The forest was alive with scents and sounds I'd never noticed before. Leaves rustled overhead, carrying the whispers of small creatures. The rich, earthy smell of decaying leaves mingled with the sharp tang of pine. And underneath it all, a tantalizing aroma that made my mouth water.
Prey.
I crouched low, my new body moving with a grace I was still getting used to. The hybrid form I'd discovered – part wolf, part bird, all predator – felt both alien and incredibly right.
"Remember," Liam's voice came softly from behind me, "let your instincts guide you, but don't lose yourself to them."
I wanted to snap at him, to tell him I knew what I was doing. But the truth was, I didn't. This hunt wasn't just about food or even about embracing my new form. It was a test. A way to prove to myself – and to my pack – that I was still their Alpha, no matter how much I'd changed.
I took a deep breath, focusing on the scent of the deer we'd been tracking. It was close now, just beyond the next ridge. My talons dug into the soft earth as I prepared to spring.
"Skye," Liam whispered, a note of warning in his voice. "Don't push too hard. We don't know the limits of this form yet."
I ignored him, muscles coiling. In one fluid motion, I launched myself over the ridge. The deer looked up, startled, but it was too late. I was on it in seconds, my enhanced speed taking even me by surprise.
My talons sank into its flank as my teeth – sharper than any human's, but not quite wolfish – sought its throat. The deer bucked and kicked, but I held on. There was a moment of resistance, then... release.
As the deer went limp beneath me, a wave of... something washed over me. Triumph? Bloodlust? Power? It was intoxicating. I threw my head back and let out a sound that was part howl, part screech.
"Skye!" Liam's shout barely penetrated the haze I was in. "That's enough!"
But it wasn't. Not nearly. The hunt, the kill – it had awakened something primal in me. Something that wanted more.
Without thinking, I took off, my wings – feathered arms? – carrying me swiftly through the trees. I could hear Liam calling after me, but his voice faded as I picked up speed.
Everything was sharper, more vibrant. I could see a rabbit's heartbeat fluttering in its chest from fifty feet up. Smell a fox marking its territory a mile away. This was what it meant to be a true predator.
I don't know how long I flew, drunk on the sensations. It wasn't until I spotted a familiar clearing that reality started to seep back in. Our pack's gathering place. And it wasn't empty.
I landed on a high branch, my enhanced vision picking out familiar faces. Jake, my beta, pacing nervously. A group of younger wolves, huddled together and casting fearful glances at the trees. And at the center of it all, a stranger.
No, not a stranger. As I focused, I recognized her. The witch who had offered to break my mate bond with Liam. What was she doing here?
I crept closer, staying hidden in the canopy. Jake's voice drifted up to me.
"...can't just wait around. If Skye's lost control-"
"Then you'll need me more than ever," the witch interrupted. "I warned her this might happen. Changing one's essential nature always comes at a price."
I bristled at her words. I hadn't lost control. I was fine. Better than fine.
"We don't need your help," Jake growled. "Skye's strong. She'll come back to us."
The witch laughed, a sound that sent chills down my spine. "Oh, you naive pup. Your precious Alpha is gone. What's left is a creature of instinct and power. And sooner or later, she'll come for you all."
Anger flared in my chest. How dare she? I was still me. Still their Alpha. I'd show her...
Before I could think it through, I launched myself from the tree, landing in the center of the clearing with a screech that sent the younger wolves scrambling for cover.
Jake whirled, eyes wide. "Skye?"
I straightened, trying to look as dignified as one can when covered in feathers and fur. "Stand down, Jake. I'm fine."
But as the words left my mouth, I realized something was wrong. My voice... it wasn't my voice. It was deeper, raspier. Almost a growl.
The witch's eyes glittered with triumph. "Are you really, dear? Take a look at yourself."
She gestured, and suddenly the air in front of me shimmered, forming a mirror-like surface. I stumbled back at the sight of my reflection.
Gone was the hybrid form I'd grown accustomed to. In its place was... a monster. My body was larger, more muscular. Black feathers covered most of my skin, but tufts of fur poked through in places. My face was a nightmarish blend of human and bird of prey, with a wickedly curved beak where my mouth should be.
"No," I whispered, the sound coming out as a harsh croak. "This isn't... I'm not..."
"Oh, but you are," the witch said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "This is what happens when you play with forces beyond your understanding. You wanted power? Well, here it is. In all its glory."
I shook my head, trying to clear it. This was wrong. I needed to shift back, to prove her wrong. I focused, reaching for my human form. Nothing happened.
Panic started to set in. I couldn't stay like this. I was the Alpha. I had responsibilities. A pack to lead. A mate...
Liam. Where was Liam?
As if in answer to my unspoken question, a howl split the air. Liam's voice, edged with desperation.
"I have to go," I said, already backing away. "I need to find Liam. He'll know what to do."
Jake stepped forward, reaching out. "Skye, wait. We can help you."
But I was already moving, my new body responding to the urge to fly, to find my mate. As I took off, I heard the witch's laughter floating up behind me.
"Run all you want, little Alpha. But you can't escape what you've become."
Her words echoed in my mind as I soared over the treetops, following the sound of Liam's howl. What had I done to myself? And more importantly... could it be undone?
As the forest blurred beneath me, one thought kept repeating, a mantra of desperation:
Find Liam. He'll fix this. He has to.
But deep down, a small voice whispered a terrifying question:
What if he can't?