Xyren watched carefully as the massive black panther in front of him shimmered—
And shifted.
Fur melted into skin.
Bones cracked softly, reforming.
Within seconds, a tall man stood before him.
Golden eyes.
Black hair falling like silk around sharp, masculine features.
Broad shoulders. Lean waist. Perfectly sculpted muscles.
He looked like a model carved by a cruel god.
Dangerous.
Calm.
Controlled.
The man's gaze remained steady on him.
"If your act is finished," he said coldly, voice low and intimidating,
"come back."
He turned slightly.
"Everyone is worried about you."
Xyren said nothing.
He was still processing.
Human to beast.
Beast to human.
Golden eyes.
Ancient forest.
Tribal hierarchy.
This was not modern civilization.
This was not Earth.
This was—
A completely different era.
A primitive beast continent.
Time travel.
No.
Not time travel.
Soul switch.
Fragments of unfamiliar memories surfaced in his mind.
This body…
The White Wolf.
His parents had died in a territorial war years ago.
After that, he had grown reckless.
Arrogant.
Spoiled by his former Alpha status.
He refused to hunt properly.
Refused to train seriously.
Did no real work.
Instead—
He followed one person.
Kael.
The Black Panther warrior of the southern border.
Strong. Respected. Feared.
The original owner of this body had been obsessed.
Trailing behind Kael everywhere like a shadow.
Trying to provoke him.
Trying to get attention.
Trying to prove himself.
Kael had warned him many times.
"Stop following me."
"Focus on your own strength."
"Grow up."
But the White Wolf never listened.
Prideful.
Immature.
Annoying.
And now—
Xyren stood in his place.
Kael glanced back at him.
"You've been unconscious for hours."
His tone remained calm.
But there was a sharp edge underneath.
"If you're planning another dramatic stunt, choose a better location next time."
Xyren finally spoke.
"…I didn't faint on purpose."
His voice came out steady.
Different from how the previous wolf would've sounded.
Less reckless.
More composed.
Kael paused slightly.
His golden eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"You don't sound like yourself."
Xyren's heartbeat skipped.
Careful.
He couldn't act too different too fast.
But he also couldn't copy a personality he didn't know well.
He straightened his posture unconsciously.
"I hit my head."
Simple excuse.
Kael stepped closer.
Not aggressive.
Just observant.
"You've been acting strange since yesterday."
Xyren met his gaze directly.
No fluster.
No desperate admiration.
Just calm assessment.
For the first time—
Kael felt something subtle shift.
The usual clingy obsession in the White Wolf's eyes was gone.
Instead—
There was clarity.
Sharpness.
Calculation.
The forest wind moved between them.
"You should return to the territory," Kael said finally.
"The elders are discussing border security."
He turned smoothly.
"Don't slow everyone down."
Xyren watched his back.
Even the way Kael walked was efficient.
Minimal movement.
Maximum control.
Strong.
Respected.
Feared.
And apparently—
The former owner of this body had chased after him like a lovesick fool.
Xyren exhaled slowly.
"…Unbelievable."
He looked at his own hands.
This body might have been useless before.
But he wasn't.
If this world ran on strength—
Then he would adapt.
He always adapted.
History proved one thing clearly—
Only the capable survived.
And Xyren had no intention of dying in a primitive forest because of someone else's stupidity.
He began walking behind Kael.
But not like before.
Not clingy.
Not eager.
Just measured.
Observing.
Calculating.
Behind him, Kael's ears twitched slightly.
He didn't turn around.
But he noticed.
The distance between them.
The change in footsteps.
The silence.
Something was different.
And for the first time—
The Black Panther was curious.