Episode 1

In the Lunar Shadow pack, the children ran through that vast and magical forest full of vegetation, where the tall and majestic trees gave them a comforting sense of security. The houses, modern and spacious, stood in the middle of the lush forest, adding a charming touch to the place, almost magical to the eye.

Lyra, a little girl with brown eyes and straight, light brown hair, ran with her notebook towards the pack's school. Emotion was reflected on her face as she crossed the entrance and the teacher, a wise and respected old woman, greeted her with a warm smile.

"Little one, stop running. You could fall," the old woman said to her in a kind tone.

Lyra is only surprised and nods her head. She loved to learn, and school was her refuge, the place where she could distract herself from her cold and lonely home. Her father, the alpha of the pack, strove to give her everything she needed, but his responsibilities kept him always busy. There were days, even weeks, when Lyra barely saw him. And her mother… her mother had died giving birth to her, a fact that some considered a dark omen. Many in the pack kept their distance from the girl, as if carrying the death of her mother at birth made her a little cursed.

When Lyra sat down in her place, the old woman addressed all the children.

"Well, my little wolves, today we will talk about the packs of our kingdom. As you know, there are five great packs, and each of them is special. Among the three main ones is the Dark Phoenix pack. They are known for their perseverance and courage, always reborn stronger on the battlefield. Their alpha, Richard Black, is a wise and determined leader. Soon, he will give his place to his son, Dorian, as is tradition among the alphas."

Lyra, with curiosity sparkling in her eyes, raised her hand.

"Tell me, Lyra," said the old woman with a patient smile.

"What happens if an alpha doesn't have a male son to inherit the leadership?" Lyra asked, with genuine curiosity.

The old woman sighed, appreciating the intelligence behind the little girl's questions.

"In exceptional cases, the Moon Goddess chooses one of the wolves to give them the power of an alpha, but this is very uncommon. The last time the Moon Goddess named an alpha was two thousand years ago."

Lyra raised her hand again, eager to resolve all her doubts.

"So, in our pack, will the Moon Goddess also choose the next alpha if my dad doesn't have another son?" she asked.

"That remains to be seen, little one," replied the old woman with an indulgent smile. "Your father is young and could have a male son someday."

"My dad is already old," Lyra insisted. "I am already twelve years old, and he still hasn't had another son."

Lyra's words made some children whisper. The absence of another son of the alpha was a delicate issue in the pack. Some trusted that the Moon Goddess would provide them with a strong leader when necessary, while others harbored fears and doubts. But before the conversation took a dark turn, another girl, named Jane, intervened.

"If your father doesn't have more children, it will be your fault, Lyra. You killed your mother when you were born."

Lyra turned, offended and furious.

"That's not true!" she shouted, defending herself.

Jane let out a mocking laugh.

"Of course it is. My mom always says that your birth was a dark omen, that you will bring misfortune to our pack."

The old woman intervened before the situation got out of control.

"Silence!" she said, raising her voice. "Let's continue with the lesson."

The girls exchanged glaring looks before sitting down. The old woman continued, trying to restore peace to the class.

"The second great pack is ours, Lunar Shadow. We stand out for our connection with the Moon Goddess, who protects us and grants us stealth in the darkness of the night. Every year, our neighbors come to our lunar pond to offer offerings to receive the gifts of the Goddess. When you, little pups, reach the age of sixteen, you will meet your wolves and be able to offer an offering to obtain the gift of the Goddess."

Lyra, restless with curiosity, raised her hand again.

"And what about the other young people who come to the ritual? Do they receive any power?" she asked.

The old woman annoyed, but at the same time pleased by Lyra's interest.

"It all depends on the pack they belong to. Each has its own special gifts and abilities. I will finish explaining the packs and then I will talk about the ritual."

The little one assenting, and the old woman continued.

"The third pack is Iron Fangs, known for their indomitable strength and their mastery in the art of healing. They are experts in medicinal plants and in healing wounds, a unique gift that adds to their great strength."

The old woman paused to see if everyone was paying attention before continuing.

"Fourth, we have the Silver Claw pack. They are wise and noble, recognized throughout the kingdom for their kindness. If you are ever far from home and need help, you can go to them, they will always lend you a hand."

Before the old woman could continue, Jane, who seemed to enjoy bothering Lyra, spoke again.

"Lyra should have been born in the Eternal Thunder pack. My mom says they are dark, with bad intentions and violent. Just like her."

The laughter of other children erupted, and Lyra, tired of the insults, pounced on Jane, pulling her hair. Both girls started a fight, pulling each other's hair and throwing scratches until the old woman managed to separate them and punished them to run a hundred laps around the field.

The two started running in circles. Jane seemed to endure the punishment without problem, but Lyra, who had never been particularly strong, began to tire soon. When she reached lap thirty-eight, she tripped and fell to the ground, unconscious.

Worried, the old woman took her to the healer. The woman frowned as she observed Lyra's weak state. No wolf, not even a child, would faint so easily just from a few laps. The healer examined Lyra in silence, while her mind filled with doubts and questions.

There was something about the little one, something dark or perhaps just unusual. But, whatever it was, it was clear that it would not be an easy life for Lyra.

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