Hailey woke slowly, the morning light filtering through her bedroom curtains. The last thing she remembered was pain—raw, tearing pain—and then the world had gone white with her first shift.
Now she lay in her bed, wrapped in soft blankets. Her body felt different… sharper. Stronger.
Her mother Della was at her side instantly.
"Hailey, sweetheart—how do you feel?"
Hailey blinked. "Strange. But… strong."
Claire burst in, nearly tripping over her own feet.
"You shifted into the most beautiful wolf ever!"
Jason followed, arms crossed but eyes soft with pride.
"You scared the life out of us. But damn, Hailey… you're powerful."
Her father Liam entered last. His presence filled the room with warmth and authority. He sat on the edge of her bed.
"You didn't shift because you were weak," he said. "You shifted because your wolf was ready to protect you."
Hailey swallowed. "I felt her. She was angry. Hurt."
"Your wolf knows your worth even when others don't," Liam said gently.
Della stroked her hair. "And we will help you understand her—every gift, every strength."
Hailey nodded slowly.
Then something tugged inside her—an energy, fierce and wild.
She sat up straighter, eyes glowing faintly silver.
Jason stepped back. "Uh… your eyes are doing the glowy thing again."
Hailey exhaled, and the air shimmered around her.
Her father's eyes narrowed—not with fear, but awe.
"It's starting," he murmured.
"What is?" Hailey asked.
Liam smiled at her—proud, excited, knowing.
"The power in your bloodline. The power you inherited from me… and perhaps more."
He touched her hand.
"Your wolf isn't ordinary. Her strength is rare, ancient."
Hailey's pulse quickened.
"What does that mean?"
Della answered softly, "It means you were never meant to be just a Luna."
Claire grinned. "More like a Luna who can kick an Alpha's ass."
Hailey laughed weakly… but inside, something awakened.
A flame.
A force.
A promise.
She wasn't weak.
She wasn't ordinary.
She wasn't rejected because she lacked worth—
Ricky rejected her because he lacked vision.
And she would rise far beyond anything he ever imagined.
As she closed her eyes, her wolf whispered:
We are not done. We are just beginning.