Running with the Bloodfang Pack under the full moon was nothing like Raven expected.
In her old pack, full moon runs were chaotic—wolves racing through the forest, hunting small game, playing rough games. But Hunter's pack moved like a single creature, their movements perfectly coordinated as they flowed through the trees.
Raven, in her sleek black wolf form, struggled to keep up. Her paws pounded against the earth as she pushed herself harder, not wanting to look weak.
Hunter, a massive wolf with midnight fur and those same piercing blue eyes, ran at the front. Occasionally he would glance back, making sure she was still following.
When the pack finally stopped in a moonlit clearing, Raven collapsed, her sides heaving. She hadn't run like that in ages.
Hunter approached, his wolf form towering over hers. He nudged her with his muzzle, almost gently, before throwing his head back and letting out a powerful howl. The rest of the pack joined, their voices blending into a haunting melody that made Raven's fur stand on end.
Without thinking, she added her own voice to the chorus. Something strange happened—the moment her howl joined with Hunter's, a ripple seemed to pass through the pack. Several wolves stopped, turning to stare at her.
Hunter's eyes met hers, surprise evident even in his wolf face.
Later, as the pack made their way back to the compound, Raven felt oddly energized despite the exhausting run. Something about the night, about running with this new pack, felt right in a way she couldn't explain.
Back in her cabin, Raven shifted to human form and showered, washing away the dirt and sweat from the run. As she climbed into bed, her mind raced with questions about Lily, about Kieran and Elara's sudden appearance, and about the strange reaction when she touched Hunter's hand.
Sleep came quickly, but it wasn't peaceful.
In her dream, Raven stood in an ancient forest unlike any she'd seen before. The trees were massive, their trunks wider than houses, their branches disappearing into mist above. Moonlight filtered through in silver beams.
A white wolf with golden eyes approached her. It was larger than any wolf Raven had ever seen, its shoulders reaching her chest.
"The time is coming," the wolf said, its mouth not moving but the words clear in Raven's mind. "You must be ready."
"Ready for what?" Raven asked.
"To heal what was broken. To mend the bonds between packs." The white wolf circled her. "The power is in your blood. It always has been."
The scene shifted. Raven stood in a stone circle, surrounded by wolves of all colors. At the center was a shimmering pool of liquid silver.
"Drink," commanded the white wolf.
Raven knelt beside the pool. As her fingers touched the surface, the silver liquid climbed up her arms, covering her skin in glowing patterns. It didn't hurt—instead, it felt warm, like coming home after being lost for years.
The white wolf pressed its muzzle to Raven's forehead. "Remember who you are, Daughter of Alphas. Remember what was forgotten."
Images flashed through Raven's mind—ancient battles, secret meetings, a terrible betrayal. And blood—always blood, binding packs together or tearing them apart.
"Find the others," the white wolf urged as the dream began to fade. "Before it's too late."
Raven jerked awake, gasping. Dawn light filtered through her window. Her heart hammered in her chest, the dream still vivid in her mind.
Then she saw her hands.
Silver light traced patterns across her skin—the same patterns from the dream. The glow pulsed with her heartbeat, growing brighter then fading, but never completely disappearing.
"What's happening to me?" Raven whispered, terrified and fascinated at the same time.
She tried washing the glow away, but water had no effect. She pulled on a long-sleeved shirt, hiding the marks. Whatever this was, she didn't want anyone to see until she understood it herself.
A knock at her door made her jump.
"Breakfast in the main hall," called Nate's voice. "Hunter wants everyone there."
"I'll be right out," Raven called back, her voice shaky.
Through the thin walls of the cabin, she heard Nate pause. "You okay in there?"
"Just tired from the run," she lied.
"You did well for your first time with us," Nate said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. "Impressed a lot of people."
When his footsteps faded away, Raven checked her hands again. The glow had dimmed but was still visible if she looked closely. She pulled on gloves she found in a drawer, hoping no one would question them.
The main hall was buzzing with activity when Raven entered. Pack members sat at long tables, eating and talking. They fell silent when they noticed her, then quickly resumed conversations, though many eyes followed her as she moved through the room.
Hunter sat at the head table with his senior pack members. His blue eyes tracked her approach, narrowing slightly as they took in her appearance.
"Sleep well?" he asked as she took the empty seat next to him—a placement that caused more whispers among the pack.
"Fine," Raven lied, avoiding his gaze. "Any news from the Mooncrest representatives?"
Hunter's expression darkened. "They've agreed to give me three days to 'consider their request' for your return."
"And after three days?"
"We'll deal with that when it comes," he said, sliding a plate of food toward her. "Eat. You look pale."
Raven picked at her breakfast, too distracted by the tingling in her hands to have much appetite. She was aware of Hunter watching her, his gaze intense.
"The gloves are an interesting choice," he commented quietly.
Raven tensed. "My hands get cold in the morning."
"It's the middle of summer."
Before she could respond, Sylvia appeared at Hunter's side, whispering something in his ear. His eyes widened slightly, then his face settled back into its usual mask.
"We need to talk," he said to Raven. "Privately."
In Hunter's office, Raven found Lily waiting, her small face solemn. Nate stood beside her, looking troubled.
"Show her," Hunter commanded gently.
Lily held out her hands. Raven gasped. The same silver patterns that marked her own skin glowed on Lily's.
"It started after I woke up," Lily said, her voice trembling. "I had this dream—"
"About a white wolf?" Raven whispered.
Lily's eyes widened. "You too?"
Slowly, Raven removed her gloves. The patterns had grown brighter, pulsing with light.
Hunter sucked in a sharp breath. "Sylvia was right." He turned to the old woman who had followed them in. "What does it mean?"
Sylvia's milky eyes gleamed with excitement. "It means the prophecy is coming true. The bloodlines are awakening."
"What prophecy?" Raven demanded. "What bloodlines?"
Sylvia moved to a bookshelf, pulling down an ancient, leather-bound volume. She opened it to reveal pages covered in faded script and intricate drawings.
"Long ago, before the packs were divided, werewolves were united under the rule of five Alpha bloodlines," she explained. "Each bloodline had a gift—healing, strength, foresight, communication with nature, and command."
She pointed to a drawing of five wolves standing in a circle, their paws touching a silver pool.
"The first Alpha of the Silversong line was a healer," Sylvia continued. "His blood could mend wounds, cure sickness, even repair the bonds between packmates."
Raven stared at her glowing hands. "You think I'm—"
"I know you are," Sylvia interrupted. "And this child—" she gestured to Lily "—carries the blood as well."
"But my father wasn't a Silversong," Lily protested.
"Your mother was," Hunter said quietly. "Wasn't she?"
Lily nodded, surprised. "How did you know?"
"Because Alpha Marcus wasn't killed randomly," Hunter said grimly. "Someone is hunting down the bloodlines. They've been doing it for generations."
"But why?" Raven asked.
Sylvia turned the page to show a chilling image—a wolf with glowing eyes standing over fallen packmates.
"Because when united, the five bloodlines have the power to rule all werewolves," she said. "Or to destroy them."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
"There's more," Hunter said finally. "Kieran and Elara left this morning—supposedly returning to report to Lady Seraphina. But our scouts found this in the forest."
He handed Raven a small silver object. A button, engraved with a symbol she didn't recognize—a wolf's head with a dagger through it.
"It's the mark of the Shadow Watchers," Sylvia whispered, fear in her voice. "Hunters who work with humans to capture and study werewolves."
"You think Kieran and Elara are working with them?" Raven asked, her heart sinking at the thought of Kieran's betrayal.
"I think everyone is in danger," Hunter replied. "Especially you two." He nodded toward Raven and Lily. "The bloodlines are waking up, which means someone is trying to either unite them—"
"Or destroy them," Raven finished. She looked down at her glowing hands, understanding at last why she had always felt different. "What do we do now?"
Hunter's eyes met hers, and that strange connection flared between them again.
"Now," he said, "we find the others before the Shadow Watchers do."
As if responding to his words, the silver light in Raven's hands pulsed brightly once, then shot toward Hunter, wrapping around his wrist like a glowing bracelet.
Everyone stared in shock as the light sank into his skin, leaving a silver mark shaped like a crescent moon.
"What just happened?" Hunter demanded, staring at the mark.
Sylvia's face broke into a knowing smile. "The bond has begun. The Alpha and the Healer, joined once more." She
looked between Hunter and Raven with satisfaction. "Now the real challenge begins."