Aurelia’s POV
I jolt upright, the pain momentarily subsiding the instant I hear his deep, soothing voice. He crouches beside me, gently patting my back. “You’ve got this,” he says, his eyes full of certainty. That confidence gives me the strength to stop resisting the pain.
“I’ll always be here when you need me. Just breathe deeply whenever the pain becomes too much.” I nod, gripping his hands with all the strength I can muster. I inhale in deep, ragged breaths, amazed that my lungs haven’t burst from the effort.
“Who are you?” It’s Theron’s voice. I catch the surprise in his expression as Thalric enters. Thalric glances over his shoulder at him, offering only a dismissive look before turning his focus back to me, murmuring soft encouragements.
“Are you deaf?” Theron snaps, stepping towards Thalric–but he’s stopped cold when a bulb on the far left side of the room explodes.
“That’s your only warning. Until she completes this process, I expect silence from you,” the voice rings out.
I strain to lift my head, trying to see who’s speaking.
The shock hits me hard. He’s never spoken in that tone before–not to me, and certainly not when I’ve been present. So, to hear him speak that way to Theron is not just startling–it’s oddly satisfying.
Theron doesn’t utter another word, and from the fearful look on his face, I can tell the message has finally registered in his mind.
A scream rips from my throat, sharper than the last, as another surge of agony crashes through me. My vision flickers and dims for a moment.
“Aureliza,” Thalric says, concern clouding his features as he gazes at me. “You’re almost done with your shifting. Would it be alright if I took you outside?”
I try to respond, to say yes, but the words catch in my throat. Tears spill freely down my face. Both of my legs have broken, twisted at unnatural angles.
With incredible gentleness, he lifts me off the ground. I don’t see him move, nor do I notice the door open, but somehow, we’re already outdoors. He lowers me carefully onto the cold grass, murmuring soft words that seem to dull the pain. My fingers are no longer there–replaced by white paws that fade into fur as dark as midnight.
“You’re breathtaking,” Thalric whispers, locking eyes with me. “You were truly destined to be mine.” I flash him a toothy, wolf–like grin and curl my fluffy tail around his leg.
“This is absolute bullshit!” Theron’s voice trembles with disbelief. “I had a Lycan right under my damn nose and I let you slip away!” He storms toward us, but before he can get close, a bolt of lightning strikes the ground in front of him, halting him instantly.
“Have you forgotten the terms of our agreement, dear Alpha?” Thalric’s words drip with sarcasm. I nudge him playfully, amused by his boldness, though a tiny part of me wishes the lightning had taken Theron out entirely.
“You’re a fairy?” Theron stares at Thalric, then at me.
“Fae,” Thalric replies with a smug grin. “And also very much a man.”
A joyful howl escapes me–I’ve finally embraced my wolf. Yet, something feels off. The sound doesn’t match the usual howls I’ve grown up hearing. It’s rougher, deeper–different from that of ordinary
wolves.
I glance at Thalric, who gives me a proud nod. “Let’s go home, my dear.”
This time, the journey back isn’t the smooth teleportation I’m used to. Instead, thunder growls and a swirling storm engulfs us before we appear inside the castle.
I already know–I’m going to love this new version of myself.
C
