Lyla couldn’t stop replaying the events of the previous night. The rogue wolves, Eli’s transformation, Mason’s scepticism, and most of all, the strange pull that she felt toward the forest all left her shaken and full of questions. By the time she left for school the next morning, she hadn’t slept much, her mind spinning with possibilities.
Werewolves are real.
She whispered the thought to herself as if saying it out loud would make it easier to believe. Even with the memory of Eli’s transformation fresh in her mind, it still felt surreal.
The halls of Silverwood High buzzed with the usual morning chatter as students moved between classes. Lyla tried to blend in, but it was hard to ignore the way some people stared at her as she walked past. The unease that had been growing since her first day in Silverwood now felt suffocating.
Clara caught up to her at her locker, her curly auburn hair bouncing as she walked. “Morning,” she said, her usual cheerful tone muted. “You look… tired.”
“Didn’t sleep much,” Lyla admitted.
Clara studied her closely. “Something on your mind?”
Lyla hesitated. She couldn’t exactly tell Clara the truth that she had spent the night in the woods with a pack of werewolves. “Just… getting used to this place, I guess.”
Clara smiled sympathetically. “Silverwood does take some getting used to. The town’s got a vibe, you know? Like it’s keeping secrets.”
Lyla’s stomach tightened. If only Clara knew how right she was.
The day dragged on, each class blending into the next. By the time the final bell rang, Lyla was practically vibrating with anticipation. Eli had told her to meet him at the diner, and she was desperate for answers.
Silverwood’s diner was small and cosy, with red leather booths and a jukebox in the corner that looked like it hadn’t worked in decades. The smell of bacon and coffee hung in the air as Lyla stepped inside.
Eli was already there, sitting in a booth near the back. He looked up as she approached, his green eyes sharp and unreadable.
“You’re late,” he said as she slid into the seat across from him.
“School ran over,” she replied, trying to match his casual tone.
The waitress came by, and Eli ordered coffee. Lyla hesitated before asking for a hot chocolate.
Once the waitress left, Lyla leaned forward, her voice low. “Okay, I’m here. Start talking.”
Eli sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “I told you some of it last night, but there’s more you need to know. Silverwood is divided into three packs: the Blackwood pack my pack the Alder pack, and the Ridge pack. We’ve coexisted for decades, but lately, things have gotten… unstable.”
“Unstable how?” Lyla asked.
“Rogues,” Eli said simply. “Wolves who don’t belong to any pack. They’ve always been a problem, but they’re getting bolder. More aggressive. Last night wasn’t the first attack.”
“Why now?”
Eli hesitated, his gaze flicking away. “That’s the part we don’t know. But something’s stirring them up.”
“And where do I fit into all this?” Lyla pressed.
Eli’s jaw tightened. “That’s the question, isn’t it? The forest called you here, Lyla. That doesn’t happen by accident. There’s something about you that’s… different.”
Lyla frowned. “Different how?”
“I don’t know yet,” Eli admitted. “But the forest recognizes you. I can feel it, and so can the others.”
Lyla leaned back, her mind racing. None of this made sense, but at the same time, it felt like pieces of a puzzle were starting to fall into place.
“What about my mom?” she asked suddenly.
Eli’s brow furrowed. “What about her?”
“She disappeared three years ago. My dad and I moved here because… I don’t know why. He won’t talk about it. But something tells me it’s connected.”
Eli looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Maybe it is.”
The door to the diner jingled as Mason walked in, his sharp gaze immediately finding Eli and Lyla. He made his way to their booth, sliding in beside Eli without asking.
“Trouble,” he said, his tone curt.
“What kind of trouble?” Eli asked, his posture stiffening.
“Ridge pack,” Mason replied. “They’re sniffing around our borders again.”
Eli cursed under his breath. “They’re testing us.”
“What’s going on?” Lyla asked, looking between them.
“The Ridge pack has been looking for an excuse to challenge us,” Eli explained. “They think we’re weak because of the rogues.”
Lyla frowned. “Why does it matter if you’re weak? Aren’t all the packs supposed to be on the same side?”
Mason snorted. “You don’t know anything, do you?”
“Mason,” Eli warned, his tone sharp.
“No, it’s fine,” Lyla said, glaring at Mason. “Why don’t you enlighten me?”
Mason leaned forward, his expression hard. “The packs have rules, but that doesn’t mean we’re friends. Everyone’s fighting for dominance. Being the strongest pack means having control over Silverwood.”
“That’s enough,” Eli said, his voice low and dangerous.
Mason leaned back, crossing his arms. “You’re too soft on her. She’s not one of us.”
“Not yet,” Eli muttered under his breath.
“What does that mean?” Lyla asked, her stomach twisting.
Eli didn’t answer. Instead, he stood and motioned for Mason to follow him. “Stay here, Lyla. We’ll handle this.”
“Wait”
But they were already gone, leaving Lyla alone in the booth with more questions than answers.
Lyla barely had time to process what had just happened when Clara appeared in the diner, her face lighting up when she spotted Lyla.
“Hey!” Clara said, sliding into the seat across from her. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Lyla forced a smile. “Just grabbing a drink.”
Clara glanced around. “Were you with someone?”
“Not anymore,” Lyla replied vaguely.
Clara tilted her head, her smile fading. “Are you okay? You’ve been acting… different lately.”
“Different how?”
“Distracted,” Clara said. “Like you’re keeping secrets.”
Lyla hesitated. She wanted to tell Clara the truth, but she couldn’t risk dragging her into the werewolf world. “It’s just a lot to adjust to,” she said finally.
Clara nodded, her expression softening. “I get it. Moving to a new place is hard. If you ever need to talk, I’m here, okay?”
“Thanks,” Lyla said, meaning it.
That night, Lyla couldn’t shake the feeling that something was happening in the forest. She waited until her dad had gone to bed, then grabbed her flashlight and slipped out of the house.
The forest was quiet as she walked, the moonlight casting eerie shadows across the ground. She didn’t know what she was looking for answers, maybe, or a sense of connection to the strange world she had been thrust into.
As she approached the clearing, she heard voices.
“Do you think she’s one of them?” Mason’s voice was sharp and sceptical.
“I don’t know,” Eli replied. “But we can’t ignore the signs.”
“And if she’s not? What happens then?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
Lyla stepped into the clearing, and the two boys turned to face her.
“I thought you told me to stay out of the forest,” she said, her voice challenging.
Eli smirked. “I didn’t think you’d listen.”
Mason scowled. “She shouldn’t be here, Eli.”
“She has as much right to be here as we do,” Eli shot back.
Lyla crossed her arms. “If you’re going to talk about me, at least do it where I can hear.”
Eli chuckled, but Mason looked less amused.
“What do you want, Lyla?” Eli asked.
“I want answers,” she said. “No more half-truths, no more cryptic warnings. I deserve to know what’s going on.”
Eli nodded, his expression serious. “You’re right. It’s time you knew everything.”
The forest wasn't empty.Lyla felt it before she saw it.Something old.Something unseen.Watching.Waiting.The whisper that had curled through the trees wasn’t the wind.It was something else.And it had spoken to her."This is just the beginning, Guardian."Her blood ran cold.Because whatever it wasIt knew who she was.Eli stepped beside her."You heard it too," he murmured.Not a question.A fact.Dani’s hands hovered over her daggers. "What the hell was that?"Mason scanned the trees, muscles coiled. "Nothing good."Jonas shifted uneasily. "We need to move. Standing here isn’t"The wind shifted.The whisper came again."You reforged the bond, but do you even know what you awoke?"Lyla’s pulse spiked.This thing whatever it wasIt wasn’t just watching.It was testing her.Eli’s breath was slow. Measured."We’re not alone."And Lyla knewThey never had been.The trees moved without moving.The shadows shifted without light.The presence was everywhere.Nowhere.Something half-the
The journey back to Silverwood was silent.Not from exhaustion.Not from fear.But from realization.Lyla had stepped into the unknown.Had faced a truth no Guardian before her had known.The bond wasn’t just hers.It had existed long before her war.And now, for the first time, she felt its true weight.Not just a connection.Not just a power.A responsibility.One that had destroyed the first Guardian.And if she wasn’t carefulIt could destroy her too.Mason was the first to speak."Alright," he muttered. "I’m just gonna say what we’re all thinking."Lyla glanced at him.He frowned. "Are we really just gonna walk away from that? From them?"Jonas exhaled sharply. "What do you suggest? We fight them?"Mason ran a hand through his hair."No," he admitted. "But I don’t like it. They’re out there. They’re watching. And if they ever decide they don’t like what Lyla’s doing"He didn’t finish.He didn’t have to.They all knew what he meant.Dani sighed. "We have bigger things to focus on
The bond hummed.The forest watched.And Lyla stepped forward to face the trial.Kieran stood across from her, his expression unreadable.His wolves had formed a circle, closing them in.This wasn’t just a fight.It was a test of power.A test of control.And Lyla knewIf she failed here, she wouldn’t just lose their respect.She would lose everything.Kieran lifted his chin."The Guardian must be tested," he said. "It has always been this way."Mason scoffed. "You mean, you don’t trust her."Kieran didn’t look at him."This isn’t about trust," he said. "This is about balance."Jonas frowned. "And how does beating each other senseless prove that?"Kieran finally smiled."It doesn’t," he admitted. "But power must be measured. And power without control"His eyes darkened."leads to ruin."Lyla’s stomach tightened.Because she knew what he was talking about.Aleron.The first Guardian.The first betrayal.Kieran’s wolves stood in silence, waiting for her answer.The trial wasn’t just abo
Lyla had thought she understood the bond.Had thought she knew its origin.But nowAs she stood face to face with a pack that should not existShe realized she had only ever known part of the truth.The man in front of her watched her closely.Waiting.Testing.His pack moved behind him like shadows, their eyes sharp, their postures unreadable.They weren’t scared of her.They weren’t impressed by her.And that alone sent a chill down her spine.Because she was the Guardian.She had reforged the bond.And yet, to themShe was nothing.The man finally spoke."My name is Kieran," he said.His voice was steady.Measured.Like he was used to commanding.Like he had done this before.Lyla squared her shoulders."You're the Alpha," she said.It wasn’t a question.Kieran’s lips twitched in something that wasn’t quite a smile."Of this pack?" he asked. "Yes. But we are not like your wolves."Lyla’s fingers twitched.Eli shifted beside her, his stance wary.Dani’s hand hovered near her blade.
The sun rose over Silverwood.Not red.Not broken.But whole.The Bloodmoon’s shadow had passed, leaving the world quieter. Stronger.For the first time in generationsThe town and the wolves existed side by side.But peace was never simple.And power never settled easily.Lyla stood at the edge of Silverwood, watching the morning unfold.The town was awake now.People walked the streets, glancing at the wolves with wary curiosity.They didn’t run.Didn’t hide.But they weren’t comfortable yet.And Lyla knew why.This was new.Wolves had never lived among humans before.They had existed in the shadows, unseen and untouchable.Now, there were no shadows to hide in.And not everyone was ready for that.Mason stepped beside her, arms crossed."They’re watching us," he muttered.Lyla didn’t look away from the town."Let them."Mason huffed. "Feels like they’re waiting for us to mess up.""They are," she said.Because power shifts were never easy.And some peopleSome wolvesWould rather s
The howl faded.The forest listened.And for the first time in generationsIt did not resist.No tension.No rejection.Just acceptance.The bond had changed.The packs had changed.And Lyla stood at the center of it all.The first Alpha of the United Pack.When Lyla shifted back, the pack was still watching her.Some with awe.Some with hesitation.Some like Mason still processing.But none of them defied her.None of them challenged what had happened.Because they had felt it too.The bond was whole.The war was over.And nowIt was time to rebuild.Eli was the first to step forward.His silver eyes met hers."We follow you now," he said.A statement.A promise.The others echoed his words.One by one.Until every voice had spoken.Lyla swallowed.The weight of it all settled onto her shoulders.Not fear.Not doubt.But responsibility.This was real.She exhaled."Then we move forward," she said.And the pack listened.There was still work to do.Wolves who needed healing.Homes tha