Silver Light

The fire in the sitting room crackled quietly, casting soft light on the walls. I sat curled up in a big leather chair with a blanket around me, but I still felt cold inside.

Everything felt different after the gathering in the forest.

Carlos didn’t say much on the way back. He seemed distant again, like he was holding something in.

Like a storm waiting to happen.

I kept hearing the elder’s words in my head.

“You carry old blood. The moon recognizes you.”

What did that mean?

I didn’t feel powerful. I still felt like me, human, scared, and confused by this world I never asked to be part of.

I got up and walked to the window. The moon was lower now, its light shining through the trees, while my chest felt tight again like something inside me was reaching for it.

The door opened behind me. I didn’t need to turn around. I knew it was Carlos.

His steps were slow and steady. When he stopped next to me, I could feel his warmth even through the blanket.

““I heard you didn’t eat dinner,” Carlos said quietly.

“I wasn’t hungry,” I replied.

“You need to eat, Sarah. Especially now.”

I turned to face him. “Why? Because I’m some kind of time bomb with strange blood? Because your council thinks I’m dangerous?”

His jaw tightened. “That’s not what I said.”

“You didn’t have to. I saw how they looked at me.”

Carlos looked away, as if trying to find the right words.

“They don’t trust easily,” he said. “Especially not humans. But you’re not just human. And that scares them.”

I swallowed hard. “It scares me too, Carlos.”

He looked at me again. “I know.”

We stood in silence for a while. It was quiet, but not awkward. Being near him made me feel a little safer, even though I didn’t understand why.

“When I was a little girl, I used to dream about running through forests, about howling at the moon,” I said. “I thought it was just my imagination.”

Carlos looked at me, his expression softer. “It wasn’t. Your blood remembers.”

I shook my head. “Then why didn’t my parents ever tell me?”

“Maybe they didn’t know,” he said. “Maybe it was hidden for generations. But now, it’s waking up.”

“Because of you?”

He paused before answering. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s just time.”

He stepped closer and slowly reached out. I let him touch my face. His thumb gently brushed my cheek, and the soft touch made my heart ache.

“You’re changing, Sarah. And I need to know… if I can trust you.”

Those words stung more than I expected.

“You don’t trust me?”

“I trust what I see in you,” he said in a quiet voice. “But I don’t trust the power growing inside you. I don’t think you understand it yet.”

He was right. I didn’t.

But I wanted to.

Before I could say anything, the lights flickered. Once. Twice.

Then everything went dark.

Carlos turned sharply, his body instantly alert.

“Stay here,” he said, moving fast toward the hallway.

But something inside me screamed not to listen.

So I followed.

The hallway was dark, with only the moonlight shining through the tall windows. Shadows covered the walls, long and quiet.

Carlos moved like a hunter, quiet and focused.

Then suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the mansion. Glass broke, and furniture was tossed aside.

Carlos turned to me. “Stay behind me.” But it was already too late.

A dark figure jumped out from the end of the hallway, tall and wearing a cloak, and moving way too fast.

Carlos didn’t hesitate. He ran straight toward the figure. They hit each other so hard the walls shook. The sounds they made were not human, growls and snarls filled the air.

I stood frozen. My heart was racing heavily. My legs felt weak too.

Then Carlos began to change.

His bones cracked, while I watched as his body stretched, and right in front of me he turned into a huge black wolf bigger than anything I’d ever seen. His red eyes were full of fury.

The attacker changed too into a brown wolf with scars down his side.

They fought hard in the hallway, biting and clawing at each other.

I didn’t know what to do.

But then I felt something.

My hands got warm and my chest felt like it was pulling toward something.

It was like the moon was inside me, calling to me.

Without thinking, I lifted my hands, and a soft light started to glow from my fingers.

The wolves stopped fighting and looked at me, both of them surprised.

I couldn’t breathe at that instant.

Carlos’s wolf growled deeply, but not at me at the other wolf.

The brown wolf growled back, angry, and then ran off into the forest. Carlos chased after him second after.

I dropped to my knees.

I didn’t know exactly what had just happened…

But I knew one thing, I wasn’t just human anymore, and whatever I was turning into had only just started.

***

I couldn’t sleep.

Not after what I saw, nor after what I felt.

I lay in the big bed, staring at the ceiling while moonlight came through the windows. My hands still felt warm and didn't burn, but like something had opened up inside me.

Something not normal and not human.

I sat up and looked at my palms. They looked normal. No glow, no marks. Nothing to show what had happened during the fight.

Did I imagine it?

A soft knock at the door made me jump.

Before I could say anything, Carlos walked in.

His shirt was ripped and stained with blood, some old, some fresh. He didn’t look angry, just tired and serious.

And maybe worried.

“He got away,” he said quietly, closing the door behind him.

“Who was he?” I asked.

Carlos came closer but didn’t sit down.

“His name is Caden. A rogue wolf. He was kicked out years ago for trying to take over his Alpha and killing one of his own. I didn’t think he’d come here. Not so soon.”

My stomach twisted. “He came for me.”

Carlos nodded. “Yes.”

“But why?”

He looked at me carefully. “Because you’re not just my human wife anymore.” He paused. “You’re turning into something… strong. Powerful. And others can feel it.”

I pulled the blanket tighter around myself. “I don’t want power. I just want to stay alive.”

Carlos walked to the window, staring out at the trees. “That might not be enough anymore.”

The room fell quiet.

Then I finally said what I’d been thinking about since the fight.

“Something happened, Carlos.”

He turned to look at me.

“My hands… they lit up,” I said quietly. “When you were fighting. I didn’t mean to do it. It just happened.”

Carlos walked closer, his eyes searching mine curiously.

“What kind of light?”

“Silver.”

He took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed.

“I believe you.”

“You do?”

“You’re not the first. A long time ago, some women were born with special blood. They were called Moon Priestesses. They could heal, fight, and protect others.”

My heart beat faster. “You think I’m one of them?”

Carlos nodded. “Or maybe part of their bloodline. That’s why the council is nervous. Your powers are waking up, and no one knows what they’ll become.”

I looked at my hands again, remembering the warmth I felt.

“But I’m not ready for this, Carlos. I’m not strong, and I’m scared most of the time.”

He reached out and held my hand gently. His touch calmed me.

“You don’t have to be strong all the time. You just have to stay alive and trust that I’ll protect you.”

There was something serious and intense in his voice.

“But you can’t always protect me,” I said. “What if that wolf comes back with more of them?”

Carlos’s eyes turned darker. “Then I’ll make sure you can defend yourself.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means you’re going to learn to control your power.”

My stomach turned on hearing that.

“Me? I don’t even know how that works.”

He stood up, his voice firmer. “Then I’ll teach you.”

I stared at him. “You? But you’re….”

“An Alpha?” he said with a small smile. “Yes. And I’ve trained wolves with lesser power than you.”

I tried to laugh, but I couldn’t.

“What if I hurt someone? What if I hurt you?”

Carlos looked right into my eyes.

“You already did.”

My breath caught in my throat. “What?”

“That silver light, it stopped me. Just for a second. It felt like the moon was holding me still.”

He didn’t sound scared, he sounded amazed.

“I didn’t mean to…”

“I know,” he said softly. “That’s why we start now. Power without control is dangerous.”

I nodded. “Okay. I’ll try.”

Carlos gave a small smile. “That’s all I need.”

He walked to the door, then turned back.

“One more thing, Sarah.”

I looked up at him.

“You’re not just surviving anymore, you’re changing. And the more you fight it, the harder it will be.”

After he left, I sat in silence, watching the fire.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe this change wasn’t a curse, maybe it was a gift, a dangerous one but mine to own.