The forest held its breath.
Raven felt it the moment she stepped outside the Silverfang lodge.
The air was colder than usual, biting against her skin as she stepped into the clearing. Frost clung to the grass beneath her boots, crunching softly as she moved forward. The scent of pine drifted through the mountain air, mixed with the faint smell of smoke from the ceremonial fires inside the lodge.
Above the treeline, the moon had begun its rise.
It was enormous.
And red.
The Blood Moon cast a deep crimson glow over the valley, turning the forest shadows darker and the clearing strangely dim. Raven had seen Blood Moons many times before, but tonight something about it felt heavier.
Wrong.
Her wolf stirred restlessly beneath her skin.
"You're staring at it like it insulted you."
Raven turned.
Her mother stepped out of the lodge behind her.
Alara moved across the clearing with quiet confidence, tying back her dark hair as she approached. Lantern light from the doorway illuminated her strong features before fading as the door closed behind her.
Raven had always thought her mother looked younger than most wolves her age. But there was something else about her presence that had always been difficult to explain.
Strength.
Not the loud, aggressive strength of warriors like Jarek.
But something older.
Calmer.
More dangerous.
"You don't think tonight feels strange?" Raven asked.
Alara followed her gaze toward the moon.
For several seconds she said nothing.
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then Alara exhaled slowly.
"Blood Moon nights always make wolves uneasy."
"That's not what I mean."
Raven rubbed her arms.
"The forest feels wrong."
Alara studied the trees carefully.
For a moment Raven thought she saw concern flicker across her mother's face.
But it vanished quickly.
"Instincts are important," Alara said softly. "But sometimes they mistake nerves for danger."
Raven wasn't convinced.
Behind them, laughter erupted across the clearing.
Jarek stood near the weapons rack, flipping a hunting knife through the air while Elias argued beside him.
"You're telling me you've never hunted during a Blood Moon?" Jarek said.
"I didn't say that," Elias muttered. "I said it's stupid."
"Everything's stupid to you."
"You once tried to fight a bear."
"I almost won."
"You lost."
Jarek opened his mouth to respond when a deep voice cut through the clearing.
"Enough."
Tomas stepped forward from the patrol group.
The older warrior was enormous even in human form. Scars crossed his arms and neck, reminders of decades spent protecting Silverfang territory.
"Patrol routes are shorter tonight," Tomas said. "No unnecessary risks."
Jarek rolled his eyes but nodded.
Nearby, Mira knelt beside a supply crate, organizing bandages and herbs.
"You're not helping," she told Raven.
"You look like you've got it handled."
"I do."
Mira gave her a brief smile.
They had grown up together, but Mira had always been the calmer of the two.
Tonight even she seemed tense.
"Everyone's jumpy," Raven said.
"Blood Moon," Mira replied simply.
Across the clearing, Alara spoke quietly with Tomas near the edge of the trees.
Raven watched them.
Something about the way they stood felt… serious.
Like they were discussing something important.
Then the wind shifted.
The scent hit Raven first.
Wolf.
Not Silverfang.
Her wolf bristled.
Then the howl came.
Deep.
Violent.
And unfamiliar.
Raven's blood turned cold.
Another howl answered.
Then another.
"Attack!" Tomas roared.
The forest exploded.
Dozens of wolves burst from the trees.
Ironclaw.
Panic erupted across the clearing as Silverfang wolves shifted instantly, bones cracking and reshaping beneath the Blood Moon.
Raven barely had time to react before instinct took over.
Her body shifted.
Fur rippled across her skin.
Moments later her paws struck the ground.
The battle descended into chaos.
Teeth clashed.
Claws tore through fur.
Jarek tackled an Ironclaw warrior across the clearing while Tomas barreled through two attackers at once.
Mira dragged Elias toward the lodge.
But more wolves poured from the forest.
Too many.
They had planned this.
A massive gray wolf lunged toward Elias.
Raven reacted instantly.
She slammed into the attacker.
The impact sent the much larger wolf flying across the clearing.
Raven froze.
That shouldn't have been possible.
She wasn't that strong.
Across the battlefield, a towering brown wolf watched her.
Scarred.
Massive.
Varkas.
The Alpha of Ironclaw.
His eyes narrowed.
Then the battle surged again.
"Raven!"
Alara crashed into her side, knocking away another attacker.
Three Ironclaw wolves surrounded them.
Raven lunged—
But another wolf slammed into Alara's shoulder.
Jaws closed.
Blood sprayed across the clearing.
Raven screamed.
"Mom!"
She tore the attacker away but more wolves rushed forward.
Alara staggered.
Their eyes met.
For a moment the battle faded.
"Run, Raven."
"No!"
"The moon will guide you."
Before Raven could protest, Alara shoved her away.
Then she turned and charged straight into the approaching wolves.
Three of them collided with her.
Raven tried to reach her.
But Mira grabbed her.
"Raven! We have to go!"
Tomas was already retreating with the survivors.
The clearing had become a slaughter.
Raven looked back once.
She saw her mother disappear beneath the Ironclaw wolves.
Something inside her shattered.
Then Mira dragged her into the forest.
They ran.
Behind them, Silverfang fell silent.
At the edge of the battlefield, Varkas watched the survivors disappear into the trees.
His warriors waited.
But he did not pursue.
Instead he looked toward the forest.
Toward the girl who had thrown one of his warriors like a rag doll.
A slow smile spread across his scarred muzzle.
"Find out who she is."
The hunt had begun.