Leah's world had shattered.
Her skin no longer felt like her own. Her limbs were too long, her body too large, and every breath came with a sharp awareness that something had changed. The air smelled too strong—pine, earth, rain, the distant scent of the ocean. Sounds assaulted her ears from miles away. She could hear the rustling of small creatures, the slow beating of her own heart, the shifting of the trees in the wind.
Panic surged in her chest.
'What's happening to me?!'
She tried to stand, but her legs—no, her paws—trembled beneath her weight. Her head snapped down, and she froze.
Massive, furred limbs stretched out before her, the sharp curve of claws digging into the damp earth.
This wasn't real. It couldn't be real.
She staggered back, her breathing erratic, but the movement only made things worse. Her back leg got caught under her, sending her sprawling into the dirt.
'No, no, no!'
She wanted to scream, but what came out was a low, guttural snarl.
Then, another scent hit her—something dark, something powerful.
Something watching.
Her head whipped up, golden eyes locking onto the massive figure standing at the edge of the trees.
It was a wolf—no, something more.
It towered over her, larger than anything she had ever seen, its ash-black fur blending into the night. Its molten orange eyes burned like fire, locked onto her with an intensity that sent a shiver through her new body.
Fear coiled in her stomach, but so did something else. Something deep, something instinctual.
Recognition.
The black wolf stepped forward, its massive paws silent against the forest floor. It moved with purpose, with absolute control, as if it had done this a thousand times before.
Leah stiffened, her ears flattening against her skull.
The wolf stopped mere feet away from her. It lowered its head slightly, those molten eyes scanning her carefully.
And then—
Alric.
The name wasn't spoken aloud, but it thundered in her mind, deep and unwavering.
Her entire body jerked in shock.
She wasn't just hearing a voice. She was hearing his voice. In her head.
'What the hell?!'
A low rumble echoed from the black wolf's chest, something almost amused.
Calm yourself, mate.
Mate?
Leah snarled, baring her fangs.
Something flashed in Alric's molten gaze—not anger, not threat. Understanding.
She was overwhelmed, confused, scared. She had no idea what was happening to her, no idea why her body had betrayed her.
He had been through this before.
You have shifted for the first time, he said, his voice even. You are no longer just human. You are wolf.
Leah didn't want to believe it. Couldn't. But every part of her body told her it was true.
She turned her head sharply, searching for some kind of reflection. The moonlight caught the surface of a shallow stream nearby.
Slowly, cautiously, she stepped toward it.
Her paws sank into the mud, her weight unsteady as she peered down at the water's surface.
The face staring back wasn't hers.
It was a massive wolf—sleek and powerful, fur a mix of dark brown and black, golden eyes burning with confusion and rage.
A strangled noise escaped her, and she stumbled back.
This wasn't possible. It couldn't be possible.
Her chest heaved, panic threatening to consume her.
Then, warm heat pressed against her side.
Leah's head whipped around, ready to snap, but she stilled when she realized Alric had stepped closer. His massive form was pressed lightly against hers, a steady, grounding presence.
She should've pulled away. Should've snarled at him. But something about the contact… soothed her.
The panic didn't vanish, but it lessened.
Alric watched her carefully. Breathe.
Leah hesitated, then took a slow, shaky inhale.
The scents around her sharpened. The earth beneath her paws felt more solid.
She exhaled.
It was still too much—too new, too terrifying—but it wasn't suffocating her anymore.
Alric nodded slightly, approving. Good. You are adapting.
She let out a snort, the sound half-amused, half-exhausted.
'Adapting? I don't even know what the hell I am.'
His molten gaze darkened, something unreadable flickering in them. You are more than just a Quileute wolf, Leah Clearwater. You are something greater.
Leah stared at him, something twisting in her chest.
She didn't understand. But she wanted to.
Hours passed before Leah finally found the strength to stand without stumbling.
Alric remained at her side the entire time, offering no words of comfort, but simply being there. His presence alone kept her grounded.
Eventually, the first hints of dawn began to creep over the horizon. The burning heat beneath her skin lessened, exhaustion replacing it.
Alric shifted first.
One moment, he was the monstrous wolf. The next, he stood before her in his human form, broad and imposing, bare-chested with dark pants, his long silver hair falling past his shoulders. His molten eyes remained the same, watching her with unreadable intensity.
"Shift back," he commanded.
Leah hesitated. 'I don't know how.'
"You do."
She scowled, but something about his tone made her listen.
She focused, her body trembling. The heat returned, but it was different now—controlled. It spread through her limbs, coiling in her bones before the shift began.
Pain flared, but it was brief.
And then she was herself again.
She collapsed onto her hands and knees, breathing hard. Her body felt strange, heavy, but it was hers.
A warm hand grasped her chin, tilting her face up.
Alric crouched before her, his molten gaze unreadable.
"You are not alone in this," he said quietly. "Your pack will not understand what you are. But I do."
Leah's breath hitched. "What am I?"
Alric's lips curled into a knowing smirk.
"My mate."
Her heart pounded.
She didn't understand this bond, this connection. But something deep inside her knew—there was no escaping it.
And for the first time, she wasn't sure she wanted to.