The valley remained silent long after the witches vanished.
Smoke drifted through the air where magic had scorched the ground. Wolves slowly gathered near the central fire, checking for injuries and helping the wounded.
Lena stood in the middle of the clearing, still trembling.
"I almost destroyed everything," she whispered.
Kael shook his head. "You saved us."
Eira approached carefully.
"The Moonborn's power is ancient," she said. "It responds to emotion and instinct."
Lena looked toward the forest where Selene had disappeared.
"She'll come back," Lena said.
Eira nodded.
"Yes. Tonight proved she cannot defeat you directly yet."
Kael frowned.
"Which means she'll try something else."
A younger wolf approached quickly.
"Alpha," he said. "Scouts spotted witches moving through the northern ridge."
Eira's expression darkened.
"Selene is gathering forces."
Lena felt the weight of those words.
"This war is about me, isn't it?"
Kael met her eyes.
"No," he said firmly.
"It's about what you represent."
Lena frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Eira answered quietly.
"The Moonborn was meant to unite the ancient bloodlines."
She gestured toward the forest.
"And Selene fears a world where wolves and witches stand together."
Lena looked across the valley at the pack watching her.
For the first time she understood.
Her awakening hadn't just started a battle.
It had started a war.