---- Omega." I stopped. "You mean...2" "I'm not sure," he shook his head. "But since she arrived, the mood in the pack has changed. The Alpha has changed." A gust of wind brought a strange scent - strong musk mixed with some herb I didn't recognize. "What's that?" I frowned. Marcus tensed. "Something's not right. That smell «it's a lot like..." Before he could finish, a low growl came from the bushes. Shadow wolves! These fierce creatures rarely came to the hunting grounds; they usually stayed in the deeper parts of the forest. More importantly, shadow wolves were protected, considered messengers of the Moon ---- Goddess. "Impossible," Marcus whispered, shocked. " Shadow wolves never enter this area." Suddenly, a huge black shadow burst from the trees, lunging straight at me! I quickly raised my spear to defend myself, but the shadow wolf was much stronger than I expected. The impact sent me staggering back. "Sera!" Marcus yelled, drawing his dagger and charging forward. The shadow wolf roared, its eyes glowing an unnatural red. It completely ignored Marcus, focusing only on attacking me. Worse, a sharp pain shot through my belly - the cub was reacting to the danger. "Stay back!" I yelled at Marcus, dodging another lunge from the wolf. ---- This wasn't right. Shadow wolves never attacked werewolves unprovoked, unless... they were being guided or controlled somehow. Just as the third attack came, a dark shape flew out of the trees and slammed the shadow wolf to the ground. Kaelen! He'd shifted into his wolf form, his black fur glinting in the moonlight. The two powerful creatures rolled and tore at each other on the ground, their roars shaking the forest. Finally, the shadow wolf let out a low snarl, retreated into the trees, and disappeared. Kaelen quickly shifted back to human form and rushed to my side. "Are you okay? The cub?" I was about to answer when a voice interrupted us. "Alpha! There you are!" Lyra ran out from the trees, her face a mask of terror. "I've been looking ---- all over for you!" Seeing us, she quickly put on a concerned expression. "What happened? Are you two alright? " "A shadow wolf attacked Sera,'' Marcus answered curtly. "A shadow wolf?" Lyra's eyes widened. "But they never come... Wait,"' she suddenly pointed at the silver spear in my hand. "Did you go into the northern forbidden zone? That's shadow wolf territory!" "What?" I stared at her, shocked. "We were in the eastern section! We didn't go anywhere near the north!" Kaelen stared at me intently. "Are you sure?" "Of course, I'm sure!" I said angrily. "Marcus can vouch for me!" But Lyra picked up a small cloth bag from the