"Let's see what you can do," Faye murmured, closing her eyes.
The shadows shifted at her command—small, flickering at first, like smoke curling in the wind. Her heartbeat quickened. She focused harder, letting the anger she'd stored over eighteen years pour into her gift.
The shadows lengthened, moving like living things around her feet. She could feel her wolf singing with excitement, sensing possibilities she had never imagined.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed behind her.
Darian.
Faye tensed. "What are you doing here?"
He didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on the shadows, disbelief etched into every line of his face.
Her wolf growled again, protective.
Finally, Darian's voice came out quiet, almost unsteady:
"You… you can control them?"
"Yes," Faye said, standing taller. "And you should never underestimate me again."
He blinked, taken aback. For the first time, Faye saw hesitation, maybe even fear, in his eyes.
Her wolf purred softly. "Finally. They see us."
But Faye knew better. Seeing wasn't enough. Thirty days. That was all she had before fate—and Darian—forced her hand.
And she would not be anyone's pawn.
The next morning, Faye awoke to the scent of damp earth and crisp autumn air. Her wolf had been awake for hours, restless and impatient.
"They're coming," it warned. "The pack… and him."
Faye groaned. "I'm not ready for another confrontation yet."
Her wolf huffed. "You don't get a choice."
arena. Solen was already waiting, clipboard in hand, though he looked more concerned than usual.
"You've got visitors," he said bluntly.
Faye followed his gaze. A group of pack members had gathered at the edge of the arena, whispering and glancing toward her. At their center stood Darian, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"Great," Faye muttered under her breath.
Darian's wolf was visible now, a faint shimmer surrounding him—a sign of alertness and tension. Faye's wolf growled softly, bristling at the proximity of his energy.
Solen stepped forward. "The elders sent a challenge. A test."
Faye blinked. "A test?"
"Yes," Solen said. "To see if your bond—or your abilities—are stable. The pack watches. Darian will participate. This is… part of the thirty-day observation."
Solen led them to the center of the arena. A circle had been drawn on the dirt floor, runes etched with white chalk.
"Step inside," he instructed.
Faye and Darian exchanged a glance. Neither moved first.
"You go first," Faye's wolf urged.
"No," Darian's wolf snapped.
Faye exhaled. "Fine," she said, stepping into the circle. Immediately, she felt the runes pulse beneath her paws. Shadows responded instinctively, stretching toward her hands and feet, coiling like living tendrils.
The spectators gasped. Faye felt her power surging, uncontrollable yet exhilarating. Her wolf whispered in delight.
Darian stepped in after her, reluctantly. The instant he entered, his wolf flared, glowing faintly. The tension between them sparked, invisible threads of energy linking their abilities—like fire meeting stone.
Solen raised his hands. "Your task: control the shadows without harming the other. If you fail, the trial ends, and the elders will intervene."
Faye's heart pounded. She focused, grounding herself. Anger, fear, and frustration—the emotions she had stored for eighteen years—became fuel. The shadows rose, swirling around her like smoke, stretching but never touching Darian.
He mirrored her movements cautiously, forming protective barriers with his own wolf's energy. The circle hummed, pulsing with power. The spectators leaned forward, tension thick.
For a moment, it felt like time had stopped.
Then a shadow surged uncontrollably toward Darian. Faye's wolf barked sharply. She wrenched it back with effort, heart hammering. Darian faltered but stabilized, glaring at her.
"Focus!" he snapped—more to himself than to her.
Faye growled in frustration but obeyed. Slowly, the shadows bent to her will, coiling neatly and retreating to the circle's edges. The trial ended. Silence hung over the arena.
Solen exhaled. "Impressive," he said finally. "The bond… it's strong. Unstable, yes—but strong."
Darian said nothing. He just stared at her, eyes narrowed, face unreadable.
Faye felt her wolf hum with pride. "They're noticing," it whispered. "Even him."
But Faye didn't smile. She knew better. The thirty days were only beginning.
That night, Faye couldn't sleep
"They're coming," the wolf warned. "The bond… Darian… the pack. Something's coming."
Faye hugged her knees to her chest. "I'm not ready for more challenges."
"You never will be," the wolf replied. "You either face them or get consumed."
world twisted around her. Darkness pooled, then swirled into tendrils of shadow. She was alone in a vast void—but not entirely.
A figure stepped from the black, silver eyes glowing.
Darian.
His expression was unreadable.
"Faye," he said softly. "You shouldn't have this power."
"I don't want it," she whispered. Shadows rose around her, coiling protectively.
He extended a hand. "It's dangerous. For both of us."
Her wolf growled, furious. "Don't listen to him!"
The figure—Darian—vanished, replaced by whispers from the pack. Echoes of ridicule, doubt, and dismissal. Faye felt every insult from her childhood wash over her all at once.
Her wolf surged. Shadows exploded outward, forming walls, spikes, and coils. The void trembled.
Faye gasped awake, her heart pounding, sweat slick across her forehead. Her wolf purred softly. "Good," it said. "You controlled it. Even asleep."
Faye shivered. "I don't know if I'm ready for this."
"You don't have a choice," the wolf reminded her.
By sunrise, Faye felt the weight of the dream pressing down on her. Shadows lingered in her room, faintly visible, bending slightly whenever she moved.
Solen arrived for morning training, his expression grave. "You need to be careful," he said quietly. "Dreams like that aren't just visions—they're warnings. Your wolf's power is strong, yes, but if you let emotion control it, it could hurt others… even Darian."
Faye swallowed. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
"You may not have a choice," Solen said.
At the edge of the training grounds, Darian appeared. He didn't approach, but his presence was undeniable. The tension in the air made Faye's wolf growl softly.
Darian's silver eyes flicked toward her..
Faye clenched her fists. She wasn't sure if it was relief or dread that she felt.
The thirty days had barely begun, and already the trials were testing not just her abilities, but her control, her patience, and the fragile bond that neither of them wanted—but neither could ignore.