The morning sun filtered through the tall pine trees, casting long slivers of light across the campgrounds of Camp Ravenpine. Birds chirped above as dew glistened on wild grass, and teens slowly stumbled out of cabins with yawns and tangled hair.
Inside Cabin 7, the energy wasn't as peaceful.
"Ugh," Kira groaned, tugging her hoodie over her head. "Remind me why we signed up for two weeks of fake survival and boy drama?"
Alison zipped up her boots. "Because it sounded like fun before he showed up."
Sara peeked from her bunk, brushing her curls. "What's his name again? Damian something?"
"Damon Blackwell," Alison said flatly. "A name just as fake as his charm."
She'd never been this angry at someone she barely knew. Alison was usually calm, grounded. But he, he made her blood boil in ways she couldn't explain. The strange part wasn't just the annoyance, it was the magnetic pull beneath it.
«Why do I keep looking at him like a lunatic?» she asked herself
From the boys' room, muffled voices and the sound of a clattering duffel bag echoed.
"Bet he uses shampoo labeled 'Dark Mystery'," Kira muttered.
They walked outside, where the morning announcements began.
A camp counselor clapped their hands. "Today's activity is a guided hike up Silver Crest Hill! You'll work in your groups and stick together, teamwork earns you points!"
" Come on let's go " Kevin announced to the group,
Damian stood a few steps away, arms crossed, eyes scanning the trees. He wore a dark forest green hoodie, cargo pants, and his usual scowl.
Alison tried not to notice him. She failed. She hated him but at the same time was pulled by a mysterious force to look at him.
« I am totally going crazy »
As the group set off, Damian walked slightly ahead, ignoring everyone. Kevin walked beside him, offering snacks, only to be brushed off.
" Here " Kevin said as he passed a bag of crisps
Damian pushed it back, " I'm good "
" Okay " Kevin ate the crisps one by one
"Hey," Kira called out. "Ever heard of pacing? It's called staying with your team."
Damian didn't even turn. "I'm scouting the path."
"Scouting?" Alison repeated, narrowing her eyes. "This isn't a battlefield, general."
"Maybe not for you," he muttered.
Alison let out a frustrated sigh. "I already regret this partnership."
Kira whispered, "He's like a wolf with a stick up his tail."
Sara giggled. "No offense, but he's kinda hot."
"No comment," Alison muttered, but her heart thumped louder than she liked. She agreed internally that the guy was handsome the only problem is he was an annoying brat.
Later That Night…
After a long day of activities, most campers were already snuggled in their beds, lights off, cabin doors shut.
But Alison, woke up after the same dream. She felt the urge to wake up and listen to the surroundings, she couldn't sleep.
She tossed, turned, sighed, then heard it.
The creak of the cabin door.
She slipped out of bed, tiptoeing to the window and carefully pulled the curtain aside.
Damon.
Walking alone into the forest.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Suspicious broody loner boy," she whispered.
But she didn't follow him. Not yet. She will ask him tomorrow of what happened
Damian sneeked into the woods and run, he needed to transform into his wolf form. After a few run he stopped and howled, then his body transformed into his wolf " Lexus ". His wolf was filled with snowwhite fur, his gold eyes came out. His wolf form was big and tall, because he was an Alpha.
" I feel her, but her scent is weak " Lexus spoke
The Next Morning at Ravenpine camp area,..
The birds chirped again as the sun returned, golden and soft.
At the camp breakfast, Alison dropped her tray onto the wooden table and fixed her silver eyes directly on Damian, who had just walked in with Kevin like nothing had happened.
"Nice of you to join us," she said coolly.
Damian arched an eyebrow. "Problem?"
"Where did you go last night?"
Kira looked up mid-bite. "Wait, what?"
"You snuck out," Alison said, not backing down. "I saw you leave."
"I didn't sneak anywhere," Damian said flatly. "You must've been dreaming."
"Oh, I must've imagined a six-foot-tall grump with a leather jacket slipping into the woods?" Alison crossed her arms.
Kevin choked slightly on his juice.
Damian shrugged. "Maybe you wanted to imagine me."
"You're impossible," she snapped, pushing away from the table and walking off.
Kevin leaned in with a sigh. "Did you sneak out." he whispered
"I did," Damian said, not looking up. But his jaw was tight.
Back in Arvendale…
In the darkened chamber hidden beneath a land in the kingdom, Betha paced before a glowing orb. The air smelled of burnt herbs and damp stone.
A cloaked figure knelt.
"My lady," he reported, "we received a possible lead. The prince may have been seen in a human city, Emerald Coast."
Betha's lips curled. "Emerald Coast?"
The spy nodded. "A male matching his description was spotted with another in the outskirts. A tracker will be dispatched tonight."
Betha's green eyes glowed faintly. "Good. I want confirmation within 48 hours."
"Yes, my lady."
As the spy vanished in shadows, Betha turned to the window and whispered to herself, voice dripping with fury.
"You're hiding from me, my prince. But you forget, I was born in shadows. And shadows always find their prey. I can only be your Luna, that title is mine"
She smiled evilly. "I'm coming for you my Alpha"
Back at Camp Ravenpine…
Later that afternoon, groups were split into teams for shelter-building and fire-starting exercises.
Kevin tried to mediate. "Okay, let's all just survive today without killing each other."
"Agreed," Sara smiled.
"Fine by me," Alison said, tossing a stick into the fire pit.
" Tell me what to do and I.. I mean we will help " Kevin said,
Damian said nothing, but when their hands brushed over the same bundle of firewood, Alison pulled hers away fast like she'd touched lightning.
He didn't react.
But the faintest glimmer of something flickered in his fake hazel eyes. And Lexus spoke to him " I think she is the one, I'm not sure but I feel like she is ours"
The communication between a werewolf and their internal wolf couldn't be heard by anyone as it was done internally. So no one could here what Lexus said except for Damian himself
" Are you sure? " Damian asked Lexus
" I said I'm not sure, I just felt it like she is something special " Lexus replied
" She is annoying, that's what makes her special " Damian complained
" I think you are the annoying one, arrogant brat " Lexus scolded Damian
All this time Damian's gaze was on Alison, who was starting to feel uncomfortable with the gaze. So she stood up and went to get marshmallows.
As she toasted her marshmallow, a soft pulse trembled beneath her skin.
She brushed it off as nerves.
But the moon knew better.