Maya couldn't stop thinking about her strange dream as she got dressed for warrior training. The silver wolf's glowing eyes and that whispered "Find me" kept playing in her mind.
She touched the moonstone necklace. It wasn't glowing anymore, but it still felt warm against her skin. What did the dream mean? And why had the necklace glowed?
"Maya! You'll be late for training!" her mom called from downstairs.
Maya grabbed her training bag and rushed down. "Sorry! I'm going now!"
"Don't forget your lunch," her mom said, handing her a wrapped sandwich. "And happy day-after-birthday," she added with a smile.
The training grounds were at the edge of the pack territory. It was a large clearing surrounded by tall pine trees, with training equipment scattered around – wooden practice swords, rope climbing walls, and targets for practicing aim.
Maya spotted Caleb waiting for her under their usual tree. His face brightened when he saw her.
"How does it feel being eighteen?" he asked.
Maya was about to answer when she noticed something was wrong with Caleb. His eye had a purple bruise around it.
"What happened to your face?" she asked, reaching up to touch the bruise gently.
Caleb looked away. "It's nothing."
"That's not nothing. Who did this?"
Caleb sighed. "Who do you think? Liam caught me practicing alpha moves yesterday. Said I needed to remember my place."
Maya's blood boiled. This was exactly why she hated Liam. Just because he was the Alpha's son, he thought he could push everyone around.
"He had no right," she growled.
"Forget it. Coach Tanner is calling everyone over."
The warriors-in-training gathered in a circle around Coach Tanner, a tough older wolf with gray hair and a scar across his cheek from an old battle.
"Today we're practicing defense moves," Coach announced. "Partner up!"
Maya paired with Caleb, and they practiced blocking and dodging each other's attacks. She tried to focus, but her eyes kept drifting to where Liam was training with his friend Darren.
Liam moved with incredible speed and strength. His dark hair fell across his forehead as he easily blocked Darren's attacks. Maya hated to admit it, but he was good – really good.
Suddenly, a cry caught everyone's attention. Maya turned to see a younger boy named Tyler on the ground. He was only fourteen and small for his age. Standing over him was Liam, looking angry.
"I told you to watch where you're going," Liam snapped.
Tyler scrambled backward, his eyes wide with fear. "I'm sorry! I didn't see you!"
"Maybe you need better eyes," Liam grabbed the front of Tyler's shirt, lifting him slightly.
Without thinking, Maya dropped her practice sword and marched across the training ground. Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch.
"Let him go," Maya demanded, standing directly in front of Liam.
Liam looked up, surprise flashing across his face before it hardened again. "This doesn't concern you, Maya."
"When you bully someone half your size, it concerns everyone," she shot back.
The training ground went completely silent. No one ever talked to Liam like that. He was the Alpha's son, the future leader of their pack.
Liam let go of Tyler's shirt and turned to face Maya fully. He towered over her by at least six inches, his broad shoulders blocking the sun.
"You should be careful who you challenge," he said, his voice dangerously quiet.
Maya stood her ground, chin raised. "And you should be careful how you treat pack members. A real future Alpha protects the weak, not bullies them."
A muscle twitched in Liam's jaw. His dark eyes burned into hers.
Coach Tanner started walking toward them, but Maya wasn't finished.
"Or maybe you're just afraid someone smaller might actually beat you someday," she taunted.
Liam's eyes flashed with wolf-gold for a split second. "You think you could beat me?"
"I think I'd sure like to try."
Coach Tanner reached them. "That's enough! Everyone back to practice!"
Liam didn't move, still staring at Maya. Something strange passed between them – a spark of... something. Maya felt a weird flutter in her chest, like the one she'd felt at her birthday party.
"You've got guts," Liam finally said. "Stupid, but brave."
He turned and walked away, leaving Maya shaking with anger and something else she couldn't name.
Tyler looked up at her with wide eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.
Maya helped him up. "Don't worry about him. Just keep practicing, and you'll get stronger."
For the rest of training, Maya could feel Liam watching her. Every time she looked his way, his eyes were on her. It made her skin tingle in a strange way.
After training, Maya walked home with Caleb.
"I can't believe you stood up to Liam like that," Caleb said, shaking his head. "No one does that."
"Someone should. Just because his dad is Alpha doesn't give him the right to treat people badly."
"Alpha Marcus isn't going to be happy when he hears about it."
Maya touched her necklace nervously. "I don't care. It was worth it."
When they reached Maya's house, Caleb stopped her. "Be careful, Maya. Things are different now that you're eighteen. Pack politics get more complicated."
"What do you mean?"
"Just... watch your back, okay?" He looked worried.
After Caleb left, Maya went inside and found her mom in the kitchen.
"How was training?" her mom asked.
Maya hesitated, then decided to tell the truth. "I stood up to Liam today. He was bullying Tyler."
Her mom froze, a worried look crossing her face. "Oh, Maya."
"What? He was wrong, Mom!"
"I know, but..." Her mom sighed. "Come sit down. There are things about pack life you need to understand now that you're eighteen."
Maya sat at the kitchen table, suddenly nervous. "What things?"
"The relationship between Alphas and pack members is complicated. Standing up to the Alpha's son is... unusual."
"So I should just let him bully people?" Maya asked, crossing her arms.
"No, but—" Her mom stopped suddenly, looking at Maya's necklace. "Is the moonstone warm?"
Maya touched it, surprised. "Yes. How did you know?"
A strange look passed over her mom's face. "Just a guess. Listen, be careful around Liam, okay? Your father and I just want you to be safe."
That night, Maya couldn't sleep. She kept replaying the moment when Liam's eyes had flashed gold. Why had she felt that strange connection?
She finally drifted off, only to find herself back in the dream forest. The silver wolf was waiting for her, sitting in a moonlit clearing.
This time, as Maya approached in her white wolf form, the silver wolf began to change. Its shape blurred and stretched until it wasn't a wolf anymore but a human figure standing in the shadows.
Maya tried to see the person's face, but it remained hidden in darkness. Only the eyes were visible – familiar eyes that glowed with golden light.
"Who are you?" Maya tried to ask, but no sound came out.
The figure stepped forward, almost close enough to recognize. "You already know," a voice whispered.
Just as the face was about to be revealed, Maya woke up gasping. Her heart raced as she sat up in bed. The moonstone was glowing again, brighter than before.
Outside her window, a shadow moved across the yard – a large wolf with dark fur, watching her house. As Maya stared, the wolf's eyes caught the moonlight and flashed gold.
The same gold as the eyes in her dream.
The same gold as Liam's eyes during their confrontation.
Maya's breath caught in her throat. It couldn't be. The silver wolf in her dream couldn't possibly be Liam.
Could it?
The dark wolf turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving Maya with a terrible realization: the mysterious connection she'd felt with Liam at training might be something much bigger and more frightening than she'd ever imagined.