't stop it.

Her mark blazed so bright it lit up the circle.

Students near her backed away.

"Professor." Someone's voice. Scared. "Something's wrong with the Eclipse girl."

Luna fell to her knees.

Her body was changing. Bones shifting. Muscles rearranging. She could feel fur trying to push through her skin.

"I can't control it." The words came out as a growl.

"Luna, look at me."

A hand touched her shoulder.

Ryder.

He knelt beside her. His eyes were gold. Fully wolf. But his expression was calm. Focused.

"Look at me. Not the moon. Not the circle. Me."

Luna met his gaze.

"Your wolf is trying to emerge. That's normal. But you're fighting it. Stop fighting."

"If I stop fighting, I'll shift completely."

"No. You'll shift when you're ready. Right now, your wolf just wants to be acknowledged. Let her surface. Just a little. Then pull her back. You're in control. Not her. You."

Luna tried. She focused on Ryder's voice. His steady presence. She let the wolf rise just enough to feel it. To touch it.

Her claws retracted slightly. Her vision cleared. The burning in her mark eased.

"Good. That's good. Now pull back. Slowly."

Luna pulled. The wolf resisted. It wanted out. Wanted freedom. But she was stronger.

Barely.

The wolf retreated.

Luna collapsed forward, catching herself on her hands. Human hands. No claws. No fur.

"You did it." Ryder's hand stayed on her shoulder. "That was close. But you did it."

"I almost shifted completely."

"But you didn't. That's what matters."

Around them, other students were still transforming. Some successfully. Others struggling like Luna had.

Professor Cael appeared beside them. Her eyes were completely silver. Ageless. Ancient.

"Interesting." She stared at Luna's wrist. "Very interesting indeed."

"What is?" Luna asked.

"Your mark. I've seen many in my years here. Thousands. But yours is unique."

"How?"

"The pattern. The way it glows. The power it channels." Cael knelt down. Her hand hovered over Luna's wrist but didn't touch. "This is not a standard marking. This is something older. Rarer."

"What does that mean?"

"It means your wolf is not like others. Your bloodline is tied to something ancient. Something that predates even this academy." Cael's expression was unreadable. "The Eclipse line has always been special. But you, child, you may be the most powerful Eclipse to walk these grounds in generations."

"I don't want to be powerful. I just want to survive."

"Those two things are not mutually exclusive. In fact, at Silverwood, one often requires the other."

Cael stood and returned to her position at the west point.

The ceremony continued for another hour. Students practiced partial shifts. Some attempted full transformations. A few lost control and had to be restrained by faculty.

Luna sat in the outer ring with Nova, watching. Learning. Her mark still pulsed but the intensity had faded.

"That was terrifying," Nova said quietly. "I thought you were going to full shift right there."

"Me too."

"But you didn't. Because of Ryder." Nova glanced at where Ryder stood with other fifth years. "He came all the way across the circle to help you. That's not normal mentor behavior."

"What do you mean?"

"Mentors observe. They don't intervene unless someone's about to die. But Ryder stopped your shift before it became dangerous. That's personal. Not professional."

Luna looked at Ryder. He was talking to another student but his eyes kept drifting toward her.

When he caught her looking, he nodded once. A silent check-in.

She nodded back.

"See?" Nova whispered. "Definitely personal."

The ceremony ended when Professor Cael raised her hands again. The stones' glow faded. Students began shifting back to fully human form.

"First Moon Circle complete," Cael announced. "First years, you survived. That is accomplishment enough. Upperclassmen, continue honing your control. Dismissed. Return to your dorms. Sleep. Tomorrow's lessons will be difficult."

Students filed out of the clearing. Exhausted. Shaken. Changed.

Luna stood on wobbly legs. Nova steadied her.

"You okay to walk?"

"Yeah. I think so."

They started back toward the path.

Professor Cael's voice stopped them. "Miss Eclipse. A word."

Nova shot Luna a worried look. "Want me to wait?"

"No. I'll catch up."

Nova left with the other students.

Luna turned back to Cael. The professor stood in the center of the circle, moonlight making her look ethereal. Otherworldly.

"Your mark is unusual," Cael said without preamble. "But more than that, it's old. The pattern you bear was last seen on your great-great-grandmother. She was marked the same way. Crescent moon consumed by shadow. Eye at the center."

"What happened to her?"

"She died young. Twenty-three. During a battle with rogue wolves. But before she died, she was the most powerful student Silverwood had ever seen. She could shift faster than anyone. Control her wolf with precision. Fight with the strength of ten normal wolves."

Luna's stomach twisted. "You're saying I'll die young too?"

"I'm saying your bloodline carries both gift and curse. Great power. Great danger. The Eclipse mark always demands payment. The question is what price you're willing to pay."

"I don't understand."

"You will. In time." Cael moved closer. "But know this. Your mark is tied to ancient magic. Older than shifter bloodlines. Older than this academy. Older than the goddess herself, some say. It chose you for a reason. Find that reason. Before the darkness finds you first."

"What darkness?"

Cael's silver eyes reflected the moonlight. "The same darkness that took your great-great-grandmother. The same darkness that watches from the forest. The same darkness that marked you during an eclipse moon."

Luna's blood went cold. "How did you know my mark appeared during an eclipse?"

"Because that's the only time an Eclipse wolf can be marked. When the moon is consumed by shadow. When darkness and light meet. When the old magic wakes."

Cael turned and walked toward the forest, her robes trailing behind her.

Luna stood alone in the circle.

The stones had stopped glowing. But her mark still pulsed. Faint. Steady.

Like a heartbeat.

Or a warning.