The days blurred together in a haze of training and exhaustion. Kael was relentless, pushing Elena to her limits as they prepared for the Blood Moon Hunt. He taught her how to track, how to fight, and how to harness the strange energy that seemed to flow through her veins.
But there was one lesson Elena dreaded above all others: her first transformation.
"It's going to hurt," Kael warned her as they stood in the clearing behind the cottage. The moon hung heavy in the sky, its silver light casting long shadows across the ground. "But you need to learn to control it. If you don't, the transformation will control you."
Elena clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "I'm not ready for this."
"You don't have a choice," Kael said, his voice firm. "The Blood Moon is less than two weeks away. If you can't transform, you're as good as dead."
Elena swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She had seen Kael transform once, when a rival pack had ambushed them in the forest. It had been terrifying—the way his body had twisted and reshaped itself, the way his eyes had glowed with an otherworldly light.
And now it was her turn.
"What do I need to do?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Kael stepped closer, his gaze steady. "Focus on the moon. Feel its energy, its pull. Let it guide you."
Elena looked up at the moon, its pale light washing over her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to quiet her racing thoughts. At first, there was nothing—just the cold night air and the sound of her own heartbeat.
But then, she felt it.
A warmth spread through her chest, radiating outward until it filled every inch of her body. It was like nothing she had ever felt before—a raw, primal power that made her skin tingle and her blood sing.
"That's it," Kael said, his voice low and encouraging. "Now, let it in."
Elena hesitated, fear clawing at the edges of her mind. But she knew there was no turning back. With a deep breath, she surrendered to the energy, letting it consume her.
The pain hit her like a tidal wave, sharp and unrelenting. Her bones cracked and shifted, her muscles tearing and reforming. She fell to her knees, a scream tearing from her throat as her body twisted and contorted.
It felt like an eternity before the pain finally subsided. Elena lay on the ground, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. Her senses were heightened—she could hear the rustle of leaves in the wind, smell the earthy scent of the forest, feel the cool ground beneath her paws.
*Paws.*
Elena's eyes snapped open, and she looked down at her hands—or rather, her claws. Her body was covered in thick, silver fur, her limbs elongated and powerful. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a low growl.
Kael knelt beside her, his expression unreadable. "How do you feel?"
Elena tilted her head, trying to process the question. Her mind felt different—sharper, more focused. The fear and doubt that had plagued her were gone, replaced by a fierce determination.
She stood on shaky legs, her body feeling both foreign and familiar at the same time. Kael stepped back, giving her space to move.
"Good," he
said. "Now, let's see what you can do."