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On the night of her eighteenth birthday, Aria Thorn breaks one rule: never enter the Pines during a full moon. What she discovers isn't just a wolf-but a truth that shatters her entire world. Aria isn't human. Not entirely. A dormant power awakens within her, calling to the bloodline she never knew she had-a lineage tied to ancient werewolves, a cursed prophecy, and a mate she never asked for. Thrust into a hidden world of rival packs, brutal laws, and shifting loyalties, Aria must navigate a destiny soaked in moonlight and blood. As the mysterious Alpha heir, Kael Blackthorn, claims her as his fated mate, the line between protection and possession blurs. But Aria is no one's to control-not even the moon's. The mark on her skin is only the beginning. Because something is rising in the dark. And Aria might be the key... or the weapon.
Chapter 1 THE HOWL IN THE PINES
The wind whispered through the pine trees of Black Hollow, a sound too ancient to belong to nature alone. Aria Thorn stood on the edge of the forest, her breath fogging in the crisp night air. The full moon hung heavy above the treetops, casting silver light across the clearing. It was her eighteenth birthday. And something deep in her bones told her this one mattered more than all the others.
She wasn't supposed to be out this late.
"Stay away from the woods," her aunt had always said. "Especially on a full moon."
But Aria had never been one for rules. The truth was, she'd always felt a strange pull to these woods-as if they were calling her. Tonight, that call was deafening.
Crunch. A branch snapped behind her.
She spun. "Hello?"
Only the forest answered back.
She tightened her grip on the flashlight, its dim beam barely piercing the gloom. Her heart thudded louder than her footsteps as she moved deeper into the trees, curiosity outweighing common sense. Then she heard it-a low, echoing howl. It wasn't just any howl. It was mournful, wild... and far too close.
Her body tensed.
Suddenly, something darted through the trees to her left. Fast. Too fast to be human. Her breath caught in her throat as glowing amber eyes blinked at her from the shadows. A wolf. Massive. Its black fur shimmered under the moonlight.
She took a step back. Then another. Her heel hit a root and she fell hard, the flashlight flying from her hand. The beam rolled away, leaving her in near darkness. She scrambled to her feet, heart pounding, but the wolf didn't move.
It watched her. Calm. Calculated.
And then-it bowed its head.
What?
Her body froze in a cocktail of fear and wonder. Wolves didn't behave like this. This wasn't just a wild animal. This... thing... was intelligent.
The wolf stepped forward.
"Stop!" Her voice cracked, but her hands flared up instinctively. A strange heat surged through her palms.
The wolf halted, eyes widening.
Then it turned and disappeared into the trees.
Silence fell like a curtain.
"What the hell...?" Aria whispered.
But she had no time to make sense of it. From the shadows behind her came a different sound-fast footsteps. Human ones.
"Aria!" a familiar voice called. It was Jesse, her best friend since middle school. He broke through the trees, panting. "What are you doing out here?!"
She looked past him, back to where the wolf had been-but it was gone.
"I saw... something. A wolf."
Jesse's face paled. "You went into the Pines on your birthday?"
"I needed answers."
He grabbed her arm. "Then you found more questions. Come on-we need to leave. Now."
She hesitated. "You're not even going to ask what I saw?"
"I don't have to." His eyes flickered gold for a split second. Just enough for her to catch it.
"Your eyes-"
"I'll explain everything. But not here. They'll be coming."
"Who?"
"The ones who felt it." Jesse looked around. "When a wolf awakens... it sends a ripple."
Aria's stomach turned. "What do you mean awakens?"
He looked her dead in the eyes.
"You're not human, Aria. Not fully."
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