I knew something was wrong the moment I woke up. My skin felt too tight, like a sweater that had shrunk in the wash. I stumbled out of bed, nearly falling as my balance seemed off.
"Liam?" I called out, my voice sounding strange even to my own ears. No answer. He must have gone for an early run with the pack.
I made my way to the bathroom, flipping on the light. The face that stared back at me from the mirror wasn't my own. Or rather, it was, but... changed.
My eyes, usually a deep brown, now had flecks of gold swirling in them. My hair, which had been to my shoulders last night, now cascaded down my back in wild waves. But the most shocking change was my skin. It seemed to shimmer, almost like it couldn't decide if it wanted to be skin or... something else.
"What the hell?" I whispered, reaching up to touch my face. As my fingers made contact, I gasped. My nails had elongated into claws, sharp enough to draw blood if I wasn't careful.
Panic started to set in. What was happening to me? Was this some side effect of the curse that had been plaguing our pack? Or something to do with my newfound ability to shift into other animals?
I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm myself. "Okay, Skye," I muttered. "You're an Alpha. You can handle this. Just... just try to shift."
I focused, reaching for the familiar sensation of my wolf. But instead of the smooth transition I was used to, I felt a jolt of energy surge through me. My eyes flew open as pain ripped through my body.
I watched in horror as fur sprouted along my arms, only to be replaced by feathers a moment later. My bones creaked and shifted, growing and shrinking in rapid succession. It was like my body couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
A scream tore from my throat, but it came out as a mix between a wolf's howl and an eagle's screech. I collapsed to the bathroom floor, my body continuing its bizarre transformations.
Through the haze of pain, I heard the front door slam open. "Skye?" Liam's voice, edged with panic. "Skye, where are you?"
I tried to call out to him, but all that came out was a strangled growl. Footsteps pounded up the stairs, and then Liam was there, his eyes widening in shock as he took in my state.
"Oh god, Skye," he breathed, dropping to his knees beside me. "What's happening?"
I shook my head, unable to speak. Another wave of pain hit me, and I felt my body start to grow. Liam scrambled back as I expanded, my clothes tearing as I morphed into... something. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror – a creature straight out of myth. Part wolf, part eagle, with patches of what looked like reptilian scales.
"L-Liam," I managed to gasp out, my voice distorted and inhuman. "Help me."
He reached out, hesitating for just a moment before placing his hand on my transformed shoulder. "I'm here, Skye. I'm right here. Just... just try to focus. Remember who you are."
I latched onto his voice, using it as an anchor. Slowly, painfully, I felt my body start to settle. The extra limbs receded, the scales and feathers melting back into skin. After what felt like hours but was probably only minutes, I was myself again. Sort of.
I still had the long hair, the gold-flecked eyes. My nails remained claw-like, and there was a wildness to my features that hadn't been there before. But at least I was recognizably human-shaped.
Liam helped me to my feet, supporting most of my weight as my legs trembled. "What... what was that?" I asked, my voice hoarse.
He shook his head, looking as lost as I felt. "I don't know. I've never seen anything like it. It's like... like all your animal forms were trying to manifest at once."
A chill ran down my spine at his words. Was that what had happened? Had I somehow lost control of my shifting abilities?
"We need to figure this out," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "If this happens again during a fight, or when I'm with the pack..."
Liam nodded grimly. "I know. But Skye, this might be beyond anything we've dealt with before. We might need help."
I knew he was right, but the thought of appearing weak in front of the pack, of admitting I couldn't control my own body, made my stomach churn. I was their Alpha. I was supposed to be strong, to have all the answers.
Before I could respond, a howl pierced the air. Jake's voice, urgent and afraid. Something was wrong.
Liam and I locked eyes. Whatever was happening to me would have to wait. My pack needed me.
"Can you shift?" Liam asked, concern evident in his voice.
I hesitated. The thought of trying to change forms again after what had just happened terrified me. But I had to try. Taking a deep breath, I reached for my wolf.
To my relief, the shift came easily this time. In moments, I stood on four paws, my senses sharpened. But something was different. I felt... more. Stronger, faster, my senses even keener than usual.
Liam had shifted too, his familiar wolf form a comfort beside me. We shared a look, no words needed between us. Whatever was happening to me, whatever danger the pack was in, we'd face it together.
We raced out of the house, following Jake's howl. As we ran, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. That the transformation I'd just experienced was only the beginning of something much bigger.
We crested a hill, and I skidded to a stop, Liam nearly crashing into me. Below us, in the valley where our pack often gathered, was chaos. Werewolves fought against... something. Creatures I'd never seen before, with too many limbs and eyes that glowed an unnatural green.
And standing in the center of it all was a figure I recognized. The witch who had tried to break my mate bond with Liam. She turned, somehow sensing our presence, and her eyes locked with mine. A slow, wicked smile spread across her face.
"Welcome, Alpha," her voice echoed in my mind. "Are you ready to see what you truly are?"
As if triggered by her words, I felt the strange energy from before surge through me again. My wolf form began to waver, to change. Panic clawed at my throat as I realized I was losing control again, right when my pack needed me most.
The last thing I saw before the transformation took hold was Liam's horrified expression and the witch's triumphant grin. Then everything exploded into pain and wildness, and I knew nothing but the primal urge to survive and protect what was mine.