Silver Light

The first three days of my journey north were a blur of hunger, exhaustion, and constant vigilance.

I learned quickly that the wilderness didn’t care about my grand destiny or royal bloodline. It only cared about survival, and I was woefully unprepared for it despite Sarah’s generous supplies.

The dried meat ran out faster than I’d expected. The water bottles needed constant refilling from questionable streams that left my stomach cramping. And every night, I heard howls in the distance: rogues, wild animals, or worse.

But I kept moving north. Always north.

The compass became my lifeline, and my mother’s journal my constant companion. Each night, new instructions appeared on its pages: how to start a fire without matches when mine ran out, which plants were safe to eat, how to hide my scent trail from pursuing wolves.

You’re doing well, my brave girl,* the journal read on the third night. But your body is reaching its limits. Tomorrow, you’ll need to rest. There’s a safe place ahead: a clearing with a freshwater spring. Stop there.

I wanted to argue, to push harder, to put more distance between myself and Crescent Moon. But my body was betraying me. The scratches from the rogue attack weren’t healing as quickly as they should have. My enhanced healing from that night seemed to have faded, leaving me vulnerable and human-slow.

By midday on the fourth day, I could barely put one foot in front of the other.

The forest had grown denser, the trees older and more massive. Sunlight barely penetrated the canopy here, leaving everything in perpetual twilight. It was beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.

I stumbled over a root and went down hard, my hands scraping against rough bark. For a moment, I just lay there, breathing heavily, wondering if I could actually do this. Two weeks to Lunar Falls. I’d barely survived four days.

Get up, my wolf’s voice whispered weakly. She was still there, still fighting to break through the curse. We don’t quit. We don’t give up. Get. Up.

I pushed myself to my knees, then to my feet. My vision swam, black spots dancing at the edges. When was the last time I’d eaten? Yesterday? The day before?

The journal had mentioned a clearing. I just needed to find it, rest, and recover. Then I could keep going.

I forced my legs to move, each step an act of pure willpower. The trees seemed to close in around me, branches reaching like skeletal fingers. My breathing was too loud in the stillness, my heartbeat a drum in my ears.

There, through the trees. A break in the foliage, sunlight streaming down in golden shafts. The clearing.

I stumbled toward it, desperate for open space and light and…

Pain exploded through my chest.

I gasped and fell to my knees, clutching at my sternum. It felt like something was trying to claw its way out from inside me. My wolf. She was thrashing against the curse, harder than ever before.

No, not now, I thought desperately. I can’t handle this now.

But she wasn’t listening. She was furious, terrified, desperate. The curse had held her for eighteen years, and she was done waiting.

Silver light began to emanate from my skin, just like it had during the rogue attack. But this time it didn’t stop. It grew brighter, more intense, until I was sure I was burning from the inside out.

I screamed.

The curse fought back, tightening like chains around my wolf’s essence. I felt it: the ancient magic my mother had woven into my very being, meant to protect me, but now choking us both.

The two forces warred inside me: my wolf’s desperate bid for freedom and the curse’s iron grip. I was caught in the middle, being torn apart.

Please, I begged. I didn’t know who I was begging: my mother, the Moon Goddess, fate itself. Please, I can’t… I can’t do this…

The silver light pulsed, brighter than the sun. I heard something crack, not the curse breaking, but something inside me. Something vital.

Then darkness swallowed me whole.

I woke to the sound of birdsong and the scent of herbs.

For a disoriented moment, I thought I was back in Crescent Moon, in the healer’s cottage where I’d sometimes helped tend to injured pack members. But the scent was different. Richer. More complex.

I opened my eyes slowly, expecting pain. Instead, I felt… good. Better than I had in days. The exhaustion was gone, the scratches healed, and even the persistent ache from the broken mate bond had faded to barely noticeable.

I was lying on a comfortable bed: a real bed, with soft blankets and a pillow that smelled like lavender. Sunlight streamed through a window, illuminating a small but cozy room. Dried herbs hung from the rafters, and shelves lined with jars and bottles covered one wall.

“You’re awake.”

I jerked upright, my hand instinctively reaching for the knife that should have been at my belt. It wasn’t there.

A woman stood in the doorway, watching me with eyes that seemed to shift color in the light: green, then gold, then somewhere in between. She was beautiful in an ethereal way, with long dark hair shot through with silver streaks despite looking no older than twenty five. She wore simple clothes (a dark green dress and boots) but carried herself with quiet confidence.

“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice hoarse. “Where am I?”

“My name is Elena Nightshade,” she said calmly, moving into the room with fluid grace. “And you’re in my home. You collapsed at the edge of my property three days ago.”

“Three days?” I tried to stand, but she held up a hand.

“Easy. You nearly died. Your wolf was trying to break free while your body was starving and dehydrated. Not a good combination.” She moved to a small table and poured water from a pitcher into a cup. “Drink. Slowly.”

I took the cup with shaking hands, studying her warily as I sipped. The water was cool and clean, the best thing I’d tasted in days. “Why did you help me?”

“Because you needed help.” Elena sat in a chair near the bed, regarding me with those strange, shifting eyes. “And because I’ve been waiting for you.”

My hand tightened on the cup. “Waiting for me? What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I said. I’ve been waiting for Aria Silvermoon to pass through these woods for five years.” She tilted her head. “Your mother asked me to watch over you. To help you when the time came.”

I nearly dropped the cup. “You knew my mother?”

“I did. We were… friends, of a sort.” Elena stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the forest. “She came to me eighteen years ago, heavy with child and desperate. She asked me to place a spell on these woods, to alert me when someone carrying Silvermoon blood entered. I agreed.”

“You’re a witch,” I said, and it wasn’t a question. The herbs, the strange eyes, the casual mention of spells—it all made sense.

“Half-witch, technically. My father was a werewolf. My mother was a powerful witch.” She glanced back at me. “The combination makes me… unique. Not quite accepted by either world.”

I knew something about not fitting in. “Why would my mother trust you?”

“Because we were both outcasts trying to survive in a world that didn’t want us.” Elena’s expression softened. “She was desperate to protect you, Aria. The Silvermoon bloodline has powerful enemies: wolves who wanted your family dead, who feared what you could become. She knew they’d kill you if they discovered you had inherited her power.”

“So she cursed me.” The words tasted bitter.

“She saved you,” Elena corrected gently. “By making you appear worthless, she made you invisible to your enemies. They were looking for a powerful royal heir. They never thought to look twice at a wolfless omega.”

I stared down at my hands, at the faint silver shimmer that still clung to my skin. “The curse is breaking.”

“Yes. It was designed to break when you were ready, when you were strong enough to handle your true power.” Elena returned to her chair. “But it’s happening faster than your mother anticipated. The trauma of rejection, the desperate need to survive… you’ve been forced to grow up quickly.”

“I felt her,” I whispered. “My wolf. She’s so close to breaking free.”

“I know. I felt the power surge three days ago. That’s why I went looking for you.” Elena leaned forward. “Aria, when your curse breaks completely, you’ll be the most powerful wolf alive. A Celestial Wolf. Do you understand what that means?”

I shook my head.

“It means you’ll be hunted. By those who fear you, by those who want to use you, by those who want to kill what they can’t control.” Her eyes were intense. “Your mother knew this. That’s why she asked me to train you.”

“Train me?” Hope sparked in my chest. “You can help me control it? Help my wolf emerge properly?”

“I can try. I’m not a werewolf, so I can’t teach you about your wolf directly. But I can teach you to fight, to survive, to use magic that complements your wolf powers.” She stood. “That is, if you want my help. Your mother’s journal probably told you to go to Lunar Falls, to Elder Vera.”

“It did.”

“Vera is a good woman. She can help you, too. But…” Elena paused. “She’s two weeks away, and your curse is breaking now. You might not make it that far without help.”

I thought about the rogue attack, about the silver light that had saved me, but left me drained. About the battle raging inside me between curse and wolf. She was right. I needed help, and I needed it now.

“What would training involve?” I asked.

Elena smiled, and for the first time, I saw a hint of something wild in her expression. Something that reminded me of my own inner wolf. “First, we keep you alive. You learn to fight properly: not just survive, but win. Then we work on meditation, on strengthening your connection to your wolf without forcing the curse to break prematurely. When you’re ready, when your body and mind can handle it, we’ll help facilitate the full awakening.”

“How long would that take?”

“Weeks. Maybe months. It depends on you.” She moved toward the door. “In the meantime, you rest, you eat, you regain your strength. Then we begin.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, stopping her. “Why are you doing this? My mother’s been dead for thirteen years. You could have forgotten about me, moved on with your life.”

Elena looked back at me, and in her eyes I saw old pain and old loneliness. “Because your mother was kind to me when no one else was. Because I know what it’s like to be caught between two worlds, accepted by neither. And because…” She smiled sadly. “Because I’m tired of being alone. Training you gives me purpose. Maybe even a friend, if you’ll have me.”

The last word hung in the air between us. Friend. When was the last time anyone had offered me friendship without expecting something in return?

“I’d like that,” I said softly. “A friend, I mean.”

Elena’s smile widened. “Good. Now rest. Tomorrow, your real education begins.”

She left, closing the door softly behind her.

I lay back on the bed, my mind spinning. Three days I’d been unconscious. Three days Elena had cared for me, a stranger she’d never met, out of loyalty to my dead mother.

The journal was on the bedside table. I reached for it, and words appeared on the page as soon as my fingers touched the leather cover.

Elena Nightshade is to be trusted, my darling. She’s powerful, skilled, and loyal. She’ll teach you things I never could. Learn from her. Let her help you become strong.

But remember: Lunar Falls is still your ultimate destination. Elder Vera has knowledge about the Silvermoon bloodline that even Elena doesn’t possess. When you’re ready, when you’re strong enough, you must continue your journey.

For now, rest. Heal. Train. Become the warrior you were always meant to be.

I’m so proud of how far you’ve come. Four days in the wilderness, surviving on your own. You’re stronger than you know.

Love always,

Mom

The words faded, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Tomorrow, my training would begin. I’d learn to fight, to survive, to harness whatever power was trying to break free inside me. And eventually, I’d make my way to Lunar Falls.

But for tonight, I was safe. Fed. Warm. For the first time since my rejection, I wasn’t alone.

I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

I woke the next morning to the smell of cooking food, real food, not dried rations. My stomach growled loudly as I dressed in clean clothes Elena had left folded on a chair. They fit perfectly, as if made for me.

The cabin’s main room was larger than I’d expected, with a kitchen area, a sitting space filled with books, and a large table covered in maps and sketches. Elena stood at the stove, stirring something in a pot that smelled like heaven.

“Sit,” she said without turning around. “You need to eat before we start.”

I sat at the table, and she placed a bowl in front of me: thick stew with meat and vegetables, fresh bread still warm from the oven, and a cup of herbal tea that smelled like mint and something else I couldn’t identify.

I ate like I was starving, which wasn’t far from the truth. Elena watched with amusement, eating her own breakfast at a more reasonable pace.

“When you’re done,” she said, “we’ll start with basics. How to fall without breaking bones. How to read your opponent’s body language. How to use your size as an advantage rather than a weakness.”

“You think being small is an advantage?” I asked skeptically.

“Against larger opponents? Absolutely. You’re faster, more agile, harder to hit. You just need to learn how to leverage it.” She finished her tea. “Your mother was petite too. She could take down wolves twice her size because she was smart, fast, and ruthless when necessary.”

“I want to be like that,” I said fiercely. “I want to be strong enough that no one can hurt me again. That no one can throw me away like I’m worthless.”

Elena’s expression turned serious. “Aria, I can teach you to fight. I can teach you to survive. But strength isn’t just about physical power. It’s about knowing your worth regardless of what others think. It’s about choosing who you let into your heart and protecting it from those who would break it.”

“Damien broke it pretty thoroughly already,” I muttered.

“No.” Elena shook her head. “He hurt you. Deeply. But he didn’t break you. If he had, you wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t have survived the wilderness, the rogue attack, the journey. You’d have given up.” She reached across the table and gripped my hand. “You’re hurt, not broken. There’s a difference.”

Tears pricked at my eyes, but I blinked them back. I’d cried enough over Damien Steele. No more.

“Teach me,” I said. “Teach me everything.”

Elena smiled. “Then let’s begin.”

The clearing behind Elena’s cabin became my training ground.

She started with basic self-defense: how to break a hold, how to dodge, how to fall and roll to minimize injury. I was clumsy at first, my body still recovering from days of near starvation.

But I learned. Fast.

“Good,” Elena said after I successfully evaded her grab for the fifth time in a row. “Now, attack me. Don’t hold back.”

I hesitated. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She laughed. “Trust me, you won’t. Try.”

I lunged, aiming for her midsection. She sidestepped effortlessly, grabbed my extended arm, and flipped me onto my back so fast I barely saw it happen.

I lay on the ground, staring up at the sky, breathless.

“Again,” Elena said, offering her hand to help me up.

We went at it for hours. Every time I thought I’d figured out a pattern, she changed tactics. Every time I landed a hit, she showed me three ways I’d left myself open.

It was frustrating. Exhausting. And absolutely exhilarating.

For the first time since my rejection, I felt like I had control over something. My body was becoming a weapon, and I was learning to wield it.

“Enough,” Elena finally called as the sun began to set. “You did well for your first day.”

I collapsed on the grass, every muscle screaming. “I barely landed two hits.”

“You landed two more than most people do on their first day.” She sat beside me, not even winded. “You have natural instincts, Aria. Your body knows how to fight even if your mind doesn’t remember the training. It’s in your blood.”

“Royal blood,” I said, testing the words. They still felt foreign.

“Royal blood,” Elena confirmed. “Your ancestors were warriors and leaders. That strength lives in you.” She glanced at me. “How’s your wolf? Any stirring?”

I checked inward, reaching for that presence beneath the curse. She was there, quieter than before, watchful. “She’s… calm. Waiting.”

“Good. The physical training will help strengthen your connection. The stronger your body, the easier it’ll be for your wolf to emerge without tearing you apart.” Elena stood and stretched. “Come on. Dinner, then we work on meditation.”

“More training?” I groaned.

“Training never stops. Not until you’re ready.” She offered her hand. “But I promise the next part is less painful.”

She lied. Meditation was torture.

Sitting still, clearing my mind, breathing in rhythm: it all sounded simple. But every time I tried to empty my thoughts, they flooded back: Damien’s disgusted face, Vanessa’s smirk, the pack’s judgment, the pain of rejection.

“Focus,” Elena said softly. We sat cross-legged on the floor, a candle burning between us. “Let the thoughts come, acknowledge them, and let them go. Don’t fight them. Just… let them pass.”

“They won’t pass,” I said through gritted teeth. “They’re stuck.”

“They’re stuck because you’re holding onto them. You’re feeding them with your anger and pain.” She opened her eyes, meeting mine. “I know it’s hard. But you need to learn this. When your wolf emerges, you’ll need to maintain control. If your emotions are chaotic, she’ll be chaotic. You could hurt people you care about.”

That got through to me. I didn’t want to be a danger to others, especially not to Elena, who was helping me.

I closed my eyes again and tried. This time, when Damien’s face appeared in my mind, I acknowledged it (yes, he hurt me) and then gently pushed it aside. It came back. I pushed it aside again. And again. And again.

Slowly, painfully slowly, the thoughts began to quiet.

I felt my wolf stir, attracted by the peace I was creating. She crept closer to my conscious mind, curious.

Hello, I thought to her.

Hello, she responded, clearer than ever before. Thank you for letting me rest. The fighting… it hurt both of us.

I know. I’m sorry. I’m trying to be stronger.

You are strong, she assured me. *Soon, we’ll be together properly. Soon, we’ll show them all what we really are.

Soon, I agreed.

When I opened my eyes, Elena was smiling. “You felt her, didn’t you? Your wolf.”

“Yes. We talked. Really talked.” I couldn’t keep the wonder out of my voice.

“That’s progress. Real progress.” Elena stood. “That’s enough for today. Rest. Tomorrow, we increase the intensity.”

I stumbled to my room, every muscle protesting, but my spirit lighter than it had been in weeks. I was learning. Growing. Becoming something more than the broken girl who’d been exiled.

As I drifted off to sleep, I could have sworn I heard my wolf’s voice one more time:

We’re going to make them all regret throwing us away.

I smiled in the darkness.

Yes. Yes, we were.