BOUND BY FATE DRIVEN BY VENGEANCE

CHAPTER ONE

*Sophia's POV*

I tore through the dense woods, my legs slamming against the ground, heart pounding as if my life depended on it-because it did. Somewhere behind me, a howl sliced through the silence, echoing through the trees, then... nothing. I strained to hear any movement, any sign of what might be following me, but only an eerie, unnatural silence lingered in the air.

My sprint slowed, my body hesitating, senses on high alert as I scanned my surroundings. Then, a flicker-a blur-whisked past the corner of my eye. I whipped around, but whatever it was had vanished, leaving only the unsettling notion that I might be seeing things.

Swallowing hard, I took a step back, nervously twisting in every direction. A low, menacing growl rumbled behind me, and a cold wave of dread washed over me. I turned, heart racing, and found myself face-to-face with a wolf. Its piercing green eyes glared at me, hunger gleaming in its stare. My fingers fumbled in my bag for the pepper spray, hands trembling so violently that it nearly slipped from my grasp.

The wolf lunged before I could react, and in my desperation, I tore off the cap and sprayed wildly. My heart thundered as I shouted, "Stay back, and I won't hurt you!" My words seemed to amuse it. The wolf dodged the spray, pouncing at me with terrifying speed, and in seconds, I was on the ground, pinned, the spray rolling out of my reach.

Its heavy paws pressed down, crushing me, and I felt my false bravado evaporate. Just as its teeth closed in, another wolf launched into it, snarling, and knocked it off me. I scrambled to my feet, lungs burning as I sprinted away, but I barely made it far when another powerful force tackled me from behind, slamming me against a tree. My vision blurred.

The second wolf approached slowly, its gaze fixed on me. I thought it had saved me-until it struck, sinking its fangs deep into my shoulder. Agony flared through my body, then darkness swallowed me whole.

__________

Distant voices murmured in the haze of my mind, faint but growing clearer as I floated toward consciousness. I recognized one voice among them, grounding and familiar.

"Sophia... Sophia! Can you hear me?"

I forced my eyes open, blinking against the light. Aunt Evelyn's face came into focus, worry etched into her features as she hovered beside me. My head throbbed painfully.

"Auntie... what happened?" My voice sounded strained and hoarse. "Why are you so worried?"

Evelyn ran a hand through her tangled hair, her eyes wide and frantic. "What happened?" she echoed, her voice rising. "I came home and found you collapsed by the door, unconscious! Do you realize how terrified I was?"

A pang of guilt shot through me. "I... I don't remember much."

"That's no excuse!" she scolded, rubbing her forehead in frustration. "If I hadn't found you in time and gotten you medical help... God knows what might've happened."

"I'm sorry," I murmured, reaching out to grasp her hand. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just..." I stopped, the memory of the wolf's attack flashing through my mind. I shuddered, the fear still raw. "I promise I won't go back into the woods."

Her eyes widened. "You were in the woods?" Her tone sharpened. "How many times have I told you it's too dangerous? Anything could've happened!"

"I know, Auntie. I'm fine now. I won't go back there," I whispered, hoping to reassure her.

Evelyn softened, yet her gaze remained skeptical. "Are you sure you're alright, Sophia? You seem... tense."

I forced a weak smile, nodding. "Just tired. Could you get me some water?"

She glanced at me, then sighed, heading to the kitchen. As soon as she was gone, I pulled down the collar of my shirt to check my shoulder. My breath caught. There, etched in my skin, were the raw, unmistakable marks of teeth. I could feel the throbbing pain as if it were fresh.

Suddenly, a wave of agony surged through me. My body twisted and burned from within. A small yelp escaped my lips, muffled by my hands as the pain subsided as quickly as it came. Panic simmered beneath my skin. "What's happening to me?" I muttered, my voice shaking.

Before I could collect my thoughts, a loud bang echoed from outside. I froze, heart hammering. Who was out there? The door to my room flew open, and Evelyn burst in, fear and determination hardening her expression. She moved to the closet, pulling out a gun.

"Stay here, Sophia," she ordered, her voice firm.

"Are we under attack?" I whispered, dread creeping into my voice.

Evelyn's hand trembled as she loaded the gun. "Yes, and I suspect it's connected to what happened in the woods. Somehow, they've discovered we live here, and they're coming for us. Stay put and don't come out, no matter what."

Before I could protest, she stormed out, her footsteps fading into the night. I peeked through the door, watching as she took cover behind the cabin. Just then, the front door burst open, and two wolves lunged inside. Evelyn fired, hitting one; it crumpled to the ground. The other wolf snarled and pounced at her, but she dodged just in time.

A third wolf blindsided her, knocking her down, her gun sliding across the floor. Evelyn struggled, but the beast pinned her, snapping its jaws around her neck. Blood splattered across the floor.

"No! No!" I screamed, clapping my hands over my mouth, but my cry was loud enough. The wolves turned, their lethal eyes zeroing in on me.

I bolted toward the window, pushing it open and diving out. I hit the ground running, ignoring the sting of my wounds, but fear clouded every step. Evelyn's lifeless face haunted my mind, her blood staining the memory.

A root caught my foot, and I crashed to the ground. Pain flared as I tried to push myself up, but the same agonizing cracking surged through my bones, worse than before. I screamed as my body twisted and contorted. My hands grew into paws; my skin gave way to fur. In mere seconds, I realized... I wasn't Sophia anymore. I was something else entirely.

A wolf.

"Hello, Sophia," a voice resonated in my mind, clear and foreign.

My thoughts spiraled. "Who are you? What are you doing in my head?"

"I'm Amra, your wolf," the voice replied, calm yet undeniable. I looked down, horror gripping me as I took in the sight of my paws. This can't be real. I had become the one thing I despised-the creature that had taken everything from me. Images of the wolves, the same beasts that slaughtered my family, flickered through my mind, and a surge of anger swelled within me.

"You're supposed to help me track others of our kind, right?" I demanded, voice trembling with fury.

"You don't need to yell," she replied with a mental scoff. "We're connected; I can hear you just fine. And yes, there's a pack not far from here, but they'll be guarded."

"Then get me there," I ordered.

Amra groaned in my head but obeyed, muscles coiling as we sprinted through the forest, faster than I had ever run. The ground blurred beneath us, rage burning brighter with every stride. I would make them pay for everything they'd taken from me. This weak girl was done running.