The voice inside Lira's mind faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her standing in the middle of the kitchen in stunned silence.

Her heart raced.

Her wolf.

After all these years of nothing...

She had finally heard her.

"Lira," Kael said carefully.

She blinked and looked up at him.

"Yes?"

His eyes searched her face.

"What did you hear?"

Lira hesitated.

The truth felt strange even to her.

"My wolf."

Kael's eyebrows rose slightly.

Clara scoffed loudly from the doorway.

"Oh, that's convenient."

Lira's shoulders tightened.

Clara crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the moment.

"The omega who couldn't shift for nineteen years suddenly has a wolf?"

She laughed coldly.

"Next you'll tell us you're some kind of special Luna."

The words stung more than Lira expected.

But Kael didn't laugh.

In fact, his expression had grown more serious.

"You said your wolf spoke to you?" he asked quietly.

Lira nodded.

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"She just... greeted me."

The warmth inside her chest pulsed again.

As if the voice was still there.

Listening.

Clara shook her head impatiently.

"This is ridiculous."

Her gaze turned sharp.

"Father needs to hear about this nonsense."

She turned toward the door.

But Kael's voice stopped her.

"You will do no such thing. You won't breathe a word"

Clara spun back around.

"And why not?"

Kael stepped forward.

The shift in his aura filled the kitchen like thunder rolling through the mountains.

"Because my mate does not answer to you."

Clara's lips pressed into a thin line.

"You're making a mistake."

"Perhaps," Kael replied calmly.

"But it is mine to make."

For a moment, Clara looked ready to argue again.

But something in Kael's eyes made her pause.

Finally, she let out an irritated sigh and turned away.

"This isn't over."

The door slammed behind her as she left.

The room fell quiet again.

Lira exhaled slowly.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

Kael frowned slightly.

"For what?"

"For causing trouble."

He stared at her for a moment.

Then he said something unexpected.

"You didn't cause anything."

Lira blinked.

"You're my mate," he continued.

"That alone will cause trouble wherever we go."

Despite the situation, Lira almost smiled.

Later that afternoon, Kael convinced Silver Crest's Alpha to allow Lira to walk with him through the forest.

The older Alpha had agreed reluctantly.

"The bond is clear," he admitted.

"But she remains part of this pack until she chooses otherwise."

Kael nodded.

"That choice will come soon."

Now they walked side by side beneath the tall trees surrounding the territory.

The forest air felt cooler than the packhouse.

More peaceful.

Lira inhaled deeply.

"I like it here," she said quietly.

Kael glanced at her.

"You come here often."

She looked surprised.

"How did you know?"

"You smell like the forest."

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

"I come here when the packhouse gets too loud."

Kael nodded.

"I understand that feeling."

For a while they walked in silence.

But the warmth inside Lira's chest continued growing.

Stronger.

Almost like something pushing against a door inside her.

Finally she spoke again.

"Alpha Kael."

"Yes?"

"What if they're right?"

He looked at her.

"About what?"

"What if I'm not meant to be your Luna?"

Kael stopped walking.

Lira took another step before realizing he had paused.

She turned back toward him.

His silver eyes studied her carefully.

"Do you believe the Moon Goddess makes mistakes?"

"No."

"Neither do I."

His voice carried quiet certainty.

"You are my mate."

"But I'm weak," she said softly.

Kael stepped closer.

"Then why did I feel power explode from you last night?"

Lira didn't have an answer.

Kael lifted his head slightly.

"Shift."

Her eyes widened.

"I can't."

"You can."

She shook her head.

"I've tried for years."

Kael's gaze softened.

"But now your wolf is awake."

The voice inside her mind spoke again.

He's right.

Lira froze.

Her wolf sounded stronger now.

More confident.

"What if I fail?" she whispered.

Kael stepped closer.

"Then we try again."

Something about his calm confidence steadied her nerves.

Lira closed her eyes.

She had seen wolves shift countless times.

But she had never done it herself.

She focused on the warmth inside her chest.

The strange power pulsing through her veins.

Come to me, she thought.

The warmth grew suddenly brighter.

Her wolf's voice whispered again.

Let me out...

Pain exploded through Lira's body.

She gasped.

Kael stepped forward instantly.

"Easy."

Her bones shifted.

Her muscles stretched.

Light erupted across her skin like liquid silver.

Then-

Silence.

Kael stared.

Because standing where Lira had been moments before...

Was not the small brown wolf most omegas possessed.

It was enormous.

Her fur shimmered silver beneath the sunlight.

Her eyes glowed bright green.

And faint patterns of moonlight seemed to ripple across her coat like living light.

Kael's breath caught in his throat.

His wolf surged forward instantly.

Not with aggression.

With awe.

She is...

Kael finished the thought quietly.

"Yes. Beautiful"

She was something rare.

Something ancient.

Something blessed.

Lira looked down at her paws in shock.

Is this... me?

Her voice echoed through the mind link.

Kael smiled faintly.

"Yes."

Lira lifted her head toward the sky.

The moonlight patterns across her fur shimmered again.

Deep within the forest...

The rival Alpha who had sensed her awakening watched from the shadows.

His dark eyes gleamed with hunger.

"So the prophecy is true," he murmured.

Because the wolf standing in that clearing...

Was not just a Luna.

She was the One.

And powerful wolves would soon begin hunting her.

For several seconds after Lira shifted, the forest remained completely still.

Even the wind seemed to pause.

Kael stood a few steps away from her, unable to look away.

His wolf had grown unusually quiet inside him, which almost never happened. Normally his wolf was restless, always pushing forward, always demanding control.

But now...

His wolf was simply watching.

Watching the silver wolf standing before them.

She's beautiful, his wolf murmured.

Kael didn't disagree.

Moonlight patterns rippled across Lira's fur like living light, glowing softly even though the sun still hung in the sky. Her bright green eyes shimmered with wonder as she looked down at her paws.

I... did it, she said through the mind link.

Her voice sounded amazed.

Kael felt the bond between them hum warmly.

"Yes," he said gently.

"You did."

Lira lifted her head slowly, looking around the clearing as if she were seeing the world for the first time.

Every sound seemed sharper.

Every scent stronger.

She could smell the pine trees, the earth beneath her paws, and Kael's scent beside her-strong, steady, comforting.

Then something else caught her attention.

A strange scent carried on the wind.

Her ears twitched.

Kael noticed instantly.

"What is it?"

Lira turned toward the deeper part of the forest.

Someone is watching us.

Kael's entire body went still.

His wolf surged forward immediately.

Where?

Lira focused on the scent again.

It was faint.

But definitely there.

Over there, she said.

She nodded toward the darker part of the forest.

Kael's gaze sharpened.

"Stay behind me."

Lira instinctively stepped closer to him.

The bond between them pulsed again, stronger than before.

Kael took a slow step forward.

"Come out."

His voice carried the unmistakable command of an Alpha.

The forest remained silent.

But Kael knew better.

Someone was there.

Watching.

Waiting.

After a few tense seconds, a low chuckle drifted through the trees.

"Well," a voice said.

"This is more interesting than I expected."

A tall man stepped out from the shadows.

He moved with calm confidence, his dark hair falling loosely across his forehead. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they landed on Lira.

Kael's wolf growled instantly.

Enemy.

Kael stepped forward protectively.

"You're far from your territory, Alpha."

The stranger smiled.

"Not that far."

Lira felt a cold shiver run through her fur.

Something about him felt dangerous.

Predatory.

The stranger tilted his head slightly, studying her.

"So it's true," he murmured.

Kael's voice hardened.

"What are you doing here, Alpha Darius?"

The man grinned.

"Just passing through."

But his eyes never left Lira.

"Though I must admit... I wasn't expecting to find something quite so ..... rare."

Kael's aura darkened.

"She is not yours to observe."

Darius raised his hands lightly.

"Relax, Kael."

He stepped a little closer.

"I'm simply curious."

His gaze swept over Lira again.

"Silver fur."

"Moonlight markings."

"Green eyes."

He chuckled quietly.

"The rumors didn't exaggerate."

Lira frowned slightly.

What rumors?

Kael's jaw tightened.

"You should leave."

Darius smirked.

"Oh, I will."

His eyes flicked toward Lira again.

"But first I want to congratulate you."

Kael didn't respond.

Darius smiled wider.

"You've found something very valuable."

The words made Lira uneasy.

Valuable?

She wasn't a treasure.

Darius turned toward the forest again.

"Enjoy your new pet, Kael."

Then he paused.

"One piece of advice."

He looked over his shoulder.

"Keep her hidden."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

Darius's smile sharpened.

"Because once the other packs realize what she is..."

His gaze returned to Lira.

"...they'll come for her."

Then he disappeared back into the trees.

The forest fell silent again.

Lira slowly shifted back into human form.

Her legs wobbled slightly as the transformation finished.

Kael caught her arm instantly.

"Careful."

She steadied herself.

"Who was that?"

"Alpha Darius."

Lira frowned.

"He didn't seem friendly."

"He isn't."

Kael looked toward the forest where Darius had vanished.

"He's dangerous."

Lira wrapped her arms around herself.

"He said other packs would come for me."

Kael turned toward her.

"They won't touch you."

His voice was firm.

Certain.

Lira wanted to believe him.

But something deep inside her chest stirred again.

The warmth.

The power.

And a faint whisper from her wolf.

They're afraid of you.

Lira blinked.

Why?

Her wolf answered softly.

Because they know what you are.

Lira looked at Kael.

"What am I?"

Kael hesitated for the first time.

Then he said quietly,

"Something the world hasn't seen in centuries."

Lira's heart pounded again.

"Which is?"

Kael met her eyes.

"The Luna chosen directly by the moon."

Far above them, the moon appeared faintly in the pale blue sky.

And somewhere deep within Lira's soul...

The sleeping power of the Goddess stirred again.

The walk back to the Silver Crest packhouse felt very different from the one earlier that day.

Lira stayed close beside Kael as they moved through the forest path. Her mind was still spinning from everything that had happened.

Her wolf.

The shift.

Alpha Darius.

And the strange way he had looked at her.

Like she was something valuable.

Or dangerous.

Neither thought made her comfortable.

"You're quiet," Kael said as they walked.

Lira glanced up at him.

"I'm thinking."

"That can be dangerous."

Despite everything, she gave a small smile.

"I'm serious."

"So am I," he replied calmly.

She sighed.

"That man... Alpha Darius."

"Yes."

"He said the other packs would come for me."

Kael didn't answer immediately.

That silence made her nervous.

"You think he's right, don't you?" she asked.

Kael finally looked at her.

"Yes."

The honesty surprised her.

"But they won't succeed," he added quickly.

"You're very confident."

"I'm an Alpha," he said simply.

"Confidence is part of the job."

Lira tried to laugh, but the uneasy feeling inside her chest remained.

Because deep down...

Her wolf was still restless.

Back at the packhouse, the atmosphere had shifted again.

Word had already spread about Lira's shift.

And not just any shift.

A silver wolf.

Several wolves whispered when they saw her walking beside Kael.

"Did you see her earlier?"

"They said her fur glowed."

"That's impossible."

Lira lowered her head slightly.

She hated being the center of attention.

Kael noticed.

"Ignore them."

"I'm trying."

They stepped into the main hall where several pack members had gathered.

Silver Crest's Alpha stood near the center of the room.

His sharp eyes immediately landed on Lira.

"I heard something interesting happened in the forest."

Kael nodded.

"She shifted."

The room fell silent again.

The Alpha looked at Lira.

"Is that true?"

Lira nodded slowly.

"Yes Alpha"

His gaze studied her carefully.

"And?"

Lira hesitated.

Then she said quietly,

"My wolf is... different."

Murmurs spread across the room.

Clara stood near the back wall, watching everything with burning eyes.

Different.

Of course she was different.

Everything about this situation was wrong.

An omega Luna.

A glowing wolf.

Now whispers of prophecy were starting to spread among the warriors.

Clara's fists clenched.

She refused to let that girl take everything.

Later that night, when the packhouse finally quieted again, Clara slipped out through the back entrance.

The moon hung high in the sky.

The forest was dark.

But she walked confidently through the trees as if she knew exactly where she was going.

And she did.

A shadow moved ahead.

Alpha Darius stepped out from behind a tree.

"Right on time," he said with a grin.

Clara folded her arms.

"I shouldn't even be here."

"Yet you came."

She glared at him.

"I want her gone."

Darius chuckled.

"That was obvious."

Clara stepped closer.

"You said other packs would come for her."

"They will."

"But I want her gone before that happens."

Darius studied her carefully.

"And what exactly are you offering me in return?"

Clara's voice dropped.

"Information."

Darius raised an eyebrow.

"Go on."

"She's leaving soon."

"With Kael."

"Yes."

Darius smiled slowly.

"That's very helpful."

Clara leaned closer.

"Nightfall territory is large. Dangerous."

Her voice lowered to a whisper.

"Accidents happen in the forest."

Darius's smile widened.

"Oh, Clara..."

"You're far more interesting than I thought."

She stepped back.

"Just make sure she never becomes Luna."

Darius nodded once.

"I'll take care of it."

Clara turned and disappeared back into the forest.

Darius watched her go, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Humans," he muttered.

Then he looked toward the distant packhouse.

His gaze darkened.

"The Omega Luna."

He had been searching for power like hers for years.

And now fate had practically delivered it to him.

He smiled.

Kael thought he had won.

But the real game had only just begun.

Back inside the packhouse, Lira sat near the window of her small room.

The moonlight spilled across the floor.

Her wolf stirred inside her again.

Something feels wrong.

Lira frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Danger is coming.

Lira stood slowly.

A strange unease filled her chest.

As if something important had just shifted in the world around her.

And somewhere deep in the forest...

Two red eyes opened in the darkness.

Watching.

Waiting.

Because the hunt for the Hidden Luna...

Had officially begun.