The moon hung low over the summit camp as Jace sat alone beside a flickering fire, its warm glow casting long shadows across his weathered face.
His hands absently traced the worn leather of a pendant—a simple silver wolf etched into the metal.
Memories flooded him, sharp as the blade he wielded.
Years ago, before the rise of Selene and the turmoil that gripped the packs, Jace had been just another soldier—loyal, skilled, but uncertain of his path.
Born in the Ironclaw territory, he was raised amidst harsh winters and harsher leaders.
His father, a respected warrior, had fallen in battle during a skirmish with the Shadow Fang when Jace was only sixteen.
The loss had hollowed him, fueling a burning desire to protect those he cared for.
But it also left a wound—a lingering bitterness towards the council that had sent his father to a needless death.
One night, after a failed mission, Jace found himself on the outskirts of a village.
There, under the stars, he met a young woman named Lyria.
She was fierce and kind, a healer who believed in peace and unity among the packs.
Her eyes held hope—something Jace had long thought lost.
Over time, their bond grew.
Lyria helped Jace see beyond the endless cycle of violence and revenge.
She introduced him to the ways of the Moon Priestesses—their rituals, their magic, and their ancient wisdom.
Jace learned to trust again.
But peace was fragile.
When the Shadow Fang began their insidious rise, Lyria was targeted.
Captured and accused of treason, she was imprisoned in the very fortress where Selene now convened her council.
Jace had led a desperate raid to free her.
Though the mission succeeded, Lyria was forever changed—her spirit fractured by betrayal and loss.
Now, sitting by the fire, Jace whispered her name.
"She believed in the light," he murmured.
"And I will fight to keep it alive."
The fire crackled, and the camp around him was stirring.
Jace stood, slipping the pendant beneath his tunic.
His loyalty was clear.
To Selene, to the packs, and to the hope that still burned in the darkest nights.
The next morning, as training resumed and plans were made, Jace carried the weight of his past silently but fiercely.
He was no longer just a soldier.
He was a protector of a new era.