Chereads / The HOWL OF THE BLOODLINE / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: The Awakening

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: The Awakening

The night was heavy with an eerie silence as Haruki followed the girl deeper into the woods. The world around them was alive, pulsing with the energy of the forest, but to Haruki, everything felt out of place, as if the trees themselves were watching him, waiting for something to happen. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver veil over the world, its glow sharp and unsettling. Haruki could hear his own heartbeat drumming in his ears, every step he took echoing too loudly against the quiet.

The girl walked a few steps ahead, her movements graceful and deliberate, as though she were not walking through the woods at all, but gliding through an ethereal world. Her white dress seemed to shimmer in the moonlight, blending seamlessly with the surroundings, almost as if she were part of the forest itself. Haruki's breath caught in his throat as he watched her, the air between them heavy with questions he didn't know how to ask.

Finally, she stopped, turning to face him with that calm expression she always wore. Her silver eyes reflected the moon's light, but they held a depth that Haruki couldn't quite fathom. It was as if she had seen centuries of history, and he was just the latest chapter.

"Why are you doing this?" Haruki asked, his voice trembling slightly, betraying the confusion that raged inside him. His throat felt dry as if the words he was about to say were foreign to him, and he didn't even know if he would believe his own questions. "You say you want to help me, but I don't understand. What's happening to me? Why now? Why me?"

The girl's eyes softened as if she had been expecting this question. She stepped closer to him, the air between them crackling with the intensity of the moment. She reached out, her cool fingers brushing against his trembling hand, grounding him. "Because, Haruki," she began, her voice gentle but firm, "you are awakening. The blood of your ancestors is stirring. The beast that slumbers within you is starting to rise. It's always been there. But now, it's time for you to embrace it."

Haruki's breath hitched. His pulse quickened. The beast? What was she talking about? His mind raced, but his body was already betraying him, his hands tightening into fists, his nails digging into his palms as though his body instinctively recognized the truth before his mind did.

"You're not just an ordinary human, Haruki," the girl continued, her voice softer now. "You are the heir to a bloodline that has carried the gift—and the curse—of the wolf for generations. It is your destiny to transform."

The word transform lingered in the air like a dark omen. Haruki could barely bring himself to speak, but the questions came tumbling out in a flood of disbelief. "But I don't want this. I never asked for it. I can't… I can't be what you're saying I am. I'm not a monster. I'm not like them!"

The girl's gaze remained steady, unwavering. She stepped even closer, until there was almost no space between them. "You are not a monster, Haruki. What you are becoming is a part of something much greater, something ancient and powerful. You may fear it now, but in time, you will come to understand it."

Haruki's head spun. The world around him felt distorted, as if reality itself was slipping through his fingers. His heart raced, the pounding rhythm in his chest almost deafening, as if the very essence of his being was beginning to shift. His body trembled, muscles tightening as the pull of the transformation started to make itself known.

"Why me?" he whispered, voice hoarse with fear. "Why now?"

The girl didn't answer right away. Instead, she raised her hand to the sky, as if calling upon the moon itself. The pale light bathed them both, casting long shadows across the clearing. Haruki stared at her, his breath shallow, trying to make sense of the words she had spoken. She had said he was the heir to a bloodline—a bloodline of wolves, of something wild, something dangerous. It felt too surreal. He had lived his life thinking he was just like everyone else. But now…

"The time is always right," she said, her voice distant as her gaze turned to the sky. "The bloodline is tied to the phases of the moon. Your transformation is a part of the natural order. The moon is calling you, Haruki. You cannot escape it."

Haruki's chest tightened as his gaze turned upward, following hers. The full moon hung high in the sky, more brilliant than he had ever seen it. The light it cast felt heavy, like it was pressing down on him, filling him with a strange mix of dread and anticipation.

"Will I lose myself?" Haruki asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "When I transform… will I still be me?"

The girl met his eyes, her expression softening. "The wolf within you will try to take control, but it is a part of you, Haruki. You must learn to control it. It will take time, but I will help you."

Haruki's knees buckled slightly, and he had to brace himself against the tree nearby to keep from falling. His body felt as though it was being torn apart from the inside out. His skin prickled with heat, his muscles tightening as if being stretched beyond their limits. The sensation was painful, almost unbearable.

The girl's voice cut through the chaos. "Don't fight it, Haruki. Let go. Breathe. You are not alone."

With her words, something inside Haruki shifted. A wave of warmth spread through his chest, calming the frantic panic that had seized him. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, focusing on the sound of his own heartbeat, steady and rhythmic. The pain in his body intensified, but with each breath, he felt more grounded. More in control.

Then, with a sharp cry, Haruki felt it—the shift. His body convulsed, and his hands twisted painfully as claws began to sprout from his fingertips. His bones cracked, his muscles burned, and he could feel his very DNA rewriting itself. The change was agonizing. He could hear his own screams mingling with the growl of something deeper, primal, rising within him.

His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he might collapse. But then, as the transformation continued, everything around him became clearer. The sounds of the forest—the rustling leaves, the call of distant animals, the girl's calm breathing—all of it sharpened. His senses had heightened to an unbearable degree. He could smell the damp earth, hear the wind brushing against the trees. His senses were overloaded, but the girl's presence was a calming anchor amidst the storm.

The pain began to ebb away as the transformation settled into his body. Haruki could feel the power coursing through his veins, the connection to the wolf deepening. He wasn't just fighting it anymore. He was becoming it.

When the last of the pain subsided, Haruki opened his eyes.

The world was different.

He could see the world in sharper detail, as if his eyes were no longer bound by the limits of human sight. He could hear the beating of a distant heart, the whisper of the wind through the trees. He could feel the earth beneath his feet, alive, pulsing with energy.

He looked at the girl, his breath steady now, though his chest still rose and fell with the remnants of the transformation. His hands—now more clawed, more powerful—hung at his sides, but there was no longer fear. Only a strange sense of power.

"You're not alone, Haruki," the girl repeated, her voice filled with something like pride, but also a tinge of sadness. "But you must learn to control it. The wolf does not forgive easily."

Haruki nodded, feeling the beast within him stir once again, but this time, he knew that he could control it. At least for now.

As the moon's light bathed him, Haruki's journey had truly begun.