Chapter 19: Partially Shifted
Elara
"What's wrong?" Scarlett taunted. "Scared you're going to die?" She laughed.
"Scarlett," Acheron warned. Then his silver eyes fixed on me. "Elara? What's your answer?"
We are stronger than she knows, Snow whispered.
"No, Scarlett. Let's see who'll win," I said, the words coming out stronger than I felt. But inside, my heart was trying to beat its way out of my chest, and the pup seemed to sense my anxiety, staring uncomfortable.
Hearing my anwer, Alpha Acheron stepped forward, his massive frame blocking the early morning sun.
For a moment, his shadow fell over me, and I caught his unique scent, strong like pine needles and winter air, but now its mixed with something wild and dangerous.
His silver eyes met mine, and I could have sworn I saw concern flash through them before his face settled into its usual unreadable mask.
What's that?
"The rules are like this, a wolf duel are simple," he uttered in his deep voice which carries authority. "Each participant will shift into their wolf form and fight until one gives up or is unable to continue." He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of us.
"No serious wounds. No attacks to the throat or spine. This is training, not war."
"First match: Elara versus Bella." Alpha announced.
Scarlett's screeching voice made me shifted a bit. "What? But Alpha, I should be the one to face her! I'm the strongest—"
"The matches are set," he cut her off, his voice was commanding which made even me want to bare my throat in submission.
When I turned to look at Scarlett, she was fuming, her face turn almost as red as her hair, diggibg her perfectly manicured nails into her palms.
I sighed.
The hatred in her eyes when our eyes met was tangible. She doesn't want me here and she didn't hide it.
Behind her, her two friends exchanged worried glances, they'd clearly never seen their leader so openly defied by the Alpha before.
I walked to my point, taking the chance to study my opponent as we moved to our positions. Bella was somehow five feet tall, petite, with delicate features that made her look almost fairy-like.
But the way she moved told a different story, each step was precise, controlled, her muscles visibly toned under her training clothes. Seeing her made me think of a cobra – small but deadly.
Snow? I called her slowly, reaching desperately for her presence in my mind.
Damn it, I really need you right now. Please don't leave me hanging.
But she wasn't there, just silence. Why, when i needed her the most. Not even a whisper from Snow. And i start to Panic.
"Begin!" Came Alpha Acheron's commanding voice.
Bella didn't waste a second. Her shift was fluid and graceful – one moment she was human, the next a sleek brown wolf with unusually large ears was darting into the surrounding trees. The speed of her transformation made my heart sink even further. I couldn't even manage to shift on purpose, let alone that smoothly.
I turned slowly in place, trying to watch every direction at once. The training ground suddenly seemed much bigger and more exposed. Every rustle of leaves made me twitch.
"What's wrong, little silver?" Bella's voice taunted from somewhere in the trees. "Can't find your wolf? Maybe she ran away!"
A branch cracked behind me. I spun around but saw nothing.
"Behind you!" Lyra's warning came just as I heard the snarl.
My body moved before my brain could catch up. I dropped and rolled, feeling the whoosh of air as Bella's wolf form sailed over me where my head had been seconds before. The dodge hadn't been my doing – I felt Snow's influence in the movement, like someone else was pulling my strings, even though she wouldn't fully emerge.
"Playing hide and seek, are we?" I called out, trying to sound braver than I felt. My heart was beating way too fast.
"Said the one who can't even shift!" Bella's mocked.
Her voice echoed from different directions.
She was circling me, I realized. Toying with me. Like I'm her prey.
She burst from the undergrowth like a brown missile, all teeth and claws. I managed to block her first strike with my forearm, crying out at the pain of claws raking my skin. But her second attack caught my ribs, and I felt something crack. The taste of copper filled my mouth.
"That's it, Bella!" Scarlett's voice rang out with vicious glee. "Show the Alpha's pet what real wolves can do! Make her regret ever coming here!"
I glance at Alpha Acheron, which made me regreted immediately, wishing I hadn't.
He stood perfectly still, those silver eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin itchy. He knew I couldn't master shifting at will.
Was this what he wanted?
To show everyone how weak I really was?
To humiliate me?
To prove I didn't belong here?
And that onr moment of distraction cost me dearly. Before I knew it I feel Bella's claws across my back, torn my training clothes and dome of my skin making me go to my knees.
Blood dripped onto the dirt beneath me, turning the dust dark red. I could hear Lyra shouting something – maybe encouragement, maybe a warning – but the words were lost under the roaring in my ears.
"Pathetic," Bella spat, circling me in her wolf form. "I can't believe the Alpha wastes his time with you. You're nothing but a—"
No, some part oc me give me strength, something hot and wild rising in my chest. I won't go down like this. I have a wolf, I'm not weak anymore!
Bella lunged for another attack, her jaws aimed at my shoulder. But something changed in that split second. Silver light exploded behind my eyes, and the world... shifted. Colors became sharper, scents more intense. I could hear everyone's heartbeats – Lyra's quick with worry, Scarlett's racing with excitement, and Alpha Acheron's... surprisingly fast for someone who looked so calm.
My hand shot up and caught Bella's punch. But it wasn't my normal hand anymore – silver fur spurred all over my arm, making it glow like moonlight on water, my fingers are getting longer changing to deadly claws. I could feel Snow's power flowing through my silver fur arm, while the rest of me stayed human.
Did I partially shifted? Impossible! I only read that in history books.