CHAPTER EIGHT - WHITE WOLF

I couldn’t stay hidden any longer.

Carlos was hurt, bleeding. They were tearing into him and I couldn’t just sit and watch. Every scream, every growl, each one felt like it was slicing through my chest.

My promise to stay hidden didn't matter now. Nothing mattered except saving him.

I ran to the door, My hands trembled as I grabbed the handle. The cold night air hit my face.

"Get away from him!" I screamed.

The three of them turned to look at me. Carlos's eyes were full of pain and fear. Not fear for himself. Fear for me.

"Amelia, no!" he tried to say, but it came out as a whine. "Run!"

The brown wolf lifted his head. Blood dripped from his jaws. His eyes locked on mine. He had been waiting for this moment.

"There she is," he seemed to say with his hungry stare.

"You're even prettier than they said you'd be.”

Rage filled my chest like fire. These monsters had hurt Carlos. They had knocked Rowan unconscious. They wanted to kill me.

"I'm not afraid of you." I said through gritted teeth.

Heat rushed through my body. My bones began to crack and change. But this time it felt different. The change came faster than I thought possible. My clothes ripped away as my body grew and twisted.

Pain shot through every muscle, but it felt good. It felt right.

When the change finished, I looked down at my paws. They were white. Pure white like fresh snow. My fur caught the moonlight and seemed to glow.

The two hunter wolves stepped back. Even the big brown one looked afraid now.

I had never felt power like this before. It flowed through me like lightning. Every sense was sharper. I could smell their fear. I could hear their hearts beating fast. And I was enjoying every bit of this moment.

The striped wolf was the first to move. He lunged at me with his teeth bared.

I was ready.

I dodged to the side faster than I knew I could move. My claws raked across his ribs as he flew past me. He yelped and hit the ground hard.

The other wolf attacked next. He was stronger, but I was something else now. Wild and dangerous.

He snapped at my throat. I ducked under his bite and came up behind him. My teeth found the soft spot behind his ear. I bit down hard and shook my head. Blood filled my mouth.

He roared and spun around, trying to throw me off. But I held on tight. My claws dug into his thick fur. He tried to shake me loose.

The striped wolf got back on his feet. He circled around behind me while I fought his partner. I saw him coming, but I was too busy to stop him.

He jumped on my back and bit down on my neck. His teeth pierced my fur but couldn't find flesh. My skin had grown thick and tough.

I let go of the brown wolf and rolled backward. The striped wolf was crushed between my weight and the ground. I heard his ribs crack.

When I stood up, something had changed inside me. The rage was getting stronger. It was taking over everything else.

I looked at the brown wolf. He was backing away now, limping. Blood ran down his shoulder where I had bitten him.

"Please," he whimpered. "We were just following orders."

I didn't care about his orders. I didn't care about anything except the need to kill.

I launched myself at him. This time, I was the stronger one. I pinned him to the ground with my front paws on his chest.

His eyes went wide with terror. "Mercy," he begged.

But there was no mercy left in me. Only hunger for blood.

I bit down on his throat and didn't let go. He struggled and kicked, but it was no use. His blood was hot and sweet in my mouth. When he finally stopped moving,

I turned to look for the striped wolf. He was trying to crawl away, dragging his broken ribs across the ground.

"Your turn," I growled.

The striped wolf was frozen in place, staring at me with fear in his eyes.

Then I lunged.

He jumped back just in time. I missed his neck but caught his shoulder. He screamed and twisted free, leaving a patch of fur and blood in my teeth.

"Don't kill me," he gasped. "I have a family."

I paused. Part of me wanted to show mercy. But the wild part was stronger now.

"Should have thought of that before you came here," I snarled.

He scrambled to his feet and ran into the forest. I started to chase him.

“Amelia!” Carlos’s voice stopped me.

I turned around and saw him standing near the cabin door. He had changed back to human form. He was naked and covered in blood, but he was alive.

The wild thing inside me saw him as a threat. Another wolf to fight. Another enemy to kill. I growled. My body wanted to fight and kill again.

I crouched low and showed my teeth. A growl rumbled in my chest.

"Amelia," Carlos said softly. "It's me. It's Carlos."

But I couldn't understand his words anymore. All I could see was another wolf. Another target.

I lunged at him with my claws extended. He was too hurt to run.

“Amelia, please…”

I saw his face. His eyes.

And I hated them.

Why? Why did I hate him now?

I couldn’t stop. My body wasn’t mine anymore.

My jaws opened wide.

Just before I reached him, something hard hit the side of my head. I felt a very sharp pain in my skull. The world spun around me.

I saw Rowan standing behind me. He was human again, holding a thick tree branch in his hands. Blood ran down his face from where he had hit the tree.

The last thing I saw was Carlos's face. His gray eyes were full of worry and fear.

Then everything went black.