The moment they stepped through the parted forest, Amaris felt like she'd crossed into another world.
The gloomy pressure in her chest only grew heavier.
They followed a narrow path downhill. Soon she saw people gathered around a massive bonfire—men, women, even children—laughing, dancing, moving like the night itself belonged to them. Houses lined the clearing in neat rows. Yet strangely… no one was in lycan form.
They drove until they reached a house set apart in a quiet corner. Someone led them inside.
A woman stepped out from one of the rooms, her presence strong and graceful. She stopped before Amaris's father and offered her hands.
"Welcome, Beta. I am Miandra, Beta of the Zypher Moon Pack."
Her father looked unsure—he had never seen a female beta before—but he took her hands anyway.
"It's good to meet you, Beta Miandra. You can call me George."
"Oh please," she chuckled, "I wouldn't dare."
She turned to Amaris's mother. "It's nice to meet you—"
"Amelia," her mum supplied.
"The wife. Of course." Miandra smiled. "You have his scent all over you."
Then her gaze snapped to Evan.
"Oh… I can feel your wolf trying to claw his way out."
She laughed lightly. "Control your anger, boy. It'll only get you killed."
The air shifted—her aura sharpened—but her smile never moved.
"I do not appreciate you threatening my son, Beta Miandra," her father said sharply.
Instantly, the room thickened. The pressure felt like invisible hands squeezing Amaris's throat.
Three auras—Miandra's, her father's, and Evan's wolf—crashed into each other, and as a human, she felt it ten times more.
"Your son challenged me first, George," Miandra said calmly. "I merely returned the courtesy."
"He's a boy. He doesn't understand control yet," her father defended.
"Well, pups should learn to show respect to their elders."
Her father sighed then said
"You're right. I apologize. I'll talk to him."
Her mother stayed silent the whole time. Wise decision. After all, they were in lycan territory. One wrong move and they'd be starting a fight they'd all end up dead in but even the lycans knew they wouldn't want to harm someone of her dad's rank since it could spark war—and both sides knew it.
Evan stepped forward and extended his hand. "Evan," he said tight-lipped.
"Likewise," Miandra replied.
Then her eyes shifted to Amaris.
"…A human?" She sounded genuinely confused.
Heat burned Amaris's cheeks.
"Our daughter," her father said quietly, "doesn't have a wolf. Yet."
"Yet?" Miandra repeated, stunned. "She's what—past twenty? The latest wolf shifts is seventeen."
"Well, as he said," Amaris snapped, "I can't shift."
Miandra blinked at her like she was an unsolvable puzzle.
"This is the first I've heard of something so strange… a child of two werewolves unable to shift."
Annoyance simmered under Amaris's skin. Was she really the first freak of nature they'd ever met?
"Well," Miandra continued, "nice to meet you."
She reached out to take Amaris's hand—
And the moment their skin touched, everything shattered.
Miandra's smile vanished.
The air seized.
A violent pressure slammed into Amaris like a tidal wave.
Her knees buckled. The world spun. Only Miandra's grip kept her upright—until it didn't. Miandra yanked her hand back in shock.
Amaris collapsed.
Evan caught her as nerve-racking tremors ripped through her body. Her vision blurred. She barely heard the guttural growl that shook the room.
Her father stood in front of Miandra now, fury radiating like fire.
"What did you do to my daughter?"
Miandra looked just as shaken. "That wasn't me. That was my alpha."
She immediately called the guard—the same woman from the forest path.
"Get the mage. Tell him to go to the alpha's house. And send for Ariel. Tell her to summon him. There's been a slight change of plans."
"What do I tell him?" the guard asked. "He didn't want to bother himself with this meeting. That's why he sent you."
Miandra inhaled sharply.
"Tell him, Ek hefi fundit hana."
(I have found her.)
The guard's eyes widened. She looked at Amaris like she wanted to say something, but instead gave a quick nod and ran out.
Amaris's entire family stared, stunned. Even Evan looked pale.
"What is going on here?" her father demanded.
Miandra straightened. "I need you and your wife to come with me. Something important has occurred. I'll explain everything. Your children will be taken somewhere safe—"
"You attacked my daughter and now you want to separate us?" Amelia snapped. "Absolutely not. I'm not leaving my children with monsters like you!"
It was the first time Amaris had ever seen her mother's eyes filled with pure hate.
Miandra held up her hands. "Amelia, I swear to you—I would never harm your children. That collapse was caused by my alpha's presence. Humans are too fragile to withstand it. I will explain everything, but I need you both. Please."
Her mum hesitated, trembling with anger, but her dad placed a calming hand on her arm.
"It's fine, Amy. They won't hurt them. Let's listen to what she has to say."
After checking Amaris over and whispering soft reassurances, her parents finally let her go and followed Miandra deeper into the house.
Amaris and Evan were led outside by another escort and placed into another car.
As the vehicle pulled away, Amaris stared out the window, heart pounding.
She really wanted to know what was going on, what Miandra said to that girl.
All were a mystery to her, and she could only wonder quietly while the car drove them farther away from her parents.