Chapter 4

Sophia turned to face me, her tone icy and uncompromising. "Allen, you have three days. Either tell me how you did it, or stay on border duty. If you refuse, I'll have you kicked out of Silvermoon Territory for insubordination."

I replied, "No need to wait three days. Go ahead and kick me out now."

Sophia froze, clearly not expecting me to be so direct.

She definitely didn't see that coming.

Ryan sneered. "Stop acting all tough. Once you're out of Silvermoon Territory, the wilds are crawling with beasts and stray vampires. You're a Wolfless loser. You won't even be able to outrun them, let alone survive."

I didn't even spare Ryan a glance, keeping my eyes fixed on Sophia.

"Luna, you decide," I said.

Sophia just stared me down for what felt like ages.

She was waiting for me to cave. But I stood my ground.

At last, she let out a cold snort and flicked her hand dismissively. "Fine. If you want to leave so badly, then go. The Silvermoon Pack doesn't keep ungrateful fools around."

She turned and settled back into her throne-like chair, her tone slipping right back into that usual air of superiority and indifference.

"Marcus, escort him out of the territory. Let him take his things," she ordered.

Marcus stood by the door, his face grim, but he didn't argue.

"Yes, Luna," he replied.

I turned and headed for the door.

As I reached the doorway, Sophia called out from behind me. "Allen."

I stopped in my tracks, refusing to look back.

She said, "You'll regret this. Once you leave Silvermoon, you're nothing."

I didn't answer.

I pushed the door open and walked out into the blinding sunlight.

I wouldn't regret a damn thing. She would be the one who regretted it.

Marcus followed behind me in silence, not saying a word the entire way.

It wasn't until we reached the camp gates that he finally spoke up. "Allen, are you really going through with this?"

"Yeah," I replied.

"Where are you headed?" he asked.

"The border," I said.

Marcus blinked in surprise. "Didn't you say you were done with border duty?"

I replied, "I'm just heading back to get my things."

Marcus didn't ask further. He walked me to the border cabin, gave my shoulder a quick pat as he left, and said nothing.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.

On the table, the broken sword's shard was glowing even brighter than it had the night before.

I reached out and picked it up. It was scorching.

But it wasn't the kind of heat that burned flesh. It was a surge of power, alive and pulsing beneath the surface.

I closed my eyes, feeling that energy flow from my palm, up my arm, through my chest, and finally gathering in my heart.

There was a line in my great-grandfather's journal that I never really understood.

It said, "When the silver sword breaks, the Hunter awakens. The sword is both seal and shackle."

Then, I finally understood.

This sword wasn't just a weapon. It was a seal to hold back the true strength hidden in my bloodline.

For three generations, Hunters used Silver Edge to protect the Silvermoon Pack and to hold back their own awakening.

Because once a Hunter awakened, they were more dangerous to werewolves than vampires.

Now, the seal had shattered.

I opened my eyes. The silver shard in my palm had melted into my skin, forming a streak of silver across the back of my hand like lightning, or a jagged scar.

I clenched my fist.

Power roared through my veins. It felt weirdly new yet familiar.

I whispered, "Thank you, Sophia. You broke my shackles."

*****

Packing didn't take long. All I had was an old backpack, a couple of spare shirts, my great-grandfather's journal, and a few pieces of dried bread.

I took one last look at the cabin I'd called home for three years.

Tucked away in the corner was a hidden door that led down below.

That was the heart of the protective magic array.

I went down and stared at the intricate magic array sigil traced in silver powder across the floor. Without Silver Edge to charge it, the pattern was already fading.

At this rate, the magic array would collapse completely in three full moons.

The Nightshade Clan's scouts would be the first to notice when it failed.

I crouched down and pulled a silver shard from the edge of the magic array sigil.

This was the magic array's spare anchor.

Taking it would make the magic array break down twice as fast. It would be only a month and a half left.

I slipped the shard into my backpack, stood up, and headed up the stairs without looking back.

Once I stepped out of the cabin, I turned my back on Silvermoon Territory and walked away.

The wild wind reeked of decaying leaves.

In the distance, the Blackpine Forest was just a shadow in the morning mist.

That marked the border of the Nightshade Clan's turf.

I didn't go around. I headed straight for the Blackpine Forest.

After trekking for a couple of hours, the forest closed in around me, the sunlight above splintering into scattered fragments through the dense canopy.

The air grew thick with a cloying, sweet scent of blood.

I stopped in my tracks and said, "Come out."

For three long seconds, the silence was thick enough to choke on.

Then, three figures slipped out from behind the trees.

They had pale skin, crimson eyes, and playful smirks tugging at their lips. Vampires.

The leader looked like he was in his early twenties, wearing a long, dark red coat. His short blond hair was perfectly styled, not a strand out of place.

"Oh?" he said, cocking his head. "A human, waltzing right into Nightshade Clan territory?"

He sniffed the air. "And... a Hunter, huh?"

His playful grin vanished, replaced by a wary glare.

The other two vampires instantly stepped back, baring their fangs.

I raised my hands to show I wasn't looking for trouble.

"I'm not here to pick a fight," I said.