Chapter 30
· Aubrey ·
Finally, after what seems like an eternity of screaming agony that echoes throughout the room and surely beyond; there comes a gradual ease. My screams turn into gasps and the waves of searing pain become bearable bouts ebbing away slowly.
“Don’t fight it,” he instructs firmly yet tenderly. I’m too weak to respond but nod against him instead.
Just when I think I can’t take any more, that death would be a welcome reprieve compared to this torment; everything stops.
The pain recedes completely, leaving behind a peculiar emptiness inside me.
However long it took for me to transform completely is unclear as time held no meaning in the darkness of torture, paralyzed by pain.
Yet as I remain in that strange state of between, I can breathe finally and I jolt awake, my senses on fire.
The silk sheets feel like sandpaper against my skin.
Sunlight streaming through the curtains is blinding, each dust particle visible as it dances in the air.
The room tilts and sways, colors bleeding into one another as my vision blurs.
He brushes a strand of hair from my face.
The simple touch sends a jolt through my newly sensitive skin.
“It’s finally over,” he murmurs, his voice even sounding different, deeper and raspier.
“Your strengths will grow, your senses sharpen. You’ll be more powerful than you ever dreamed possible.
I bet you’re feeling quite overwhelmed.”
“I get super senses,” I ask, searching his face. “And you get to babysit me.” I laugh only to jolt at the sound. I sit up, but Soren is quick to grab me.
A slow smile spreads across his lips, dangerous and alluring.
“I get you, Aubrey. Completely, eternally mine.” The intensity of his gaze makes me shiver.
“You need to be slow, you can’t overwhelm yourself.
” He pulls me back down on the bed. His calling washes over me, sedating me in a way that is stronger than ever before.
I fight it, but with our bond fully forged, I don’t stand a chance, it’s so much stronger than I thought perceivable.
Maybe it’s the bond, as I fight in vain against it, it sucks me into bliss.
· · ·
When I come to, my stomach growls, a cavernous emptiness demanding to be filled. What’s happening to me? I’ve never felt so hungry, ravenous which I find odd.
I sit up, ears twitching at every tiny sound - birds chirping outside, a servant shuffling down the hall, and… running water? I focus, realizing it’s coming from the en-suite bathroom. Soren must be showering.
My mouth waters as delicious scents waft up from downstairs. Bacon. Coffee. Fresh bread. My stomach clenches painfully wondering how I can smell all that. Then I realize the window is open and so must be a window downstairs.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed, nearly falling as vertigo hits. Everything feels…off. Like my body isn’t quite mine anymore. I stumble to the door, gripping the handle too hard. It crumples slightly in my grasp.
“What the hell?” I mutter, staring at my hand in confusion.
The shower keeps running. Soren has no idea I’m awake. Part of me wants to wait for him, but the hunger is overwhelming.
I slip out into the hallway, following my nose toward the stairs.
Each step echoing unnaturally loud in my ears.
As I reach the bottom, and move to the kitchen, pushing the swinging door open, a crash reverberates through the room and I clutch my ears at the horrifying sound.
My head whips around to see a maid, her eyes wide with shock, standing surrounded by shattered porcelain.
“I-I’m so sorry, miss,” she stammers, her voice trembling. “I didn’t expect—”
Before she can finish, Maribel bursts into the hall, her usually composed demeanor slightly ruffled.
Her gaze locks onto me, a mix of concern and relief washing over her face but I’m more fascinated with what’s on my head.
I pinch the furry tufts only to wince when I realize they are attached to me.
Moving toward the microwave, I stare into the stainless steel to find two furry ears on top of my head.
I poke it and it twitches. Why are my ears furry and up there?
I stare at my reflection only to realize the marring gashes Bianca caused are now gone.
I pull my skin only for those twitching ears to distract me again. I look normal besides the ears.
“Aubrey! You’re awake,” Maribel says, her words coming out in a rush. “Does Soren know?”
I blink, confused by her urgency. “He’s in the shower. I just… I needed food. Why are my ears not normal?” I ask her. She glances at the servant and so do I, waiting for an answer.
Maribel clears her throat. “You haven’t shifted yet?” she asks, and I try to think back to what I remember.
“I don’t think so, but I have these?” I ask her, pointing to my ears I can feel twitching at every noise.
Maribel nods, a little too quickly. ”Yes, parts will semi shift, it will come and go until you complete the shift fully.” She moves slowly toward the servant who is just staring at me like I’ve grown an extra head not a set of pointy furry ears. “You must be starving, dear. Let’s feed you.”
The mention of food has my stomach growling.
I follow her, when another servant comes in letting out a shriek, I stare at the new woman who quickly covers her mouth, acutely aware of the eyes of the staff following my every move.
Ignoring her, I make a beeline for the fridge, yanking the door open with more force than necessary.
The handle creaks ominously when I hear Maribel tell the girl to get Soren.
“He’s in the shower,” I tell her, rummaging through the fridge. She says nothing and I peer over the fridge door at her. She smiles awkwardly at me. Why is she being weird?
“Sorry,” I mutter, rummaging through the contents. Everything smells so strong, so vivid. It’s overwhelming. Oh… roast beef!
I grab a container of leftover roast beef, fumbling with the lid. It slips from my grasp, clattering to the floor. Frustration bubbles up inside me.
I spin around, nearly knocking over a stool as I try to catch the glass container. The maids flinch back, their faces full of fear. My confusion deepens.
“Why are you all staring at me?” I demand, my voice coming out harsher than intended. “What’s going on?”
Maribel steps forward, her hands raised placatingly. “Aubrey, dear, it’s alright. You’re just—”
I can’t focus on what she’s saying. Everything feels wrong. My skin is too tight, my senses too sharp.
The more I move, the clumsier I become, and the stranger I feel as I scoop up the container. The side is cracked but the glass didn’t shatter, so I try peeling off the lid. It’s like I’m a stranger in my own body, and I hate it as I fumble with the lid, my claws in the way. Wait, claws?
Maribel approaches me slowly, her voice soft and soothing. “Aubrey, sweetheart, take a deep breath. It’s okay, this is all normal—”
“Normal?” I snarl, whirling around. The word tastes bitter on my tongue. “How is any of this normal? I feel like I’m going insane!”
I immediately regret snapping at her, but I can’t seem to control the words spilling from my mouth. Maribel, however, doesn’t even flinch. She maintains her calm demeanor, which only serves to irritate me further.
Suddenly, Soren bursts into the kitchen, his hair still damp from the shower. His eyes are wide with panic as they lock onto me. “Aubrey,” he breathes, relief and worry warring in his voice.
The moment I see him, something primal stirs within me. A low growl escapes my throat, and I move toward him, drawn by an irresistible urge. My eyes roam over his body, drinking in every detail. I want him. No, I need him.
Soren’s expression shifts, understanding dawning in his eyes.
He holds out a hand, his voice low and steady.
“Easy, Aubrey. I know you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, but we need to get you out of here, you’re reacting to the bond, and I don’t think my mother wants to witness what you’re thinking. ”
His words shock me out of the strange state I’m in and I resist the urge to pounce on him, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting desires. “What’s happening to me?” I manage to ask, my voice rough with need.
Soren slowly approaches, speaking in a soothing tone. “Your senses are haywire right now because you need your first shift. You’re jittery, everything feels intense—it’s all part of the process. You won’t be able to keep a straight thought.”
“First shift? You mean…?”
He nods, leading me away from the watchful eyes of the staff. “Yes, your Lycan form. Once you shift, things will settle down. Right now, your body and instincts are at war. That’s why everything feels so different, so overwhelming.”
A blur of movement catches my eye. Max comes bounding into the room, his face lit up with excitement. Before I can process what’s happening, Soren’s voice cuts through the air.
“Max, stop! Don’t run!” he shouts, panic lacing his words.
But it’s too late. My eyes lock onto Max, tracking his every movement. Something primal stirs within me, a need to chase, to play, to… Max skids to a halt, his smile fading as he takes in my intense stare.
“What’s wrong with Aubrey?” he asks, worry creeping into his voice. “She looks… different.”
Soren’s hand tightens on my arm. “She’s just feeling a bit more… animalistic right now,” he explains carefully. “Until she shifts, her instincts are heightened.”
Max’s brow furrows for a moment before he shrugs, apparently satisfied with the explanation. Before Soren can stop him, he grabs my hand. “Come on, Aubrey! Let’s play!”
I shake my head, trying to clear the fog. Max’s touch sends shockwaves through my system. He feels different, smells different. It’s comforting and terrifying all at once.
“Max, wait…”
Max is already tugging me toward the door, chattering excitedly about some pond he wants to show me. Soren reaches for us, his face a mask of concern. “Max, wait, buddy, Aubrey isn’t…”
I stumble after Max, torn between the urge to play and the overwhelming sensations bombarding me. What’s happening to me?
Max’s hand slips from mine as he dashes through the doorway, his laughter echoing across the garden. Something inside me snaps. The world narrows to a single point: Max, running through the manicured hedges.
I’m moving before I realize it, my feet barely touching the ground as I chase him. The scent of his excitement fills my nostrils, driving me forward. I hear his heartbeat, quick and steady.
“Can’t catch me, Aubrey!” Max calls over his shoulder, zigzagging between flowerbeds.
A growl rumbles in my chest, the thrill of the chase singing in my veins. I’m closing in, my movements fluid and predatory. Just a little closer…
Then strong arms wrap around my waist, yanking me backward. I snarl, twisting in the iron grip.
“Aubrey, stop!” Soren’s voice cuts through the haze. “You need to calm down, now!”
I struggle against him, my eyes still fixed on Max’s retreating form. “Let me go! I have to—I need to—”
“Look at yourself!” Soren commands, spinning me to face him. His eyes are wide with alarm.
“What?” I snap, confusion momentarily overtaking the urge to chase. “Why are you—”
Soren raises a trembling hand to my face. “Your canines, Aubrey. And your claws.”
I freeze, lifting my hands. Where my nails should be, sharp claws extend from my fingertips. I run my tongue over my teeth, feeling the pointed edges of elongated canines.
“Oh, god,” I whisper, the reality of what’s happening hitting me.
I become aware of the silence around us. Turning slowly, a few staff members watch from the patio, their faces a mix of fear and fascination. Maribel stands at the front, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. “You’re not playing, that urge is hunting,” Soren clutches my face.
Max’s voice breaks the tense silence. “Aubrey? Why’d you stop playing?” He trots back toward us, his face a mixture of confusion and disappointment.
I swallow hard, trying to force my canines to retract. “I… I don’t feel well, Max,” I manage to say, my voice shaky. “I’m sorry, but I need to go inside.”
Without waiting for a response, I turn and sprint toward the castle. As I pass through the few staff members and now guard, they part like water, their eyes wide and wary. I catch a glimpse of Maribel reaching out to me.
“Aubrey, dear, wait—” she begins, her voice soft and concerned.
I can’t bear to face her kindness right now. I shake my head and push past her, my feet carrying me swiftly through the place.
My mind races as I climb the stairs. Monster. I’m a monster. The image of my claws, the feeling of my sharp teeth, the primal urge to hunt Max—it all swirls in my head, making me feel sick.
I burst into my room, slamming the door behind me only for Soren to burst through it a moment later and I take him in. His hands lift in the same placating gesture as Maribel’s earlier.
“Don’t hate yourself. I thought I locked the door. I should have waited to shower until you woke up properly.” His calling rushes out.
“I don’t want to go to sleep.” I blurt.
“I need you to calm down, you’re hurting yourself,” he tells me and I shake my head as he moves quickly.
Clutching my arms, his hands slide down where my arms are crossed.
He grips my hands, prying them away from my chest; only my claws are embedded in my arms. I stare at the bloody mess I’ve made, panic overwhelming my senses as the scent of my blood reaches my nose.
“Calm down. You need to calm down or I won’t have a choice,” he warns.
Only now that same warning tone sounds different, and I’m suddenly more aware of his aura, which sends unexplainable rage boiling within me.
Just as quick as it comes, it goes and so does the light as his calling erupts knocking me out.