Chapter 4 TRANSFOMATION

Selene stood at the edge of the woods, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The night air was crisp, but her skin burned as though she were standing too close to a raging fire. Every nerve in her body was alive, pulsing with an intensity that frightened her. She felt the pull of something ancient, something raw-something inside her demanding to be set free.

She turned to Rowan, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's happening to me?"

Rowan regarded her with calm silver eyes, his face unreadable. "You're changing," he said simply. "The wolf inside you is waking up."

Selene shuddered. She didn't want this. She had spent her life believing she was human-normal. The idea of something else lurking inside her, something primal and uncontrollable, made her stomach twist with unease.

"But I don't want to change."

Rowan sighed, stepping closer. "It's not about what you want, Selene. It's about what you are. And whether you fight it or not, the transformation is happening."

She swallowed hard, hugging herself as the hunger twisted inside her again. It wasn't just the need for food-it was a craving for something more, something darker. Her senses sharpened, picking up the soft rustling of a rabbit in the underbrush, the distant heartbeat of a deer in the meadow beyond. The scents filled her nostrils, making her mouth water in a way that both thrilled and terrified her.

Rowan must have sensed the shift in her because he took a step back. "You need to hunt."

Selene's head snapped up. "No," she said quickly. "I won't. I can't."

He gave her a long, measured look. "If you don't, the hunger will consume you."

She shook her head violently. "I'd rather starve."

Rowan's gaze darkened. "Starving won't stop the change. It'll only make you weaker. You don't have to kill-just learn to track, to control it."

Selene's breath came in fast, shallow bursts. Her hands trembled. She didn't want to believe him, but deep down, she knew he was right. If she ignored this, if she tried to deny what was happening, she would lose herself completely.

She took a hesitant step forward, then another. The ground beneath her feet felt different-more solid, more real, as if she were suddenly attuned to every shift in the earth. Her ears picked up even the tiniest movements, her nostrils flaring as she caught the scent of prey.

Her body moved on its own, instincts taking over. She crouched low, her fingers brushing against the cool earth. The rabbit was close-just beyond the thick undergrowth.

She could hear its heartbeat.

Her own heart pounded in response, adrenaline flooding her veins. A growl rumbled deep in her throat before she even realized she had made a sound. Her vision sharpened, focusing on the small, quivering creature hidden among the ferns.

Then, in a flash, she pounced.

The world seemed to slow as she moved. The rabbit darted, but she was faster. Her hand shot out, fingers closing around its fragile body. It kicked wildly, its tiny heart hammering against her palm.

Selene froze, her breath ragged. She could feel its fear. Could taste it in the air. The hunger inside her screamed for her to finish it, to sink her teeth into warm flesh and drink deep.

But another part of her, the part that was still human, recoiled in horror.

She dropped the rabbit, stumbling back. It darted away, disappearing into the underbrush. Selene fell to her knees, gasping for breath, her hands shaking violently.

Rowan stood nearby, watching. He said nothing, but there was understanding in his gaze.

Selene looked up at him, tears brimming in her eyes. "I don't want to become a monster."

Rowan crouched beside her, his voice gentle. "Then learn to control it. Because the more you fight it, the stronger it gets."

Selene clenched her fists. She knew he was right.

But she didn't know if she had the strength to fight the beast inside her.

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