Aria's Pov
The air felt thick with tension. My heart pounded in my chest, a wild drumbeat that matched the chaos inside me. I could feel the change coming, a storm brewing beneath my skin.
"Focus, Aria," I muttered to myself through gritted teeth.
Kaine stood just a few feet away, his gray eyes locked onto mine. He seemed calm, too calm. I hated him for it. I needed answers about my mother, and he was the key.
"You're not strong enough," Kaine's voice cut through my thoughts, deep and unwavering.
"Watch me," I spat back, feeling the sparks ignite within me.
Pain shot through my body like wildfire. My bones felt like they were being shattered, piece by piece. I wanted to scream, but I bit down hard, tasting blood. I couldn't show weakness, not now. Not in front of him.
"Aria, you need to—" Kaine began, his tone annoyingly authoritative.
"Shut up!" I yelled, focusing on the transformation. Every fiber of my being screamed as I shifted.
It took me one minute of pure agony to shift properly.
Finally, it was done. I looked down at my new form, white fur gleaming under the moonlight. I growled low, feeling a surge of raw power.
"Impressive," Kaine said, sounding almost... pleased? "A white wolf. Rare indeed."
"Don't care," I snarled, my voice a guttural rumble. I was talking to myself in my wolf form.
I concentrate further. I needed to get back to my human form now.
After much pain I get back to my human form.
As I shifted back into my human form, I could feel sweat dripping down my forehead and my body trembling from the effort. But I couldn't let my guard down, not even for a second.
Suddenly I realized I was naked but I had no time to react as a big leather jacket was already covering me.
His jacket.
"Now I need my answers," I said as I clutched his jacket.
His smell was mesmerizing.
The king looked at me, the smirk still plastered on his handsome face the same way that Darian used to look at me sometimes.
Darian, Scarlet, the king, my mother.
I had endured so much pain in the span of a few hours.
"Answer me!" I barked, ready to pounce. But then, something changed. A warmth spread through me, soothing my rage. It was comforting, almost... loving.
"What's happening?" I whispered, closing my eyes and letting the warmth wash over me. For a moment, my desire for vengeance faded. I opened my eyes and saw Kaine watching me, his expression almost concerned. Almost.
I shifted back in my werewolf form again. This time the pain was dulled by my curiosity.
"Aria," a soft female voice echoed in my mind, startling me. "I am Davina, your inner wolf."
"Who... who are you?" I stammered, both shocked and relieved. I'd waited so long to hear this voice.
"Your guide, your strength," Davina answered gently. "We have much to do, but for now, breathe."
"Aria," Kaine called, pulling me back to the present. As I stayed silent, he is now shifting in his wolf form.
A majestic gray wolf.
His eyes searched mine, as if trying to understand what had just happened.
My head throbbed, as if it were about to split in two. The king's werewolf locked eyes with me, and I could feel its power emanating towards me.
Davina whispered, "The king is asserting his dominance and trying to communicate with you. If you bow down, the pain will subside."
Despite the relief of finally being able to shift and possessing an inner wolf like everyone else, I refused to submit to a man, who had ruthlessly thrown my mother off a cliff.
I turned to my inner wolf and firmly declared, "No."
"Just bow and accept the link, Aria. It's the best course of action," my wolf urged.
"Why do I have to link with him?" I asked my inner wolf.
"Because he is your m..." My wolf's voice trailed off abruptly, and I felt a shiver run through my werewolf body.
The king gazed at the surrounding trees with a pensive expression. He shifted into his human form, completely naked.
A strange sensation washed over me, warming my entire body. My wolf took over and I couldn't help but sneak a peek between his legs. His manhood was impressive, even in its half-erect state. Feeling uncomfortable, I looked away and vowed not to see any more naked bodies for the rest of the day.
"Run," he suddenly commanded, urgency clear in his voice. "Go to your house or the nearest one, and lock yourself in. If you're attacked, aim for the eyes or the throat." In a trance-like state, I followed his instructions and ran as fast as I could.
—
As I cautiously approached the clearing, my eyes darted to where the King was standing, three hundreds meters from me. To my surprise, he was engaged in a conversation with an old woman, who appeared to be in her seventies or eighties.
A wave of irritation washed over me, and I had to resist the urge to turn back and tear this seemingly innocent lady apart. "Keep moving, Aria. That woman is dangerous. Don't let your jealousy consume you," Davina's voice echoed in my mind.
"I am not jealous! What are you talking about?" I asked her, feeling like I was screaming inside my head. But Davina remained silent, so I focused on getting home instead.
I stopped in my tracks, realizing that heading home meant returning to the house Darian had rented for me when I left the orphanage last year upon reaching adulthood.
"Our King may have said we could go into any house, but we both know you'll be safer with a pack of werewolves, with your former boyfriend," Davina reminded me urgently. "Now run."
I took off, relishing in the transformation and changes that had consumed my life over the past hours: my new werewolf body, my connection to my inner wolf, and of course, Davina.
I had been praying to my wolf goddess, hoping to become more like the other she-wolves.
"Run faster," Davina urged me. "You can think about your accomplishment later."
"Who is that old woman?" I asked curiously. "She doesn't seem dangerous."
"She has the power to kill you," Davina stated matter-of-factly.
I came to a sudden halt. Kaine.
If he died, I would never find out the answers to my burning questions.
"The king, maybe I have to..." My mind raced with possibilities as I tried to figure out a way to save him.
But then Davina threatened, "If you turn around to help him, I'll take over your entire body until we reach the man slut's residence." I knew Davina wasn't lying; she had the ability to possess me if necessary.
I shuddered at the thought; I've read about how excruciating it is for the host when their inner wolf takes over their body.
With a heavy heart and one final look back, I turned and sprinted towards Darian's house. "Who is the man slut? Is it...Darian?" I asked.
"Yes," she confirmed, and I could almost feel her smirking through our connection. "I can't wait to get my hands on that wretched serpent too," she said.
It all clicked in my head - the wretched serpent must be Scarlet.
For the first time in the past hours, I smiled.