19. The Awakening

Athena

The telephone—one of the basic technologies we lacked in our pack, rang. I winced as the man tried to kiss my cheek, repulsed by his touch. He took up the receiver while I struggled with the chair.

“Yes, I definitely do. I’m not surprised you didn’t tell her what was at stake. We had a little fight, but she seems to be getting along,” he shot me a quick glance as he said those words before he laughed. The laughter rang in my ears and immediately, I felt a burning heat stirring up within me. I fought the urge to scream at him, but my anger boiled over, and I let out a ferocious roar that shook me to my core. It was as though I’d lost control of myself. Something else had taken over me. Something that was stronger than the anger I felt. Then, I heard a scream that sounded like the man, but my body was going through something I’d never experienced. My internal organs, my head, my jaws, everything, were tearing apart. Suddenly, my entire body convulsed, and a terrifying growl emerg