MOONLIT RECKONING

of leaves and the far-off calls of nocturnal creatures. Aurora found herself at the edge of the clearing, her gaze fixed on the moon above (a celestial beacon). The pull of it was und

hin her screamed that something was about to change. Asher lingered nearby, his silhouette barely discernible in the shadows of the trees. He had remained silent for most of the evening, observing her, waiting for her to initiate the fi

hat lay ahead. What if she faltered? What if the power within her proved to be overwhelming? The fear seized her for a fleeting moment, but she swiftly suppressed it. She had journeyed too far to retreat now. "I don't know what's going to happen," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. Clenching her fists, she felt a strange

ly as the moon's luminescence enveloped the clearing in its frigid radiance. Every nerve in her body ignited, each buzzing with a force she, however, did not

the chan

rewriting itself, reshaping her from within. Her hands clenched into fists as claws extended, her nails elongating until they became razor-sharp, gleaming under the moonlight. A low growl erupted from her throat, prompting her to instinctively crouch low to the ground; the muscles in her legs tightened, preparing to spring. "Aurora, focus," Asher's voice pierced through the chaos, louder this time, a command infused with

ame sharp, vivid and overwhelming. Aurora's vision blurred as her body assumed the final shape of the wolf: a massive, sleek creature with glowing golden eyes. Her fur rippled like liquid silver, blending with the moonlight, imparting a sense of both grace and raw power. The world around her seemed to slow down (as though she were seeing everything through a lens of heightened awareness

She was too absorbed in the power. Too consumed by the thrill of the hunt. Her instincts were screaming at her to run, to leap, to embrace the wildness of it all. Suddenly, she sensed Asher's presence beside her, his hand resting on her massive shoulder. She whirled around instinctively, teeth bared, her golden eyes flashing with the ferocity of a creature that had slumbered for far too long. "You need to f

her still prowled at the periphery of her awareness, however, it was no longer in command. Aurora stood there, panting heavily, her fur shimmering beneath the moonlight as she locked gazes with Asher. "You did well," Asher remarked, his tone unexpectedly gentle. "That was the most challenging part. From this point forward, the transformation will become more manageable. But you must maintain control. The power lies

aze was palpable and it left her pondering the true meaning behind his words. Although he was seemingly nonchalant, there was an undercurrent of inten