Chapter 233 Chapter 233

Chapter 233 Chapter 233
The night was quiet at first. Too quiet. Damien had been sitting outside, looking at the sky, his mind heavy with thoughts of the coming danger. Kael stood not far away, checking the guards, making sure the borders were secure. Inside the main house, Elara rested, her hands gently rubbing her stomach as she hummed to the child inside her. Mira was with her, refusing to leave her side.

Then, suddenly, the peace broke. A loud scream came from the border. The smell of smoke followed. One of the guards ran toward Damien, panting hard, his face covered in sweat.

“Alpha!” the guard cried. “The forest is burning. They have set fire to the outer borders!”

Damien’s eyes turned sharp. “Lucien,” he growled under his breath. He stood quickly and howled, summoning the warriors of the pack.

Kael was already moving. “I saw shadows earlier. I knew something was wrong!”

Damien placed a strong hand on his shoulder. “Then tonight we fight.”

The alarm spread through the pack. Men rushed out, some half-shifted already, their eyes glowing, teeth bared. The women and children were gathered together, Mira quickly leading them to the safer side of the pack house. She carried a small child in her arms, her face serious but calm, giving strength to the frightened ones around her.

Inside, Elara felt her heart beating faster. She stood and walked to the window. From there, she could see the fire rising in the distance, orange flames licking the night sky. She pressed her hand against the glass. “It has started,” she whispered.

Her body felt strange. A hot energy moved through her veins, burning but not painful. Her stomach tightened, but not from the child—it was something else, something deeper. She shook her head, trying to clear the feeling, but it stayed.

Outside, Damien and Kael led the first defense. They charged toward the burning forest, their men following. Wolves ran beside them, growling and snapping, ready for battle.

The enemy came out of the shadows—Lucien’s men. Dark, wild-looking wolves with red eyes, moving like demons. They clashed with Damien’s warriors at the edge of the fire. The sound of growls, howls, and the clash of claws filled the air.

Kael shifted quickly, his wolf tall and strong, his silver fur shining in the firelight. He jumped on one of Lucien’s men, tearing through him with powerful jaws. Damien too shifted, his black wolf larger than any other, his presence commanding. He ripped through two enemies at once, his growl sending fear through their lines.

Mira, from the safe side, shouted to the women, “Stay together! Do not panic!” She carried food, water, and comforted the children, though her eyes kept darting toward the battlefield with worry.

Back in her room, Elara held her stomach and closed her eyes. She could hear the battle in her mind—the howls, the screams, the fire. Suddenly, her blood felt like it was boiling. She gasped and fell to her knees.

“Elara!” Mira rushed to her side, but Elara raised a hand. “No, don’t touch me,” she whispered. “Something is happening.”

Her eyes glowed faintly, a golden light shining through. Her whole body trembled as if something inside her wanted to break free. She heard voices, not from the room but from deep inside her head.

“Elara… our daughter… wake up…”

It was her parents’ voices again. Clearer than ever before.

Her body shook harder. “What is this?” she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“You are not weak,” the voices said. “Your wolf is inside you. It is time. It is time to rise.”

Elara screamed, clutching her chest. Her body burned with heat. Mira held her hands, trying to steady her. “Elara! Breathe! You are stronger than this!”

But Elara felt like fire was tearing her apart. Her bones ached, her skin itched, her blood boiled. She fell to the floor, shaking, her nails growing longer, her eyes shining brighter. For a moment, she thought she would die.

But then… it stopped. She was lying on the ground, gasping for breath. A strange calm came over her. Her heart slowed. She looked at her hands—they were shaking, but not from fear. From power.

Outside, the battle grew worse. Damien fought like a lion, but the enemy kept coming. Kael leaped and attacked, his jaws covered in blood, but even he knew this was just the beginning.

Lucien stood at a distance, watching with a smile. “Burn it all,” he ordered. His men howled and pushed forward.

But then something changed. A loud howl rose from inside the pack house. Not Damien. Not Kael. Not any of the warriors. It was different—high, clear, powerful, full of light.

Every head turned. Even Lucien froze.

Elara stood outside now, her hair blowing in the wind, her eyes glowing golden. She had not fully shifted yet, but the energy around her was strong, almost holy.

Damien, even in wolf form, recognized her and his chest swelled with pride.

“Elara…” he whispered through the bond.

Elara felt the power rushing through her veins. She was not afraid anymore. She lifted her head and howled again, her voice carrying across the battlefield. The fire seemed to shake at the sound.

The pack turned to look at her, their hearts lifted. Hope filled their eyes.

Lucien’s smile faded. His fists clenched. “So… the little Luna has power after all,” he hissed.

Elara’s hand went to her stomach. She whispered to her unborn child, “We are strong. We will not fear.”

The night burned with fire, but in the middle of it, Elara had taken her first step toward awakening her hidden wolf.