Chapter 22: Jessica's Power Evolve

Jessica's heart was beating very fast. She was surrounded by the bad people called cultists. She still felt very sad and hurt because Michael had lied to her. The Luna's power inside her was getting stronger because she was in danger. But this time, it felt different. It felt wilder and stronger than before.

"Michael, please," Jessica said very quietly. "Don't do this."

Michael looked like he was having a hard time deciding what to do. For a little while, Jessica thought he might change his mind. But then his face got very serious. "I'm sorry, Jessica. I really am," he said.

The bad people started to come closer. Jessica felt like she needed to scream. When she did, something amazing happened. A big wave of sound came out of her mouth. It was so strong that it pushed all the bad people backwards. Even Michael fell down. He looked very surprised.

Jessica looked at her hands. She was very surprised too. The power inside her felt different. It was stronger than ever before. It was like being in this scary situation made her power grow.

Jessica saw that the bad people were still on the ground. She knew this was her chance to run away. She ran into the trees. She could hear the bad people shouting behind her. They were chasing her. But the forest seemed to help her. The tree branches moved out of her way as she ran. Her feet barely touched the ground. She just knew where to go, even though it was dark.

Suddenly, she heard a loud howl. It was James! He was calling for her. He could feel that she was in trouble because of their special connection. Jessica changed the way she was running. She ran towards the sound of James's howl.

She ran into a small open space in the forest. James, Andrew, and Christopher were there. They were in their wolf forms. They looked ready to fight. They stood around Jessica to protect her as the bad people came out of the trees.

"Jessica," Michael said. He stepped forward with his hands up. "Please, let me explain."

"Explain what?" James said in an angry voice. He changed back into his human form. "How you lied to all of us?"

Michael looked sad when James spoke so angrily. "It's not what you think. They have my sister-"

"Stop!" Jessica said very loudly. Her voice was so strong that everyone stopped talking. The air around her looked like it was moving. "Michael, I understand why you did what you did. But you should have told us. We're your pack, your family. We could have helped you."

Michael looked like he might cry. "I... I was scared. They said they would kill my sister if I told anyone."

"And now?" Jessica asked. Her voice was a little softer. "What will they do now that we know the truth?"

Before Michael could answer, one of the bad people stepped forward. "Now, little Luna, we take what we came for," he said.

He lifted his hands. Dark, scary energy was moving between them. But Jessica was ready this time. She reached deep inside herself. She called on the new, strong power she had just found.

The moonlight seemed to bend around her. It made a shiny wall in front of her. When the bad person's attack hit the wall, nothing happened. Jessica pushed back. Her shiny wall got bigger and bigger.

The bad people went flying through the air. They hit trees and each other. Only Michael was still standing. Something was protecting him.

"How?" he said. He looked at Jessica like he was amazed and a little scared.

"The Luna's power is getting stronger," Jessica said. Her voice sounded very important. "And it will keep getting stronger. Tell the leaders of your bad group this - we're coming for them. We won't stop until we free all the wolves you've taken."

The bad people who were still there got up. They ran away into the dark trees. Michael didn't know what to do. He looked like he wanted to stay and also wanted to go.

"Go," Jessica said quietly. "But remember this - you have a choice, Michael. You can still come back to us. We'll help you save your sister, I promise."

Michael looked like he was thinking very hard. For a moment, Jessica thought he might stay. But then he looked very sad and turned away. He disappeared into the forest.

Jessica started to feel very tired after all the excitement. She felt like she might fall down. James was there right away to help her stand.

"Are you okay?" he asked. He sounded very worried.

Jessica nodded. She leaned on James because she was tired. "I think so. But something's different. My powers... they've changed."

Andrew came over. He looked very serious. "We need to go back home. We have to tell the others what happened."

As they walked back home, Jessica was thinking about many things. She felt hurt because Michael had lied to them. But she also felt sorry for him because of his sister. And these new powers... what did they mean? How would things be different now?

One thing was sure - the fight against the bad people had just gotten bigger. But Jessica, with her new, stronger powers and her loyal mates to help her, was ready for whatever might happen next.

Jessica didn't know it yet, but the biggest test of her new powers - and her ability to be a leader - was just starting.

When they got back to their home, everyone was very excited. They all wanted to know what had happened. Jessica told them everything - about Michael's betrayal, about her new powers, and about the fight with the bad people.

Some of the wolves looked angry when they heard about Michael. Others looked scared. But most of them looked at Jessica with hope in their eyes.

"What do we do now?" one of the younger wolves asked.

Jessica took a deep breath. She felt tired, but she knew she had to be strong for her pack. "Now, we get ready," she said. "We train. We get stronger. And we make a plan to stop the bad people once and for all."

James stood next to her. He put his hand on her shoulder. "We'll do it together," he said. The other mates nodded in agreement.

For the next few days, Jessica worked hard to understand her new powers. Sometimes, when she was trying to use them, nothing would happen. Other times, they would be so strong that she would accidentally break things.

"It's okay," David said one day when Jessica got frustrated. "You're learning. It takes time."

Jessica nodded, but she still felt worried. What if she couldn't control her powers when it really mattered?

One night, when everyone else was asleep, Jessica went outside. She stood in the moonlight, feeling its power flow through her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Suddenly, she felt something change. When she opened her eyes, she gasped. The moonlight was bending around her, making shapes in the air. She could feel the power of the moon, the earth, and all the living things around her.

For the first time, Jessica truly understood what it meant to be the Luna. She wasn't just a girl with some special powers. She was connected to everything.

With this new understanding came a sense of peace. Jessica knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, she would face them. She had her pack, her mates, and now, a deeper connection to her powers.

As she walked back inside, Jessica felt ready. Ready to lead, ready to fight, and ready to protect those she loved.

The next morning, when the pack gathered for training, Jessica stood before them with new confidence. "Today," she said, "we start preparing for the biggest fight of our lives. But remember - we're not just fighting for ourselves. We're fighting for all wolves, everywhere. We're fighting for freedom, for family, and for the future."

The pack howled their agreement. As Jessica looked at their determined faces, she felt a surge of hope. Whatever came next, they would face it together.

And with her new powers growing stronger every day, Jessica knew they had a real chance of winning.