Chapter 4 : Together Forever

*Lena*

I stared at Zara, my mouth agape. There was no way.

“A werewolf? Are you serious right now?” I shook my head, running a hand through my hair. “Look, I know I played a great game tonight but…” I trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. 

‘I played a great game tonight.’ Through the celebrations and the adrenaline, I never thought to consider what had actually happened - how it was supposed to be impossible. But somehow I’d done just that.

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. My mind reeled, trying to process her words. A werewolf? It was impossible, absurd. And yet...

And yet, deep down I knew that it was probably the only reasonable explanation for what was happening to me. The memory of that night in Alaska flooded in. A cold dread settled in the pit of my stomach as the pieces began to fit together in a terrifying new picture.

“That’s... that’s crazy,” I stated, but I didn’t believe my words. It was the only thing I could think of to say to help me feel better. In the distance, I could see Eason watching us, concern etched on his face. The small box was still in his uninjured hand. As he shook his head and walked away, out of the arena, I suddenly feared that a normal life was slipping away from me.

I couldn’t let that happen. I needed to focus all my attention on Eason. “Zara, I’m sorry, but I really can’t deal with this right now. I’ve got to go.” 

I turned to leave, but before I could move, Zara grabbed my arm, halting my movements. “Wait! You can’t go yet. Tonight’s the full moon, Lena.”

“So?” Even though I was terrified of what could - or would - happen to me, I stared at her indifferently. 

“The books I’ve been reading,” she continued, her voice trembling. “They all say the same thing. On the night of the full moon, you’ll change. And the moonlight... it makes you bloodthirsty. Anger, or anything that makes your heart race could trigger the shift.” She stared at me meaningfully, and I knew what she meant. “Hear that, Lena? No one makes your heart race like Eason does.”

“Are you saying I could shift into a massive werewolf in the middle of his birthday party?” I asked, sarcastically.

But Zara was having none of it. She was all business. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. You can’t go to his party tonight. You have to cancel, now.”

Panic surged through me as I watched Zara reach around me to grab my phone from my pocket. She must have seen him leave too. No, she couldn’t call Eason. She couldn’t take this away from me. Before I knew what was happening, I lunged for the phone, my movements unnaturally quick.

“Don't you dare!” I snarled, my voice barely recognizable to my ears. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as I saw my hand, fingers curled like claws, swinging toward Zara. Horror washed over me, and I jerked back at the last second, my nails barely missing her face.

Zara stumbled backward, her hazel eyes wide with shock and fear. I stared at my trembling hand, terrified by what I’d almost done.

“Oh God, Zara,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

The realization hit me like a physical blow. Anger did make me cranky – more than cranky. It made me dangerous. I’d almost hurt my best friend, all because of a stupid party.

Shame and fear clawed within me as I struggled to regain control. I could feel something wild and untamed stirring just beneath my skin, ready to break free at any moment.

“This is what I’m trying to tell you,” she said, still staying a couple of feet away from me, the fear obvious in her eyes.

“I... I need to go,” I stammered, backing away from Zara. “I have to finish preparing Eason’s birthday present.”

It was a weak excuse, and we both knew it. But I couldn’t stay here, not when I was a ticking time bomb. 

—

Regardless of Zara’s stern warnings, I walked into the hall Eason had rented out for his birthday, clutching the gift I’d prepared for him tightly. At the far end, a massive screen projected highlights from his favorite moments. My heart skipped a beat when a picture of the two of us together popped up on the screen. 

The rest of the area was carefully decorated with an array of streamers in gold, white, and navy blue. True Eason fashion. Tables were set with miniature hockey sticks crossed over pucks, surrounded by flickering candles in frosted glass holders.

Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d think he loved hockey more than he loved me.

Even though I wasn’t feeling the best, or as excited as his girlfriend should feel, I put on a fake smile for his benefit. Then, at the end of the night, I presented the gift box to him with trembling hands. Inside were two carefully crafted dolls that I’d spent weeks working on, pouring all my feelings into every stitch.

His doll had a shock of messy, dirty blonde hair, matching the way his hair often fell into his brown eyes when he played. The doll wore a tiny replica of his favorite hockey jersey, complete with the number 5 stitched in gold thread on the back. His smile, always a bit mischievous, was carefully embroidered.

My doll stood beside his, an exact replica of my deep brown hair cascading in soft waves down its back. I’d managed to capture the blue of my eyes, adding a miniature version of the pink sun dress I’d worn on our first date.

The hands of the dolls were intertwined, just like our real hands often were.

“They represent us,” I explained, my voice barely above a whisper. “Together, never to be separated.”

Eason’s eyes softened as he looked at the dolls, a soft smile playing on his lips. “I love it,” he whispered, pulling me closer for a kiss. The loud house music faded away, all the confusion I’d been feeling disappeared, and I was finally beginning to feel like maybe everything would be okay after all. 

I opened my mouth, ready to tell him everything about the wolf bite. But before I could speak, a sharp laugh cut through the moment.

“Oh, how quaint,” a mocking voice said. I turned to see Eason’s older sister, Veronica, and another girl sauntering toward us. It took me a while to recognize her since I hadn’t seen her since high school, but I would recognize that devilish gray eyes and strawberry blonde hair anywhere. Elise, Eason’s ex, walked behind his sister like a lackey, and immediately, I knew there was going to be trouble. 

Veronica’s eyes were cold as they raked over me and the gift. “Really, Eason,” she continued, her voice dripping with disdain. “A broken doll? Is this the best your little girlfriend could do?”

Elise grinned wickedly. “Well, I didn’t expect much. I’m the only one who knows Eason best after all.”

Before I could react, Veronica snatched the box from Eason’s hands. With a cruel smile, she dropped it to the floor and ground her heel into it. The delicate dolls ripped under her designer shoes, the sound echoing in my ears like a gunshot. The room seemed to spin as shame and humiliation washed over me in waves.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Eason yelled, his voice so loud, that everyone else turned to see what was going on. “What makes you think you get to act that way?”

I loved that he was defending me, but the damage had already been done. Veronica hadn’t just trampled my gift. She’d trampled on my self-esteem.

And Elise? Talk about rubbing salt into an already sore wound. I was okay with Veronica not liking me, but involving his ex was a new low.

Eason’s voice sounded far away as he berated his sister. All I could focus on was the ruined dolls on the floor. My chest tightened, and I could feel the beast inside me stirring, responding to my distress.

It wanted out.

Fighting back tears and the urge to shift right there in the middle of the party, I turned and fled. The last thing I heard was Eason calling my name, but I didn’t look back. I couldn't let him see me like this - broken, humiliated, and on the verge of turning into something monstrous.

I stumbled through the crowd, tears blurring my vision, when I felt a warm hand grasp mine. 

“Lena, wait,” Eason said softly, pulling me close. “I’m so sorry about Veronica. What she did was cruel and unforgivable. I didn’t even know Elise was going to be here.”

I shook my head, unable to form words past the lump in my throat. Eason’s thumb gently wiped a tear from my cheek, the tender gesture almost breaking me.

“Your gift was beautiful,” he continued, his voice low and intense. “It means more to me than you could ever know.”

I didn’t know what to say, but it didn’t matter. Eason’s lips were on mine, kissing away every feeling of doubt. The mass of people mingling about us disappeared, the world falling away as warmth flooded through me. His kiss was soft, sweet, and full of promise. For a moment, I forgot about everything. There was only Eason, his arms around me, his lips on mine.

But then, like a cruel joke of fate, I felt it. A searing pain ripped through my body, accompanied by a primal, overwhelming urge. Bloodlust, raw and terrifying, surged within me. My fingers, still entwined with Eason’s, began to tingle and ache as if my nails were trying to elongate into claws.

No, not now. Not here. Not with him.

I broke away from the kiss abruptly, gasping for air. Eason looked at me, confusion and hurt in his eyes. “Lena? What’s wrong?”

I could barely hear him over the roaring in my ears. Every heartbeat brought a fresh wave of pain and hunger. I could smell his cologne, his sweat, the very essence of him - and underneath it all, the tantalizing scent of his blood.

“I... I can’t,” I choked out, fighting against the urge to sink my teeth into his skin. “I’m sorry, Eason. I have to go.”

“Lena, please,” he pleaded, reaching for me again. “Don’t let Veronica ruin this night. Stay with me.”

His words tore at my heart, but the beast inside me howled for release. I knew if I stayed a moment longer, I might hurt him - or worse.

I didn’t even want to think of what ‘worse’ was.

With every ounce of willpower I possessed, I backed away from Eason. “I’m sorry,” I whispered again, my voice breaking. “I just can’t.”

Ignoring his calls, I turned and ran, pushing past partygoers and bursting out into the cool night air. The world spun around me as I stumbled to my car. My vision blurred, faces and lights melting into a dizzying picture. I fumbled with my keys, barely able to get them into the ignition. My hands trembled on the steering wheel, knuckles white with the effort of maintaining control. Somehow, I managed to drive myself home, barely conscious.

I staggered into my bathroom. The harsh fluorescent lights stabbed at my eyes as I gripped the cold porcelain of the sink. My reflection in the mirror was a stranger - pale, wild-eyed.

Desperately, I splashed icy water on my face, hoping to shock myself back to normalcy. But the cold only seemed to awaken whatever was trying to claw its way out. A low growl escaped my throat. A sound no human should make.

Then it hit me - a strong force that brought me to my knees. Every cell in my body felt like it was exploding and reforming. I curled into a ball on the cold tile floor, struggling to pull myself together.

Through tears of pain, I watched in horror as my fingernails began to grow. They elongated rapidly, curving into sharp, bestial claws. The bones in my fingers cracked and reshaped themselves to accommodate this monstrous change.

A sharp pain in my mouth made me gasp. I tasted blood as canine teeth pushed through my gums, growing into razor-sharp fangs. My tongue probed them in disbelief, cutting itself on their needle-like points.

Forcing myself to look in the mirror again, I saw my eyes changing. The soft blue I’d known all my life was being consumed by a strange golden hue. My pupils narrowed to slits, giving me a predatory gaze. I stared at my reflection, suddenly coming face to face with the wolf that had attacked me.

I jumped back, terrified of what I’d just seen. 

“Lena?” a familiar voice called, concern clear in his voice. “Are you in there? It’s me, Eason.”

No! No, not now. He can’t see me like this.

“Lena, please. I’m worried about you. Let me in.”

I tried to call out, to warn him away, but all that emerged from my throat was a low, menacing growl. The beast inside me stirred at the sound of prey so close.

I struggled to move, to get up and lock the door. But before I could take control of my body, the doorknob began to turn.