Chapter 2: The Price Of Light.

The silver glow wouldn't stop. 

Tamara squeezed back against a tree, trying to disappear, but she was a spotlight. Every wolf around zeroed in on her. Some bowed; others snarled.

“Make it stop,” she muttered, staring at her glowing hands. “Please, just make it stop.”

Kai stepped in front of her, now back to human form, while the others stayed wolves. “Don't fight it. It'll only get worse.”

“Worse?” Her voice shook. “I'm a walking lightbulb, surrounded by wolves, and someone's shooting at us. How could things get worse?”

A bullet slammed into the tree by her head, sending bark everywhere.

“Like that,” Kai said, grabbing her wrist. Where he touched, the silver dimmed a bit. “Let's go. Now.”

“I can't—my legs won't work.”

“Yes, they can.” His gold eyes locked on hers. “Trust me.”

“Trust you? You just trashed my whole life!”

Something flashed in his eyes, like a quick stab of pain. But before he could speak, Marcus—the big black wolf—growled a warning. More feet thundered through the woods. “The Hunters were closing in.”

“Tamara,” Kai said, soft but serious. “I know you're freaking. I know this is crazy. But if they grab you, they will kill you. Or worse.”

“What's worse than that?”

“They'll use you,” he said. “That light—it's not just pretty. It's power. Power they want.”

Another shot, closer this time. A wolf yelped.

“Can you run?” Kai asked.

Tamara nodded, but she wasn't sure. Her whole body shook.

“Good. Stay close. Don't let go.” He squeezed her hand. “Whatever happens, don't let go.”

And they ran.

The forest blurred. Kai moved like he owned the place. Behind them, wolves kept up, guarding them. Or her—who knew?

Her silver light blazed in the dark sky. No matter what she tried, it kept pouring out.

“There!” A man yelled behind them. “Follow the light!”

“Fuck" Kai cursed. He yanked her left, down a crazy steep hill. Tamara's feet slipped on wet leaves. She would have eaten dirt, but Kai caught her, lifting her like a toy.

“I can run,” she said.

“Not fast enough.” He kept going, carrying her. His body was burning. “ We're almost there.”

“Almost where?”

“Safe house.”

She saw it through the trees—a dark, tiny cabin, hidden deep in the woods. Kai kicked the door open and set her down inside. 

Other wolves rushed in after them, changing back as they crossed the doorway. Tamara tried not to stare, but it was hard. Wolves turned into naked people, acting like this was normal.

Someone tossed them clothes. They threw them on fast.

Marcus pulled on jeans, his chest covered in scars. “They're about five minutes back.”

“The ward will hold,” Kai said.

“Ward?” Tamara asked.

“ Protection spell.” Kai went to the window, looking out. “Your mom set it up years ago.”

“My mom was here?”

“Your mom built this place,” Marcus said. “For emergencies.”

Tamara's head spun. “My mom taught kindergarten.”

“She was also a witch,” Kai said softly. “The best I've ever seen.”

“That's insane”

“Is it?” Kai turned to her. “You're literally glowing with moon magic. Is it that hard to believe?”

The silver light around Tamara buzzed brighter, reacting to her feelings. “I need answers. Real answers. Starting with why you called me your…” She couldn't say it.

“Mate,” Kai finished. “Because you are.”

“I don't even know you!”

“Your soul does.” He stepped closer, and she leaned toward him. “You've been dreaming of me. I know you have because so have I.”

“Dreams are just dreams.”

“Not in our world.” His voice was gentle but firm. “Your mom knew this was coming.” “She tried to hide you in the human world. But the moon always calls her kids home.”

“I am not a wolf.”

“No, he agreed. You're something else. Something special.”

“A witch,” Marcus said from across the room. “Like your mom. But more.”

“More how?”

Kai and Marcus looked at each other.

“Tell me,” Tamara pushed.

“You're Moon Blessed,” Kai said. “Half witch, half...something else.” 

" Your father—" 

“My father died before I was born." 

" Your father disappeared,” Kai said. " It's not the same." 

Tamara wanted to fall. "You knew my parents?" 

“I knew your mom. She saved my life once, when I was fifteen. Hunters had me pinned, young and dumb as I was.” He looked grim. 

“She showed up, threw silver light like you, and scared them off. Then she made me promise something.”

“What?”

“To watch over her daughter if anything happened. His gold eyes burned into hers. I've been looking for you since she died.”

“The car crash—”

“Wasn’t an accident,” Marcus cut in.

Tamara's legs buckled. She dropped onto an old couch. The silver light flickered like a dying light.

Kai knelt by her. “I'm sorry. It's too much.”

“Too much?” She laughed. 

“My dead mom was a witch. My father might be alive. Werewolves are real. I'm some moon-powered person. And you think I'm your—your mate. That's not too much. That's total madness.”

“And yet you're not running,” Kai said.

“He was right. She should scream, run, call for help. Instead, she looked into his gold eyes, feeling like she'd found something she never knew she was looking for.”

“The pull", I feel it,” she whispered. “Toward you. Like gravity.”

“The mate bond,” he said. “That's how I found you tonight. I felt you wake up.”

“Wake up?”

“Your power. It's been sleeping. But tonight, on the full moon, on your twentieth birthday—”

“My birthday's in three weeks.”

Kai frowned. “You were born October 29th.”

“November 20th.”

The room went quiet.

“Oh no,” Marcus muttered. “Elena lied about her birthday, too.”

“Too?” Tamara asked.

Before anyone could answer, the silver light around her vanished, like someone killed the power. The room went dim.

“That's not good,” Kai said, standing.

“A knock echoed. Slow. Deliberate”

“Little moon,” a woman called. A voice smooth, cold. “I know you're in there. Can't see your light, but I can smell your fear.”

Every wolf in the room went stiff.

“Who is that?” Tamara whispered.

Kai's face lost color. “Someone who's supposed to be dead.”

The knock came again. “Come on, Kai. Introduce me to your mate. She should meet her competition.”

Tamara's blood turned to ice. “Competition?”

The door exploded.

A woman stood there, beautiful and scary, with eyes like stars. Her smile showed sharp teeth.

“Hello, niece,” she said. “I'm Lilith. “Your father's sister. And I'm here to take you home.”

Tamara's head spun. “Father's what?”

But Lilith's eyes went to Kai, her smile evil. “Hello, love. Miss me?”

The silence dropped.

Tamara looked at Kai. He stared at Lilith like he'd seen a ghost.

“Kai?” Tamara asked. “Who is she?”

Lilith laughed, like glass breaking. 

“Oh, he didn't tell you? I'm his old mate. The one he thought died three years ago.”

The silver light exploded from Tamara again, but this time it was different.

This time it was anger, it was wild.

And it burned.