ierce struggle. The earth was ruined, trees split, and the air smelled like blood and fear. As

ned. Her head spun with the events of the evening: the attack by the rival pack, the Shadow Council's

the elements had responded to her call. The ground had rumbled and split under the feet of their attackers. The howling wind had shaken rival wolves to their core. Anyone who came to

her true power. "This isn't over, little one," he muttered as he and his pack left, b

urking darkness at the edges of the clearing. Aria could feel their e

comforting those who had lost loved ones in the battle. But at some point, they all t

mix of pride and worry. "Are you okay?" Lia

communicating as they always did. "What you did last night wa

voice cracking. "Look at them and the wa

ve them a glimpse of something they've never

ander walking toward her, even in his injured state, his Alpha presence deman

serious. "We need to talk. You mu

silently asking them to stay calm. She lifted her chin to look at Zander.

"What happened here last night changes everything. The old ways and the hierarchy we've followed no

ern etched on his face. "Zander, think about what you're

His gaze softened slightly, then he looked back at Aria. "Without

oice stronger than she felt, she asked, "I don't und

y that gave you the strength you used last night. It's

nd beside her daughter. "We should have told you

ander answered gravely. "You are not just an Omega. You are descended fr

as though the ground had disappeared beneath her feet. "

vy with regret. "They were real,

connection to nature and the power she had always felt simmering beneath the surface. "But why hid

Zander explained. "The Shadow Council has been hunting the descendants of the Fir

g he must have known or at least guessed her true nature, she felt a shiver

oked at her in awe, while others watched her with suspicion. There was a clear divide betwee

firm. "So what do we do now? How

arn from here. We prepare. And we st

wer could be our salvation. We need t

tradition. She was a living legacy, part of a war that had been going on for centuries. Looking out at her pack-her family-she fel

of those she loved. She would become the leader and protector her pack needed. But as she stood there, bearing the weight of her new destiny, a shudd

and saw the mix of pride and worry in his eyes, she k