yn's

every shadow stretching like a hand. I could feel the pulse of life benea

way, to vanish into the dark, to hide as I had so many years ago. But som

oo, don't you?

ious. "I feel the shift," he admitted. "The forest kn

tection was good. H

you mean,

ger, desire. The stronger the feeling, the more... it reacts. I've seen

th under my skin. The forest's pulse wasn't just beneath my feet-it was inside me. And eve

ze. Leo's hand tightened on my

young, nervous, weapons ready. They halted when they saw

racking Blackridge movements. They're... unusual. Coordin

ust a threat-they were sizing me up, measuring t

voice was weaker than I intended. The words came out l

don't give orders here," he said, tone low bu

right. Right now, I had no idea what I was capable o

ep deliberate, ears straining

deliberate.

stless. It whispered in a way I could feel rat

spered. "The

ure tense. Then he murmured something under his breath-something

shadow darting through the tree

ng my wrist, pulling me behi

agile, predatory. Blackridge. The way he moved made my stomach

protective, ready to strike. But I forced myself to stay

. "You're safe," he whispered. But even he tense

harp. "We know she's with you, Alpha," he called out. "You can't

were like a dagger. I wasn't an object, a weapon, or a

around small saplings, rising just enough to startle the Blackridge scout.

ghtened. "St

rstand. She's power. And power doesn't wai

to be claimed? The forest answered my fury with a surge beneath my skin-sharp, urgent. I didn't touch it.

, cautiously, eyes flicking to me with fear he tried

eaving. My hands trembled. "I...

"You commanded the forest without realizing it. And they know now. Bla

just a mistake. But the forest thrummed beneath me, impat

, every whisper of wind felt like a warning. And I realized, with a pit deep in my stomach: Bl

he said softly, "look at me. You are the Luna the forest chose. Th

hat strength, to grasp it and hold it like armor. But deep down, th

trol it... the forest

night, close this time. To

t far from the Greenwood Sanctum," he said quietly.

rest stirring, restless, almost impatient beneath my

r shoulders. Every step carried us deepe

en I s

oving among the trees. Closer. S

old. The forest thrummed, alive

tainty, that nothing-nothin

d only ju

beneath my feet in response. Leo grabbed my arm and whispered, "Hold on, Eve

urged beneath me, respond

I knew the real fi