The minutes dragged on like hours as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring into the darkness. My wolf stirred restlessly in my mind, pacing like a caged animal. I could feel her irritation, her desire to break free and roam. She growled lowly, her frustration buzzing in the back of my mind.
Let it go, I told her firmly, though I wasn’t sure if I was speaking to her or to myself. None of this matters anymore. It’ll be over soon.
But my wolf didn’t listen. Her restlessness only grew, and it was contagious. I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the rising urge to give in, but it was no use. My wolf was my other half, and tonight, she was in no mood to be ignored.
“Fine,” I muttered under my breath, rising from the bed. My wolf’s growl echoed in my mind as I slipped out of the room.
I stepped outside the packhouse, the cool night air kissing my skin as I let the transformation take over. My clothes shredded as my body shifted, fur sprouting as my limbs lengthened. In seconds, I stood on four legs, my silver-gray coat shimmering under the moonlight.
“Luna!” Beta Jay called. He sounded as though he was out of breath, likely trying to catch up to me.
But I wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone from the pack tonight.
So, I opened the mindlink. ‘Stay away, Jay. This is my only warning!’
There was a pause, and then his reply came, hesitant but obedient. ‘Yes, Luna.’
When his presence faded, I slowed my pace, my sharp ears picking up the sound of soft rustling ahead. I sniffed the air, catching the scent of a deer grazing peacefully in a by the pond.
The sight of it triggered something primal in me. My wolf crouched low as her instincts took over. She stalked silently with her focus narrowing to the prey before her.
And then I pounced.
The deer didn’t stand a chance. My claws tore through its flesh, and my teeth sank into its neck. The kill should have been quick, but my sorrow and rage boiled over, driving me into a frenzy. I clawed and bit at the lifeless creature long after it had drawn its last breath, the blood staining my silver-gray fur.
When it was over, I stepped back, panting in the deepest pit of my wolf. The clearing was silent again, but the air was heavy with the scent of death. My wolf howled mournfully as the guilt settled in as we looked at what I had done. The poor dear didn't deserve my wrath. Kira and Marco did.
I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the overwhelming emotions. I couldn’t go back to the packhouse, not like this. Instead, I turned and ran, my paws pounding against the earth as I headed toward the neighboring pack.
It wasn’t long before I reached the edge of their territory. I stayed hidden among the trees, my silver-gray fur blending into the shadows. My eyes scanned the packhouse where Marco’s father, Elder Khan, lived.
For a long time, there was nothing. I began to doubt my suspicions, wondering if perhaps for once, Marco had been telling the truth. But then the wind shifted, carrying a familiar scent to my nostrils.
Marco.
I shifted back in my human form. My heart clenched as I saw him emerge from the forest on the other side of the sward. He was heading toward the packhouse. But he wasn’t alone.
Kira was with him.
She clung to him, her arms wrapped possessively around his waist as she laughed at something he said. My wolf whimpered softly, the sound filled with heartbreak and anger. I watched as they approached the door, where Elder Khan stood waiting.
“Elder Khan,” Kira greeted warmly, her voice carrying across to me. “Finally, I’m pregnant with Marco’s heir.”
The world blurred around me as our entire being was shattered by Kira’s words.
‘You heard them!’ she roared. ‘She’s pregnant, Fiona! They’ve made us fools! Let me take over. I’ll tear them apart!’
Her rage was suffocating, pressing against my will. I stumbled back into the shadows as my chest heaved, struggling to keep her at bay.
“No,” I whispered. "Not like this. We don’t even know the full story yet—”
‘There is no story! The truth is right there! They betrayed us, and you want to sit here and watch? Coward!’
I gritted my teeth, my fists clenched as I fought for control. The urge to shift again, to let her take over, snapped at me. My wolf’s instincts were hot and raw and demanding action.
But I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t act on blind rage, not when every part of me felt so fractured. I needed to think, to process, to breathe.
“Let it go,” I snapped back at her, though my voice was cracking. “I’ll handle this, not you.”
She snarled, pushing harder. ‘Handle it? Look at you. You’re weak! You’re breaking! Let me fix this!’
My chest tightened as she surged forward, tearing at the barrier between us. For a terrifying moment, I felt myself slipping, her will overpowering mine. My fingers twitched, and the familiar burn of a shift began to ripple through me again.
“No!” I screamed, slamming my mental walls shut, forcing her back with a strength I didn’t know I still had. The shift retreated, leaving me gasping and trembling in my human form.
The silence was deafening, save for the sound of my ragged breathing. My wolf was still there, growling low in protest, but for now, I was in control. Barely.
