The crack in the pendant was small.
Barely visible.
But everyone in the clearing felt it.
The moment the seal fractured, a wave of energy burst outward from Elara. The ground trembled beneath her feet as a pulse of silver light spread across the clearing.
The battle stopped.
Even the rogues froze.
Lucien's eyes widened.
"Elara…"
She couldn't answer.
The light around her grew brighter, wrapping around her body like mist. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, loud and unstoppable.
It felt like something inside her had been asleep for years.
And now it was waking up.
The rogue leader stared at her with pure fascination.
"There it is," he whispered.
The pendant cracked again.
A thin line of silver light spread through the charm before shattering completely. The broken pieces fell away, but the light did not fade.
It flowed into Elara instead.
She gasped as the power surged through her veins.
Visions flashed across her mind.
Ancient forests.
Warriors standing beneath a blood moon.
A woman with silver eyes placing the pendant around a young child's neck.
Protect her.
Seal the power.
Wait until she is ready.
The visions vanished as quickly as they appeared.
Elara dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
Lucien rushed toward her, but before he could reach her—
The rogue leader moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
He lunged through the chaos, claws aimed straight for her.
But the moment he stepped within reach—
The silver light exploded outward.
A shockwave blasted through the clearing, throwing the rogue backward like a rag doll.
He crashed into the ground several meters away.
The pack stared in stunned silence.
Elara slowly stood.
The silver glow still surrounded her, swirling gently like living energy.
Her eyes lifted.
And for the first time—
They shone with the same silver light.
Gamma whispered under his breath.
"…Impossible."
The rogue leader pushed himself up, wiping blood from his mouth.
Instead of fear—
He smiled.
"So the legends were true."
Lucien stepped beside Elara, his massive Lycan form tense and ready.
"What legends?" he demanded.
The rogue laughed quietly.
"The Moonborne."
The word echoed through the clearing.
Ancient.
Forgotten.
Dangerous.
The rogue pointed directly at Elara.
"She isn't just powerful."
His grin widened.
"She's the beginning of the war."
Above them, the blood moon burned brighter.
And deep within the forest—