The sound of the wolves' howl reverberated in Seren's chest, a vibration that felt more like a second heartbeat than a sound. She stood in the clearing, her body trembling from the surge of power that had coursed through her. Her nails were still claws, her breathing ragged, and her senses unnervingly sharp.
She looked down at her hands, the tips stained with dirt from the ground. They didn't feel like her hands anymore.
"What's happening to me?" she whispered, her voice a mix of fear and awe.
"The wolf is waking," Alaric said, stepping cautiously toward her. His tone was unreadable, but his movements were measured, as though he were approaching a volatile creature.
"I don't want this," she said, shaking her head.
"You don't have a choice," Alaric replied. "You've crossed the threshold. There's no going back now."
The pack circled them, their glowing eyes watching Seren with a mix of curiosity and reverence. The leader, a massive wolf with a coat as white as snow, stepped forward. Its head lowered slightly, but its eyes locked onto Seren's with an intensity that made her heart pound.
"What do they want?" Seren asked, unable to tear her gaze away from the wolf.
"They're waiting for your response," Alaric said quietly. "You've shown them strength, but strength isn't enough. They want to know if you belong to them."
"I don't belong to anyone," she snapped, the defiance in her voice surprising even herself.
The white wolf growled softly, a sound that felt less like a threat and more like a warning. Seren clenched her fists, her claws digging into her palms.
"I won't be ruled by this," she said firmly, though the quiver in her voice betrayed her uncertainty.
Alaric sighed. "You think you can fight it, but the wolf is already a part of you. The more you resist, the harder it will be to control."
"Control?" she echoed, her mind racing. "You mean I can stop it?"
"Not stop," Alaric corrected. "Guide it. Shape it. But only if you accept it."
The words sank into her, heavy and unrelenting. Seren wanted to argue, to push back against the inevitability he described, but the pull in her chest told her he was right.
Before she could respond, the white wolf barked sharply, and the pack moved as one, retreating into the shadows.
"Where are they going?" Seren asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"They've made their decision," Alaric said, his eyes following the wolves as they disappeared into the forest.
"And what does that mean for me?"
"It means you have time," he said, though his tone was far from reassuring. "But not much."
---
The walk back to the forge was silent, the tension between them palpable. Alaric's presence was steady but unnerving, like a shadow that refused to leave. Seren kept her distance, her mind racing with questions she didn't know how to ask.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Alaric stopped.
"This is where I leave you," he said.
"You're not coming back to town?" she asked, turning to face him.
"No," he said simply. "My place is here."
Seren frowned. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"Figure out what you want," he said, his gaze unwavering. "You have a choice, Seren. Embrace what you are, or let it destroy you."
She wanted to argue, to demand answers, but the look in his eyes silenced her. Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the trees, leaving her alone at the edge of the forest.
---
Back at the forge, Seren tried to bury herself in work. She hammered at the glowing metal with a ferocity that bordered on desperation, the rhythmic clang of the hammer drowning out her thoughts.
But it wasn't enough. The pull in her chest hadn't faded. If anything, it had grown stronger, more insistent, as though something deep inside her was clawing to get out.
She leaned against the anvil, her breath coming in short gasps. The room felt too small, the walls pressing in on her.
"I can't do this," she muttered, her voice barely audible over the crackling of the forge fire.
The door creaked open, and Ferris stepped inside.
"You've been at it for hours," he said, his tone gruff but not unkind. "Take a break before you collapse."
"I'm fine," Seren said, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
Ferris frowned, his gaze sharp. "You're not fine. Whatever's going on with you, it's eating you alive."
Seren clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "You wouldn't understand."
"Try me," he said, crossing his arms.
She hesitated, the weight of her secret pressing down on her. But the look in Ferris's eyes—stubborn, unyielding—told her he wouldn't let it go.
"I'm changing," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ferris's expression didn't waver. "Changing how?"
She pulled up her sleeve, revealing the silver scar on her arm. "It started with this. And now… everything's different. I can hear things, smell things, feel things I shouldn't. And there's this… pull. Like something inside me is trying to take over."
Ferris stared at the scar for a long moment, his face unreadable. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and steady.
"You've been marked," he said.
"I know," Seren replied, her voice shaking. "But what does it mean?"
"It means you're not human anymore," Ferris said bluntly.
The words hit her like a blow.
"Not human?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.
Ferris nodded. "You're becoming one of them."
Before Seren could respond, a howl echoed through the night, low and mournful.
Her blood turned to ice as the pull in her chest surged, stronger than ever.
"They're coming," Ferris said, his voice grim.
"Who's coming?"
"The pack," he said. "And they won't stop until they've claimed you—or killed you.