CHAPTER 5 : THE DANGEROUS SECRET

The Alpha Hall wasn’t buzzing anymore. The party vibe just died, and fear took over like a cold wind slipping through every crack. People barely talked — just whispers, spreading quick as wildfire. All eyes fixed on Aria, who lay still on the stone floor.

The silver light that had wrapped around her faded, but the shock lingered. Wolves don’t just pull off that kind of power — that’s not normal, not even close.

Over by the wall where torches danced, a cluster of elders huddled. Worry etched deep into their faces. Rowan, oldest of them all, leaned heavy on his staff, his eyes locked on Aria, sharp and searching.

“Did you feel it?” he asked, voice low.

Mira nodded, slow and unsure. She leaned in, whispering, “That was something different... not wolf energy.”

Another elder pinched his brow, frowning. “It felt... ancient.”

Everyone felt the weight of that word.

Rowan’s face tightened even more. “I’ve only sensed that once before,” he murmured.

Mira snapped her gaze to Rowan. “From the old legends?”

He didn’t answer right away. He just stared at Aria, silent for a long moment. “Legends exist for a reason,” was all he said.

Not far away, Kael stood by the throne, watching the girl he’d just pushed aside. His wolf side paced inside him, edgy. Something about Aria’s power gnawed at him. It messed with him, and he couldn’t explain why.

Lyra saw the way he stared, and her lips pressed thin. “You’re still looking at her,” she said, almost accusing.

Kael ignored her. Lyra followed his gaze, saw Aria sprawled there, and for a second her face flashed something dark. Jealousy. She covered it quick with a soft, fake smile.

“She’s just weak — couldn’t handle rejection. She’ll get over it,” Lyra shrugged.

But Kael’s wolf wasn’t convinced. Something changed in Aria, he felt it deep.

Then, Aria twitched. She sucked in a ragged gasp as she blinked awake, pain thrumming in her chest. Except there was something new inside her, something strong. Power.

Selene’s voice echoed in Aria’s mind: We can’t stay.

Aria planted her hands and pushed herself upright. The crowd shuffled back, no one wanting to risk getting close now. Their earlier mocking turned to silent fear.

She scanned the hall. The faces staring back held curiosity, confusion, suspicion — and fear. Her heart squeezed tight. She spotted Kael, standing tall beside Lyra, untouched by everything he’d done to her.

Selene whispered again: Leave.

Aria wobbled, steadying herself on shaky legs. Nobody moved to help. Nobody stopped her. Eyes followed as she walked toward the doors, every step heavier than the last. She didn’t look back.

Behind her, the elders kept up their hushed talk. Mira leaned to Rowan. “If she really has that power...”

Rowan finished, grim. “A lot of wolves will want to control her.”

Over in the shadowed corners, away from the light, a tall figure watched Aria slip away. Hood pulled low, eyes glinting dangerously.

“So it’s true,” he whispered. “The silver energy is back.”

One of his guards stepped close. “What do you want us to do?”

The hooded man didn’t look away as Aria vanished through the grand doors. A sly smile tugged at his mouth. “Follow her. Do not lose her.”

The guard nodded. “If she spots us?”

The hooded man’s eyes grew cold. “Make sure she never sees daylight.”

Shadows melted out of the hall, quiet and quick.

Outside, Aria stepped into the night air, cold against her skin. She didn’t know she wasn’t alone. She didn’t see the dangerous eyes tracking her every move.