My New Home

I had no idea what that meant, but before I could ask any more questions, we arrived at a large clearing. A massive cabin stood in the center, surrounded by other smaller structures. Wolves were scattered around the area, their eyes glowing in the moonlight.

“This is where it all begins,” Luca said, his voice low.

I stepped forward, taking in the sight of the pack. There was power here—raw and untamed. It was nothing like anything I had ever experienced.

Luca turned to me, his expression serious. “This is your new home now. You’ll need to learn quickly. The full moon waits for no one.”

The minutes felt like hours as I sat there in the cabin, the air thick with anticipation and uncertainty. The shadows in the room seemed to stretch longer with each passing second, and I could feel my nerves tightening like a noose around my chest. My mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. Werewolves. Shifting. The pack. Kael. Luca.

And the full moon.

I wanted to scream, to ask a thousand questions, but I didn’t. The silence in the room pressed against me like a weight, heavy and suffocating. I could feel my wolf, restless and waiting, just beneath the surface. Every now and then, it would nudge at me, its presence growing stronger, more insistent, like a ticking clock counting down the seconds until everything changed.

I rubbed my hands together, trying to calm myself, but it was useless. Nothing could quiet the storm inside me. What if I couldn’t control the shift? What if I hurt someone? What if I—

The door creaked open, and I looked up, startled.

Kael stepped inside, his presence steady and reassuring. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something—concern? Care? It disappeared so quickly that I couldn’t be sure, but it was enough to make my heart skip a beat.

“You’re still here,” he said quietly, his voice low but warm.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m scared.”

Kael’s expression softened, and he walked over to the chair opposite mine, sitting down with a quiet grace. His eyes never left mine, his gaze steady, like he was waiting for me to say more.

“It’s okay to be scared,” he said finally, his voice almost a whisper. “But you don’t have to face this alone.”

I looked at him, trying to find the right words. “What if I can’t control it? What if I hurt someone?”

Kael leaned forward slightly, his voice still soft but firm. “You won’t hurt anyone. You’re not like the others. You’re stronger than you think, Elara.”

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But there was this fear inside me, deep and cold, that whispered that I wouldn’t be able to handle it. That I wouldn’t be able to control the wolf that was awakening inside me.

The sound of footsteps outside the cabin interrupted my thoughts, and Luca’s voice rang through the door.

“We need to move,” he said, his tone clipped. “The moon is rising soon.”

Kael stood up, offering me a hand. I hesitated for a moment, but then I took it. His grip was warm, steady, and I felt a strange comfort in it, like he would keep me safe no matter what. It didn’t make sense, but somehow, in that moment, I trusted him.

“Let’s go,” Kael said, his voice low.

We walked outside, and I was immediately hit by the cold air. The moon hung high in the sky, a glowing, silver orb that bathed the clearing in its light. The wolves had gathered, their eyes glowing in the moonlight. There was a sense of unity in the air, like a collective breath held by everyone present.

Luca stood at the center, his eyes scanning the pack. He seemed to be waiting for something—someone. His gaze flicked over to me, then back to Kael.

“Are you ready?” Luca asked, his voice barely audible over the wind.

I wasn’t sure how to answer. The truth was, I wasn’t ready. I didn’t even know what to expect. But I nodded anyway. I had no choice. This was happening.

Kael gave me an encouraging smile, though I could see the concern in his eyes. “You’re not alone, Elara. We’ll be right here with you.”

He wasn’t just talking about himself. I could feel the presence of the entire pack, their energy humming in the air around me. The wolves. The shift. The change. They were all waiting.

Luca took a step forward, his posture commanding. “This is it,” he said, his voice low but clear. “The full moon is here, and you need to embrace it. It’s time to let the wolf inside you come forward.”

I nodded, though my heart was pounding in my chest. The tension was unbearable. I could feel my skin tingling, my senses sharpening as the moonlight bathed me. My wolf was awake, and it was impatient. I could feel it clawing inside me, eager to break free.

Luca turned to the pack, his voice ringing out. “The moment is here. Gather around.”

The pack moved in unison, surrounding me in a loose circle. There was a rhythm to their movements, a unity that spoke of something ancient and powerful. I felt their eyes on me, their anticipation palpable in the air.

“You’re not just a wolf, Elara,” Kael’s voice was soft but clear. “You’re part of something bigger than yourself. This pack is your family now.”

I glanced around at the pack, their eyes glowing in the moonlight, their bodies tense with readiness. They weren’t just wolves. They were a part of me now, whether I was ready for it or not.

“Focus,” Luca said, his voice sharp. “Feel the shift coming. Don’t fight it. Let it happen.”

I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through the panic that was rising in my chest. I could feel it—the change, like a wave crashing through me, surging from deep inside. My muscles stretched and strained, my skin burning as my bones seemed to shift and rearrange.

I gasped, my body trembling as the pain of the shift began to take over. It was worse than I imagined—worse than I ever thought possible. I felt as though I was being torn apart from the inside out.

“Don’t fight it!” Kael’s voice broke through the fog in my mind. “Let it happen. Trust yourself.”

I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. The pain was overwhelming, and I could feel the wolf clawing its way to the surface, taking over. My hands shifted first, the bones cracking and reforming as claws grew from my fingertips. My senses heightened, the smells of the forest, the pack, and the earth around me filling my nose.

Then, the rest of my body followed. My legs buckled, and I dropped to the ground as my spine arched. The shift was agonizing, but as I let go, I could feel the wolf inside me surging forward. Powerful. Unstoppable.

Finally, I collapsed onto all fours, the transformation complete. My vision was sharper now, my senses flooded with the world around me. The pack was all around me, their eyes glowing with approval. I could hear their thoughts, their energy buzzing in the air like a hum.

I wasn’t human anymore. I was something else. Something wild.

Kael stepped forward, his golden eyes reflecting the moonlight. “You did it,” he said, his voice full of admiration. “You’re one of us now.”