THE TRAIL BEGINS

Gunner's body tensed and prepared for battle, his eyes snapping toward the window.

He murmured, "They're here," and got to his feet with ease. His muscles coiled, prepared for whatever was about to come through the forest.

I sprang to my feet while my head was racing. “The hunters?”

Gunner’s jaw clenched as he gave me a quick nod. “They’ve tracked you here. We have to move. Now.”

I felt panic set in, but I had no time to respond. With a cold shiver running down my spine, Gunner grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door. Dolph’s words from earlier echoed in my head—*You’re a danger to the pack.* Perhaps he was correct. Maybe I was going to be the reason these people died.

We rushed out of the room, and the moment we entered the hallway, the rest of the pack was on the move. Both human and shape-shifting wolves darted about, getting ready for combat. Their eyes flicked toward me, some filled with fear, others with suspicion. They knew I was the reason this chaos had come to their doorstep.

Kate, the pack’s healer, stood near the doorway, her face pale but calm. “Gunner, we’re ready, but the hunters are faster than we expected. We can’t let them get inside the territory.”

Gunner nodded, his face set in determination. “We hold the perimeter. Keep Zelena safe.”

I was going to protest, but Gunner gave me a look that made me stop. He firmly said, "Don't argue." “Everything falls apart if they manage to get to you."

I knew he was right, even though everything in me cried out to act, to fight. I am the target of the hunters, not the pack. And if I got caught, whatever power was inside me, the one tied to the Moon Goddess would be theirs to control. I was not going to allow that to happen.

The tension in the air was noticeable as we stepped outside. The trees towered like gloomy shadows, with their branches quivering menacingly in the wind. Everything was bathed by the moonlight, which created eerie shadows that moved across the forest floor.

I then caught sight of them.

There, at the edge of the trees, was a line of hunters, all gloom and shadow. Their hands held glowing weapons, and their eyes glowed with an unusual light. Crossbows, silver blades, and other weapons meant to kill Weres. As I counted them, my breath caught in my throat—dozens, maybe even more.

With a low growl, Gunner's eyes glowed as brightly as I had noticed before. "Stay behind me," he murmured.

The pack drew together in front of us, a wall of fur, teeth, and bites. Despite their overwhelming strength, the hunters still outnumbered us, despite the power I could sense emanating from them. The fight wasn't fair.

Stepping forward, one of the hunters yelled, "Give us the girl!" His tone lacked warmth and compassion. My blood ran cold as his unnervingly intense eyes locked onto me. “She belongs to us.”

I shook my head, backing up instinctively, but Gunner growled, stepping between me and the hunters.

“She belongs to no one,” he snarled, his voice deep and commanding. “You’re not taking her.”

The hunter smirked, raising his crossbow "We'll see to that."

There was an explosion of chaos as the tension broke like a rubber band. With their claws shining in the moonlight and their teeth bared, the pack charged forward, changing into their wolf forms mid-stride. Silver-tipped arrows whistled through the air as the hunters raised their weapons.

Gunner shifted beside me, his massive black wolf towering over me. He moved too quickly for me to keep up with as he charged into combat. I watched, not moving a muscle for a moment, as the sound of growls and shouts filled the night air as wolves and hunters clashed.

I couldn't just stand there.

Gazing down at my hands, I could still feel the odd warmth from before. I possessed a power that I didn't know how to use. But maybe… just maybe, I could use it.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the heat, wishing it would rise and surface. Nothing happened for a brief while. However, I felt the energy slowly rekindle within me, like a flicker of flame. The heat expanded and my heartbeat quickened, flowing through my blood vessels like liquid flames.

Upon opening my eyes, everything seemed fuzzy temporarily. The world shifted, and I could see threads of light—pulsing, glowing lines that connected everything. Everything was vibrant and alive, including the trees, the earth, and the air. And somehow, I was connected to it.

Suddenly, a hand seized my arm, pulling me back. I gasped waking up from whatever trance I had been in. Dolph stood beside me, his eyes wide with panic

Hissed, "What are you doing?" "You cannot just stand there like a sitting duck!"

"I-I was trying to—" I stumbled, but he cut me off as his grip tightened.

“Trying to what? Get yourself killed? They are here because of you! Before it's too late, you must leave this place!

The ground trembled beneath us and an enormous roar filled the air before I could reply. I turned to face the sound, my heart pounding into my throat.

A figure appeared out of the shadows in the center of the battlefield; it was tall, covered in darkness, and had strange silver eyes. He was unlike the other hunters.

The air seemed to bend around him just by his presence, and the power he exuded was oppressive.

Gunner lunged at the figure, still in his wolf form, but the hunter moved at superhuman speed, easily dodging the blow. With a quick motion of his hand, the hunter flung Gunner into the air, causing him to collide heavily with a tree close by.

"Gunner!" I witnessed his collapse, and I let out a scream, my heart seizing.

The hunter turned towards me and I lost my breath. He lifted his hand and pointed right at me, his lips curving into a wicked smile.

“You’re coming with me, girl.”