Episode 1

"There are prisons that have no walls, chains that cannot be seen, and judgments that leave no visible scars. I am the heir to all of them."

That was the first truth I understood about who I was.

My lineage is not a legacy of glory, but of blood. A blood that many crave, but few understand. They say we are direct descendants of the first ancestor of the wolves, a blessing and a curse carried by every member of my family since the dawn of time. Our blood is special, immune to poisons, capable of healing any wound, and, for those bold or insane enough to drink it, a source of unimaginable power.

But uniqueness always attracts predators. Throughout the centuries, the Greys have been hunted, sold, betrayed by those they once called allies. To be the last bearer of this legacy is to live with a target on your back and invisible chains in your heart.

Today, however, is a different day. My destiny has always been to be something more, something greater. At 18, I will finally receive my wolf, a rite that marks the true ascension to my heritage.

I am Calyssa Grey,

daughter of Alpha Dominic Grey, leader of the Shadow Pack. Our clan is ancient, a united force of wolves that survived the extinction of other lineages. But only my family carries the blood of the ancestor. My father is the personification of strength, my mother, Lyanna Grey, the calm that balances the chaos. My older brother, Kael, is destined to lead the pack one day, while my sister, Evanna... Well, she and I have never been close.

Evanna Grey

Today, on my birthday, everything changes.

......................

The full moon was at its highest point in the sky when I knelt at the altar. The priest, an old and wise wolf named Theron, moved around me with chants in an ancient language, a language that resonated within me like a lost echo.

The ceremony was simple, but full of symbolism. Around me, the entire pack watched in a circle. My father was at the front, my mother beside him, and Kael right behind. Evanna was there too, but she kept her distance, as if my presence bothered her.

"Today, Calyssa Grey, you will become one with your wolf. She will find you, claim you, and together you will be complete," declared Theron.

He handed me a silver dagger. It was tradition that the ritual blood be mine, the blood of the Grey lineage. Without hesitation, I cut the palm of my hand, letting my blood drip onto the altar stone.

That's when it began.

A searing pain shot through my body, as if something was breaking through all the barriers within me. I fell to my knees, my heart felt like it was going to explode. My vision blurred, and for a moment I thought I wouldn't be able to endure it.

"Calyssa..."

The voice was soft, but full of strength, like the howl of a wind that blows through an ancient forest.

"I am Akira, your wolf. And now we are one."

I felt her presence before I saw her. When I opened my eyes, she was there, inside my mind, but as real as the world around me. Her fur was a silvery white, shining like the moonlight itself. Her eyes were golden, intense, and her fangs were long and sharp, a clear mark of the Grey lineage.

"Finally," she said, a mixture of strength and tenderness in her voice.

"Akira," I replied in thought.

The connection between us was indescribable, as if two halves that had always been separate had finally met.

The pain gradually disappeared, and when I got up, I felt as if the whole world was different.

"She did it," Kael murmured, a proud smile on his face.

My father nodded, while my mother wiped away a silent tear. Even Evanna seemed surprised, although there was a glimpse of something darker in her eyes.

When the ceremony ended, I couldn't hold back. I transformed for the first time, feeling Akira's power coursing through my veins. The feeling was pure freedom, as if no prison could hold me again.

Kael and some of the wolves ran with me through the forest. Among them was my best friend, Ryden, a loyal warrior and almost as stubborn as I was.

"You look much better as a wolf," he joked as we ran side by side.

"Say that again and I'll tear off your tail," Akira replied for me, and I couldn't help but laugh.

We ran until dawn, exploring every corner of the forest, testing my new strength. It was as if I had been born again, finally complete.

......................

When we returned to the fortress, the sun was already high in the sky. My body was exhausted, but my mind vibrated with energy. However, as I crossed the stone corridors, I felt something strange.

A scent. Intense, enveloping, and so striking that my heart raced.

Akira became alert. "Mate," she whispered in my mind.

Only one thought dominated me as I followed the scent. He was there. The man that the Moon goddess had chosen for me.

But then something was wrong. The scent was leading me the wrong way... to Evanna's room.

I pushed the door open, and what I saw took my breath away.

Evanna was there, her skin glistening with sweat, and on top of her was him.

"Damon?"

(To be continued...)

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