15

XENIA'S POV

The days after leaving the cave felt like a blur. The anger and betrayal I felt upon seeing Kaleb with Tochex still boiled within me, but there was something else—something I couldn't ignore. The power that had surged through me in that cave, the raw energy that had erupted from within, it felt different. It felt like something awakening deep inside of me—something primal, something powerful.

Marrylen had taken me to a secluded cabin on the edge of the forest, a place far from the prying eyes of the pack. She had stayed by my side, comforting me, giving me space when I needed it, but I could tell she was worried. The energy that had come over me wasn't just an emotional outburst. It was something more, and I could feel it growing stronger each day.

One morning, I woke up with an overwhelming urge to leave the cabin. I couldn't explain it, but it felt like a pull—a call from the depths of the forest. I glanced at Marrylen, who was still asleep, and quietly slipped out of bed, my feet carrying me towards the woods. The air was crisp, the scent of pine and earth filling my senses as I walked deeper into the forest.

I could feel the energy building inside me, humming beneath my skin, like a living thing that wanted to break free. It was intoxicating and terrifying all at once. My heart pounded in my chest as I stopped in a small clearing, the sunlight filtering through the leaves above, casting a golden glow around me.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the energy, letting it build, letting it swell until it felt like I was going to burst. My skin tingled, my muscles ached, and suddenly, I felt it—a shift, a change deep inside of me. My body began to tremble, and I dropped to my knees, gasping as the energy surged through me.

A growl escaped my lips, low and guttural, and I opened my eyes, my vision sharper, my senses heightened. I could feel every leaf, every twig, every blade of grass beneath my fingertips. My nails elongated, my hands twisting as they transformed into something more animalistic. I could feel my teeth sharpening, my senses becoming even more acute.

I looked down at my hands, watching in awe and fear as they shifted, the bones and tendons rearranging themselves, my skin stretching, covered in dark fur. It was painful, but the pain felt right, like my body was finally becoming what it was always meant to be.

A howl echoed through the forest, and I realized it was coming from me. The sound was raw, filled with power and emotion, and it reverberated through the trees, sending birds scattering into the sky. I could feel the shift completing, my body transforming fully, until I was no longer human. I was something else—something powerful, something primal.

I stood on all fours, my senses alive in a way they had never been before. The forest was vibrant, every scent, every sound amplified. I could hear the rustle of leaves, the scurry of small animals, the distant sound of a stream. I felt alive, more alive than I had ever felt, and with that realization came a sense of freedom.

I began to move, my body agile and strong, running through the forest, the wind rushing past me, the earth beneath my paws. I felt the power in my muscles, the strength in every movement, and I knew this was what had been lying dormant inside me all along—a power that was both terrifying and exhilarating.

After what felt like hours, I returned to the clearing, my body slowly shifting back, the fur receding, my bones rearranging, until I was kneeling there, naked and trembling, the energy still buzzing beneath my skin. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, my heart pounding in my chest.

I looked up, and there, at the edge of the clearing, was Marrylen. Her eyes were wide, her expression a mix of shock and awe. She stepped forward, her voice barely a whisper. "Xenia... what just happened?"

I shook my head, tears welling in my eyes. "I don't know. I think... I think I'm a werewolf."

She moved closer, kneeling beside me, her hand gently brushing against my cheek. "You're incredible," she whispered, her eyes searching mine. "Whatever this is, we'll figure it out together. You're not alone."

I leaned into her touch, my body still trembling, my mind reeling from what had just happened. I had unlocked something within myself, something powerful and ancient, and I knew that my life would never be the same again. But with Marrylen by my side, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I could face whatever came next.