as something deeper, something ancient unraveling inside her, rewriting her very existence. The world spun. She couldn't focus, couldn't breathe. Shadows bled into her vision, the towering trees twi

lunged. And Lyra moved. The instinct wasn't hers. It was something deeper, something buried in her bones, awakening for the first time. She ducked. The attacker's claws missed her by inches. She turned, muscles coiling- And then she leapt. Her body responded effortlessly, as if she had done this a hundred times before. She collided with the wolf mid-air, their bodies crashing together. They rolled through the dirt, a mess of claws and tangled limbs. She could smell its fear. The realization hit her like a blow. It wasn't just her instincts taking over. She was enjoying this. The thought barely registered before her teeth snapped toward its throat. And then- "Lyra!" Kaidën's voice cut through the haze. Lyra froze. The world sharpened. The wolf beneath her whimpered, scrambling away the moment she loosened her grip. She stumbled back, her breath coming in ragged bursts. What... what had she just done? Kaidën, still in his wolf form, padded toward her. His golden eyes met hers, something unreadable flickering beneath the surface. Then, slowly, he shifted. The transformation was seamless-his body stretched, bones realigning, dark fur retreating. Within seconds, Kaidën stood before her once more, bare-chested, his breathing heavy. A faint scratch marred his collarbone, but otherwise, he looked unharmed. "Lyra," he said, his voice softer now. "Breathe." She tried. She really did. But her body wasn't hers anymore. Everything was too sharp, too overwhelming. The scent of blood. The rustle of leaves. The wind shifting against her fur- Fur. Her stomach dropped. She wasn't human. Not anymore. Kaidën reached for her. "Stay back," she rasped, her own voice unrecognizable. "Lyra-" "Stay back!" She turned and ran. - The forest swallowed her whole. The moment her paws hit the ground, her body knew what to do. She moved, faster than she ever had before, the wind cutting against her skin-no, against her fur. Her breath came in sharp bursts. She