Chapter 4: The Glowing-Eyed Kids
(Aria’s POV)
The growls outside grew louder, deeper, hungry, and way too close to our back door.
I pressed my back harder against the wood, my glowing hands still leaking silver light through my hoodie pockets. Max stood frozen in the hallway, eyes wide with a mix of fear and excitement.
“Aria, what’s happening?” he whispered. “Your hands… they’re glowing! Is this real magic? Are we in a movie or something?”
“Shh!” I hissed, grabbing his arm and pulling him away from the door. “Not now, Max. Go back to your room and lock the door. Don’t come out no matter what you hear.”
He didn’t move. “But those sounds… they sound like wolves. Or monsters. And your light is so cool! Can I touch it?”
The light in my hands flared brighter at his words, as if it liked the attention. Pain shot up my arms again, the unstable power fighting me. I bit my lip to stop from crying out.
A heavy thud hit the back door. The wood rattled. A raspy voice slithered through the cracks.
“Key… we smell you. Open the door… or we’ll come through it.”
Max’s face went pale. “Aria… what is that?”
My heart hammered. I couldn’t let them get to him.
“Stay behind me,” I whispered. I pulled my hands out of my pockets. The silver light exploded into the hallway, lighting up the walls like daylight. “I don’t know how to control this yet, but I won’t let them hurt you.”
Another thud. The door creaked dangerously.
I thrust my glowing hands forward, trying to remember Kael’s words: breathe with the moon. The light steadied a little. A weak beam shot toward the door, pushing back whatever was on the other side. The hunter screeched and retreated, but I knew it wouldn’t stay gone for long.
Max grabbed my sleeve. “You’re like a superhero! But… you’re shaking. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lied. My arms burned. The light was draining me fast. “Just go to your room. Please.”
He shook his head stubbornly. “No way. I’m not leaving you alone with monster voices.”
Before I could argue, a new sound cut through the night running footsteps from the woods. Multiple sets. Human ones.
The back door burst open with a crash.
Kael stormed in first, eyes glowing gold, followed by Lila, Leo, and two older kids. They looked ready for war.
Kael’s gaze locked on me instantly. “Aria! Your light is still leaking, it led us straight here. The hunters are circling the house!”
Lila raised her hands and created a silver shield over the doorway. “We felt the pull from the academy. You can’t stay here tonight. It’s not safe.”
Leo grinned despite the tension. “Hey, glowing girl! Nice light show. But next time, maybe don’t invite the hunters to your backyard party.”
I stared at them, stunned. “You… you came for me?”
Kael stepped closer, his voice low and urgent. “Of course we did. You’re pack now. But we have to move fast. The hunters won’t stop until they drain that light out of you.”
Max stepped forward, eyes huge. “Pack? Light? Drain? Aria, who are these people? And why do their eyes glow like yours?”
Kael looked at Max, then back at me. “Your brother has the scent too. Weak, but it’s there. If we leave him, they’ll take him as bait.”
My stomach dropped. “No. We’re not leaving him.”
Lila nodded. “Then he comes with us. But we have to run now.”
Another heavy slam hit the front of the house. The windows rattled. Red eyes appeared outside, pressing against the glass.
Kael grabbed my hand. The warm spark jumped between us, steadying my wild light for a moment. “Trust me, Aria. We’ll protect both of you. But you have to come to the academy tonight. Your power is too unstable here. It’s calling them like a beacon.”
Max looked between us, scared but excited. “I want to go. This is better than any video game.”
I hesitated. Leaving with glowing-eyed strangers in the middle of the night felt insane. But staying meant putting Max in real danger.
The front window cracked.
“Okay,” I said quickly. “We go. But if anything happens to my brother, I’ll never forgive any of you.”
Kael gave a sharp nod. “Deal.”
Lila led the way out the back door, shield raised. Leo shifted into wolf form and darted ahead. Kael stayed right beside me and Max, one hand on my shoulder, the other ready to fight.
We ran into the woods as more hunters emerged from the trees, red eyes multiplying in the darkness.
My silver light kept pulsing, guiding us but also betraying us.
As we sprinted toward the academy gate, Kael leaned close and whispered, “You’re not alone anymore. But you have to learn control fast before your light destroys everything you’re trying to protect.”
I glanced back at our house, now surrounded by shadows.
Then I looked at Max running beside me, his face full of wonder and fear.
The glowing-eyed kids flanked us, fighting off hunters as we ran.
But one hunter broke through the line and lunged straight for Max, claws outstretched.
“Max!” I screamed.
My light exploded uncontrollably.