Bound

The growl still echoed in my ears, even as my body trembled with exhaustion. The shift—the beast—had receded, leaving behind a deep ache in my bones and a strange awareness I couldn’t shake. I barely registered William and Sara’s frantic whispers beside me, my mind consumed by the realization of what had just happened.

But the moment of eerie calm didn’t last long.

The silver she-wolf snarled again, stepping forward cautiously, her piercing eyes locked onto mine. Her movements were deliberate, testing, as if waiting for me to falter. Behind her, the pack stirred restlessly, their postures rigid with anticipation.

I could feel their instincts clawing at the edges of my own—danger, dominance, a challenge unspoken but deeply understood. My heart pounded, the beast inside me stirring once more, whispering promises of strength and power.

And then, like a thunderclap breaking the tension, a voice boomed through the trees.

“Stand down!”

The sound wasn’t particularly loud, but it carried a weight that froze everything in its place. Even the silver she-wolf hesitated, her head snapping toward the source. The pack whimpered softly, lowering their bodies instinctively, their aggression dissolving into unease.

From the shadows emerged a figure, his silhouette tall and imposing. The man stepped into the clearing, his presence radiating an authority that demanded attention. His dark coat swept around his legs as he moved, and his amber eyes gleamed with a light that marked him as something otherworldly.

“Professor Hale,” Sara whispered, her voice trembling with relief and surprise.

I didn’t know who he was, but the wolves did. They melted back into the shadows, retreating without so much as a snarl. Only the Alpha lingered, his golden gaze lingering on Professor Hale. There was a silent exchange between them, some wordless understanding, before the Alpha turned and vanished into the forest.

Professor Hale’s eyes landed on me. For a moment, his calm demeanor faltered, his brows furrowing as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.

“This isn’t possible,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.

“Professor, Alex—he’s—” William started, but Hale silenced him with a sharp look.

“Get back,” the professor said firmly.

William hesitated, glancing at me.

“Now,” Hale repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

William grabbed Sara’s hand and pulled her a few steps away, though their eyes never left me.

I tried to speak, to explain that I didn’t know what was happening, but the growl escaped my throat before I could form the words. My body trembled, the beast inside me clawing to surface again.

Professor Hale took a step closer, his gaze steady and unyielding.

“You’re not in control,” he said, his voice low but commanding. “But I am.”

For a moment, his amber eyes glowed brighter, and I felt something—pressure, like an invisible hand pressing down on my chest. The wolf inside me recoiled, retreating slightly, though its presence still burned just beneath my skin.

“Stay calm,” Hale ordered.

But I wasn’t calm. I couldn’t be. The energy coursing through me was too wild, too volatile. My claws dug into the earth, and a snarl ripped from my throat before I could stop it.

“Damn it,” Hale muttered, stepping back. He turned toward William and Sara. “You two, get to the castle. Now.”

“What about Alex?” Sara asked, her voice shaking.

“I’ll handle him. Go.”

William nodded, pulling Sara along as they hurried out of the clearing. I wanted to follow, but my body wouldn’t obey. My vision blurred, the edges of the world twisting as the beast surged forward again.

“Alex, listen to me,” Hale said, his voice cutting through the haze. “You have to fight it.”

I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. But the wolf inside me didn’t care. It roared in defiance, and before I knew it, I was lunging toward Hale.

He moved faster than I thought possible, sidestepping my attack and slamming his palm into my shoulder. The force sent me sprawling, but it only made the wolf angrier. I scrambled to my feet, growling, my vision narrowing to Hale’s form.

More figures emerged from the forest—other teachers, their scents unmistakably werewolf. They surrounded the clearing, their postures tense as they moved to flank Hale.

“Contain him,” Hale barked.

They hesitated, their eyes flicking to me and then to Hale.

“Now!”

The teachers sprang into action, their movements precise and practiced. I lashed out, claws swiping through the air, but they were too coordinated, too experienced. One of them tackled me from the side, and another grabbed my arms, forcing me to the ground.

“Hold him steady!”

Their voices blurred together as the wolf thrashed and snarled, fighting with everything it had. I felt chains—real chains—being wrapped around me, their cold weight pressing against my skin. They were enchanted; I could feel the magic humming through them, dampening the wolf’s strength.

Slowly, the world came back into focus. The growls faded, replaced by my ragged breaths. My body ached, and the wolf receded, its fury subdued but not extinguished.

Hale knelt beside me, his eyes scanning my face.

“Still conscious,” he muttered, almost to himself. “Good.”

The other teachers exchanged uneasy glances.

“This isn’t right,” one of them said. “He shouldn’t have been able to shift.”

“I know,” Hale replied, his voice tight. “We’ll figure it out later. For now, get him to the castle. Quickly.”

They lifted me, the chains binding me tight as they carried me through the forest. My mind swirled with questions, but I was too exhausted to ask them.

When we reached the castle, I was taken to a separate room, the door locking behind me as the chains were secured. Through the haze of my thoughts, I heard Hale’s voice, calm and steady as he spoke to the others.

“We need to inform the headmistress. This changes everything.”