The Pack's Hunt

Kael didn’t waste a second after I took his hand. He pulled me to my feet, his grip firm but not harsh, and we started running again. The forest seemed darker now, the air thick with tension. I stumbled, still disoriented by what had just happened, but Kael kept me moving.

“Don’t stop,” he said, his voice sharp. “We’re not out of this yet.”

“What’s happening to me?” I asked, my voice shaking. My claws—the claws that were somehow mine—gleamed in the moonlight as we ran. “Why do I look like this?”

Kael glanced back at me, his expression unreadable. “You’re changing. Your wolf is awakening.”

“My wolf?” I echoed, my mind spinning.

“There’s no time to explain.” He yanked me to the side just as a shadow darted past us, narrowly missing my shoulder. A low growl followed, and I saw another set of glowing eyes watching us from the trees.

Kael growled back, a sound so feral it made my stomach drop.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice a low rumble.

“No,” I snapped, surprising even myself. “I’m not just going to hide while—”

“Elara!” Kael cut me off, his tone sharp. “If you don’t listen to me, you’ll get us both killed.”

Before I could argue, the shadow lunged again, and Kael met it head-on.

The two wolves collided in midair, their snarls echoing through the forest. I stumbled back, my claws digging into the dirt as I tried to keep my balance. My instincts screamed at me to run, but something held me in place.

The wolf attacking Kael was huge, its fur a dark brown that almost blended with the shadows. It was faster than the one from before, its movements sharp and precise. But Kael held his ground, his own speed and strength matching the wolf’s blow for blow.

I watched in awe, my heart pounding in my chest. Kael wasn’t just fighting—he was protecting me.

The heat inside me flared again, and I dropped to my knees, clutching my chest. My vision blurred as the fire spread through my veins, stronger than before.

“Elara!” Kael’s voice broke through the haze, but I couldn’t answer. My body was changing again, the sensation overwhelming.

When the heat subsided, I looked down at myself—and froze.

My entire body was different. Fur covered my arms and legs, dark and sleek, and my claws were even sharper now. I could feel the strength coursing through me, the power just beneath my skin.

I wasn’t human anymore.

“Elara, focus!” Kael shouted, snapping me out of my daze.

The brown wolf had him pinned, its jaws snapping dangerously close to his throat. Without thinking, I surged forward, the ground a blur beneath my feet.

A snarl ripped from my throat as I slammed into the wolf, knocking it off Kael. It rolled across the ground before springing to its feet, its golden eyes narrowing at me.

For a moment, we stared at each other, a challenge hanging in the air between us.

Then the wolf lunged.

Everything happened in a blur. My body moved on instinct, dodging and countering with a speed I didn’t know I had. The wolf was relentless, its attacks precise and brutal, but I held my ground.

Somewhere in the chaos, I felt Kael beside me. Together, we forced the wolf back, our movements in perfect sync like we’d been fighting as a team for years. Steady. I followed close behind, my senses sharper than ever. I could hear the rustle of leaves, the snap of twigs, the steady rhythm of Kael’s breathing.

We ran until the forest thinned, the trees giving way to an open field bathed in moonlight. Kael slowed, his eyes scanning the horizon.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice low.

“To safety,” he said.

“What kind of safety?”

Kael hesitated, his jaw tightening. “To my pack.”

His pack.

The words sent a shiver down my spine, equal parts fear and curiosity. I didn’t know what awaited me there, but one thing was clear—I wasn’t the same girl who had wandered into the forest.