The morning sun had just begun to creep over the horizon, casting its warm golden light over the stone circle. The world felt different now—strangely alive, as though everything around her was imbued with a deeper meaning.
Elara stood on the edge of the clearing, her wolf-like form still unfamiliar, yet now it felt like an extension of herself, as if it had always been waiting to awaken. Her fur rippled as the wind blew through the trees, and she breathed deeply, savoring the scents of the forest—earth, moss, and the lingering traces of the moon's magic.
Kael was beside her, his gaze fixed on the path that led deeper into the woods. He had been quiet since the transformation, allowing Elara the space to adjust. But now, the time for silence had passed.
"We need to move," Kael said, his voice low but firm. "The transformation is only the beginning. Now, we train."
Elara nodded, though the weight of his words hung in the air like a dark cloud. Training. She wasn't sure what that entailed, but she was beginning to realize that her life would never be the same again.
"I'm ready," she said, though the words felt hollow in her throat.
"You may think you're ready," Kael replied, "but the path ahead will test you in ways you can't yet imagine. You must understand your power before it consumes you."
Elara lowered her gaze, her eyes narrowing. She could feel the wolf within her, a beast with a hunger that was only partially sated by the transformation. She could hear its thoughts, feel its desires pushing against her consciousness. It was not just a part of her—it was her, a creature of instinct and primal rage.
"How do I control it?" she asked, the question more urgent now than it had been the night before.
Kael turned to her, his amber eyes glowing in the dim light. "It's not about control, Elara. It's about understanding. The wolf is a part of you, but it is not you. You have to learn how to balance the two sides of yourself. To use the wolf's power without losing yourself to it."
Elara clenched her fists, her claws digging into the earth beneath her. The wolf wanted to run, to hunt, to feel the thrill of the chase. It was a primal need, one that gnawed at the edges of her mind. She was becoming more aware of it with every passing minute, and it terrified her.
"I don't know if I can," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
Kael's expression softened, though there was a shadow of something in his eyes—something ancient. "No one is born knowing how to wield this power. It takes time, patience, and understanding. But you will learn. I will help you."
With a swift motion, Kael gestured for Elara to follow him, and they began to move deeper into the forest.
The trees were dense here, their trunks twisted and gnarled with age. The path was narrow, almost hidden, as though it had not been traveled in centuries. Elara could feel the weight of the forest pressing in on her, the presence of ancient forces that watched and waited.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Kael said, his voice quiet.
Elara nodded. "The forest. It's… alive."
"It is," Kael agreed. "The forest is more than just a collection of trees. It is a living entity, bound to the curse. The spirits of the forest are tied to your bloodline, just as the wolf is. They have watched over your ancestors for centuries. And they will watch over you."
Elara's thoughts turned to her father, to the blood he had spilled in these very woods. She could still see his face in her mind's eye, pale and bloodied. The rage that had fueled her quest for vengeance flared again, but she shoved it down, forcing herself to focus.
"You said I needed to understand the power within me," Elara said, her voice tense. "What exactly does that mean?"
"It means you need to connect with it," Kael said, glancing at her. "The power of the curse is not just physical. It is spiritual, tied to the very soul of the forest. You must learn to listen to it, to understand its rhythms. The wolf's instincts are tied to the forest's heartbeat, and you are the bridge between them."
They continued to walk, the path winding through the trees until they reached a small clearing. In the center stood an ancient stone altar, weathered by time but still standing strong. It was here, Kael explained, that the pact between the first Drayton and the spirits of the forest had been sealed long ago.
"This is where it all began," Kael said, his voice reverent. "The bloodline of the Draytons was tied to the wolf, to the curse, through this altar. The spirits of the forest still watch over it, waiting for the one who can unlock its true power."
Elara stepped closer, her paws silent on the earth. The altar was covered in symbols—runes etched deep into the stone, their meanings lost to time. But as she gazed at them, she felt a strange pull, as if the runes were calling to her.
She raised a trembling paw and touched the stone, the cool surface sending a jolt of energy through her. The air around her seemed to shimmer, and for a moment, she could hear the faintest whisper, like voices carried on the wind.
Kael stepped back, watching her closely. "The altar is a conduit," he explained. "It channels the power of the forest spirits. When you are ready, it will give you the knowledge you need. But you must be prepared. The wolf will not simply give you its power. It will test you."
Elara closed her eyes, her mind buzzing with the echoes of the forest. The wolf's voice grew louder in her mind, urging her to take what was hers. But there was something else too—something deeper, something more ancient than the wolf itself.
She drew in a slow breath, centering herself, and then allowed her mind to reach out. She could feel the pulse of the earth beneath her paws, the thrum of energy running through the roots of the trees, the heartbeat of the forest itself. The forest was alive, and it was speaking to her.
In that moment, Elara understood. The power she sought was not something to be controlled, not something to be forced into submission. It was a part of the world around her, a force that could only be wielded with respect and understanding. She could feel the connection between herself and the wolf, between herself and the forest. She was both of them, and neither.
Kael's voice broke through her thoughts. "You're ready," he said, a hint of pride in his tone. "The wolf is within you. Now, you must learn to listen to it. You must learn to use its strength without letting it overwhelm you."
Elara opened her eyes, feeling a new clarity settle within her. The wolf was still there, still a part of her, but now she understood it. It was not just a beast to be tamed—it was a force to be respected, and it could be her ally, not her enemy.
She nodded, her gaze firm. "I'm ready. Let's begin."