Chapter Four: Into the Wild
Evelyn stood on all fours, her body still trembling from the shock of the transformation. The world around her had changed in ways she couldn't even begin to comprehend. Her senses were heightened—every rustle of leaves, every breath of wind, and every subtle shift in the air were as vivid as if they were happening inside her own mind. The forest that had once seemed ordinary now felt like a living, breathing entity, as if it were welcoming her into its embrace.
The fur that covered her body was a deep, rich brown, shimmering with a life of its own. Her paws felt strong, grounded in a way she'd never experienced as a human. Every muscle in her new form was tense, ready to move at a moment's notice.
She opened her mouth, testing the new way she could communicate. A low growl reverberated from deep within her chest, startling even herself. It was powerful, primal.
Alaric, in his wolf form, stood a few paces away, watching her with something akin to approval in his golden eyes. His fur was a dark mix of black and silver, his body built with the strength and grace of an apex predator. He moved closer, nuzzling her gently, as if to reassure her that everything was okay.
"You're doing fine," his voice resonated in her mind, clear as day despite the fact that he hadn't spoken aloud. Telepathy. The realization hit her hard, and for a moment, she felt more disoriented than before. "Let the change settle. Don't rush it. You've got time."
She blinked, trying to process the flood of new sensations and thoughts. Time seemed to stretch, as though her senses were working overtime to adjust. But Alaric's calmness anchored her, keeping the panic that had threatened to overwhelm her at bay.
She needed to trust him, to trust that he would guide her through this.
"What happens now?" Evelyn thought, trying to communicate with him mentally as he had with her.
His gaze softened, and she could sense a flicker of pride in his response. "Now, you learn to control it. You learn to live with it. The world you once knew is gone. The life you thought you had—it doesn't belong to you anymore." His voice echoed in her mind, filled with finality. "You're one of us now. A wolf."
Evelyn's mind raced, and she took a hesitant step forward, her new legs feeling strange beneath her. The shift was still settling within her body, and everything felt too foreign, too wild. "But I'm still me, right?" she asked, the words not so much spoken as thought.
"Of course, you're still you," Alaric's voice answered, his mind reassuring hers. "But you're also something more. You're an Alpha, Evelyn. You always have been. That's why I'm here."
The word "Alpha" hung in the air like an echo, making her feel both powerful and vulnerable all at once. She hadn't asked for this, hadn't asked for any of it. Yet here she was, standing in a new form, part of a new world she didn't understand, and everything—everything—was shifting beneath her feet.
"I don't know if I can handle all of this," Evelyn admitted, her thoughts filled with doubt. "How do I live this life?"
"You take it one step at a time," Alaric said simply, padding closer. His golden eyes shone with a mixture of patience and something deeper—something that reminded her of the bond between them, a connection that went beyond words. "You're not alone, Evelyn. You'll have me to guide you."
Her mind was still reeling from the transformation, but something about Alaric's words grounded her. She wasn't alone. For the first time in her life, she felt like she had someone she could rely on—someone who truly understood what she was going through.
Evelyn's eyes roamed over the darkened forest around them, the trees towering like ancient sentinels. The night air was thick with the sounds of the wild—crickets chirping, the rustle of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl. It was as if she had stepped into a different world altogether, one where her senses were attuned to the very rhythm of the earth. She could hear the faint heartbeat of a deer in the distance, the low growl of a rival pack far off.
Her heart beat faster. The wildness inside her had awoken, and it was like a fire that burned in her veins.
"I feel… different," she said, her voice a low growl. She hadn't meant to speak aloud, but the words came out anyway, her new body urging her to express itself. "I feel strong."
Alaric chuckled, a sound that reverberated through his chest. He looked at her with pride. "You are strong, Evelyn. And you'll only get stronger. The more you embrace who you are, the more power you'll wield."
The realization that she was more than she had ever thought possible—it was both intoxicating and terrifying. She had spent so many years running, hiding from the truth, from what her life could have been. But now that truth was crashing down on her, and she had no choice but to face it. She was a werewolf. A creature of the wild. And she was the descendant of an Alpha bloodline.
Her hands—paws—tensed, and a deep, instinctual growl rumbled in her chest. The beast within her, the wolf, wanted to run. To roam. To hunt. It was a hunger that coursed through her, urging her to do something—anything.
"You need to learn control, Evelyn," Alaric's voice broke through her thoughts, his tone more serious now. "The world you knew is gone, and there are others who will come for you. They know you've awakened. They'll want to claim you. To use you."
Evelyn's fur bristled, the idea of someone trying to control her—trying to use her—sounding like a threat she wasn't willing to tolerate. "Who would want to use me?" she growled, the wolf inside her responding to the challenge.
"Others of our kind," Alaric answered, his voice calm but laced with warning. "Not all wolves are as honorable as I am. There are factions, rival packs. They'll see your power and want to control it. Some will want to challenge you, others will want to make you their own."
Evelyn's ears perked at the thought, her mind racing. "But why me? I'm nothing special."
Alaric's gaze softened, and for the first time, she saw a hint of something deeply personal in his eyes. "You are special, Evelyn. You're the last of your bloodline. The last of the true Alpha heirs. And that makes you a target. The power you possess, it's not just strength. It's leadership. People will want to control that."
Evelyn's body stiffened, the weight of his words settling like a stone in her gut. She had run from a life she didn't understand, and now she was being thrust into one that felt just as dangerous. But there was something else, too—a burning determination rising within her.
"I won't let anyone control me," she thought fiercely, her mind locking onto the resolve she had buried deep inside her for so long. "I'll learn. I'll fight. I'll protect myself."
Alaric's eyes gleamed with approval. "Good. That's the spirit of an Alpha. But remember, you don't have to do this alone. I'm here, and I always will be. We're stronger together."
Evelyn's mind was a whirlwind, but one thing was clear: she was no longer the frightened, helpless woman she had once been. She was a wolf. A predator. And this wild, untamed world was hers to conquer.
With a final, determined glance at Alaric, she nodded. "Let's do this."
Alaric's wolfish grin was all teeth. "That's what I like to hear."
And with that, they vanished into the forest, the night alive with the sound of their footsteps. It was the beginning of a new chapter, one that would lead Evelyn into the depths of her power—and into a world she could never escape.