Vanessa wanted

The moon was supposed to be my ally.

That’s what my father always said, that the moon watched over all wolves, especially the lost ones.

But that night, her light felt like a curse.

It spilled through the trees like silver fire, chasing me as I ran, bare feet slapping against the wet earth. The forest was alive with screams, some human, some not. I could smell blood before I saw it. Iron. Smoke. Death.

Our village was under attack.

The first explosion had torn through the western ridge, scattering homes and hearts alike. I’d been fetching water at the stream when it happened. One second I was humming, the next, the ground shook and a red haze swallowed the stars.

Now, as I darted through the trees, clutching the hem of my torn dress, all I could think about was one word pulsing in my chest: run.

But there was a cry, high, broken, that cut through the chaos.

A child’s cry.

I stopped. My breath came in quick bursts, fogging in the cold air. My wolf instincts screamed to keep going, but something stronger, something deep inside, forced me to turn back.

The voice came again.

“Please! Somebody help!”

I followed it. Branches whipped my arms. My heart hammered so hard I thought the attackers could hear it. I stumbled into the clearing near the old well and froze.

A boy, no older than ten, lay in the mud, his leg crushed beneath a fallen log. His eyes were wide and terrified. Blood soaked his trousers.

And next to him, a man, a rogue wolf by the smell of him, was slumped over, motionless.

I didn’t know them. But that didn’t matter.

“Hey,” I whispered, crouching beside the boy. “It’s okay, I’m here.”

He flinched. You, you should run. They said they’ll kill everyone

“I’ll get you out first,” I said, voice shaking. I pressed my palms to the log and tried to lift. It was too heavy. My arms trembled, tears stinging my eyes.

“Come on, come on…”

Something inside me cracked, a heat bloomed in my chest, spreading down my arms like liquid light. The air shimmered. For a heartbeat, I thought I was losing my mind.

Then my palms glowed.

A faint silver radiance spilled from my skin, crawling over the log. It didn’t burn. It pulsed. The boy gasped as the wood splintered and rolled aside, like an invisible force had pushed it.

“What…” I whispered, staring at my hands.

The glow faded, but the warmth remained. I reached for the boy’s injured leg, the wound was deep, flesh torn and bone visible. He was losing too much blood.

“No, no, no, please”

My tears fell onto the wound, and the light returned. This time, it spread through my fingertips, wrapping his leg in silver flame. He cried out, but then…the blood stopped. The skin began to knit itself together. Flesh reformed, smooth and unbroken.

I yanked my hands back, trembling.

“What did I just”

The boy sat up, eyes wide with awe. “You healed me.”

“I, I didn’t mean to.”

The forest fell silent. Even the wind paused, as if holding its breath. Then came the howl, deep, echoing, ancient.

Not a normal wolf. Something bigger.

The boy grabbed my arm. “That’s them. The Hybrid’s men.”

“Hybrid?” I repeated, but he was already backing away. “Go!” I shouted. “Run to the riverbank and hide. Don’t stop for anyone.”

He nodded, tears streaking his face, and ran.

I turned toward the direction of the howl. The trees shook. The earth vibrated.

Then I saw them, dark figures emerging from the mist, armor gleaming faintly in the moonlight. There were at least five of them, all in black, each bearing the crest of a serpent coiled around a wolf’s skull.

The mark of the Blackflame Clan.

Everyone knew that name. They were loyal only to one creature, the Hybrid Alpha, Draven Blackflame, the beast of two worlds. Half wolf, half dragon, all destruction.

I’d heard stories of his power, how his fire could melt stone, how his roar could split the skies. But those were just stories… until now.

The soldiers spread out, sniffing the air.

“She was here,” one growled. “I can smell the blood.”

“Then find her,” another hissed. “The Alpha wants the healer alive.”

My heart stopped.

Healer.

They were looking for me.

I took a step back, careful not to make a sound. But a branch cracked under my foot — and every head snapped in my direction.

“There!”

I bolted.

The forest erupted into chaos, boots pounding, branches snapping, arrows slicing through the air. I ducked behind a tree just as a blade whistled past, grazing my shoulder. Pain flared, hot and sharp. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

“Keep moving,” I whispered to myself. “Don’t stop.”

My legs burned as I sprinted through the underbrush. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I had to get away. The scent of smoke and blood trailed me like ghosts.

I reached the riverbank, chest heaving. The moon reflected on the water like a shard of glass. Behind me, the soldiers’ voices drew closer.

“There’s nowhere to run, girl!” one of them shouted. “The Hybrid sees everything!”

I didn’t know what that meant, until the air suddenly shifted.

The wind turned hot. The night itself seemed to tremble. A low growl rolled through the forest, followed by a flicker of crimson light.

And then, fire.

A column of flame burst from the sky, slamming into the trees ahead. Heat scorched my skin. I stumbled back, shielding my face. The soldiers fell to their knees, heads bowed.

“Alpha,” one whispered.

My breath caught.

Through the fire, a shadow emerged, tall, broad, every step radiating command. He wasn’t in wolf form, not entirely. His eyes glowed gold with slits like a dragon’s. His aura was suffocating.

The soldiers lowered their weapons. He didn’t speak at first. Just stared, at me.

His gaze pinned me to the ground. For a second, I couldn’t breathe.

Then, in a voice that rumbled like thunder, he said,

“Bring her to me.”

I turned and ran, but the moment my foot hit the river’s edge, something massive swept through the air. A blur of black wings.

The ground vanished beneath me.

Strong arms wrapped around my waist as we rose, the forest shrinking below. I screamed, twisting, clawing at the grip that held me, but it was like steel. The air smelled of smoke and storm.

“Let me go!” I shouted.

A deep growl vibrated against my back. “I told them to bring you to me, not for you to run.”

That voice again, rough, dangerous, commanding.

I looked up, and met eyes that burned like molten gold.

The Hybrid Alpha.

For a heartbeat, all sound vanished. There was only his stare, ancient, unrelenting, and far too human for a monster.

He smirked faintly, though there was no humor in it. “Interesting. The healer bleeds silver.”

I glanced at my shoulder, the cut from the arrow was glowing faintly, silver liquid trickling down. My pulse stuttered.

He leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear. “You should’ve stayed hidden, little wolf.”

Then everything went dark.