Echoes under the Moonlight

As soon as Lucien spoke, the air turned cold and heavy. Ava's breath hitched. A strange pressure wrapped around her chest, making it hard to breathe. The forest no longer felt like a place of quiet refuge. It was a battlefield waiting for war to begin.

She didn't think things would happen this quickly. She thought she had time to learn, to prepare. But now, standing in the moonlit clearing, she knew time had run out. They were not alone.

Lucien's posture shifted, his muscles tensing. His sharp golden eyes scanned the shadows, his body ready to strike at any moment. "Stay close," he murmured.

Ava swallowed, her hands trembling. "Who are they? What do we do?"

"They're hunters," Lucien said, his voice tight. "They've been tracking you since the mark appeared. They won't stop until they have you."

Ava's stomach twisted. Why me?

Lucien's gaze flickered toward her, as if reading her thoughts. "They want your power," he explained, his voice quieter now. "They believe you're the key to something bigger. But they're wrong. No one can control you."

Ava wished she could believe that. But right now, she felt small, powerless. The energy inside her was still there, buzzing just beneath her skin, but she didn't know how to use it. And if she didn't figure it out soon, it might be too late.

Lucien took a step closer, his eyes locked onto hers. "Stick by me. They won't expect you to fight, but when the time comes, you'll have to defend yourself."

Ava wanted to protest, to tell him she wasn't ready. But before she could speak, a rustling sound cut through the silence. Footsteps followed—too many for just one person.

Lucien stiffened. "They're here."

Ava's pulse pounded. She scanned the darkness, but all she could see were shifting shadows between the trees.

Then, figures emerged. Five of them, all dressed in black. Their movements were smooth, precise—like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey. Ava couldn't see their faces, but she could feel them. Their presence was heavy, suffocating. They weren't just hunting. They were waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Lucien stepped forward, shielding her with his body. "Stay back," he ordered.

Ava barely nodded, her heart hammering.

One of the hunters stepped forward. He was tall, his dark eyes gleaming like polished stone. Something about him sent an unnatural chill through Ava's body.

Lucien didn't look away. "What do you want with her?"

The man smirked. "The girl with the mark." His voice was smooth, confident. "She's the one we've been searching for."

Ava took a step back. Searching for?

Lucien's muscles coiled. "You'll never get her."

The man let out a soft chuckle. "You're brave, wolf, but you're outnumbered." He tilted his head. "Step aside."

Lucien's hand brushed against Ava's arm in a silent promise. "Not a chance."

The hunter sighed. "Then you leave me no choice."

Without warning, the first figure lunged at Lucien. He moved fast, dodging the attack, but the force sent him skidding back.

Ava's body locked up. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but her legs wouldn't move. The hunters closed in.

Lucien snarled, his fangs flashing as he fought back. He dodged one attack, countered another, moving with practiced precision. But there were too many.

Ava's breath came fast and shallow. She had to do something.

Then, it happened.

The mark on her wrist burned.

Ava gasped as a surge of energy rushed through her, hotter than fire, colder than ice. Without thinking, she raised her hand, willing the power inside her to act.

The air crackled. A burst of energy erupted from her, slamming into one of the hunters and throwing him back against a tree.

Everything stopped.

Lucien turned, his golden eyes wide with shock. "Ava—did you—?"

She stared at her hands, her fingers still tingling. What was that?

But the moment didn't last.

The other hunters moved in, unfazed. One of them pulled something from his coat—a silver blade with strange symbols carved into it.

Ava's stomach clenched. Silver. It was deadly to werewolves. But what about her?

Lucien's eyes darkened. "Run," he whispered.

Ava hesitated. "But—"

"Run!"

Before she could react, the man with the knife lunged—not at Lucien, but at her.

Ava barely had time to move. The blade swiped through the air, missing her by inches. She stumbled back, panic gripping her chest.

Lucien moved like a blur, knocking the man away before he could strike again. But as soon as one was down, another took his place.

They were trapped.

Ava clenched her fists. Fear threatened to choke her, but deep inside, something else stirred—something fierce.

She would not be taken.

Closing her eyes, she reached for the energy inside her. It was wild, untamed, but it was hers.

The moment she let go, the world exploded.

Wind roared around her. The trees shook. A blinding light erupted from her body, sending a shockwave rippling through the clearing.

The hunters staggered back, shielding their eyes. Even Lucien flinched.

When the light faded, Ava's knees buckled. Lucien caught her before she hit the ground.

The hunters hesitated. They hadn't expected this.

Then the leader, the one with the cold eyes, smirked. "Now that is interesting."

Lucien bared his teeth. "Leave."

The man chuckled. "We'll be back. And next time, she won't get lucky."

With that, he gave a sharp nod. The hunters melted into the trees, vanishing as quickly as they came.

Silence fell.

Ava clung to Lucien, her whole body shaking. "What… what was that?"

Lucien pulled her close, his arms steady around her. "That was you."

Ava's chest rose and fell in uneven breaths. "I… I didn't know I could do that."

Lucien looked down at her, his expression unreadable. "Neither did they."

Ava swallowed hard.

This wasn't over.

The hunters would come again. And next time, they'd be ready for her.

But something told her she'd be ready for them, too.