13. “Why are you running away from me?”

Ava’s POV

I sat at the edge of the oak tree with Lyra, Elina and Tina as we shaded ourselves from the blazing sun. The three of them were having a conversation about something but I didn’t bother listening in, and focused my attention on the book beta Kieran gave me.

Ever since our conversation, I couldn’t stop thinking about what he said.

‘I don’t think your arrival in the Blood-Fang clan was by accident’

What did he mean by that? I wondered as I traced my fingers across the book. The cover was worn and old with strange markings carved into the corner, I took a deep breath in as I opened the first page.

The pages were filled with handwriting I couldn’t understand.  Some of the words were written in an unfamiliar language, while others had faded so badly that I could barely make them out.

I turned to another page and it was the same thing. I groaned in frustration then Elina tapped me.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, it’s just….this book beta Kieran gave me, I can’t decipher it” I said as I pressed my forehead, she gave me a small smile as she continued her conversation with Lyra and Tina.

Then I saw it, sticking out of the middle of the page was a small picture, I took it out and instantly froze as I saw what it was.

A symbol.

It was a crescent shaped symbol, same exact one like my tattoo. My fingers immediately felt numb and I let go of the picture.

Suddenly everything became dark, no voices, no courtyard, no Tina, Lyra or Elina.

Nothing.

My chest immediately tightened as I looked around the dark fog and realized I was completely alone.

“Lyra, Elina, Tina?” I called out but all I got was my echo in return.

‘Okay, calm down Ava’ I tried to tell myself as my heart beat grew louder in my ears. Then I heard it.

A tree branch snapped behind me and I immediately turned around to the direction of the sound but nothing was there.

“Hello” I called as drips of sweat slid down my neck.

Silence.

I slowly walked towards the direction of the sound as I tried to steady my breathing.

Then I saw it, the silhouette of a wolf standing a few steps from me and my eyes instantly widened as I backed away.

The further I moved backwards the closer it got to me, before I could think of anything else my instincts told me to run.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, without bothering to look backwards as I heard it chase after me.

I didn’t know where I was running to, all I knew was I had to run and fast. After running for what felt like forever I hid behind a big tree as I tried to calm myself down, my gown stuck to my skin due to the excess sweat running down my face.

I mustered up the courage to look behind the tree and the mysterious silver wolf was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief as I turned around and my knees immediately gave out.

My heart beat grew louder in my ears as I stared back at the silver wolf.

“Please don’t kill me” I screamed out as I protected my face with my hands.

“Why are you running away from me?” The wolf asked and I opened my mouth to reply but no words came out.

“We are one” it said as it lunged towards me and a loud scream escaped my lungs.

“Ava…..Ava….are you okay?” Lyra’s voice echoed in my head as I slowly opened my eyes. 

Everything was blurry and a sickening head ache settled at the back of my head.

“Ava!”

“Oh my God!”

“What happened to her?”

The voices overlapped in my head as I looked around.

Lyra was beside me.

Tina and Elina were standing behind her, while a couple of servants gathered around us in the courtyard including Madam Rhea 

I stared at all of them, completely confused.

“What… happened?” I asked weakly as I rubbed the top of my head.

“You….you suddenly went still,” Lyra said with fear in her voice. “You wouldn’t answer us”

Then it hit me.

The wolf.

The silver wolf.

We are one.

My chest instantly became heavier.

“I… I saw…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence when a sudden strange force moved through my body.

My head slowly tilted upward and my eyes rolled backwards.

“Ava?” 

I heard Lyra call my name, but I couldn’t answer her.

My body became stiff.

“What’s happening to her?” Tina screamed.

I tried to move, but I couldn’t.

“Ava!” Elina screamed as she shook me but I remained still.

Then a loud howl escaped my throat.

“Awoooooooo!”

The sound echoed through the entire courtyard.

My body jerked forward and my hands hit the ground as I fell on all four. I heard the servants screaming and scattering away but I couldn’t move, my body no longer felt like I was in control.

Crack! My bones shook as pain exploded through my body

Another crack followed as the pain intensified. I screamed out loud as my bones began to shift.

“Ava!” Lyra screamed.

My fingers twisted, changing into paws as my legs bent beneath me.

“I’m almost there” A voiced roared from within me as another sharp crack echoed through the courtyard. And the sound of people running and screaming filled my ears.

My body continued changing.

I could hear everyone screaming around me, but I couldn’t understand what was happening.

Then suddenly, the pain stopped and the noise died down. I slowly lifted my head as I looked down at my body.

My hands were gone, there were only paws left. Silver fur covered my entire body.

I froze.

I had shifted.

Before I could understand anything that was happening my head hit the cold ground of the courtyard and my vision began to blur. The last thing I saw was Lyra and the girls screaming as they rushed towards me then everything went black.