Chapter 16

Freya's POV

Lydia wasn’t wrong. For the sake of competition, attacks between wolves are allowed, but they must be within limits. Once a werewolf kills one of their own kind, they will be expelled from the pack. But the forest is full of dangers—how can one determine whether it was an attack by a wolf or just an accident?

I thanked her, assuring her that I would be careful, then headed toward my preparation tent. She seems to enjoy human trinkets and probably doesn’t mind my mixed-blood wolf identity; her advice was genuinely sincere. But I also know I can’t accept her kindness and withdraw from the trial. In reality, I have no other path to take.

The preparation tent buzzed with nervous energy as I made my final checks before the hunt. Dusk painted the sky in amber and purple, while excited wolf howls echoed through Silver Moon Territory. My fingers touched the smooth moonstone pendant Ivy had given me, its pale blue glow warm against my skin.

"This is my strongest protection charm," Ivy had warned, her eyes flashing with magic as she'd put it around my neck. "It can sense danger and make you stronger for a short time, but it only works once. Save it for when you might die, or it will be wasted."

I felt movement in my belly—not from fear, but from the tiny life growing inside me. My wolf cub seemed restless tonight, maybe sensing the danger ahead. I placed my hand over my still-flat stomach.

"Easy, little one," I whispered. "We'll be careful."

"Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, they say," came a rough voice behind me.

I turned to find Victor watching me with knowing eyes. Despite his age, the former Alpha still commanded respect, his silver hair and weathered face showing years of hunts.

"Just a pre-hunt ritual," I answered, quickly moving my hand from my stomach.

Victor's eyes followed the movement, but he said nothing about it. Instead, he stepped closer, lowering his voice. "The first trial is the 'Moonlit Forest Chase.' But remember, Freya—the most dangerous prey tonight isn't the deer you'll be hunting."

We stepped out of the tent, and I nodded. "It's our own kind."

"Indeed. Under the full moon, even the gentlest wolf turns savage." His eyes moved past me, and I followed his gaze to where Riley stood near Ethan, her hair shining in the fading light.

Victor squeezed my shoulder. "Watch your back, young one."

As the last bit of sunlight disappeared, Ethan stepped onto the raised platform at the center of the ceremonial grounds. The crowd went quiet, all eyes turning to their Alpha. Even in human form, he radiated power, his broad shoulders straight, his voice deep and commanding as it reached across the gathering.

"Tonight marks the autumn's first full moon, and with it, the opening of the Silver Moon Hunt," he announced. "The first trial requires each participant to hunt ten silver-ringed deer in the Moonlit Forest—alone."

His eyes swept across the assembled wolves, lingering briefly on me. Was that worry in his eyes, or warning? I couldn't tell.

"There are no rules," he continued. "But remember—kill another wolf, and you will be forever banished from the pack."

A chill ran down my spine. Already I could feel my body responding to the moonlight, my wolf stirring beneath my skin, eager to break free.

In my womb, the cub grew more active, making the transformation harder than usual. As the full moon cleared the treetops, bathing everything in silver light, the change began.

Pain ripped through me like fire. I fell to my knees, a scream tearing from my throat as my bones cracked and shifted. The agony, always worse for mixed-bloods like me, was unbearable with the pregnancy. Sweat poured down my face as my jaw stretched and lengthened. My skin felt like it was being torn apart as fur pushed through, my muscles twisting and reshaping beneath.

I couldn't hold back the howl of pain that escaped me, my voice changing mid-cry from human to wolf. My spine arched unnaturally, joints popping as they reformed. The world spun around me in a haze of silver moonlight and red pain.

When the transformation finally ended, I stood on four legs, panting heavily. I was smaller than usual, my movements careful and slow. I looked around to see the other wolves already racing toward the forest entrance, their sleek bodies disappearing among the trees.

Riley's pure white wolf form stood out against the darkness. Before following the others, she turned to me and let out a low growl, the threat clear as day. Then she was gone, a white ghost vanishing into the shadows.

I took a deep breath and stepped carefully into the Moonlit Forest, where silver mist wrapped around ancient trees, making everything look beautiful and deadly.

As I followed the scent, something caught my eye—a faint, unnatural shine on the forest floor. I stopped, sniffing the air with caution. There, almost hidden among the leaves and dirt, was a fine dusting of silver powder.

My fur stood on end. This wasn't natural; someone had set this trap on purpose. I carefully went around the area, and just as I thought, found nearly invisible silver threads strung between trees at throat height—deadly for any werewolf who ran into them.

I recalled Victor's warning. The elders spoke of honorable hunts, not of deadly snares like these. This wasn't a test of skill; it was an assassination attempt.

Anger burned in my chest. These traps could cut off a wolf's head or leg. They weren't part of the traditional hunt; someone wanted to kill their competition.

I crouched low, stalking close to the ground, the silver wire trap gleaming coldly just an inch above my head. Not far away, a Silver-ring Deer was grazing on moss. I took a wide detour, approaching from downwind, and leapt forward before it could sense me... This process repeated six times, each one making my heart race with fear.

After successfully hunting my sixth deer, I was chasing my seventh when it suddenly changed direction, running toward a particularly thick patch of bushes. I paused for a second, but hunting instinct pushed me forward. I burst through the undergrowth into a small clearing—and found the deer gone.

The ground beneath my feet suddenly gave way, and before I could run, I felt myself falling. The pendant against my chest burned hot.

Trap!