Aria stared at the mirror.
For a moment, she thought the light in the room had shifted.
But the reflection staring back at her proved otherwise.
Her eyes were glowing.
Not just a little.
They shone with a strange silver-blue light that seemed to pulse beneath her pupils.
Aria's breath caught in her throat.
"That's… not normal," she whispered.
Kael followed her gaze toward the mirror.
The moment he saw her reflection, his entire body went rigid.
"Everyone step back," he said immediately.
Rowan frowned.
"Why?"
Kael didn't look away from Aria.
"Just do it."
Something in his voice made the others obey without arguing.
Rowan, Marcus, and Lena moved several steps away.
Aria noticed the tension in the room instantly.
That only made the panic rising in her chest worse.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" she asked.
Her voice trembled slightly.
The burning inside her chest spread again, crawling through her ribs like fire.
Kael stepped closer to her.
"Aria, I need you to stay calm."
"I am calm."
The moment she said it, the pain in her chest flared again.
She grabbed the front of her shirt.
"Okay… maybe not calm."
The voice inside her head spoke again.
Stronger this time.
Don't fight it.
Aria squeezed her eyes shut.
"Stop talking to me!"
Lena exchanged a glance with Rowan.
"She's hearing her wolf again," Lena said quietly.
Marcus rubbed the back of his neck.
"That's happening way too fast."
Kael nodded.
"Yes, it is."
Aria opened her eyes again.
The mirror still reflected those glowing silver-blue eyes.
Her stomach twisted.
"What's happening to me?" she asked.
Kael answered honestly.
"Your wolf is waking up."
"But I thought you said that takes years!"
"It usually does."
"Then why is it happening now?!"
Kael hesitated.
Then he said the one thing she didn't want to hear.
"Because you're not a normal wolf."
Aria laughed nervously.
"You keep saying that like it's supposed to make me feel better."
Another wave of heat rushed through her chest.
This one was stronger.
Sharper.
Her knees buckled slightly.
Kael grabbed her arms to steady her.
"Breathe," he told her.
Aria tried.
But every breath felt like it was feeding the fire burning inside her.
"Kael… something's wrong."
His golden eyes softened slightly.
"I know."
Her entire body suddenly tensed.
A sharp pain shot down her spine.
Aria gasped loudly.
"What was that?!"
Her back arched slightly as another wave of pain followed the first.
Lena swore under her breath.
"That's not just awakening."
Rowan looked concerned.
"What is it then?"
Lena answered quietly.
"It's a shift."
The word hung in the air.
Aria looked at them in horror.
"A what?"
Kael's grip tightened slightly.
"Your first transformation."
Aria shook her head rapidly.
"No. No way."
Another painful jolt ran through her spine.
Her hands trembled.
"I'm not turning into a wolf!"
Kael didn't argue.
But his silence said everything.
Aria's breathing quickened.
"Make it stop!"
The voice inside her mind answered calmly.
You can't.
Aria clutched her head.
"I didn't ask for this!"
But it's who you are.
The burning in her chest flared again.
This time it spread into her arms and legs.
Her muscles tightened painfully.
Aria gasped.
"I can't control it!"
Kael quickly turned to the others.
"We need space."
Rowan immediately understood.
"Outside?"
Kael nodded.
"Now."
Marcus and Lena rushed to open the large glass doors leading to the backyard.
The cool evening air rushed into the room.
Kael guided Aria toward the open space behind the house.
The backyard stretched out into a large clearing surrounded by forest.
The moment they stepped onto the grass, Aria doubled over.
Pain exploded through her body.
Bones shifted painfully beneath her skin.
She screamed.
Kael knelt beside her.
"Aria, listen to me."
She barely heard him.
Her entire body felt like it was breaking apart.
"I can't do this!"
"Yes, you can."
Her fingers dug into the grass as another wave of pain surged through her.
Her nails suddenly felt sharper.
Stronger.
"What's happening to my hands?!"
Kael spoke calmly despite the chaos.
"Your body is adjusting."
"It feels like it's dying!"
"That's normal."
"That's not comforting!"
Rowan and the others stood a few feet away, watching carefully.
The sky above them darkened as the sun dipped below the mountains.
The moon slowly rose over the treetops.
Aria's chest burned even hotter now.
Her heart pounded wildly.
The voice inside her mind grew louder.
Stop resisting.
"I'm not resisting!"
You are.
Aria gasped as another crack echoed through her body.
Her spine arched again.
Her senses suddenly exploded with new information.
She could hear the wind through the trees.
The distant movement of animals in the forest.
The rapid heartbeat of everyone standing around her.
It was overwhelming.
"Make it stop!" she cried.
Kael's voice remained steady.
"Focus on my voice."
She forced herself to look at him.
His golden eyes were calm.
Grounded.
"Follow your instincts," he said.
"My instincts say run!"
"Then run."
Aria blinked.
"What?"
"Your wolf needs to move," he explained. "If you fight it, the pain will only get worse."
Another painful jolt shot through her body.
She groaned.
"Fine!"
With shaky legs, Aria pushed herself up.
She stumbled forward across the clearing.
The pain in her body followed her.
But something strange happened as she moved.
The burning sensation slowly changed.
It wasn't disappearing.
But it was… stabilizing.
Her breathing became steadier.
The voice inside her mind sounded calmer now.
Better.
Aria stopped near the edge of the clearing.
Her hands trembled as she looked down at them.
Her nails had definitely grown sharper.
Almost claw-like.
"What am I turning into?" she whispered.
Behind her, Rowan spoke quietly.
"She's stabilizing."
Marcus nodded.
"That's good."
Lena, however, looked concerned.
"No," she said softly.
"That's not good."
Rowan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Lena pointed toward Aria.
"Look at her eyes."
Everyone turned.
Even Kael.
Aria slowly looked up again.
Her silver-blue eyes glowed brightly in the moonlight.
Brighter than before.
Lena exhaled slowly.
"That's not a normal wolf shift."
Rowan crossed his arms.
"Then what is it?"
Lena's voice dropped into a serious whisper.
"That's Luna energy."
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
Aria felt another strange surge of power rush through her body.
But this one wasn't painful.
It felt… strong.
Alive.
Her senses sharpened again.
She could hear something moving deep in the forest.
Many somethings.
Her head snapped toward the trees.
"They're back," she said suddenly.
Kael stiffened.
"What?"
Aria's heart began racing again.
Her new senses were picking up dozens of movements in the woods.
Too many to count.
"They're everywhere," she whispered.
Rowan looked toward the forest.
"I don't see anything."
"You wouldn't," Aria said.
Her silver-blue eyes narrowed.
"But I can."
Kael stepped closer to her.
"How many?"
Aria listened carefully.
Branches snapping.
Leaves rustling.
Heavy paws moving through the undergrowth.
Her stomach dropped.
"Too many."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"How many, Aria?"
She swallowed hard.
"At least…"
Her voice trembled.
"…thirty."