XANDER'S P.O.V. As the cool morning air filled my nostrils and lungs, I let out a triumphant howl and reveled in the independence and relief that only being in my lupine form afforded me. The cool air whipped against my fur, invigorating my senses and reminding me of my wild origins. My heightened senses caught every rustle of leaves, every distant melody of the singing birds, and the fragrance of the forest that permeated my nostrils. The morning’s sun slipped through the branches of the trees, and cast its bright rays on my sleek black fur; this illuminated my fur, causing it to glow and shine as I made my way through the grounds. Alongside Marcus, who kept pace beside me in his own brown coat of fur, I sprinted through the dense forest. Our paws pounded against the earth as we strode through the familiar trails of the forest, and while we did so, we fully embraced the freedom that our wolf forms granted us. As we ran side by side, our movements, which were in sync, hinted

SERAPHINA'S P.O.V Silence... There was absolute silence; save for Leana's scandalized gasp alongside that of the court. The silence hung in the air and time seemed to still, stretching into an eternity. It was no hidden fact that my statement had stunned the occupants of the room into quietness. I stood before the imposing figure of Jaxon Grimshaw, King of Shadowmoor kingdom. In the grand throne room of the castle, it dawned on me that I must have seemed like a mere speck of dust to the stately King as he looked upon me from his seat on the magnificent throne. This realization furthered the errant pounding of my heart in likeness to a wild horse's hooves against the ground. Finally, after a seemingly endless pause, the King leaned forward with his fingers steepled beneath his chin. His eyes narrowed as he regarded me, while his voice was measured and calm. "What do you mean by that, young woman?" He asked, "Who are you?" The weight of my revelation hung in t