chapter 4: way home

On her way home, Gift was lost in thought when a voice suddenly called out.

"Hello? Who's there?" She glanced around, startled.

"Hi, Gift. It's Emily... your wolf."

"My wolf?" Gift laughed, shaking her head. "This is a joke, right? Seriously, who's messing with me?"

"Gift, it's really me, Emily. It's time... time for you to understand who you are, and what you are."

"Who I am?" Gift chuckled, dismissing the words. "I know who I am. I'm Gift Hunter, and I don't take orders from anyone, okay? So, buzz off."

She continued walking, trying to shake off the eerie feeling creeping up her spine.

"Gift, please... go to the library. You need to go to the library."

Gift halted mid-step and let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm not going back to the school library, Emily-or whatever your name is, or whatever you are. I've got no interest in whatever this is. I'm busy. I need to get home and get ready for the school ball. That's tonight, not tomorrow. So, if you don't mind..."

Her voice trailed off as she kept walking, trying to convince herself it was just a figment of her imagination. But Emily wasn't giving up so easily.

"Gift," the voice urged again, more insistent this time, as though trying to break through the walls of her resolve. "Please, you need to listen. This is important. You can't ignore what's happening."

Gift's pace quickened, the growing anxiety starting to bubble beneath the surface. She wasn't one to be easily swayed by strange voices, but something about this felt different.

"I'm not going back," she muttered firmly. "I'm not listening to you. Not today, not ever."

But the pull, the subtle pressure in the back of her mind, grew stronger. And before she knew it, her feet had turned back toward the school, her body moving against her will, like she was being guided-no, commanded-toward the library.

The faint whisper of her wolf, Emily, echoed in her thoughts, "It's time, Gift. You can't avoid this. Not anymore."

Gift's mind raced as she found herself walking back toward the school, her steps slow, reluctant, and yet somehow guided by an invisible force. The city's sounds faded around her, replaced by the persistent echo of Emily's voice in her thoughts.

"You don't understand, Gift," Emily's voice was softer now, almost pleading. "This isn't something you can walk away from. You are part of this world, whether you want to be or not."

Gift shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts that were beginning to overwhelm her. No. This doesn't make sense. It can't be real. Her feet moved in a rhythm that was no longer entirely her own, as if the pull from Emily was becoming something undeniable.

She reached the school gates, the familiar building looming in the twilight, its windows reflecting the dying light of the evening. The weight of her decision settled heavily on her chest, but she couldn't stop herself from moving forward. The library beckoned her like a silent command.

"Why the library?" Gift muttered under her breath, frustration seeping into her voice. "Why now?"

"You need to understand," Emily replied, her tone firm, but oddly comforting. "The library holds the answers. You need to see the truth for yourself. The books there... they contain knowledge-about us, about you."

Gift swallowed hard, her throat dry. She wasn't sure what she feared more: the possibility that Emily was right, or the idea that she was losing control over her own body. She could feel a strange tingling sensation at the back of her mind, as though some hidden part of her was waking up, and the sensation only intensified as she crossed the threshold into the school.

The halls were deserted, the usual hum of student voices replaced by an eerie silence. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch unnaturally across the walls. Gift shivered despite herself, her pulse quickening with each step. She felt... out of place, as if the very air had changed.

She approached the library door with hesitation, her hand hovering over the handle. This is insane, she thought, I should turn around. I should leave and forget all about this. But she couldn't. Her body, it seemed, had already decided.

With a deep breath, she pushed open the door. The familiar scent of old books filled the air, but something was different tonight. The room felt charged, as though something ancient had awakened in the pages of the books that lined the shelves.

The lights flickered again, casting a brief shadow on the far corner of the room. Gift's heart skipped a beat. There, in the corner of the library, a figure stood-tall, cloaked in shadows.

"Who's there?" she called out, her voice shaking slightly despite her attempt at bravado.

The figure stepped into the dim light, revealing a tall woman with piercing eyes, dressed in a simple, dark robe. Her presence was commanding, and yet... not quite human.

"I knew you would come, Gift," the woman said, her voice smooth but carrying a weight of authority that made Gift's stomach tighten. "You've been chosen."

"Chosen?" Gift repeated, her mind spinning. "For what?"

The woman gave a small smile, as if she were amused by Gift's confusion. "For what you are. For what you will become."

Before Gift could respond, a flood of memories, visions, and sensations hit her all at once. The air seemed to crackle with energy, and she could almost feel the shifting power inside her. She saw flashes of wolves-huge, majestic creatures, their eyes gleaming with intelligence and strength. Then, a rush of sensations: the feeling of running on all fours, of shifting from human to wolf and back again. Her heart hammered in her chest as the truth began to settle over her like a heavy cloak.

"You are part of something much older than you realize," the woman continued, her gaze unwavering. "Your bloodline is tied to the ancient wolves. You're not just Gift Hunter; you're Gift-the heir to a legacy that spans centuries. And the time has come for you to embrace it."

Gift stumbled back, trying to process what was happening. She felt lightheaded, as if the floor beneath her was swaying. "This... this can't be real. I'm just a regular girl."

The woman's eyes softened, but only for a moment. "That's what you thought. But it's time to awaken the power within you, Gift. It's time to take your place."

As the words hung in the air, a low growl vibrated through the room, as if in response to the woman's declaration. Gift turned, her eyes widening as she saw Emily-the wolf-standing before her, no longer a distant voice in her head but now solid and tangible. Her fur was as black as night, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. She was magnificent, a creature of power and grace.

"I've been waiting for you," Emily spoke aloud, her voice low and filled with a sense of both affection and authority. "You've always known, deep down, that you were different. It's time to accept who you really are."

Gift swallowed, her hands trembling. The fear she had felt earlier was now replaced with something deeper-something primal. She could feel the pull of the wolf within her, the awakening of an ancient, untapped power. The truth was no longer a distant possibility-it was standing right in front of her.

"You are no longer just Gift Hunter," Emily continued, her voice filled with quiet intensity. "You are Gift-the heir to the Alpha bloodline, the next in line to lead the pack."

Gift's mind reeled, her breath coming in short gasps. She wanted to deny it, to push it all away. But something inside her-a force she couldn't ignore-began to rise up.

It was time. Emily faded into her like a ghost.