The whole day, Ace has been feeling it.
The moon's pull, distant but undeniable, tugs at him, making him restless.
From the moment he opened his eyes in the morning, it has been restless , chaos inside.
And by midday, it had become clear: the moon was growing stronger, and so is the fire inside him.
It started as a tightening in his chest, a simmering heat that made him irritable and unsettled.
Every time he looked at something, his senses felt heightened, sharper.
The wind, the distant sounds of the forest, even the thumping of his own heartbeat—all of it was overwhelming.
-
By now, the feeling intensifies. He can smell the earth, hear the distant calls of wolves, and feel the urge to run, to hunt, to rip through the night like a beast unleashed.
He's no longer just a young man tonight. He can feel the beast inside him, pacing, waiting, ready to tear free.
And as the hours pass, the tug grows unbearable. He paces in his room, his body restless, his mind foggy with the primal hunger crawling through his veins.
Marsel had warned him about the full moon. He's trained him, pushed him to learn control, but tonight... tonight is different.
It's his first full moon, the first time he will have to face this force with all of his new abilities, and he is terrified.
The room feels too small, the air too thick. It's only when he notices the moonlight streaming through the window, casting long shadows on the floor, that he knows it's here.
The full moon is rising, and with it, the uncontrollable urges he's been dreading.
The pull is stronger than anything he's experienced before apart from the pull to Kieran.
His breathing becomes labored as the fire inside him spreads, igniting every nerve, every cell.
His hands curl into fists, nails biting into his palms. The urge to shift is undeniable, but he's been preparing for this moment.
He's trained for it. He knows he's supposed to breathe, to focus, to control the transformation.
But tonight, control feels impossible.
The room around him warps as his vision shifts. The air thickens, sharp and pungent, with every breath filling his lungs with the scent of blood, earth, and the unmistakable scent of wolves in the distance.
For a moment he even catches Kieran's scent before it fades immediately.
°
At that moment Ace crashes into the forest,
By the time marsel realises it, Ace is far gone.
His heightened senses guide him as he follows the faint trail of Ace's scent, but with each passing minute, his worry grows.
The full moon doesn't forgive easily, and a young wolf's first transformation is often the most dangerous.
Meanwhile, Ace is a blur of speed, primal energy surging through his veins.
His paws pound against the forest floor, his breath escaping in harsh, animalistic growls.
The hunger gnaws at him—a sharp, unrelenting need to hunt, to tear, to conquer.
Every scent in the air is a temptation.
The rustle of a rabbit in the underbrush, the faint musk of deer, even the metallic tang of the earth—all of it fuels the beast within him.
But in all that scent and noises , he can smell one clearly, he can hear one voice clearly, at some point he can even see in his head the image of that person__ Lila.
And she drives more energy in him.
And in one of the images Kieran's image appears , at that moment Ace stops , it's like he has found a stand.
He tries to get hold of himself.
He thinks of the mantra, barely piercing the storm of his instincts. "I am... the wolf... and... the wolf is me... together... we're one." He tries , his breathing heavy , one word at a time.
He collapses to the ground, his massive form heaving with exertion. The fire inside him wavers, the beast clawing to regain dominance.
digging his claws into the dirt as he battles for control.
"I am the wolf... the wolf is me... together we're one...," he repeats whispers in his mind.
Slowly, the wild energy begins to ebb.
His breathing steadies, and the sharp, predatory haze lifts from his mind.
His form shrinks, fur retreating, claws retracting.
When the transformation ends, Ace kneels on the ground, human again, his body trembling from the strain.
He stares into the dark forest, a chilling clarity washing over him. In the throes of the transformation, one scent and image has refused to get out of his mind: Lila.
The very name sends a cold, determined rage coursing through him.
"She's the reason for this," Ace mutters under his breath, his voice hoarse. "Lila is the reason I posses these powers, isn't she!? She must be that nuisance in the werewolf world that am supposed to deal with!"
His mark glows knowingly.
As if summoned by Ace's realization, Marsel appears, his movements silent but deliberate as he approaches.
The older wolf's eyes scan Ace carefully, relief evident when he sees Ace unharmed.
"Thank the moon goddess! I was sick worried , I thought you are out there, reaping people to shreds." Marsel says, his voice tinged with relief.
Ace looks up at him, his expression resolute. "She's the reason for these powers, isn't she? Lila... She's the evil that needs to be dealt with."
"You figured it out." Marsel says , unnoticed smile playing on his lips.
He had completely refused to tell Ace who he was supposed to deal with, Ace wondered what he was supposed to do with the powers after leaning to control them, who was the target , he thought everyday.
He even thought of Lila but he didn't imagine that all these powers were to deal with her because she didn't seem so powerful to be delt with so intensely.
Marsel nods, his gaze steady. "Yes, she is. And if you're going to stop her, I know you thought if her but you underestimated her, I advice you get that mentality out of your head."
Ace clenches his fists, his determination solidifying. The moonlight filters through the trees, casting an eerie glow over the two of them. For the first time, Ace feels an unshakable purpose burning within him.
°
When they return home, Ace's body is worn, but his mind is restless.
He lies awake, staring at the ceiling, replaying the night's events in his head.
The raw power, the clarity about Lila, and the mantra that saved him—it all swirls together, refusing to let him rest.
When sleep finally comes, it is anything but peaceful.
In his dreams, he sees Kieran. The image is vivid and visceral: Kieran, battered and struggling, standing alone against an unseen enemy.
His muscles are taut, his expression a mixture of fury and desperation. and his voice—strong but strained—echoes in Ace's mind.
The dream shifts violently. Shadows close in around Kieran, and Ace feels a searing pain in his chest, like the bond between them is suddenly back.
The moon goddess had numbed it for Ace to be able to stay away from Kieran , to concentrate on the learning.
Ace jolts awake, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His heart races, the dream's urgency still pulsing through his veins.
He sits up, gripping the edge of his bed, his mind racing. The pull to Kieran is back and undeniable again.
A magnetic force drawing him back to the one person he knows he can't abandon.
With newfound resolve, Ace stands, his body trembling but fueled by determination.
That night, under the fading light of the full moon, Ace leaves.
The fire inside him is no longer chaos—it's purpose. And it burns brighter than ever.