Beauty in the grave

hing to do, even though it was a little weird. Her body moved by itself, li

s. Every sound and smell hit her at once she heard an owl flying overhead, caught the strong smell of car oil nearby, and e

like it had been waiting for her. She stopped at the trees and sniffed the air. It smelled l

ed into t

feel quiet it felt like it was watching. Shadows and branches seemed to press in close. Moonlight slipped through the le

it a deep, rou

ars stood up, and

wasn't sti

in a big circle, their glowing eyes fixed on her. Their fur came in different colors white, gray, brown, and

lver with black lines, and his light blue eyes shone in the dark. He w

lco

dn't say anything out loud, but

felt strong and old, like i

ened. You have

just nodded. Her body unde

ange. Bones moved, fur went away, arms and legs got

nlight. His eyes were still the same light blue and wild. A long scar was on his jaw.

ly. He had no shirt or sho

id. His voice was quiet and ca

step back wit

and to show he w

you," he said. "We have

her heart beating f

mall smile. "I'm

to understand what had happened, but her mind w

moon. "Your blood knows when

The change had happened so quickly, like a wave that r

first this has happened to. And you won't

at him. "Dif

was hunted. One that stayed hidden. That almost never happens.

caught. "Choo

've felt it in your dreams, or just deep inside without knowing why. It's re

wasn't what she wanted. She

forest shifted around them, as if i

snapped. The wolves turned toward

tion, he changed. One second he was a man, t

have f

alf-circle around Lyra. Alexander s

een them quick and quiet. She couldn't see their

olves too, b

They were twisted, like something

and messy. Its eyes glowed red. It d

her mind. Stay behind me. D

ike they were ready to shift. But she held it back. She kept her ey

hadow-wolve

bared. The other wolves followed, growling and snapping. The sounds of

She didn't want to look bu

-wolves slipped through

her body started to change. Her bones cracked, muscles s

ed and she met

ink. Her instincts took over. She bit down, tasted blood. Th

The sound didn't even feel like it came from her i

red and ran off, lim

hing we

anches, blood in the dirt. Two of the shadow-wolve

breathing hard but calm. Blood dripped from a

le body was shaking. Her h

He looked surprised but

she said, out of br

n you," he said. "I

limped, helped by a pale she-wolf. Th

ed closer. "This

inked. "

unting you. They know who you are

her hands, still s

Then he said, "The last time someone like

ked at hi

howl echoed in the night. It was l

urned to the

s it?" L

wer. His jaw c

. Her voice was quiet. "The mountain

een them. "What's

rd. It was something that

her, his eyes

e to come

ght