Chapter 1 The Boy Without a Wolf
The first howl rose with the dawn.
It rolled across the Blackfang Valley like thunder, answered by dozens more until the mountains trembled beneath the chorus. Villagers stepped out of their homes with smiles on their faces, parents held their children close, and elders whispered blessings to the Moon Goddess.Today was Awakening Day.
The day every child who had reached eighteen would finally meet the wolf sleeping inside them.
For most families, it was a celebration.
For Jason it felt like a funeral.
He stood alone at the edge of the training grounds, fingers tightening around the worn leather strap wrapped around his wrist. The valley spread beneath him, alive with banners, laughter, and music, yet none of it reached him.People noticed him anyway.
They always did."There he is."
"The wolfless disgrace."
"I heard his father died trying to protect that useless boy."
"His mother should have left the pack instead of raising such shame."
The whispers drifted through the crowd like smoke. Some hid their laughter. Others didn't bother.Jason kept walking. He felt like ending his life ,if his wolf refuses to be awaken , he thought how he has tried to kill him self but death did not come fort , he thought about the humiliation he has gone through for years ,the insults even to his mother ,
He had learned years ago that answering insults only gave people more reasons to throw them.
His boots crunched against the gravel path leading toward the sacred arena. Every step pulled old memories behind him.
The first time another child called him cursed.
The day older boys pinned him to the ground because they wanted to see if a monster's blood looked different.
The nights his mother cleaned his wounds without saying a word, pretending not to notice his silent tears.
She always told him the same thing.
"One day the moon will answer you too."
He wanted to believe her.He truly did.
But eighteen years had taught him that hope could become its own kind of cruelty.
The arena came into view.
Thousands of pack members filled the stone terraces circling the ancient Moon Altar. Torches burned with pale silver flames despite the daylight, their light reflecting from carvings older than memory itself.
The Alpha Council sat above everyone else.
Power radiated from them without effort.
Beside the throne stood Lyra.
The future Alpha's daughter.
Her silver hair caught the morning breeze as she looked over the gathering. Calm. Proud. Untouchable.
Years ago, she had slipped Kael half of her lunch when everyone else refused to sit beside him.
Years ago, she had promised they would always be friends.
Now she looked through him as though he had never existed.jason lowered his eyes.
Some distances could never be crossed.
A horn sounded.
Silence swept over the arena.
The High Elder stepped onto the altar, leaning on a staff carved from moonwood.
"Children of Blackfang," his voice echoed across the valley, "today the Moon Goddess reveals your true nature. Walk forward without fear, for every wolf has its destiny."
One by one, names were called.
A nervous girl stepped onto the altar.
Silver light wrapped around her body before exploding into the shape of a graceful white wolf.Cheers erupted.
Another youth awakened a massive brown wolf.
The ground shook beneath its paws.
His family cried with joy.
Again and again, wolves appeared.
Fast wolves.Strong wolves.
Rare wolves blessed by ancient bloodlines.
Each awakening drew louder applause than the last.
Jason watched every one of them.
Not with jealousy.With longing.
He imagined what it would feel like to hear another heartbeat inside his soul.
To run beneath the moon without being alone, to belong.Hours passed.
The crowd grew restless.
Everyone knew whose name remained.
The High Elder's expression tightened.
"Jason
A wave of uneasy murmurs spread through the arena.
Jason climbed the stone steps slowly.
Each footstep echoed louder than the last.
Children pointed.
Adults shook their heads.Someone laughed.
Another shouted, "Maybe the altar will finally reject him completely."
He stopped before the ancient stone.
Cold wind circled his body.
The High Elder avoided his eyes.
"Place your hand upon the altar."Jason obeyed.
The stone felt colder than ice.
Nothing happened.Seconds crawled by.
The silence deepened until it became unbearable.
A few people chuckled.Then more joined them.
The laughter rolled across the arena.
"No wolf."I told you.""He's cursed."
The sound struck harder than any punch.
Jason's Anthony closed his eyes.His chest tightened.
For one impossible moment, he wished the earth would open and swallow him whole.
Then A single crack split across the center of the Moon Altar.The laughter stopped.
Another crack followed.
Silver light leaked through the ancient stone.
The ground trembled.
The torches burst into towering pillars of flame.
Every awakened wolf in the arena threw back its head and howled in terror.
The Alpha Council shot to their feet.
The High Elder stumbled backward, horror spreading across his face.
Deep beneath the mountain, something answered.Not a howl.
A heartbeat, slow, Ancient ,Hungry.
Kael's hand remained frozen against the altar as a voice no one else could hear whispered through his soul."At last I have found you."
