The forest had never felt this alive before.
Every leaf that moved.
Every animal that breathed.
Every drop of wind brushing through the trees.
I could feel it.
No… not feel.
I could hear it.
My paws touched the damp ground as I ran through the darkness, faster than anything I had ever known.
The moonlight poured through the trees like silver rain.
And somehow…
It felt like it belonged to me.
I slowed down near a quiet clearing and finally stopped beside a small lake.
The water reflected the full moon above.
Slowly, I lowered my head.
And froze.
The wolf staring back at me from the water was enormous.
Silver fur glowed faintly beneath the moonlight.
My eyes shined like pale blue fire.
My heart pounded.
"That… that's me?"
My wolf's voice answered inside my mind.
Yes.
Her voice was calm.
Powerful.
Not weak like before.
Not frightened.
I stared at my reflection again, disbelief spreading through me.
"I thought my wolf was small."
That was only your sleeping form.
Sleeping form?
"What does that even mean?"
But before she could answer—
A sudden howl echoed through the forest.
My ears snapped up instantly.
Another howl followed.
Then another.
Wolves.
A lot of them.
And they were getting closer.
I inhaled deeply.
Their scents rushed into my nose.
Silver Ridge warriors.
They were searching for me.
For a moment, anger flickered inside my chest.
After everything that happened tonight…
They suddenly cared?
My wolf growled softly.
They are not the ones you should worry about.
"What do you mean?"
But before she could answer—
A deep voice echoed behind me.
"Well… well…"
The voice was unfamiliar.
"And here I thought the legends were only stories."
My body spun instantly.
Standing between the trees was a tall man dressed in black.
His dark hair moved slightly in the wind, and his sharp golden eyes were locked on me.
But what shocked me the most…
Was the aura around him.
Powerful.
Dangerous.
Like a predator watching its prey.
"You're far from home, little wolf," he said slowly.
My wolf snarled.
Instinctively, I stepped back.
Something about him felt wrong.
Very wrong.
"Relax," he said, raising his hands slightly. "If I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it already."
His golden eyes scanned me carefully.
Especially my fur.
Then his lips curved into a slow smile.
"Incredible."
My ears flattened.
"What do you want?"
His smile widened slightly.
"Confirmation."
Before I could react—
He moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Within a second he was standing only a few steps away.
I snarled loudly, baring my teeth.
But he didn't even flinch.
Instead, he crouched slightly to look directly into my glowing eyes.
"I knew it," he whispered.
My wolf stiffened.
Kneel.
The command exploded inside my head.
But it didn't come from him.
It came from my wolf.
"Why?"
Because he is an Alpha.
My heart skipped.
Another Alpha?
Then the man chuckled softly.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'm not here to claim territory."
His gaze remained locked on me.
"I'm here because of you."
My growl deepened.
"I don't know you."
"That's true."
He straightened slowly.
"But I know what you are."
A cold chill ran down my spine.
"And what is that?" I demanded.
The man's eyes darkened slightly.
"A Silver Wolf."
The words hung heavily in the air.
My wolf went silent.
The man crossed his arms.
"You didn't know, did you?"
My mind raced.
Silver Wolf?
That sounded like something from old pack stories.
"Impossible," I whispered.
He shook his head slowly.
"Oh, it's very real."
He took another step closer.
"And you might be the first one in hundreds of years."
Before I could respond—
Another howl echoed through the forest.
Closer this time.
Much closer.
The man sighed quietly.
"Looks like your pack finally caught up."
My ears twitched.
Branches snapped in the distance.
Warriors were approaching.
Fast.
The man looked toward the sound briefly.
Then back at me.
"This reunion is going to be interesting."
His golden eyes glinted faintly.
"Especially when your Alpha realizes what he rejected."
My heart tightened.
Damon.
The man suddenly stepped back into the shadows.
"I'll see you again soon, little silver wolf."
My wolf growled.
"You're leaving?"
"For now."
His smile returned.
"After all…"
He glanced toward the approaching warriors.
"…this story is only beginning."
And then—
He vanished into the darkness.
Moments later, the first warriors burst into the clearing.
"Elena!"
Their shocked voices echoed across the lake.
But they froze the moment they saw me.
Because the wolf standing before them…
Was nothing like the girl they once knew.