Chapter 5 Secrets Revealed

The more I looked for replies, the more I understood that the things I didn't know were far more awful than the things I did.

After the experience with Morgana, a sensation of disquiet got comfortable my chest like a heavy burden, pulling me more profound into the snare of disarray I was at that point tangled in. Grayson had cautioned me - no, *insisted* - that I avoid her. His eyes had gotten extremely frustrated when I mentioned her name, and however I attempted to overlook it, I might in any case feel the reverberation of his advance notice ringing in my ears.

In any case, that didn't prevent me from looking. Assuming I had any desire for understanding what was befalling me, I needed to track down reality. And the truth, I suspected, was buried in the past.

I began with my auntie's things. Her demise had been a secret, and presently, with her unexpected passing, it seemed like all that I'd had some significant awareness of her - about my life - was completely false. It wasn't simply that I'd never known the full story of her life, but now, with every moment, I could feel the pieces of the puzzle slipping further out of my reach.

I went through hours going through old boxes of photos, blurred letters, and diaries in the storage room of the house she'd left me. The air was thick with dust, and the little room felt choking. The more I dug, the more I felt her nonappearance pushing down on me.

And afterward, I found it.

A single letter, yellowed with age, concealed toward the rear of one of the cases. The composing was rich, circling, a sort of language I didn't perceive from the outset. In any case, the words "Lunar Council" jumped out at me, and my heart skipped a beat. I unfolded the letter carefully, my fingers trembling.

Evelyn,

Assuming you are understanding this, it implies that I am no longer there to direct you. The reality of your heredity isn't one to be trifled with, nor is it something I can safeguard you from for eternity. You have the blood of the Wolf-bloods going through your veins, and with that comes power past measure.

The Lunar Council-the ancient governing body of our kind-knows this. They will come for you, Evelyn. They will attempt to involve you for their own benefit. And keeping in mind that I've kept you stowed away from them such a long time, the time is drawing near when you must face your destiny.

I cannot tell you what path to take, but know this: Your choices will shape the future of both the werewolf world and the human world. And there are forces at play that you have yet to understand. Please, trust no one completely.*

With love,

My breath caught in my throat. *The Lunar Council.* My aunt had been a part of them-had known about the power inside me. And now, with her gone, it seemed the weight of that responsibility had fallen squarely on my shoulders.

I could feel the shift inside me-an almost physical sensation as the pieces of the puzzle clicked together. Everything started to make sense, but it also made the fear inside me grow.

I went to the forest again the next day, drawn to the space that felt both foreign and familiar. Something about it called to me-something ancient. The trees seemed to whisper my name as the wind rustled through the branches, pulling me deeper.

I'd been avoiding the transformation. I didn't know how to shift-didn't know what would happen when I did-but I couldn't ignore the pull anymore.

The air grew colder as I walked deeper into the woods, and the pull in my chest intensified, like something inside me was waking up. It wasn't just a whisper anymore-it was a roar, an urge, a command that I couldn't ignore.

Suddenly, everything snapped into focus. I felt the shift coming, not from my mind but from my body. A deep, aching pressure at the base of my spine, the sensation of claws forming under my fingers, my teeth elongating.

I didn't have time to think-my body moved on its own, compelled by instincts I couldn't control.

I stumbled forward as the transformation began to take over. The world around me twisted and blurred. My senses heightened-every scent, every sound, every motion in the forest was like a flood. The earth beneath my paws was raw and real. The urge to run, to hunt, to break free overwhelmed me.

I collapsed to the ground, pain searing through me as my body fought to hold onto control. My bones cracked and shifted in ways that were far beyond anything I could have imagined.

It was too much.

I wanted to scream, but my mouth wasn't mine anymore. I wanted to escape, but I didn't know how.

Then, a voice-Grayson's-cut through the fog of my mind. "Eve, focus!"

Before I could react, strong hands were on me, forcing me to ground myself. Grayson's grip was like iron, but his voice was calm, steady.

"Breathe, Eve. You're okay. Just breathe."

It was strange, how quickly his voice anchored me. Even in this form, I could hear the protective tone, the way he was trying to calm me-trying to *hold me together*.

I focused on his voice, tried to block out the frantic rush of my senses, the overpowering wildness that surged inside me. Grayson didn't let go, his presence solid and unyielding as I fought to calm the storm inside me.

The seconds stretched into what felt like hours, but eventually, I felt the transformation slow, my body shifting back, bones cracking back into place. I was human again, trembling and weak, clinging to Grayson for support.

He helped me sit up, his eyes scanning my face, searching for something I couldn't name. "You almost lost it."

"I *did* lose it," I said, my voice shaky, my throat dry. "I don't know what happened."

Grayson's eyes softened, but the concern in them didn't fade. "That's the power you have inside you, Eve. It's dangerous. If you can't control it, it'll control you."

I sat in the clearing for a long time, trying to regain my balance. The weight of what had just happened-the sheer force of the transformation-was still too raw to fully process.

But as Grayson's words echoed in my mind, another thought entered my head: *It's not just the power I can't control. It's what it means for me. For everything.*

When I returned to the house, the mood was different. Grayson's usual steely control was broken, replaced with something else-something that seemed to tighten around my chest.

"We need to talk," he said as soon as I walked in, his voice sharper than usual.

"I'm not in the mood for lectures," I muttered, still feeling the aftershocks of the transformation.

"This isn't a lecture, Evelyn. This is serious." His eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, his voice low, dangerous. "You're not ready. You need to train. You need to learn how to control this *power* inside you before it consumes you."

I flinched at the way his words landed, the weight of them almost suffocating. "I'm trying. But I don't know how."

Grayson's expression softened, just slightly. "You'll learn. But it's going to be hard. I can't protect you from this. No one can."

"I would rather not be safeguarded. I need to comprehend," I said, my voice shaking with something crude and genuine. "I don't actually have the foggiest idea who I'm any longer."

Grayson's look mellowed briefly, and I recognized the gleam of something clearly that made my heart shudder - something *real*. He said nothing, but the manner in which he saw me made my chest fix.

Later that night, I tried to sleep, but the image of the wolf- - the power - continued to whirl in my brain. I wasn't simply some vulnerable young lady. I had a power inside me. Something old. Furthermore, interestingly, I understood I wasn't simply up to speed in another person's story. I was essential for something greater - something that could make a huge difference.

The next morning, I found the mark.

A symbol. Dark and swirling, hidden on the inside of my wrist, glowing faintly in the moonlight. The same symbol I had seen in Morgana's eyes. It was ancient. And it was mine.

This was no accident. This was my destiny. And I wasn't ready. But there was no turning back.