Chapter two - First Sparks

Aria woke to the soft drip of rain outside her window, though the storm had long since passed. Her body ached from the cold and mud, but her mind was restless, refusing to let sleep reclaim her. The memory of Damon’s rejection burned in her chest, the bond still pulsing faintly beneath her skin. She touched her wrist, half-expecting the glow to have vanished, but it lingered, warmer this time, almost like it was alive.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, shivering. Every instinct told her to stay hidden, to pretend the night had been a dream. But curiosity gnawed at her, sharper than fear. Something inside her demanded she understand what had just happened, what she had felt.

Stepping outside into the damp morning air, Aria let the forest swallow her. The trees loomed tall and silent, the ground still slick with rain. She concentrated, willing the glow to appear again. At first, nothing. Then a faint warmth spread from her wrist, drifting like tendrils of light into her fingers. She gasped as a pebble at her feet lifted a few inches off the ground, quivering as though caught in a gentle breeze.

Her heart raced. The power was real. It was hers.

Suddenly, a rustle in the underbrush made her spin. Her body tensed, ready to flee. A small figure emerged, a fox, its eyes reflecting the gray morning light. It stared at her for a moment before bounding off. Aria frowned. The glow in her hand pulsed again, faintly. The fox hadn’t seemed ordinary. She shook her head, telling herself she was imagining things.

Returning home, she found her mother in the kitchen, humming softly as she cleaned. “You’re up early,” her mother said. “Storm kept you awake?”

“I… yeah,” Aria mumbled, brushing mud from her boots. She didn’t dare speak of the night, of the black wolf, of the bond, or the glow. The words would sound insane out loud.

Her mother frowned, studying her. “Aria, you’re quiet. Is something bothering you?”

Aria shook her head, forcing a smile. “Just tired.”

Her mother didn’t press further. She left Aria to her own thoughts, leaving her to pace the small cabin. Aria’s mind refused to rest. Damon’s rejection replayed endlessly, twisting her chest with frustration. Why had he turned away? Why had the bond reacted to her glow at all? She didn’t understand, but a small flame of determination lit within her. She would find out.

Outside, the forest seemed to hum in anticipation. Aria stepped back among the trees, testing her power again. This time, the glow spread along her arms, warmer and brighter. A small branch lifted and twirled in the air as though dancing to her heartbeat. Excitement mixed with fear. She could control it, but only barely. The power was still raw, unpredictable.

A voice called her name, low and cautious, carrying through the trees. Aria froze. Damon.

She turned, her heart hammering. He emerged from the shadows, eyes narrowed, expression unreadable. “You’ve been using it,” he said, voice tense. “You shouldn’t.”

“I—what do you mean?” Her words faltered.

“You don’t understand what this is,” he said, taking a step closer. “This power… it’s dangerous. Not just for you, but for everyone around you. The pack, your life, mine.”

“Then help me understand,” she demanded, her voice stronger than she expected. The glow around her wrists flared brighter, almost defiant.

Damon’s eyes flickered with something—fear, maybe, or awe. He stepped back, shaking his head. “I can’t. You have to learn on your own. And Aria…” His gaze hardened. “Stay away from me until you can control it. If you value your life.”

Aria’s chest tightened, the words burning her like fire. She wanted to run after him, to demand answers, but instead she stayed rooted to the spot, watching him vanish into the forest. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying a strange promise or a warning she could not yet decipher.

She lifted her hands, letting the glow fade slowly, her mind alive with questions. The bond, the rejection, the sudden surge of power—it all felt like the beginning of something far larger than she had imagined. And Aria knew one thing for certain: she would not let fear control her. Whatever this power was, she would master it.

And whatever Damon thought, he was not walking away from her entirely.