39_ Shared pain.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat as the man’s words echoed in my mind. Dylan’s gaze flicked to me, his expression a mixture of shock and understanding, as if he, too, was recalling the same vision. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, my mind spinning with questions I wasn’t ready to ask.

The man’s calm yet firm voice broke through the silence. “Hannah told us about you. She said she met you. We need your help Katrina.”

I blinked at him, my voice shaky as I spoke. “My help? I’m not sure how I can do that… I don’t even know what’s happening to me.” My hands trembled slightly, and I crossed my arms to steady them.

He shook his head gently, his expression unwavering. “The Moon Goddess showed us visions. She told us about you. You’re meant to help us, Katrina. You’re the one who will lead us.”

“The Moon Goddess?” Dylan echoed skeptically, his brow furrowing.

The man turned his attention to Dylan, his tone respectful but firm. “The Moon Goddess protects all werewolves. She is the guide and protector of our kind. And she’s made Katrina our savior and alpha.”

“Alpha?” I whispered, the word foreign and heavy on my tongue. My mind raced, trying to make sense of what he was saying. “You mean… I’m supposed to be your leader?”

The man nodded solemnly. “Yes. We are the last of our kind, and we’re scattered and vulnerable. The Moon Goddess has chosen you to unite us and help us survive.”

Dylan and I exchanged a look, his eyes searching mine for some kind of reassurance. But I had none to give. My emotions churned inside me—shock, fear, confusion, and something I couldn’t quite name. The weight of his words pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. I had been so consumed with my own sadness, my anger, my guilt. And now, they were telling me I had to be strong. I had to step up and lead. Could I even do that?

I bit my lip and forced myself to meet the man’s gaze. “Where are they? The other werewolves?” My voice was steadier now, though my heart was still racing.

He nodded, a faint smile of relief crossing his face as if he’d been afraid I’d refuse. “I’ll take you to them. They’re waiting for you.”

I glanced at Dylan again, searching his face for guidance. He gave me a small, encouraging nod, though his lips were pressed into a thin line. I could see the concern in his eyes, but also the unspoken message.

Taking a deep breath, I turned back to the man. “Okay.”

He led Dylan and me into the forest, guiding us through a path that seemed to wind endlessly. The trees were dense, their leaves blocking out most of the sunlight, casting everything in a shadowy gloom. The tension between us all was thick, and I could feel my heart pounding harder the closer we got to the destination.

We finally arrived at a small, unassuming cabin hidden deep within the woods. As we stepped inside, I noticed four young men, that looked like they were about my age as well, waiting there, but my attention was immediately drawn to someone I never expected to see—Hannah.

“Hannah?” I blurted out, my voice betraying my surprise. “What are you doing here?”

She stood up from the worn wooden table where she’d been sitting, her expression calm but her eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. “I’ve been temporarily looking after the pack, waiting for you to come,” she said simply, as if it explained everything. But it didn’t. Not for me. My mind was still spinning, trying to make sense of this new world I had been thrust into.

The young man, the one who had brought us here, turned to Hannah. “Where are the other two?” he asked her.

“They’re on their way,” she replied, her voice steady.

I just stood there, my gaze darting from one face to the next, trying to piece everything together. It all felt like too much, too fast. I still didn’t fully understand what they expected of me. And now Hannah was here, in the middle of all this. “Do you two know each other?” I asked, looking between her and the man.

Hannah nodded. “He’s my stepbrother, Kyle.” I then recalled her telling me about her two werewolf brothers.

I stared at her and Kyle, still feeling like I’d been dropped into a puzzle where the pieces didn’t fit. “If you’re supposed to be nine, and two are on their way… where are the last two?” I asked, confused.

Kyle and Hannah exchanged a glance, their expressions grim. “Come with me,” Kyle said finally, his voice low.

He walked toward the back door of the cabin, and I hesitated for only a moment before following. Dylan stayed behind, watching us with narrowed eyes as though deciding whether to intervene. The cold air hit me as we stepped outside, and my stomach dropped the moment I saw what lay before me.

Two bodies, lifeless and pale, were sprawled on the ground. My feet moved without my consent, carrying me closer to the gruesome scene. The metallic tang of blood mixed with the faint, acrid smell of silver. My eyes locked onto the stab wounds in their chests, the faint residue of silver glowing faintly in the dim light.

My breath hitched, and my vision blurred as the memory of my earlier vision surged to the surface. Nine bodies, laid out just like this, their lives stolen in the same horrific way. “Oh my God,” I muttered, my voice barely audible. “This is just like my vision.”

Kyle’s face paled. “What vision?” he asked, stepping closer.

I swallowed hard, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I saw this... in my vision. Nine bodies, stabbed, with silver. It's... its happening." A chill ran down my spine.

Kyle’s expression shifted, fear clouding his features. “This can’t be happening,” he murmured, running a hand through his hair.

“What exactly happened to them?” I demanded, my voice trembling with anger and pain.

Kyle opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, a sharp, searing pain shot through my chest. I doubled over, clutching my side as the sensation spread like wildfire through my veins. “No… no, not again,” I gasped, panic rising in my throat.

“Katrina?” Dylan’s voice was laced with worry as he rushed outside. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s happening again,” I managed to choke out, my voice tight with pain. The same agony I had felt the night before with Claudia was back, burning through me like an uncontrollable fire.

I looked up, and my heightened senses caught a strange energy in the air. My ears twitched as I picked up the sounds from the cabin behind us—groans and gasps of pain. It wasn’t just me. The other werewolves were feeling it too. I turned my head sharply to Kyle, who was clutching his chest and staggering to stay upright. “What’s happening to us?” I growled through clenched teeth.

Kyle’s eyes were wide with terror, but he couldn’t answer. The pain grew unbearable, and I fell to my knees, feeling my wolf fighting to take control. The shift began before I could stop it, bones cracking and reshaping as fur sprouted along my skin. I wasn’t ready; I didn’t want this. But my wolf wasn’t asking for permission.

“Dylan,” I growled, my voice guttural and distorted, “get out of here. Now.”

“What? No, I’m not leaving you like this,” he protested, stepping closer.

“Dylan, go!” I roared, the desperation in my voice making him flinch.

He hesitated for a heartbeat longer before backing away. “I’ll be close by!” he called, his voice heavy with reluctance. Then he disappeared into the forest.

I tried to fight the shift, but the pain was too much. My body contorted, fully giving in to the transformation as my wolf took over. The world blurred around me, my heightened senses picking up every sound, every scent. The other wolves in the cabin were shifting too, their groans and cries blending into a symphony of chaos.

My wolf’s instincts surged forward, wild and unrestrained. But in the back of my mind, my human self clung to one thought: What is happening to us?