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.

The night felt unusually restless.

Lira barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, the same uneasy feeling returned - the sense that something had changed in the forest around them. Her wolf had been quiet for most of the night, but that quiet felt more like listening than resting.

As if it was waiting.

By the time the first light of dawn appeared through her window, Lira had already given up on sleep.

She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the soft silver glow of the fading moon.

"You're awake," the voice inside her mind said softly.

Lira blinked.

"You're still there."

Of course I am, her wolf replied.

Lira smiled faintly.

It still felt strange hearing another voice in her mind. For nineteen years there had been nothing. Just silence where every other wolf had a companion.

Now she felt less alone.

"Why couldn't I hear you before?" she asked quietly.

Because something was holding me back.

Lira frowned slightly.

"What kind of something?"

Her wolf was quiet for a moment.

Magic.

Before Lira could ask more questions, a knock sounded at her door.

"Lira?" Mara's voice called gently.

Lira stood quickly and opened the door.

The older omega looked slightly breathless.

"The Alpha wants everyone in the main hall."

Lira's stomach tightened.

"Why?"

Mara lowered her voice.

"Because the Nightfall Alpha is making an announcement."

The main hall was already crowded when Lira arrived.

Pack members filled the room, murmuring quietly among themselves. The tension from the previous night had clearly not faded.

At the front of the room stood Kael.

Beside him stood Silver Crest's Alpha.

The moment Lira entered, Kael's eyes immediately found her.

The bond between them stirred again, warm and steady.

He gestured gently.

"Come here."

Every wolf in the room turned to watch her walk forward.

Lira tried not to notice the stares.

But she could feel them.

Judging.

Questioning.

Whispering.

When she reached Kael's side, he spoke to the room.

"You all know why we are here."

His voice carried easily through the hall.

"Last night the Moon Goddess revealed my mate."

Several wolves shifted uncomfortably.

Clara stood near the back of the room, arms crossed.

Her expression was unreadable.

Kael continued.

"The bond between mates is sacred."

His silver gaze swept across the crowd.

"And no wolf has the authority to challenge the will of the Moon Goddess."

The hall fell silent.

Kael turned toward Lira.

For a moment, his voice softened slightly.

"Lira."

Her heart jumped.

"Yes?"

"Do you accept me as your mate?"

The question made her breath catch.

No one had ever asked her something so important before.

She looked around the room.

Some wolves looked curious.

Some looked disapproving.

But Kael only looked calm.

Patient.

Waiting.

Lira took a breath.

"Yes."

The moment the word left her lips, the bond between them flared brightly.

Several wolves gasped softly.

Kael nodded once.

"Then hear me clearly."

His voice rose again, carrying the unmistakable authority of an Alpha.

"From this moment forward, I Alpha Kael Knight accept you Lira Henderson as my mate and Luna."

The words echoed through the hall.

Some wolves bowed their heads respectfully.

Others remained stiff with disbelief.

But no one dared argue.

Kael took Lira's hand.

"She will return with me to Nightfall Pack."

A ripple of whispers spread again.

Leaving the pack.

That part suddenly felt very real.

Silver Crest's Alpha nodded slowly.

"The bond is undeniable."

His gaze moved toward Lira.

"You are free to choose your future."

Lira swallowed.

Freedom was something she had never truly had before.

But before she could respond-

A sudden crash echoed from outside the packhouse.

Everyone froze.

Another crash followed.

Then a warrior burst through the door.

"Alpha!"

All eyes turned toward him.

"What is it?" Silver Crest's Alpha demanded.

The warrior's face was pale.

"We're under attack."

The room exploded into motion.

Warriors rushed toward the doors.

Kael's wolf surged forward instantly.

"Who?" he asked sharply.

The warrior hesitated.

"Shadow Fang Pack."

Kael's eyes darkened.

Darius.

Lira felt the bond tighten as Kael stepped protectively in front of her.

"I knew it," he muttered.

Outside, the sound of fighting had already begun.

Howls echoed through the forest.

The smell of blood drifted into the packhouse.

Lira's wolf growled softly inside her mind.

They came for you.

Fear tightened in Lira's chest.

"Alpha.....Kael..."

He looked down at her.

"Stay behind me."

But before he could move-

A massive wolf burst through the main doors.

Black fur.

Glowing red eyes.

Darius.

His wolf form towered over most wolves in the room.

His voice echoed through the mind link of every wolf present.

Where is she?

The hall filled with snarls as Silver Crest warriors shifted.

Kael stepped forward.

"You're trespassing."

Darius laughed darkly.

I came for Her.

The words sent shock through the room.

Several wolves turned toward Lira.

Kael's aura exploded with power.

"You'll leave with nothing."

Darius's red eyes locked onto Lira.

We'll see.

The room erupted into chaos as wolves lunged at each other.

Lira's heart raced.

She had never been in a real battle before.

But suddenly-

That strange warmth surged through her again.

Stronger than ever.

Her wolf whispered urgently.

The moon is with you.

Lira didn't understand what that meant.

But when she stepped forward-

Silver light burst across the hall.

Every wolf froze.

Because the power radiating from Lira...

Was not the power of an ordinary Luna.

Even Darius stared.

For the first time...

With fear.