Chapter 3 A Forbidden Shift

The full moon loomed high above the forest, bathing the land in an eerie silver glow. Kaela could feel it—burning beneath her skin, twisting through her bones, demanding to be set free. She clutched her arms around herself, trying to suppress the tremors rippling through her body. Not here. Not now. She had spent her entire life watching girls get slaughtered for what was happening to her at this very moment. She had sworn she would hide it—had promised her mother she would keep it buried deep. But the wolf inside her was restless. And it refused to be caged. The Uncontrollable Change Kaela stumbled deeper into the forest, each step more unsteady than the last. Her breaths came raggedly, her vision blurring at the edges. Then, the pain struck. A raw, searing agony unlike anything she had ever known. She fell to her knees, gripping the earth as her bones shifted, cracked, reshaped. Her nails lengthened into sharp claws, her skin prickling as fur began to spread along her arms. She wanted to scream, but no sound came. The transformation was happening too fast. Her heartbeat thundered, erratic and wild. Every part of her being screamed that she shouldn’t be doing this—that she was breaking the most sacred law of the pack. But it was too late to stop it now. With one final shudder, her body gave in, and the world around her tilted. When Kaela lifted her head, she was no longer human. A Wolf Reborn The scent of damp earth and wild pine flooded her senses. The cool night air brushed against her fur, sending a thrill of something unfamiliar racing through her veins. She had never felt anything like this before. The power. The freedom. The clarity. Every sound in the forest was sharper, every movement around her a vibration she could sense in her bones. She could hear the flutter of wings from an owl high above, the rustling of a rabbit darting through the underbrush. She had always believed that turning into a wolf would feel like losing herself. But instead, she felt more alive than ever. Kaela took a hesitant step forward, her new limbs awkward beneath her. Then another. And another. Then, instinct took over, and she ran. Her paws barely touched the ground as she raced through the trees, faster than she had ever moved before. The wind rushed through her fur, and for the first time in her life, she felt untouchable. She was not weak. She was not a mistake. She was wolf. The Danger of Freedom But just as quickly as the euphoria came, a terrible realization struck her. She was exposed. Anyone could see her. Anyone could scent her. A surge of panic jolted through her, and she skidded to a halt, panting. She had to get back. She had to shift back before someone— A twig snapped. Kaela’s ears flattened, and she turned sharply toward the sound. A figure stood at the edge of the clearing, barely visible beneath the shadows of the trees. Watching. A wolf. Her stomach clenched. Had she been followed? Had someone seen her shift? She took a cautious step back, lowering her stance, preparing to flee. But then the wolf moved closer, stepping into the moonlight. Kaela’s breath caught. It wasn’t just any wolf. It was him. The Unexpected Witness Dane The Alpha’s son. The most ruthless man in the pack son And he had seen everything. Kaela’s heart pounded in her chest. This was it. This was how she died. Dane’s amber eyes locked onto hers, unreadable. He didn’t move. Didn’t attack. He just stood there, watching her with an expression that sent a chill down her spine. Then, he did something that sent a bolt of confusion through her. He lowered his head. Not in aggression. Not in warning. In acknowledgment. Kaela froze. What was he doing? Was this some kind of trick?