Aurora's POV
The forest erupted.
It didn't happen all at once. It started with movement - shadows breaking free from the trees, branches snapping, leaves scattering as figures came forward from every direction. The air was filled with the sound of boots pounding on the earth, weapons sliding free from where they were kept, the sharp intake of breath before violence.
Stefano reacted immediately.
He shifted in front of me, his blade already raised, his body a living shield. "Protect the Luna!" he roared.
The pack moved as a team instantly.
Wolves shifted while running, bones cracking, fur tearing through skin as they leapt forward. Others stayed human, steel flashing as they formed a defensive line. The clearing became chaotic in seconds - howls sounding through the air, the metallic sound of blades striking, magic crackling where Celeste stood unmoving at the edge of the storm.
But I couldn't look away from the girl.
The Third Crescent.
She hadn't moved.
