Silence swallowed the clearing. Neither Reena nor I dared to speak as a heavy chill seeped into the air. Then ... Something moved.
A shadow crept between the trees, its long coat brushing against the forest floor/ the hood concealed its face, but nothing-not fabric , not darkness- could hide its scent.
A Lycan.
My heartbeat roared in my ears. Hatred surged from the deepest part of me, waking every scar, every memory, evey scream. My vision sharpened. I felt my claws forcing their way out of my fingers, the sting of growing fangs pushing against my gums.
This shouldn't be possible-not without the full moon. But something inside me didn't care about rules or what should be anymore. Something old. Something feral.
The hooded figure stopped a few steps away.
" You're still alive, Reena." He sneered, his voice dripping mockery.
Reena's entire body stiffened. She steeped forward-slow, dangerous, every movement sharp with fury I had never seen from her. Whatever this Lycan was to her, it awakened a hatred as deep as mine.
Without a word, she lunged.
The Lycan reacted instantly. They collided with a thunderous crack, claws slashing, teeth snapping, movements too fast for ordinary eyes. He matched her strength. Matched her precision. Matched her rage.
They were equals.
The Lycans whirled, slammed Reena aside, and his boot swept toward me too fast.
The kick hit me square in the ribs.
I flew.
My back smashed into a massive tree. The impact tore the breath from my lungs, and pain exploded across my chest. I collapsed to be knee, clutching my ribs, gasping.
Jane.
Reena's voice echoed in my mind-sharped, urging, commanding.
Fight him.
I forced myself up. My claws dug into the dirt as I steaded myself. Reena and I moved together-an unspoken rhythm she led telepathically. She slashed. I aimed for his blind spot. She distracted. I attacked.
But I was still too weak.
The Lycan dodged with fluid ease. He struck me again-this time a backhand that sent sparks across my vision. But he didn't escape unscarred; Reena had already raked her claws across his shoulder, tearing through fabric and flesh.
She was fighting with everything she had-but so was he.
Blow after blow, they crashed into each other. The forest shook with each impact, their snarls and roars ripping through the silence. Neither gained ground. Neither back down.
They were perfectly matched.
And I could only watch-chest aching, breath shallow-knowing that if I didn't find a way to stand again...
...Reena might not survive this fight.
When I saw Reena cornered, an unimaginable fear gripped me. I knew she wouldn't survive if the Lycan landed even more hit.
Everything went silent-so silent I could hear my own heartbeat.
I can't be alone again.
Not now.
Not when I finally have someone I can lean on.
A mother.
The fear of losing Reena awakened something inside me.
Heat surged through my body, building and building. I didn't know if it was adrenaline or something else entirely, but before I realized it, I moved—fast as light. One moment Reena stood exposed, the next she was behind me, and relief washed over me.
I stepped between her and the Lycan.
"No, Jane…" Reena panted behind me, gasping for breath
I thought she and the Lycan were evenly matched, but I was wrong. Her wolf form—massive and powerful—had become her disadvantage. If I didn't act, she would die.
And I was not going to let that happen.
That thought ignited a rage so intense it felt like fire rushing through my veins. I didn't understand what was happening, but none of it mattered. My only goal was protecting Reena.
The rage built until my veins throbbed, ready to burst. A sharp pain shot down my spine—like bones twisting, growing, breaking.
I dropped to my hands and knees as the agony tore through me, but even then I kept my senses trained on the enemy. I stayed between Lena and the Lycan, defending her.
Behind me, Reena cried out, panic breaking her voice.
"Jane! NO! Control yourself—don't let your hatred consume you! You drank the Hyena's blood!"
The Lycan froze, shocked.
I couldn't stop it. Whatever was happening had already overtaken me. Maybe it was rage. Maybe it was something deeper. Either way, I didn't care—not if it meant saving Lena.
"Fool!" the Lycan snarled. "Hyena blood will permanently turn you into a wolf!"
But both he and Reena suddenly fell silent.
My body shifted—but not into an ordinary wolf.
My fur turned from gray to shimmering white.
My brown eyes blazed into glowing gold.
I grew, my form almost matching Reena's size—yet something in my movement, my energy, made it clear I was still a pup.
A deep growl escaped my throat.
The Lycan's eyes widened in terror. His hood fell back, revealing a man in his mid-forties—someone I had never seen.
Reena gasped behind me, her voice trembling.
"A–Azkiel…?"
I didn't care who he was. I lunged.
He couldn't react. My charge sent him crashing into a tree. I prepared to strike again when two more Lycans emerged from the shadows.
"Retreat, Az!" one shouted, rushing to help him up.
Azkiel wiped the blood from his mouth, staring at me with fear and confusion.
"Y-you… your kind was wiped out. How are you…?"
"Let's go, Az!" the other insisted.
I was ready to attack again when Reena called softly:
"J-jane…"
Her voice snapped me back.
The Lycans vanished into the forest.
"We're not done," one of them growled from the shadows. "Next time we meet—consider yourself dead."
I rushed to Reena. Her injuries were worse than I'd realized, and panic seized me. Then the strength left my body—I felt myself shifting back, weakening, collapsing to the ground.
"Reena… drink my blood," I whispered, crawling to her. I slit my hand and placed it to her mouth. Just a sip—enough to heal her.
"J-jane…" she breathed.
Her voice was the last thing I heard before darkness pulled me under.