Hi, lovelies! Here is chapter 3. Enjoy!

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~Aithne POV~

The first bone broke. 

The pain of the venom combined with my now disfigured arm left me disoriented between the waking world and oblivion.

Everything was unbearable, and it only got so much worse. 

First, my arm broke, then the other, next my fingers shattered one by one. Then came my toes, followed by my ankles....then my legs....my ribs.

The pain sent me overboard when my ribs cracked, and I blacked out. It was only for a split second, but it was enough for Darius to bite down on his arm and shove a few drops of blood down my throat.

"Drink, Aithne!"

I choke on the blood. I could barely swallow. I was too busy fighting for air between my screams of pain. 

I couldn't recognize my screams. They were so unnatural. My screams mixed between howls and snarls. 

When the blood hit the base of my tongue, something almost euphoric happened. 

Some of my strength returned, and I could finally catch my breath.

I panted. "ow...hw m...ch log...r."

Darius wiped my neck, relieving me of some of the sweat pooling my entire body, but my neck was the most comfortable. "The bond is coming to life."

Owen smiled. " It is, but how do you feel, Aithne?"

"Like I've been given a shot of adrenaline. I can barely feel anything and worry about how long it will last."

He grimaced. "There is no set time, Anie. It's just whenever it happens."

I burst into tears. "I don't know how much longer I can... I can keep going."

"Look at me, anie." Owen cradled my face. "Keep looking at me. Don't stop."

I don't stop. I stared at Owen, and I mean, I stare. 

I had never taken the time to stop and acknowledge his features. Owen was a handsome man.

His complexion was a few shades darker than mine. Where I was fawn, he was umber. His jawline and nose were sharp and strongly defined. His lips pump with a slight gloss to protect against the seasons. 

His hair was twisted into long captivating dreads. But his eyes, they took my breath away, warm honey brown windows to his soul. They held a gentleness that eased some of his features. 

He was beautiful.

"Thank you."

"Huh?"

Owen laughed. "I'm glad to know you think I'm beautiful."

I was confused. Did I say that aloud? How did he know what I was thinking? "The bond is coming through, Aithne." 

"Because you're shifting, you are dancing the line of human and wolf, and it's showing." Owen finished. 

My heart skipped a beat at  his words."S-s..o I'm becoming more wolf and less human?"

Owen paused. "..... Yes."

"S-so... so I'm becoming les–" I started, but I was interrupted by searing pain.

It was my arm again. It was morphing into something different. I couldn't describe it well, but It looked almost wolf-like. Hair was coming out of my arm. My fingers were growing. They looked less and less human. Like talons.  

I screamed. 

I screamed so loud I was sure I had broken through the sound barrier. 

The pain was unbearable, like a bullet cutting through bone tenfold.

Fur was growing all over my body. The sensation was bizarre, like the feeling of hair growing back after only a few days of being shaved, only it was sped up and felt ten times stronger. 

A new type of pain arose, only it wasn't physical- It was more mental. It felt like someone took an abrasive scrub and used it against my brain.

I screamed again- screaming was all I could do. 

This new form of pain was worse than all my bones breaking all at once. It came on so suddenly. Blood rushed to my ear, and I felt my body shake violently. 

My connection to this world was weakening.....Death was coming for me. 

Death was coming for me. Fear and relief crept into my senses. 

"Dar..s I... I cnt o..d her ba.." I tried to say, but I could barely manage words 

"Darius, help me."  I cried out in my mind giving up on speaking, though I doubted anymore could hear me. 

My vision blurred-I flickered in and out of consciousness. Death and reality dressed as one, for I could no longer tell the difference between the two. 

A solid metallic taste filled my mouth, and the world became more apparent. Death's presence no longer overbearing, it was now a dull and distant void in the background. 

I moan out of relief. The pain easing by the moment.

"Thank you." I whispered in my mind, still not strong enough to try speaking. 

"Your welcome, anie." A voice so familiar replied.

My eyes widened. Was that....

"Owen?" 

My eyes widened again as a laugh ranged in my mind, and Owen replied. "The bond is working. Hello Aithne"

"The bond is doing this?" I asked uncertain 

I was in shock. I heard him so clearly. There was no mistake. It was him, but in my mind instead of out loud. 

 It was mind-numbing to hear another person in your head.

I opened my mouth to say something else, but more blood was poured before I could. 

It was just in time. The scratching sensation tried to come back full force but couldn't hit because of the blood.

I swallowed and panted, sinking more of my body against the ground. 

The scratching was there, but it was just above being bearable. My gut told me it wouldn't be long until I was flailing in pain again. 

I bit my lip, tears welling in my eyes. I couldn't do this for much longer. No amount of blood could stop the feeling of exhaustion creeping in deep within. 

If this continued for much longer, death would be doing more than watching. 

"Don't think like that." A voice snapped. A new but familiar as well. 

"Darius." I started tears, no longer just welling but spilling down my face. "I can't do this much longer."

"It's almost over. Your body has almost completely shifted." He responded. I could feel the emotion behind his words. His determination and pride felt so strong in my mind it almost felt like it was my own. 

"You will survive." Darius stated no hint of doubt in his words.  I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe him so badly, but the finish line seemed so far. 

I didn't know how much more I could take.

I couldn't dwell long, for the scratching sensation began to overpower my adrenaline.... The Wonders of the blood dulled as pain flooded my body. 

The scratching was so powerful, like something was trying to break through.

"There's something like a scra..t scratching ng in my ... my m head." I moan out, the pain taking over my speech

Warmth and pride filled the bond, and Owen spoke. "That your wolf Aithne let her in."

I sobbed. "How?!"  Exhaustion making herself more prevalent.

All this time, it was my wolf. My other half was trying to break the fourth wall so we could connect. 

"Stop fighting them, Aithne. Let them in. Let it all in."

This was it. This was the make-or-break moment. It was now or never. 

I let go. I stopped fighting the pain and let it all in. I let it consume me whole until I was nothing.

Nothing but pain, oblivion, anger, love, relief, and fear until I was nothing and everything. 

Then it happened.

I felt myself cross over the finish line, and I felt her. 

I felt everything. 

But I felt her. 

And oh God, I felt her everywhere. She was overwhelming, but her presence made me whole. 

I had never felt another being so strong or even at all before. But that didn't matter, for I knew we were one. 

She was me, and I was her. We were bonded as human and wolf.  

"Hi," I whispered into my mind. I wasn't sure where to start, but I had to start somewhere. 

"Hello, Aithne." A rough but smooth voice answered. The voice wasn't frightening, but it wasn't human. 

"How... How do you know my name?"  I asked.

She laughed. It was angelic. I don't know how a wolf counterpart could sound angelic, but she did. "I have access to your memories. Past and present." 

"Oh," I mumbled 

Even though I couldn't see her, I somehow felt her smile, and God did it fill me with a warmth that spread down my entire body. 

My body. 

My body. 

It was then I felt fingers brushing through my fur.

Fur.

Realization shot through me like a bullet.

I had fur. 

I looked down and realized I was no longer in human form. 

I was in my wolf body. 

One large and tall. My fur matches the dark endless black night.   

I had shifted. I had done it. I had survived. 

I sagged against the earth. Tears of joy filled my eyes. 

My wolf laughed again. "So you finally see Aithne." I somehow felt her smile again. "You did, Aithne. I am proud of you."

I couldn't help but relish in the pride. "Thank you.... What was your name?"

"I am called Ottilie. My name means prosperous in battle." 

"Your name is beautiful. My name means fire." Her name indeed was beautiful. I had only spent a few minutes with her and knew she was strong and prepared for anything. 

"I was made for an Alpha. I was made for you, Aithne." Ottilie whispered into my mind. "My fire."

I was speechless. Her fire? She was made for me? How when we had one just met.

"I've been waiting a long time for you, Aithne."

"I- how long?"

"More than three of your lifetimes." She answered calmly like she didn't say she's been waiting on me for three fucking centuries. 

"That's....that's a long time." I spoke, my voice low. Part of me feared her reaction to me indirectly calling her old.

But all she did was smile. "That is correct, but for others, it is not," She answered. Her voice remained leveled and calm.

I fixed my mouth to respond but was cut off by a bark, then a stiff nudge to the side of my face. 

I looked up and met black pooling eyes and a big brown snout that belonged to an even bigger body.

The nose nudged me again. 

I opened my to snap at the bastard to stop but was surprised when a bark came out instead. 

Right, I wasn't in my human form. 

I was no longer just a human; I was something more now. I was a wolf. A werewolf. 

Another hard nudge broke me from thought. 

I bark back, even going as far as to try and snap at the opposer's nose.

"It's Owen, Aithne. He and Darius are worried."Ottilie spoke. Her words were full of logic. 

"How do I get him to stop." I said, annoyed at his pestering. 

I understand he was worried but being an annoying ass wasn't going to get him far but a fist to the nose. 

Oittle sighed. "As I said, Aithne, he's worried. Try standing and moving around, or he will  continue to bug you." 

A small wave of panic hit me. "H..How?"

"It's instinct. Let your body guide you."

There was that word again. Instinct. I took a deep breath. I took it slow, starting by moving my front... paw? Yeah, my paw. Then moving the other. It was a strange feeling, being in a new However, I didn't hate it.

Feeling a bit bolder, I decided to stand. Because why not? I had faced death and won. Compared to that, this was child's play.

I thought it would be hard trying to stand, considering I didn't know this body like I knew my other one, but once I was able to obtain balance, it had been like I knew this form my whole life. 

Each step I took felt the same as walking as a human. 

I was still a bit hesitant as the ground felt different underneath the pad of my paw. 

This was all still surreal. I am a werewolf now. I was no longer chained to my human life but a new one. 

A whine broke my concentration- A voice I was familiar with but wasn't Ottile entered my mind. "How do you feel?"

"I feel.... I feel different." 

Darius was silent for a moment before nudging the side of my face and turning away. "Follow us." He and Owen started to trot toward a denser part of the woods. 

I followed them, keeping the same pace as their trot and building more confidence in my step. 

Once they saw I was comfortable with our pace, our trot surely but slowly picked up speed until we were in a full-blown sprint. 

The moonlight shines throughout the trees as we raced over logs and practically flew through the trails- we covered the entire woods.

It was stunning. 

I was in awe. "This is amazing." I spoke through the bond.

Emotions fluttered back instead of words, and I felt Darius and Owen brush my sides as we ran- they felt the same.

We dashed through the woods like a thief in the night. Nothing stopped us as we ran, for we had the rest of the entire night to be wild and free. 

My mother was right. 

Shifting was terrifying and horrific, but when you finally shifted, what followed was a truly unforgettable experience. 

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Sooooo don't be shy, tell me what you think 

Kazzy out!