THE AWAKENING
The final crack echoed through the clearing.
For one terrifying moment—
Everything stopped.
No wind.
No movement.
No sound.
Aria’s body went completely still in the Alpha King’s arms.
Her head slowly lifted.
Her silver eyes were glowing brighter than ever before.
But they no longer looked human.
They looked ancient.
Older than the forest.
Older than the mountains surrounding them.
Lucian felt it immediately.
The pressure in the air.
The overwhelming power.
“…It’s awake,” he whispered.
Rowan swallowed hard.
“You mean she’s awake, right?”
Elias shook his head slowly.
“No.”
His voice trembled.
“Something else is.”
Aria stood up slowly.
The Alpha King tried to hold her shoulder.
But the moment his hand touched her—
A surge of power pushed him back.
Not violently.
Just enough to make space.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
Her movements were calm.
Too calm.
The Blood Emperor watched with fascination.
“Yes…”
He looked almost proud.
“Finally.”
Aria’s glowing eyes turned toward him.
For a moment, the forest itself seemed to hold its breath.
Then she spoke.
But the voice that came from her mouth wasn’t only hers.
It was deeper.
Echoing.
Like two voices speaking together.
“…You woke me.”
Rowan felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
“That’s definitely not normal.”
Lucian didn’t respond.
His eyes stayed fixed on Aria.
The Blood Emperor spread his arms slightly.
“You’ve been asleep for centuries.”
Aria tilted her head slowly.
The motion looked strangely wolf-like.
“…And yet the world still exists.”
The Blood Emperor smiled.
“For now.”
The Alpha King stepped forward again.
“Aria.”
Her glowing eyes shifted toward him.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
The light inside them flickered.
Like she recognized him.
But then it vanished again.
Lucian noticed immediately.
“Her mind is still there.”
Elias spoke quietly.
“Barely.”
The Blood Emperor lifted the Bloodstone again.
“The seal is broken.”
His red eyes gleamed.
“Your power is free now.”
Aria slowly looked down at her own hands.
Energy swirled around her fingers.
Silver light crackled through the air.
The ground beneath her feet cracked further.
“…Weak,” she murmured.
Rowan blinked.
“Did she just call that weak?”
Lucian’s voice was tense.
“That’s the Primordial Wolf speaking.”
The Blood Emperor stepped closer.
“Your power has been suppressed for too long.”
He held the Bloodstone toward her.
“Take it.”
Lucian shouted instantly.
“Don’t!”
Aria’s glowing eyes moved back to the Blood Emperor.
She didn’t reach for the stone.
Instead, she studied him.
“…You are the one who woke me.”
The Blood Emperor smiled proudly.
“Yes.”
For the first time since arriving—
He looked excited.
“I’ve spent years searching for you.”
Aria took another slow step forward.
Silver energy rippled through the clearing with every movement.
“…Why?”
The Blood Emperor’s voice lowered.
“Because together—”
He lifted the Bloodstone higher.
“We can reshape this world.”
Lucian cursed quietly.
“Of course that’s his plan.”
The Alpha King’s voice came out firm.
“Aria, listen to me.”
Her glowing eyes flickered again.
But the Primordial power was still stronger.
The Blood Emperor continued.
“The wolves have grown weak.”
His red eyes burned with hatred.
“They fight over territory while humans spread across the world.”
Aria remained silent.
Listening.
“Together,” he said, “we can return wolves to their rightful place.”
Rowan muttered,
“I really don’t like where this speech is going.”
The Blood Emperor extended the Bloodstone toward her again.
“Take it.”
“For the first time in centuries…”
“…you can become what you were meant to be.”
Aria slowly lifted her hand.
Lucian’s voice cut through the clearing.
“Aria, stop!”
But her fingers moved closer to the glowing stone.
The Alpha King took a step forward.
“Aria.”
This time—
Her glowing eyes snapped toward him again.
And suddenly the silver light inside them flickered violently.
For a split second—
Her normal voice broke through.
“…Kael?”
The Alpha King froze.
But the Blood Emperor reacted faster.
His smile widened.
“Too late.”
The Bloodstone flared bright red.
And the moment Aria’s fingers touched it—
A massive explosion of silver power tore through the entire forest.