The Weight of Morning

Rhea woke to the scent of damp earth and pine, her body aching in a way she had never experienced before. It wasn't pain, not exactly—more like the deep exhaustion that came after pushing past every limit she had ever known.

For a moment, she lay still, her breath slow, the remnants of the night still humming in her bones.

She had shifted.

She had run.

She had been the wolf.

And now, she was back.

The world felt strangely dull in comparison. The clarity of her senses from the night before had faded, leaving her feeling small in her human skin.

She turned her head, blinking as she adjusted to the soft morning light filtering through the trees.

Evelyn was there, sitting a few feet away with her knees drawn up, arms resting loosely over them. She was already watching Rhea, her expression unreadable.

"Morning," Evelyn murmured.

Rhea groaned, rubbing a hand over her face. "Is it?"

Evelyn huffed a quiet laugh. "Barely. The sun's only just coming up."

Rhea pushed herself upright, her muscles protesting. "I feel like I got hit by a truck."

Evelyn tilted her head. "That's normal. First shifts take a toll."

Rhea flexed her fingers, as if testing whether she was still herself. The memory of paws, of the weight of the wolf, was still so fresh.

"I still feel it," she admitted. "Like it's just… under the surface."

Evelyn nodded. "It always is."

Rhea swallowed, wrapping her arms around herself. "Is it always going to be like this?"

Evelyn studied her for a long moment before answering.

"The first time is the hardest," she said. "Your body isn't used to it yet. But it gets easier. Eventually, you won't even have to think about it."

Rhea exhaled. That sounded impossible. Last night had felt huge, like stepping into something she could barely comprehend. The idea that it would someday be natural was almost too much to process.

Evelyn stretched, standing fluidly. "Come on. We should get back before anyone notices we're missing."

Rhea hesitated.

That was the thing she had been avoiding thinking about.

Going back.

To the normal world.

To her normal life.

Except nothing about her life was normal anymore.

She wasn't sure it ever had been.

The walk back to town was quiet, but not uncomfortable.

The early morning was crisp, the scent of damp leaves and fresh rain lingering in the air. Birds were beginning to stir, filling the silence with soft calls.

Rhea glanced at Evelyn as they walked, watching the way she moved. She was always so… at ease. Even now, barefoot, her clothes rumpled from the night before, she carried herself with the kind of confidence Rhea had always envied.

"What was your first shift like?" Rhea asked.

Evelyn didn't answer right away.

Then she let out a quiet breath. "Messy."

Rhea raised a brow. "Messy how?"

Evelyn smirked, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Let's just say I didn't have someone to guide me through it."

Rhea frowned.

She hadn't thought about that before. About how Evelyn had learned.

Evelyn had always been the one with the answers, the one in control. It was hard to imagine her struggling.

Rhea hesitated.

Then, carefully, she reached out, brushing her fingers against Evelyn's.

Evelyn blinked, surprised.

But she didn't pull away.

"I'm glad it was you," Rhea said softly.

Evelyn's breath hitched.

For a moment, something flickered in her eyes. Something raw.

Then she squeezed Rhea's fingers—just once—before letting go.

And that was enough.

By the time they reached town, the sky was streaked with pale gold and soft lavender, the last remnants of night fading.

The streets were mostly empty, the town still waking.

Rhea hesitated at the edge of the road, suddenly uncertain.

It felt strange, stepping back into this world after last night.

Like trying to fit into clothes that were too tight, too small.

Evelyn must have sensed it, because she turned to her.

"You okay?"

Rhea exhaled. "Yeah. Just… feels weird."

Evelyn nodded, as if she understood completely.

And maybe she did.

Rhea squared her shoulders. "Guess I better get home before my aunt calls the cops."

Evelyn huffed a quiet laugh. "Probably a good idea."

Rhea hesitated, glancing at her.

There were a thousand things she wanted to say.

Thank you.

I don't know what I would have done without you.

I'm scared.

I think I—

Instead, she just nodded.

"I'll see you later?"

Evelyn's lips quirked. "You'd better."

And then she was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the alleyway.

Rhea exhaled, bracing herself.

Then she stepped forward.

Back into her world.

Or at least—what was left of it.

Sneaking back into the house was easier than expected.

Her aunt was still asleep, and she managed to slip inside without a sound.

But the moment she stepped into her room, she nearly collapsed.

Her legs trembled as she sat on the bed, exhaustion crashing into her all at once.

She barely managed to toe off her shoes before she let herself fall back against the mattress.

Her body still ached, muscles sore from the shift.

Her mind raced, replaying every moment of the night.

The run. The change. The feeling of freedom.

And Evelyn.

Always Evelyn.

Rhea swallowed hard, staring up at the ceiling.

Everything was different now.

And she had no idea what came next.

But for the first time—

She wasn't afraid of it.

She wanted to find out.

She woke to the sound of knocking.

Rhea groaned, rubbing her eyes. Sunlight streamed through her curtains, and for a moment, she had no idea what time it was.

Then her aunt's voice came through the door.

"Rhea?"

Rhea's stomach twisted.

She forced herself up. "Yeah?"

There was a pause.

Then—

"You okay?"

Rhea hesitated.

She didn't know how to answer that.

Was she okay?

She wasn't human anymore.

She wasn't normal.

She wasn't who she had been yesterday.

But…

She was something.

And maybe that was enough.

"Yeah," she said finally.

"I'm okay."

Another pause.

Then her aunt sighed. "Alright. Come down for breakfast when you're ready."

Rhea listened to her footsteps fade.

Then she let out a breath, running a hand through her hair.

She wasn't sure what was going to happen next.

But whatever it was—

She would be ready.