The silence of the room was heavy, broken only by the soft, rhythmic breathing of two women. Pride, her true name Digna, lay on the bed, her body taut with a mix of fear and anticipation. Beside her, her mother, a silent but powerful presence, shared the bed, her warmth and familiar scent a steady anchor against the rising tide of Digna's anxiety. Digna tried to calm her frantic mind, to get some sleep before the full moon reached its peak, but her thoughts were a whirlwind of Dan's cruel words, Victor's heartbreak, and the promise of a pain she could only imagine.
Suddenly, a voice, clear and resonant, echoed within her mind. It was her wolf, the voice she had only just begun to recognize as her own. "Are you not going to name me, Digna? I have waited for you for so long, and you have still not given me a name to call my own."
Digna smiled, a small, genuine expression that softened the tension in her face. The name came to her instantly, a name that had defined her for years and would now define the most powerful part of her. "You are my Pride," she thought, the words a silent declaration of love and acceptance. "I gave you that name to hide who I was, but now I give it to you to honor who you are. As of tomorrow, I am going back to Digna, the princess. You are going to be Pride, the princess's wolf."
The wolf's joy was a rush of warmth, a feeling of being whole that Digna had never experienced before. "I am honored, Digna," the wolf, now named Pride, responded. They shared a moment of silent, profound connection, their souls, once separate, now intertwining into one complete being. Digna felt a sense of peace she had not known since before Dan's betrayal.
"Rest now, little one," the wolf, Pride, urged, her voice a soothing balm. "You need your strength. The shift is going to be difficult. You must have power to see me after the pain passes."
Digna's mind was still reeling from the revelation of her wolf's incredible strength. "I am not the normal wolf, baby girl," Pride continued, her voice resonating with an ancient power. "You have always known a piece of my strength. Your speed was suppressing many in their wolf form. Do you understand what that will be like after you shift? We will be powerful beyond measure. Even a Lycan King may find it hard to race with us."
The magnitude of her wolf's words settled over Digna. She had always known she was fast, but she had never comprehended that her human form was holding back a power that could challenge even the strongest of creatures. The revelation of her own latent power, the fierce, untamed strength that had been a part of her all along, filled her with a sense of awe and renewed purpose. She was not just a victim of betrayal; she was a vessel of incredible power.
The room was still, the only sound the soft breathing of the two women. Digna's mother stirred beside her, her hand finding Digna's and squeezing it gently. The silent gesture was more comforting than any words. Digna knew her mother understood, not through words, but through the deep, unbreakable bond of family. Her mother's presence was a shield, a silent promise of protection and love.
Digna knew that her transformation was not just physical. It was a rebirth, a shedding of the past and an acceptance of her destiny. She was Digna, the lost princess, and Pride, the powerful wolf. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with. The pain of the shift was coming, but so was her power. She had to be ready.
In his bedroom, Victor paced restlessly, his footsteps a soft thud on the polished wood floor. He was consumed by stress and worry for Digna, his heart aching for the daughter he had watched grow. She was his pride and joy, a fierce and intelligent young woman who never stuck to a problem without immediately crafting a solution. It pained him deeply to see her so vulnerable, her fear exposed for the first time in a way that felt raw and genuine.
He had watched her for years, a young girl who was the most fearless person in the pack. Even when others gossiped and belittled her for being wolf less, she would simply act weak in front of them, hiding her pain in the deep forest or the quiet of her room. She was fearless and carefree, but today, he had seen something new. He had seen her fear, and it was a terrible, beautiful thing. It was terrible because it meant she was truly hurting, but beautiful because it made her human, and it was a fear that would strengthen her resolve rather than break it.
Taking out his phone, Victor quickly sent a text message to his house staff, asking them to prepare a room for John, the Lycan Beta. He knew sleep would be impossible for him tonight. The Beta could arrive in three to four hours, and he needed to be ready.
His thoughts returned to Digna and the events of the day. "Digna has been Pride for long enough," he murmured to himself, his voice laced with emotion. "But as from today, Digna is back. I am so disappointed in my son." He shook his head, a wave of sadness washing over him. "He never saw the true treasure right in front of him. He claimed to love Digna, but still chose that manipulative imposter. He is a fool, and today, he lost a queen."