Echoes under the Moonlight

Ava had a feeling something big was about to happen. The night was quiet, but it felt heavy, like the air itself was waiting. Lucien walked beside her, his face serious. Her mind was racing. He had told her about hunters, the Alpha, and a power inside her that she never knew existed. It all felt too much—too unreal.

She had lived a normal life. She went to school, had friends, and never worried about anything like this. But now, everything had changed in just one night.

They walked deeper into the woods. The pull of the moon was strong. It wasn't just light in the sky—it felt like it was calling her, pulling her forward like an invisible string.

Lucien broke the silence. "That mark isn't just a symbol, Ava. It connects you to the moon and the power inside you."

Ava looked down at her wrist. The mark glowed softly in the dark. When it first appeared, she thought it was a curse. Now, it felt different. Maybe it was part of her—something she had to understand instead of fear.

She stopped walking and turned to Lucien. "So what now? You say I have this power, but I don't know how to use it. I can't even control it."

Lucien's eyes softened, but his voice stayed firm. "That's why we're here. You need to trust the power inside you. You have to learn to control it before it controls you."

Ava shook her head. "I don't even know where to start. I'm just me. I don't know how to be someone with magic."

Lucien stepped closer. "You already are. You just don't see it yet."

They entered a small clearing. The air felt different here—thicker, charged with something unseen. The trees formed a perfect circle around them, their leaves barely moving despite the wind. The moonlight felt alive.

Lucien stepped forward, stopping at the center of the circle. His golden eyes locked onto hers.

Ava hesitated at the edge. "What is this place?"

"It's a place of power," he said. "Here, the moon's energy is strongest. This is where you'll learn."

Ava looked around, unsure. "You want me to just stand there and… feel it?"

Lucien nodded. "Exactly. But you must trust yourself. Let the power flow through you."

She took a deep breath. She knew she couldn't keep running from this.

The moment her foot touched the center, everything changed.

The air became heavier. A low hum filled her ears, like something deep inside the earth was waking up. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the rush of feelings inside her. Her mark burned on her wrist, a reminder that her life had completely flipped upside down.

Ava gasped, nearly losing her balance, but Lucien caught her arm. "You're okay. Just breathe."

Heat spread through her body—not painful, but strong, like fire moving through her veins. When she opened her eyes, the moon seemed brighter, closer. It pulled at her, connecting her to something bigger.

Then she heard it.

A voice, soft like the wind, whispering all around her. "It's you. You are the one."

The voice faded, but the feeling remained. The wild, burning energy inside her turned into something steady. She felt… whole. Like she was finding a part of herself that had been missing.

She took a shaky step back. "Did I do it? Is this what it feels like?"

Lucien watched her closely, his golden eyes glowing. "Yes. But this is only the beginning. You'll get stronger with practice."

Ava's head spun. "This is only the start?" It was hard to believe. She had felt the power—really felt it—but could it really be hers?

Lucien's face turned serious. "Yes. But we need to be ready. The hunters will come. They can sense your awakening."

Ava froze. Her heart pounded. "The hunters?"

Lucien nodded. "They won't stop until they get what they want."

Fear washed over her. "I don't know how to fight. I can't control this power yet."

Lucien's expression hardened. "You won't be alone. I'll help you. But you need to understand—this isn't something you can walk away from. They will come for you."

Before she could respond, a sound broke the silence.

Footsteps.

Ava's pulse jumped. She spun toward the trees, scanning the darkness. "Who's there?"

Lucien tensed, his whole body alert. He listened carefully, his sharp senses picking up something she couldn't hear.

Then he whispered, "They're close."

Ava's heart raced. "Who?"

Lucien's jaw tightened. "The hunters."

She felt her stomach drop. Her breath came faster. "What do we do?"

Lucien didn't move. His eyes flickered with something dark. "Kael is leading them."

Ava's chest tightened.

Kael.

The Alpha.

The man who had rejected her.

Ava swallowed hard. "Why would he come? He already pushed me away."

Lucien's expression darkened. "That rejection doesn't change what you are. He knows you're awakening. And now, he's coming for you."

Ava's blood ran cold. She had spent so much time wondering about Kael—why he had marked her only to reject her. Now, none of that mattered. He was here.

Lucien grabbed her hand. "We don't have much time."

The sound of footsteps grew louder. More than one. They were getting closer.

Ava's breathing became uneven. Her mind screamed at her to run, but her legs wouldn't move.

"They'll come for you," Lucien warned. "You need to be ready."

Ava turned to him, panic rising. "How do I get ready? I don't even know what to do!"

Lucien's grip tightened on her shoulder. His golden eyes burned with determination. "You'll learn. You'll be ready because you have to be."

The sound of breaking branches echoed through the trees.

Ava's breath caught. They were here.

Lucien pulled her behind him, his stance shifting into one of defense. The moonlight caught on something silver in his hand. A blade.

"Stay behind me," he ordered.

Then, from the darkness, glowing red eyes appeared. One. Two. Then more.

Ava's heart pounded in her ears.

The hunters had found her.

And there was nowhere to run.