The night stretched endless and silent around Lyra. The moon hung heavy in the sky, its light casting silver streaks across the clearing where she stood, panting, her new body still thrumming with unfamiliar energy.
Kaidën watched her with quiet patience, his golden eyes glinting with something unreadable. The forest felt alive between them, shifting and whispering as if it, too, was waiting for what would happen next.
Lyra swallowed hard.
She should run.
She should fight.
She should do something.
But the truth was—she had no idea what to do.
The transformation had ripped away everything she thought she knew about herself. She wasn't just Lyra Flynn anymore. She was something else. Something wild. Something dangerous.
Kaidën took a careful step forward. "You're still in control."
She flinched. "No, I'm not."
Her voice was low and rough, not entirely human. The realization sent another bolt of panic through her. Her claws were still extended, and her breathing was still too fast. She could still feel the echo of the hunt in her bones, the raw power surging through her veins.
Kaidën tilted his head. "Your instincts are strong. But instincts don't define you."
"You say that like you know me."
His lips curved into something like a smirk. "I know what you're feeling."
"You don't," she snapped. "You don't know what it's like to wake up and realize that everything about you is a lie."
Kaidën's expression darkened. "You think I don't?" His voice was softer now, but there was something sharp beneath it. "You think I didn't wake up one day and realize I wasn't just a man, but a monster?"
The word hung heavy between them.
Monster.
Lyra's breath caught.
That's what she was now, wasn't she?
A part of her had felt it—the thrill of the shift, the exhilaration of the hunt. She liked it.
And that terrified her more than anything.
She turned away, wrapping her arms around herself. "I don't want this," she whispered.
A long silence stretched between them.
Then Kaidën's voice, steady and quiet: "It doesn't matter what you want."
She jerked her head up. "Excuse me?"
He met her gaze without hesitation. "You are this, Lyra. You can't run from it. You can't pretend it didn't happen."
She opened her mouth to argue, but no words came.
Because he was right.
A shudder ran through her.
Kaidën sighed, rubbing a hand through his dark hair. "Look, I get it. The first shift is the hardest. Your body is screaming at you to give in, to let the instincts take over. But you're stronger than that."
Her jaw clenched. "What if I'm not?"
He took another step closer. "You are."
She shook her head. "You don't even know me."
His golden gaze held hers. "I know what you are. And I know you need help."
Lyra swallowed hard. The fight in her was still there, still burning, but another part of her—a weaker, more desperate part—wanted to believe him.
She took a slow, measured breath.
"Help me, then."
The night stretched on as Kaidën led her through the forest.
They moved in silence, their footsteps light against the earth. Lyra could feel everything now—the pulse of the wind, the rustling of unseen creatures, the way the world felt more alive, more present than ever before.
"Where are we going?" she asked after a while.
"Somewhere safe."
"Safe from what?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he glanced at her, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. "You're not the only one who felt your shift tonight, Lyra."
A chill ran down her spine.
"You mean…?"
Kaidën nodded. "The pack will know. And others will, too."
She swallowed hard. "Others?"
"Not everyone in this world has good intentions," he said grimly. "There are those who see new shifters as prey—an opportunity to control, to manipulate."
Lyra's stomach twisted. "So what does that make you?"
Kaidën smirked. "The one keeping you alive."
She wasn't sure how to respond to that.
Minutes passed in silence before they reached a break in the trees.
Nestled between the thick trunks was a cabin.
It was nothing like the quaint, cozy structures Lyra had seen in town—it was large, almost fortress-like, with high windows and reinforced walls. A fire burned in the stone fireplace outside, casting flickering shadows against the wood.
Kaidën pushed open the heavy door and gestured for her to step inside.
She hesitated.
For all she knew, this was a trap.
But what other choice did she have?
Steeling herself, she stepped inside.
The interior was warm and rustic but sturdy. Dark wooden beams stretched across the ceiling, and the scent of pine and leather filled the air. A massive stone fireplace dominated the far wall, the flames casting golden light across the room.
Kaidën shut the door behind them and leaned against it, watching her.
"You should rest."
Lyra let out a hollow laugh. "You think I can sleep after that?"
His lips twitched. "Fair point."
He moved to a wooden cabinet and pulled out a flask, taking a slow sip before offering it to her.
She eyed it warily. "What is it?"
"Something to take the edge off."
"Tempting, but I think I'll keep my wits about me."
His smirk widened. "Smart girl."
Lyra sighed, rubbing her arms. She felt raw, exposed, like a live wire sparking with too much energy.
After a moment, she glanced at him. "Tell me the truth, Kaidën. Why are you helping me?"
He studied her for a long moment.
Then—
"Because you're mine."
The words sent a jolt through her.
She stepped back instinctively. "I—I don't belong to anyone."
His expression didn't change. "That's not what I meant."
She crossed her arms. "Then explain."
Kaidën exhaled slowly, setting the flask down. "When a shifter changes for the first time, it's a blood call. A signal. It connects us in ways you don't understand yet."
Her heart pounded. "What does that mean?"
"It means your shift wasn't just yours. I felt it. I recognized it." His golden eyes darkened. "You're tied to me now, Lyra."
A chill ran through her.
"You're lying."
His lips curled. "You wish I was."
She shook her head. This was too much. Too fast.
"This isn't real," she whispered.
Kaidën took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "It's real," he murmured. "And whether you like it or not, you belong to this world now."
Her breath hitched.
She wanted to deny it.
Wanted to run.
But deep down, she already knew the truth.
This wasn't the beginning of the nightmare.
This was just the start.