Rising Flames

Nova spent the next morning attempting to prepare for what was to come. She tried meditating as Kael had shown her to do, but her mind would not be silenced. She hadn't slept well: her anxiousness seeping into her subconscious and causing her to startle repeatedly.

She sighed heavily, giving up on meditating, and lay back on the grass, staring at the blue sky above. Little puffs of clouds floated past, and the hum of bees filled the air, a quiet reminder of the world's simplicity. Everything seemed so peaceful here, but it did nothing to calm her. If anything, it only amplified the disquiet thrumming beneath her skin. The calm was a lie. She could feel the storm approaching.

A shadow shifted across her vision, blocking the sun, and she blinked up to find Kael hovering over her face, his amber eyes unreadable.

"Come on," he said, "We're going hunting."

"Hunting?" she repeated, propping herself up on her elbows.

"Yes." He straightened, his form silhouetted against the sky. "You're going to need your energy if this is your first full moon."

Nova hesitated but then scrambled to her feet. Hunting wasn't exactly her idea of a relaxing distraction, but she trusted Kael—or at least she trusted that he knew what she needed better than she did at the moment.

The day slipped by in a blur. Nova focused on the hunt, following Kael's instructions. He explained things like how posistioning could be vital, and that if you stood downwind from your prey you'd attract less attention. He also explained how to make traps, and the best places to set them. He kept her at it for hours, making her practice, focus.

She knew that he was doing his best to try and distract her, and she was grateful. Before long the evening was drawing near and once again she could feel the mounting pressure in the air, like a coiled spring ready to snap.

She stood in the middle of the clearing, and as the full moon rose, it bathed her surrounding her in a glow of silver, she could feel the air heavy with anticipation. An undeniable pull, an electric hum coursed through her veins. Her skin tingled, the sensation growing until it became almost unbearable. She clenched her fists, her breathing quickening.

Kael's wolf stood a few paces away, his amber eyes fixed on her. He could feel the tension radiating from her, the struggle as she prepared for what was to come. But he said nothing. This was her fight.

Nova staggered back, the heat inside her rising. Her skin began to glow faintly, red veins of light racing across her arms like molten lava. It wasn't just the transformation—it was something more. Her wolf stirred within, pushing, demanding to be released.

The markings spread faster, her golden eyes flecked with crimson, glowing faintly in the moonlight. "What… is this?" she whispered, though she knew no one could answer. Her heart pounded, her breath came in short gasps, and then it began.

A sharp cry escaped her as flames erupted around her body. They weren't ordinary flames—no heat touched the surrounding forest. They danced along her skin, twisting and spiraling like a living thing. Nova dropped to her knees, clutching at the ground as her body began to change.

Kael stiffened, startled, his instincts screaming at him to intervene, but he held back. This wasn't a fight he could win for her. He had never witnessed anything like this before, only heard whispers among their kind—ancient legends about wolves blessed or cursed by the gods, and yet, here she was, a walking myth made real.

The flames around Nova pulsed in time with the glow of the markings. Her cries deepened, until they became more animalistic. Her bones cracked and shifted, her body contorting as the wolf took over. The flames subsided, fading into the ether as her fur began to emerge—a coat darker than night, with hints of faint, smouldering embers.

When it was over, Nova stood on trembling legs, her wolf form towering and sleek. She took an unsteady step forward, her golden eyes—now fully alight with streaks of red. Her breaths came in ragged bursts, her body trembling from the exertion.

Kael stepped forward cautiously, his wolf's powerful frame lowering in respect. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. This wasn't just any transformation—it was something rare, something sacred. Where had she come from?

Nova's wolf lifted her head, her gaze steadying. She had fought her battle and won. The fear and doubt that had gripped her before were gone, replaced by something stronger: pride. She was beautiful, her presence commanding, her form radiating strength and purpose.

When her eyes met Kael's, everything stopped. It was as though the forest itself stilled, acknowledging the gravity of the moment. The connection between them—one that had been building silently for days—struck light lightening.

Kael's wolf stood frozen, his instincts warring with his thoughts. He had never believed in destiny, but in this moment, he could feel it. This girl, this extrordinary wolf...was his mate.