{ Mia }
The floorboards creaked softly beneath my boots as I followed Lucian down the narrow corridor. The air smelled faintly of pine and smoke, the same scent that had lingered on his jacket. He didn't say much—just walked with that calm, steady pace that somehow made you want to keep up even when you didn't trust him.
I folded my arms, watching the line of his shoulders. "You sure this isn't another trap?"
Lucian's mouth curved slightly, the corner of his lip lifting without him looking back. "If it were, you'd already be caught, cupcake."
My steps faltered. "Don't—"
"I know," he said quickly, raising a hand. "Not your name for me to use."
Silence stretched between us, only broken by the low hum of energy running through the walls. When he finally stopped, we stood before a tall set of doors carved with intricate spirals and symbols I didn't recognize.
He pushed them open.
Cold air rushed in, brushing against my face. I stepped forward—and my breath caught.
Below the balcony, the forest opened into a wide valley glowing with silver mist. Scattered between the trees were houses built of stone and wood, lit by faint lanterns that pulsed like fireflies. Wolves—dozens of them—moved through the streets, their fur gleaming under the moonlight. Some carried baskets in their jaws. Others trotted alongside humans, their eyes the same unnatural gold that flickered in my veins.
I gripped the railing, stunned. "You live… here?"
Lucian finally turned to me, the faintest glimmer of pride in his eyes. "We live here. Every wolf that's ever lost their place—every one of us that the world tried to erase."
My chest tightened. I didn't know what to say.
He took a step forward. "You should see it from below."
Before I could answer, the air shimmered. His skin rippled, bones shifting with a crack of light. In his place stood a wolf—the same deep gold and black as his crow form, his eyes burning bright amber. He looked back at me and dipped his head, a silent invitation.
I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me. "Show-off," I muttered.
Then warmth rushed through my body—my bones stretching, my pulse syncing with the forest's rhythm. Gold light swept over my skin as I shifted, paws hitting the cold stone floor.
Lucian howled once—a low, commanding sound—and sprinted into the trees.
I followed, the world blurring into motion, the wind tasting like freedom.
The forest opened into a wide clearing, the moon spilling silver light over everything. The air buzzed faintly—alive, charged, like the whole place was breathing.
Lucian slowed as we approached the heart of the village. Wolves trotted between stone paths, carrying food, wood, and baskets of herbs. Others lounged near small fires, their coats glinting shades of charcoal, ash, and midnight grey.
And then there was me—snow-white, gold-eyed, glowing faintly with every step.
Heads turned. Conversations faded.
I could feel their eyes on me, like whispers crawling across my fur. Confusion. Curiosity. Something close to reverence—and fear.
Lucian stopped beside me and let out a low growl that silenced the murmurs instantly. The crowd dipped their heads.
"Alpha," one of them said—a tall wolf with silver streaks down his muzzle. His tone was respectful, but his gaze flicked toward me. "Who's she?"
Lucian's golden fur shimmered in the moonlight as he turned to face them. "She's with me."
A ripple passed through the group. With him.
The silver wolf stepped forward cautiously. "But—her scent… it's unlike anything we've ever—"
Lucian's growl cut through the air, sharp and final. "She's not your concern."
Silence.
I glanced down at my paws, took a steadying breath, and let the shift pull back. My body glowed softly as fur dissolved into skin, my wolf fading into the warmth of my veins.
Before the cold air could bite, I flicked my fingers—the faint gold shimmered over me, weaving fabric from light. My jacket, black and crisp, reappeared over me like I'd never lost it.
Lucian was already standing nearby, completely unfazed, his dark suit perfectly intact—the kind that didn't tear during transformation. Of course it didn't. Typical.
I brushed the dirt from my jacket as the cold night wrapped around me. "You know," I muttered, "you could at least pretend I'm not your new science project."
Lucian's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Trust me, you'd make a terrible science project."
He motioned for me to follow as the crowd slowly parted. Some wolves bowed slightly when he passed. Others whispered Alpha under their breath, their gazes darting back to me.
I looked around, still dazed. Wooden homes were carved into the sides of massive trees. Streams of glowing water wound through the streets.
Lucian caught me staring. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"It's… surreal," I admitted quietly. "Like something out of a dream."
He glanced at me, eyes thoughtful. "For some of us, it was a dream. Now it's home."