Lila crouches behind a cabin, her heart pounding as hunters fire guns into the clearing. Asher, Zane, and Rowan shift into wolves, their bodies changing fast, fur sprouting. They leap at the hunters, teeth snapping, growls echoing through the night. Lila grips her knife, wishing she could fight like them. Ethan’s voice, yelling her name, makes her stomach twist.

A hunter aims at Zane’s wolf, and Lila screams, “No!” Her fingers burn, and her nails turn into claws, sharp and long. She stares at her hands, shocked, not knowing what’s happening. Asher’s wolf glances back, his eyes wide, and Rowan’s wolf pauses, staring. The pack members gasp, stepping away from her, their faces tense.

Zane’s wolf rushes to Lila, brushing her side, his fur soft. He shifts back to human, standing close, his hand on her arm. “You’re okay,” he says, his voice steady, calming her. Lila nods, her claws gone now, her hands shaking. That tug in her chest pulls harder, like it’s tied to Zane.

Mira pulls Lila aside, away from the fight, her book of symbols in hand. “You’re a hybrid,” she says, pointing at Lila’s mark. Lila asks, “What’s that mean?” but Mira says, “It’s tied to a prophecy.” The pack members whisper, some calling Lila a traitor. Lila feels alone, like she doesn’t belong here.

The hunters keep firing, and Asher’s wolf tackles one, pinning him down. Lila wants to help, but her legs shake, her knife useless. Zane pulls her to safety, his hand warm on hers, making her heart skip. Rowan’s wolf moves fast, taking down another hunter. Lila wonders about the pendant she saw in Rowan’s bag last night.

Talia runs up, shouting about a hunter behind them. She pushes Lila out of the way of an arrow, surprising her. Lila says, “Thanks,” but Talia just nods, running back to fight. The pack drives the hunters back, their wolves snarling. Lila feels like she’s causing all this trouble.

Asher shifts back, grabbing Lila’s arm, his eyes sharp. “Stay with me,” he says, his voice hard. Zane checks her for injuries, his fingers brushing her face, sending a jolt through her. Rowan joins them, his eyes avoiding hers, like he’s hiding something. Lila wants to ask about the pendant but stays quiet.

Mira gathers the pack, standing by the fire, her voice loud. “Lila’s a hybrid—she could save or destroy us,” she says. The pack members mutter, some angry, others scared. Lila feels their eyes on her, like she’s a threat. Asher steps closer, his hand on her shoulder, making her chest tug.

A hunter lies on the ground nearby, blood on Lila’s hands from scratching him. Her mark itches, and she feels stronger, like something’s waking up. She looks at Asher, Zane, and Rowan, their faces mixed with shock and something else. The pack steps back, whispering about her claws. Lila’s heart races, not knowing what she is.

Asher pulls Lila to a quieter spot, away from the pack. “You’re not like them,” he says, his voice low. Lila asks, “What am I?” but he shakes his head, saying, “We’ll find out.” Zane stands close, his hand brushing hers, and Rowan watches, his face blank. That tug in her chest feels stronger, pulling to all three.

The pack cleans up after the fight, dragging hunters away. Lila feels useless, standing there with her knife. Zane stays by her, his arm around her shoulders, calming her. Rowan checks the trees, his knife still out, his eyes sharp. Lila thinks about the pendant, wondering what Rowan’s hiding.

Talia walks over, her face softer now. “You didn’t mean for this,” she says, surprising Lila again. Lila nods, not sure if she trusts Talia yet. The pack members keep their distance, their whispers loud. Lila feels like an outsider, even with Asher, Zane, and Rowan nearby.

Asher calls a meeting, standing by the fire. “We need to prepare for more attacks,” he says, looking at Lila. She feels like it’s her fault, like her mark brought the hunters. Zane squeezes her hand, saying, “We’ll protect you.” Rowan stays silent, his eyes on the ground.

Lila sits on a log, her backpack beside her, her mind racing. The pendant’s glow from last night haunts her, tied to Ethan somehow. She feels Asher’s strength, Zane’s warmth, and Rowan’s secrets in her chest. The pack’s distrust makes her want to run, but she stays. Her mark itches more, like it’s alive.

A scout runs into the clearing, holding a piece of paper. “It’s from Vark, the Ironclaw leader,” he says, handing it to Asher. Asher reads it, his face hardening, and passes it to Zane. Lila leans over, seeing the words: “Hand over the hybrid, or we attack.” Ethan steps out from the trees, holding a knife carved with her mark’s symbol, saying, “I’ll take her myself.”