The forest was quiet now, the echoes of the night's chaos fading into the distance. Tevlon and Kane had found a small clearing beside a shimmering stream, the water reflecting the moonlight like liquid silver. Tevlon sank to the ground, exhausted, but her mind raced.
"You keep saying Pack 23 is special," she said, staring at him. "What makes you… you? Why were you born like this?"
Kane crouched beside her, his golden eyes distant as if staring through time itself. "Pack 23 is no ordinary wolf family. We've existed for centuries, guarding secrets that humans weren't meant to know. Some of us are born with abilities beyond imagination—shapeshifting, heightened senses, even magic that can bend reality in small ways. I… was one of those born different."
Tevlon frowned, trying to digest it all. "Different how?"
Kane's voice grew quieter, almost a whisper. "I was once human… a child like any other. But Pack 23 has a way of claiming those they deem worthy. They… changed me, gave me wolf form and abilities beyond my control. I was trained, tested, and sometimes punished… until I could walk between both worlds."
Tevlon's heart ached at the story in his eyes. She could see the memories of loss and struggle hidden beneath the wildness, the survival instinct that had made him a creature of both human and wolf.
"Why are you telling me this now?" she asked cautiously.
"Because your life is about to collide with everything Pack 23 has protected. Posidus isn't just a beast… he's after more than your throne. He wants the powers tied to your bloodline, Princess. And if he gets them, he'll become unstoppable."
Tevlon shivered, her fingers tracing invisible patterns in the dirt. "Powers tied to my bloodline?"
Kane nodded. "Yes. You've always had them, but fear and protection have kept them dormant. Only now, under threat, are they waking. And trust me, Posidus can feel even the smallest flicker of magic."
A rustle in the bushes made Tevlon jump. Kane's posture shifted immediately, muscles coiling like a spring. But instead of an enemy, a smaller figure stepped into the clearing—another wolf, sleek and silver, with eyes like ice.
"Riven," Kane muttered, his voice tight. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Riven's gaze swept over Tevlon before settling on Kane. "You shouldn't have brought her here, Kane. Posidus won't hesitate to burn this forest to ashes if it means taking the Princess."
"I know the risks," Kane replied, tone calm but firm. "And she's already caught his attention. If we run, we only delay the inevitable. If we prepare, we stand a chance."
Tevlon's mind spun, but beneath the fear, something ignited—a spark of determination. "Then teach me," she said again, echoing the promise from the night before. "I want to be ready… not just to survive, but to protect my kingdom."
Riven's eyes narrowed. "Be careful, Princess. Pack 23 isn't just about protection. There are rules, ancient and unyielding. Crossing them could cost you more than your life."
Kane's gaze softened, and he touched her shoulder lightly. "I'll guide you, but some things… you'll have to discover on your own."
The moonlight shimmered over the clearing, silver and serene, yet heavy with unspoken danger. Tevlon realized something terrifying—and thrilling: her life had changed forever. Allies, enemies, magic, and ancient packs—everything she had known was gone. And in the shadows, Posidus waited, patient, hungry, unstoppable.
The first lesson of Pack 23 was clear: trust wisely, fight fiercely, and always remember—the line between friend and foe can vanish in the blink of a wolf's eye.