The Moon Shadow wolves surrounded us as we entered the courtyard, their silver eyes gleaming in the morning light. I counted at least forty of them, all watching me with expressions that ranged from curiosity to reverence to outright hostility.

Viktor stepped forward, arms spread wide. "My kin, I present to you Isla Moon, granddaughter of Viktor and Selene, heir to the Moon Shadow throne."

A ripple went through the crowd. Some wolves bowed their heads immediately. Others exchanged uncertain glances.

"She's just a child," a gruff voice called out. A massive wolf with scars across his muzzle shifted to human form. He looked to be in his fifties, with grey streaking his dark hair. "How can she lead us when she just shifted for the first time?"

"Because the prophecy chose her, Garrick," Viktor replied calmly. "The white wolf has returned. The bloodline is restored."

"Prophecies are just stories," Garrick spat. He looked at me with open contempt. "I've been waiting sixty years for our pack to rise again. I won't follow some pampered palace pet who knows nothing of our ways."

Kai growled, stepping protectively in front of me. "Watch your tone when speaking to my mate."

"Your mate?" Garrick laughed harshly. "Of course the Alpha King claims her. Always looking to expand your power, aren't you, Sterling?"

"That's enough," Viktor's voice cracked like a whip. "Isla is here to learn, not to be challenged by bitter old wolves who've forgotten their place."

"My place?" Garrick's eyes flashed with anger. "My place is beside my Alpha. My true Alpha. Not this girl who's lived her whole life among weaklings."

I felt my wolf stir at the insult. She didn't like being called weak. Neither did I.

"You want to test me?" I heard myself say. Kai turned to look at me in surprise, but I stepped around him. "Fine. Name your challenge."

Viktor's eyes widened. "Isla, you don't have to—"

"Yes, I do." I met Garrick's gaze steadily. "He's right. I know nothing about Moon Shadow ways. I can't lead people who don't respect me. So let's settle this now."

Garrick's smile was predatory. "A fight then. Wolf to wolf. First blood wins."

"No," Kai said sharply. "Absolutely not. You've had decades of training. She's barely shifted."

"Then she's not ready to lead," Garrick shot back.

"I accept," I said before Kai could argue further. I looked up at my mate, saw the worry in his blue eyes. "I have to do this. You know I do."

He studied me for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. But if he seriously injures you, I'll tear him apart."

"Fair enough," Garrick said, already shifting back to wolf form.

The crowd moved back, forming a circle. Viktor pulled Kai aside, speaking in low urgent tones. Oliver grabbed my hand, his face pale.

"Isla, you don't have to fight him. We can just leave."

"I can't run from every challenge, Ollie." I knelt down to his level. "Sometimes you have to stand your ground, even when you're scared."

"Are you scared?"

"Terrified," I admitted. "But I'm going to do it anyway."

I kissed his forehead, then walked to the center of the circle. Garrick was already there, his wolf form huge and battle-scarred. He was easily twice my size.

I closed my eyes and reached for my wolf. She came immediately, eager to prove herself. The shift was faster this time, smoother. Within seconds, I stood on four legs, my white fur gleaming.

Garrick circled me slowly, assessing. I could see the calculation in his eyes—where to strike, how to end this quickly.

He lunged without warning, going for my throat.

But my wolf was faster than I expected. We dodged sideways, his teeth snapping on empty air. He whirled and came again, and this time I met him head-on.

We collided in a tangle of fur and claws. He was stronger, more experienced, but I was quicker. Every time he tried to pin me, I slipped away. Every time his teeth found fur, I twisted out of reach.

The watching wolves murmured in surprise. I wasn't supposed to be holding my own.

Garrick snarled in frustration and changed tactics. Instead of trying to overpower me, he started using technique. Feints and misdirection, forcing me to react to attacks that never came.

I fell for it. He faked left, I dodged right, and suddenly his jaws were clamped around my front leg.

Pain shot through me. First blood. He'd won.

But my wolf refused to submit. Instead of pulling away, she did something I didn't expect—she channeled power through the pain.

White light exploded from my fur, so bright everyone had to look away. Garrick yelped and released me, stumbling backward.

When the light faded, I stood in the center of the circle, my leg already healing. The bite marks closed before everyone's eyes, silver light knitting skin and fur back together.

The courtyard fell silent.

"Impossible," someone whispered. "Self-healing. That's an Alpha gift."

"Not just an Alpha gift," Viktor said, his voice filled with awe. "A Moon Shadow royal gift. The kind only the strongest of our bloodline possessed."

Garrick shifted back to human form, his face pale. He dropped to one knee. "Forgive me, Alpha. I didn't believe. But now I see."

I shifted back too, slightly dizzy from the power surge. "You won. You drew first blood."

"But you healed it instantly. That means you're stronger than the injury. Stronger than me." Garrick bowed his head. "I submit to your authority."

One by one, the other Moon Shadow wolves knelt. Even the ones who'd looked skeptical before now showed respect.

Viktor approached me, pride shining in his eyes. "Well done, granddaughter. You've just earned their loyalty."

"I didn't do anything special," I protested. "The healing just happened."

"Exactly. Your instincts are already stronger than wolves who've trained for decades." He turned to address the crowd. "Let this be the last challenge to Isla's right to lead. She is our Alpha's heir. She will be trained, and she will restore our pack to glory."

The wolves howled their agreement, and the sound echoed off the mountain walls.

Kai was at my side immediately, checking me over. "Are you alright? Does your leg hurt?"

"I'm fine. Better than fine, actually." I flexed my leg experimentally. "It's like the bite never happened."

"Royal healing is rare," Viktor explained. "Most wolves heal faster than humans, but royals can heal almost instantly from non-fatal wounds. It's a defensive mechanism, evolved to keep leaders alive in battle."

"What other gifts do I have?" I asked.

"We'll find out during training. Every royal manifests different abilities based on their nature and needs." Viktor gestured toward the fortress. "Come. Let me show you your home."

The fortress was even more impressive inside. High ceilings, ancient tapestries, training rooms and libraries. Viktor explained that he'd maintained it all these years, keeping it ready for the day the royal line returned.

"How many wolves live here?" I asked as we walked through corridors lit by glowing crystals.

"Forty-three, including those you just met. All descendants of Moon Shadow Pack members who went into hiding after the war. We've been waiting generations for this moment."

He led us to a large chamber at the fortress's heart. Inside was a throne—no, two thrones. One larger, one smaller, both carved from white stone that seemed to pulse with inner light.

"The Alpha seat and Luna seat," Viktor said softly. "Your grandmother and I sat here once. Now they're yours and your mate's, when you're ready to claim them."

I stared at the thrones, feeling the weight of history pressing down on me. "I don't know if I'll ever be ready for this."

"None of us are ready for our destiny until we step into it." Viktor's hand rested on my shoulder. "But you won't be alone. I'll teach you everything I know. And your mate will stand beside you."

Kai nodded firmly. "Always."

"Speaking of which," Viktor turned to Kai, "Alpha King, you're welcome to stay here during Isla's training. But I should warn you—the old families will notice your extended absence. They'll move against your territories."

"Let them try," Kai said coldly. "I've left my best wolves in charge. Anyone stupid enough to attack will regret it."

"Still, it might be wise to return periodically. Show your presence, remind everyone who rules."

Kai looked torn. I could see him weighing his duties against his desire to protect me.

"He's right," I said. "You can't abandon your responsibilities because of me."

"I'm not leaving you alone."

"I won't be alone. I'll have Viktor, Jett, Cole, Oliver." I took his hand. "And you can visit. It's only a few days' journey."

He didn't like it, but he nodded. "I'll stay for a week. Make sure you're settled. Then I'll return to the palace and visit every two weeks."

"That's acceptable," Viktor agreed. "Now, let me show you to your quarters. You must be exhausted from the journey."

Our rooms were in the fortress's highest tower, with windows overlooking the mountains. They were luxurious—soft beds, warm fires, everything we could need.

Oliver immediately claimed the smaller bedroom, excited to have his own space for the first time in his life. Kai and I took the larger room, which had a massive bed and a balcony that faced the sunrise.

"This is surreal," I said, standing on the balcony and looking out at the fortress grounds below. Moon Shadow wolves moved about their business, training and working. "A week ago, I was nobody. Now I'm supposedly the heir to an ancient royal line."

Kai wrapped his arms around me from behind. "You were never nobody. Not to me."

I leaned back against his chest. "What if I fail? What if I can't live up to what they expect?"

"Then you'll figure it out, like you've figured out everything else in your life." He kissed the top of my head. "You're the strongest person I know, Isla. You survived abuse, rejection, loss. You raised Oliver alone. You faced down an Alpha King without fear. This is just the next challenge."

"I wish I had your confidence."

"You will. Give it time."

We stood there in comfortable silence, watching the sun climb higher. For a moment, everything felt peaceful.

Then a guard burst onto the balcony, his face pale with fear.

"Alpha King! Luna Isla! You need to come quickly!"

"What is it?" Kai demanded.

"There's a messenger at the gates. From the old families." The guard swallowed hard. "They're demanding Isla surrender herself for judgment within three days, or they'll wage war against every pack in the territories."

My blood ran cold. "War? Against everyone?"

"They claim Isla is too dangerous to live. That white wolves have caused destruction before and will again. They want her executed to prevent another catastrophe."

Kai's growl shook the balcony. "They can try. They'll have to go through me first."

"And me," Viktor's voice came from the doorway. He must have heard the commotion. "The old families have been waiting for an excuse to seize power. They won't stop with Isla. If they win this, they'll subjugate every free wolf in existence."

"Then we fight," I said, surprised by the steadiness in my voice.

"Isla, no—" Kai started.

"We fight," I repeated firmly. "I'm not surrendering. I'm not running. And I'm definitely not letting them threaten innocent wolves because of me."

Viktor smiled grimly. "Spoken like a true Moon Shadow Alpha."

"How many warriors do the old families have?" Kai asked.

"Thousands. Maybe tens of thousands. They've been building armies for centuries."

"And we have forty-three wolves," I said. The odds were impossible.

"Forty-three Moon Shadow wolves," Viktor corrected. "Each one worth ten normal warriors. And we have the fortress, which has magical defenses they can't easily breach."

"Plus the Northern Palace forces," Kai added. "I can have five hundred elite warriors here within two days."

"That's still not enough," I said.

"No," Viktor agreed. "But it's a start. And we have one advantage they don't."

"What's that?"

He looked at me, his green eyes blazing. "We have you. The white wolf. The prophesied one. Your very existence terrifies them. That's why they're moving so quickly, demanding your surrender. They're afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Of what you'll become when you master your gifts. Of the power you'll wield. Of the fact that you could unite every wolf pack under one banner and end their reign of manipulation forever."

I looked at Kai, then at Viktor, then at the guard who was still waiting for instructions.

Three days. We had three days to prepare for a war that could destroy everything.

"Gather the Moon Shadow wolves," I said. "And send messages to every pack in the territories. Tell them what's happening. Give them a choice—stand with us against tyranny, or kneel to the old families and lose their freedom forever."

"Some won't believe us," Kai warned. "Some will think we're the threat."

"Then they'll learn the truth when the old families turn on them too." I squared my shoulders. "We fight. And we win. Because the alternative is unthinkable."

Viktor bowed deeply. "Your orders will be carried out, Alpha Isla."

As he left to organize our defenses, Kai pulled me close.

"Three days," he murmured. "Not much time."

"Then we better not waste it."

But as I stood there in my mate's arms, looking out at the fortress that was now my responsibility to defend, one thought kept echoing in my mind:

What if the old families were right? What if I really was too dangerous to live?

And if they were right, what did that make me?