Chapter 6 - THE WOLF BENEATH HER SKIN
Elara had never shifted.
Not once.
Every wolf-born child usually experienced the first transformation during adolescence.
Vivian had shifted at fourteen.
Claire at fifteen.
Elara had waited.
And waited.
At sixteen, her father told her to stop hoping.
At eighteen, he called her defective.
At twenty-one, she had almost believed him.
Now she stood in a training courtyard beneath a pale morning sky.
Damian watched from several feet away.
“You don't have to do this.”
Elara looked at him.
“I want to.”
He nodded.
“Then we'll go slowly.”
Gideon stood nearby.
Miriam monitored her condition.
Elara closed her eyes.
She tried to feel the wolf everyone insisted existed inside her.
Nothing.
She opened her eyes.
“I can't.”
Damian approached.
“That's all right.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“What if they're wrong?”
“About what?”
“What if I'm not Moonborn? What if I'm just broken?”
Damian's expression changed.
He crouched slightly so their eyes were level.
“Elara.”
She looked at him.
“You are not broken.”
Her lips trembled.
“You don't know that.”
“I know you survived twenty-one years in a house that tried to make you disappear.”
He paused.
“That takes strength.”
Elara began crying.
Damian didn't touch her.
He waited.
Then she reached for his hand.
He took it.
Something stirred.
Deep beneath her ribs.
Warmth spread through her chest.
Her silver eyes brightened.
Damian felt the bond respond.
Elara gasped.
“Damian.”
“I'm here.”
“Something's happening.”
The air changed.
Silver light moved beneath her skin.
Her fingers trembled.
Then a sound echoed through the courtyard.
A wolf's howl.
Not from the forest.
From inside Elara.
Gideon dropped to his knees.
Miriam stared.
Damian stepped back.
Elara's body shimmered.
Her shape changed.
And where the frightened young woman had stood, a magnificent silver wolf appeared.
Her fur glowed like moonlight.
Her eyes were bright as stars.
The courtyard fell silent.
Damian's wolf surged.
He shifted.
A massive black wolf stood before her.
Elara looked at him.
Then slowly approached.
Their noses touched.
A pulse of silver and amber light spread across the courtyard.
Gideon whispered, “The bond is complete.”
Damian turned toward him.
His voice came from deep within the wolf-born connection.
No.
Gideon froze.
Damian looked at Elara.
May you like
The bond is recognized.
Then he added, It becomes complete only if she chooses it.
