Moonbound: The Outcast’s Awakening

The forest shifted as the moon rose higher in the sky, casting its cold light across the clearing. Aria sat cross-legged by the dying embers of their fire, her breathing steady as she focused on the exercises Kael had taught her. The heat in her chest pulsed faintly, like a restless heartbeat, but she resisted the urge to summon the light.

Control, Kael had said. Power is meaningless without control.

Nearby, Kael leaned against a tree, his dagger resting on his lap. His green eyes scanned the surrounding darkness, sharp and watchful. He hadn't spoken much since their encounter with the shadowbeasts, and Aria couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind.

Finally, she broke the silence. "Kael?"

He looked at her, one eyebrow raised.

"Why do you care what happens to me?" she asked. "You barely know me, and yet you've risked your life for me twice now."

Kael sighed, leaning his head back against the tree. For a moment, he didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the stars.

"Because I've seen what happens to people like you," he said quietly. "Moonbound who don't understand their power, who don't have anyone to guide them… They either destroy themselves or are hunted down before they can become a threat."

Aria frowned. "So you think I'm a threat?"

"Not yet," Kael said, meeting her gaze. "But you will be. To the packs, to the rogues, to anyone who fears what they can't control."

His words sent a chill down her spine. She wanted to argue, to insist that she wasn't dangerous, but the memory of the light bursting from her hands and the fear in Lucas's eyes stopped her.

"So what do I do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You learn," Kael said simply. "You train. And you don't let anyone decide your fate for you."

---

They broke camp at first light, moving quickly and quietly through the forest. Kael's pace was relentless, and Aria struggled to keep up, her legs aching with every step.

"Where are we going?" she asked, panting.

"There's a safehouse in the borderlands," Kael said over his shoulder. "We'll rest there and figure out our next move."

Aria opened her mouth to reply, but the sound of a distant howl cut her off.

Kael froze, his body going rigid.

"What is it?" she asked, her pulse quickening.

"Wolves," Kael said, his voice low. "And not just any wolves. They're hunting us."

Aria's stomach churned. "The pack?"

"No," Kael said grimly. "This is someone else."

He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the shadows of the trees. "Stay close and stay quiet."

They moved swiftly through the forest, the howls growing louder with each passing minute. Aria's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing. Who could be hunting them, and why?

Kael led her to a rocky outcropping and gestured for her to crouch behind it. He unsheathed his dagger, his eyes scanning the forest with a predator's intensity.

"Stay here," he ordered.

"What? No!" she hissed. "You can't fight them alone."

Kael shot her a sharp look. "You're not ready for this. Let me handle it."

Before she could argue, he disappeared into the trees, his movements as silent as a shadow.

Aria clenched her fists, her chest tightening with frustration. She hated feeling helpless, but Kael was right—she didn't know how to fight, not yet. All she could do was wait and hope he came back.

Minutes passed, each one stretching into an eternity. The howls grew louder, closer, until they seemed to echo all around her. Aria pressed herself against the rock, her breath shallow as fear coiled in her stomach.

Then she heard it—a low, guttural growl.

She turned, her blood running cold as a massive wolf stepped into the clearing. Its fur was jet black, its eyes a piercing gold. It wasn't like the shadowbeasts from before—this wolf was alive, powerful, and unmistakably intelligent.

It bared its teeth, a low rumble vibrating in its chest.

Aria's heart pounded as she scrambled to her feet, her back pressing against the rock. She had no weapon, no plan, and no idea what to do.

The wolf lunged

---

Before the wolf could reach her, a blur of motion intercepted it. Kael slammed into the creature, his dagger flashing as he drove it toward the wolf's neck. The wolf snarled, twisting out of the way and snapping at Kael's arm.

"Run, Aria!" Kael shouted, his voice strained as he struggled against the wolf's strength.

But Aria couldn't move. The heat in her chest flared, and she felt the familiar pull of the light. She raised her hands, the silver glow flickering to life.

The wolf noticed, its golden eyes narrowing. It snarled and swiped at Kael, sending him crashing into a tree. Kael groaned, his dagger falling from his hand as he slumped to the ground.

The wolf turned its full attention to Aria.

The light in her hands faltered as fear took hold. She backed away, her legs trembling.

"Aria, don't!" Kael rasped, struggling to rise. "It's an Alpha—your power won't work on it!"

An Alpha. The realization hit her like a thunderclap. This wasn't just any wolf—it was a leader, a creature born and bred for dominance.

The wolf lunged again, and this time, Aria didn't hesitate. She unleashed the light, a blinding arc that struck the wolf square in the chest.

The wolf staggered but didn't fall. Its golden eyes blazed with fury as it shook off the attack and charged her again.

Kael threw himself between them, tackling the wolf to the ground. He grabbed his dagger and drove it into the creature's side, earning a pained yelp.

The wolf snarled and lashed out, knocking Kael aside once more.

"Aria," Kael gasped, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead. "Run. Now."

But Aria couldn't leave him. The heat in her chest surged again, stronger this time, and she felt the moon's pull as if it were guiding her.

She raised her hands, the light building until it was almost blinding. The wolf hesitated, its golden eyes narrowing as if recognizing the power in front of it.

"Leave," Aria commanded, her voice steady and filled with authority she didn't know she possessed.

The wolf growled low in its throat, its muscles tensing.

"Leave!" she shouted, the light flaring brighter.

For a moment, the wolf held her gaze, its golden eyes filled with something she couldn't quite name—respect, or perhaps fear. Then it turned and disappeared into the trees, its movements swift and silent.

The clearing fell quiet.

---

Kael staggered to his feet, his breathing labored. "You shouldn't have done that," he said, his voice rough.

"You're welcome," Aria shot back, her hands still trembling from the power she had unleashed.

Kael shook his head. "That was an Alpha. You just made an enemy of someone far more dangerous than those shadowbeasts."

Aria frowned. "It was going to kill us. What was I supposed to do?"

Kael didn't answer. He wiped the blood from his face and retrieved his dagger, his expression grim.

"Come on," he said. "We need to keep moving. If that Alpha comes back with reinforcements, we're as good as dead."

Aria followed him, her mind racing. She had survived, but Kael was right—this was far from over.

Whatever she was becoming, it was only the beginning.