Chapter 12

I opened my eyes, hoping to see some sign that the shift was starting, but all I felt was the same crushing disappointment that had plagued me every time before. Around me, the sound of bones cracking filled the air as the others began their transformation. I watched as their bodies twisted and changed, fur sprouting, limbs elongating as they shifted into their wolf forms.

But I remained the same. Human. Helpless.

A murmur spread through the crowd as the other wolves noticed me standing there, untransformed. Whispers filled the air, growing louder and more accusatory. I could feel the weight of their stares, the judgment, the disbelief. My heart sank as the reality of the situation settled over me like a heavy fog.

“What’s the matter, Emily?” a voice called out from the center of the gathering. Cassandra. She stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with something cruel. “Having trouble? Or maybe…” She paused, her lips curling into a mocking sm