For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
It wasn't fear at first — it was disbelief. The man I knew, the man who had saved me, who had been cold and careful and guarded — was now on his knees, his body breaking before my eyes.
Bones shifted under his skin like something alive. His back arched in agony, and his growl wasn't human anymore.
"Lucian…" I whispered.
He looked up, and the eyes that met mine weren't his — not completely. They glowed, burning gold with something ancient and wild.
"Go," he rasped, his voice layered, like two beings speaking through one mouth. "Please, Aria. Go!"
But my legs wouldn't move.
Because beneath the pain and the fury, I saw something else — fear. Not for himself… but for me.
And that was what made me stay.
His body convulsed again, muscles tearing and reshaping. His skin split at his shoulders, giving way to fur that shimmered silver under the moonlight. The sound — the sound of his transformation — was something I'd never forget.
And then, silence.
Where Lucian had been, a massive wolf now stood — larger than any natural creature. Its eyes, still that molten gold, found mine.
I should've screamed. I should've run.
But all I did was whisper, "Lucian?"
He took a hesitant step forward, head low, ears back — like he was fighting himself. The forest held its breath. I could almost feel the struggle inside him, the pull of the beast against the man.
And then — movement from the trees.
Another wolf appeared. Black. Cruel. Its eyes burned red instead of gold.
The same one from that night.
It growled, circling Lucian, daring him to lose control.
And he almost did.
Lucian lunged first, the clash violent and raw — fur, claws, teeth, blood. They tore into each other like the world depended on it. I could only stand there, frozen, as the forest erupted into chaos.
Every instinct screamed at me to run, but I couldn't. Not when Lucian — whatever he was — was fighting to protect me.
It didn't last long. The black wolf fled into the shadows, wounded and snarling. Lucian stood there, chest heaving, fur streaked with blood and moonlight.
And then his gaze snapped back to me.
For a heartbeat, I thought he'd turn on me too. His body tensed, his breathing rough — like he was fighting the urge to do something he didn't want to.
"Lucian," I said softly, taking a shaky step forward. "It's me. It's okay."
He flinched, a low growl slipping from his throat.
"Stop," I pleaded. "Please, don't shut me out."
He froze — and then, slowly, painfully, the shift began to reverse.
The sound of bone and muscle realigning made my stomach twist, but I didn't look away.
When it was over, he collapsed.
Human again. Bare, vulnerable, trembling.
I dropped to my knees beside him, my hands hovering before I dared to touch him.
His skin burned with heat. His breath came in ragged bursts. And when his eyes opened, they weren't golden anymore — just tired, dark, and full of shame.
"You saw," he whispered hoarsely.
"Yes."
"You should've run."
"I couldn't."
His jaw tightened. "You don't understand what I am."
"Then make me understand."
For a second, he looked at me like he wanted to — like he was seconds away from confessing everything. But then his expression hardened. He pushed my hand away and forced himself to his feet.
"This was a mistake," he muttered, voice cold again. "Stay away from me, Aria."
He turned, limping into the trees.
And even though every part of me wanted to chase after him, I didn't. Because something told me this was just the beginning — and whatever bound us together… wasn't going to let go easily.
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End of Chapter 10.