Jacob stood at the front of the pack, his chest heaving, eyes locked on the Cullen family across the clearing. The earth seemed to hold its breath, every creature in Forks sensing what was about to explode. Sam and Leah flanked him, tense and ready, waiting for the signal. The vampires didn’t move, but their stillness was worse—it meant they were already calculating every outcome. Jacob wasn’t going to let this end in blood, but if it had to, he’d protect his people. What he didn’t expect was her.

A soft, determined voice rang out from the treeline. “Enough.” All heads turned. Sue stepped into the moonlight, wind tugging at her hair, eyes gleaming silver. Jacob’s stomach dropped. What the hell is she doing here? She was supposed to be human. That quiet girl who never got involved, who sat two rows behind him in English class, who once brought him soup when he broke his wrist. “Get out of here, Sue,” he barked, panic seeping into his voice. But she didn’t move. “I won’t let either side tear this country apart,” she said. “Not when I’m one of you, too.” And then, in front of everyone—wolf, vampire, and human alike—Sue shifted.

Gasps broke through the pack. Some stumbled back. Leah cursed. The Gray Lone Werewolves were legends, a dead bloodline wiped out decades ago. Yet here she was: massive, silver-gray, with eyes like a thunderstorm, standing between two armies. Edward’s brows furrowed—he couldn’t read her mind. Alice looked stunned—she hadn’t seen this. Jacob felt like the ground had vanished beneath his feet. As the gray wolf let out a mournful howl, not of war but of warning, Jacob realized something terrifying and beautiful: She’s not just one of us. She’s something we’ve never seen before.