Lena's POV
The sunlight came in through the cracks in the blinds, warming the room. But no amount of light could ease the strange, heavy feeling that had settled over me. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the mark on my wrist. It hadn't faded, still glowing faintly, like a reminder of everything that had happened. My thoughts were a blur. I tried to tell myself it had all been a nightmare—a bad dream that I could wake up from. But deep down, I knew better.
The dog... Asher... wasn't just a dog. There was something about him. Something that didn't make sense.
I rubbed my thumb over the mark again, wondering if it was the cause of the strange feeling inside me. But nothing made sense. I had to understand what had happened. I had to know what I had gotten myself into.
I turned my head and glanced at Asher, who was still lying on the floor. His body was stretched out, his fur still glowing a little in the morning light. He hadn't moved since last night, but his presence felt different now. I felt like he was watching me, like his amber eyes were always aware of my every move.
I stood up, slowly, not taking my eyes off of him. He didn't shift, didn't even blink. But I couldn't shake the feeling that he was waiting for something. Waiting for me.
"You're not just a dog, are you?" I whispered, half hoping he wouldn't hear me.
His ears twitched, and his head shifted, just a little. It was small, but enough to make me freeze. My breath caught in my throat.
I couldn't stop myself from walking over to him, my feet carrying me slowly. I knelt beside him, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and fear twisting in my chest. My fingers hovered over his fur, but I didn't touch him yet. I wasn't sure what would happen if I did.
I took a deep breath and gently ran my fingers through his fur. The moment I touched him, he tensed, his muscles stiffening. My heart skipped a beat, and I pulled my hand back, but his eyes didn't leave me. There was something in his gaze, something deep and intelligent, something... human.
I shook my head. I had to be imagining it. This couldn't be real. But still, my pulse quickened as I stood up. I backed away a few steps, trying to clear my mind. Maybe I was overthinking things. Maybe I was just tired, still shaken from the events of the night before. But the more I thought about it, the less I believed that.
I glanced out the window, trying to distract myself, but the feeling of being watched crept back, and this time, it wasn't from Asher. I turned slowly, my eyes scanning the room. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
And then I saw it. A shadow. Just outside the window.
It was too quick. A flicker. I couldn't even tell if it was real. But I knew it. I could feel it. Something was there.
I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I wasn't imagining it this time.
My heart pounded in my chest. I stepped closer to the window, my hand on the edge of the sill, my fingers tightening as I peered out. Nothing. The yard was empty. The sun shone through the trees, casting long shadows on the ground. But the feeling didn't go away.
I looked down at Asher, expecting him to be calm, but he wasn't. His body was tense. His eyes were fixed on the window, and I could feel his muscles coiled like a spring, ready to move at a moment's notice.
And then, without warning, it happened.
Asher's body began to shift. It was slow at first—his fur seemed to recede, melting into his skin. His limbs lengthened, the muscles shifting beneath his fur as his body morphed. My breath caught in my throat as I stumbled back. I couldn't look away.
Asher... no longer looked like a dog.
His body was still half-covered in fur, but his face was unmistakably human. His amber eyes, those same eyes that had been watching me from the beginning, were now filled with something different. He was a man now, but still... not quite. His features were too sharp, too... unnatural.
His hands trembled as he placed them on the ground, pushing himself up to a kneeling position. I felt like my mind was being torn apart as I took in the sight. He wasn't just a dog. He wasn't even just a man. He was something in between.
I couldn't speak. My throat was tight, and every word I tried to say died on my lips. I stepped back again, my heart racing, my mind spiraling.
"Lena," his voice was rough, hoarse, but unmistakable. The same voice I'd heard in my head the night before. The same voice that had growled at the attackers.
My eyes widened. I felt like the world was tilting beneath me. "What... What are you?" I whispered.
Asher looked at me with those intense eyes. His gaze softened just a little, but it didn't make me feel any better. His voice was steady as he spoke again, but the words were hard to swallow.
"You don't need to be afraid," he said, his voice low and serious.
I shook my head, unable to find the words. "You're... you're not a dog," I managed, my voice shaking.
He nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving me. "No, Lena. I'm not."
I took another step back, my mind racing, trying to understand what was happening. Trying to make sense of the impossible. But I couldn't. I couldn't process any of it.
"I... I don't understand," I whispered, my voice trembling.
Asher let out a long, slow breath, as if preparing himself for something. His eyes darkened, the warmth in them replaced by something else—something hard.
"The mark on your wrist," he said, his tone urgent, "It's not just a symbol. It's part of you now. And you're not safe."
I blinked, trying to make sense of his words. "Not safe from what?"
He hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting away. "From them."
"Them?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
"They know you're the key," Asher continued, his voice low. "And they'll stop at nothing to get you."
My chest tightened at his words. I didn't understand. What did he mean? What was the key? Why me? Why now?
Before I could ask, I heard something. A faint creak of the floorboards, the soft sound of footsteps outside the door.
My pulse quickened, the air in the room suddenly growing heavy, cold.
"They're here," Asher whispered, his voice barely audible.
A loud crash echoed from somewhere outside the house, followed by another. My breath caught in my throat as my heart pounded painfully in my chest.
"They're here," Asher repeated, more urgently this time.
I looked around, panic rising in my chest. I didn't know who they were. I didn't know why I was the key or what Asher was trying to protect me from.
But I knew one thing.
I was not ready for this.
I felt my hands shake as I looked at Asher, my mind whirling. He wasn't just a dog. He wasn't just a man. He was something else entirely. And I had no idea what that meant for me.
I wasn't ready to face whatever was coming. But it was already here.