Chapter 7 SI

MORGIANA'S POV The pain seemed like it tore every fiber of my being, rearranging it into something new and unfamiliar. I could feel every bone in my body breaking. I could feel my flesh tearing apart and I could hear my throaty scream. Something inside of me was changing. Something's happening and I am not certain what it was. I felt the coldness of the ground and I opened my eyes. Everything in my surrounding seemed blurry. It looked like some kind of hazy curtain is blocking my vision. I could hear the sound of my bones snapping and I couldn't do anything else other than letting it happen. I might have screamed for help at some point but who could help me? Just like always, I am alone. The pain came in like rushing waves-strong and uncontrollable-and it devoured me whole. I was screaming and the pain was lancing in every part of my body. Then suddenly, my blurred vision cleared. I could hear people, insects, and other things. I could hear the sound of their chest rising and falling. I could hear their heartbeats mingling together in a chaotic beat. I could hear the wind as it blew gently. And when I opened my eyes, I saw the mountain that I could have sworn was miles away. The pain slowly receded and I got up on my two feet-not two feet. Four. Fur lined my legs and I could see the sharp claws protruding from my hands. I didn't understand what was going on. Or rather, I refused to acknowledge what happened to me. What happened to me? Cool and calculated steps came forward and I looked at who it was. It was Alaris. His golden gaze was unreadable as he looked at me. I have transformed into a wolf. My consciousness is still there but my body is not human anymore. I wanted to ask him what he did to me but nothing came out of my mouth. And it was hard to see if he was surprised to see me become a wolf or not. "So this is what you look like," a voice inside my head said and I jolted to my feet. I recognized the voice to be Alaris' but how could he talk to me inside my head? "What have you done to me?" I asked inside my head and I was sure he heard me. I have no idea how it was possible for us to talk inside our heads but that is not my major concern. "I did not do anything to you. At least not yet. This is just who you are, Morgiana. This is what you are." "What are you talking about-" My head snapped in the other direction when I heard a sound. The stench of human perfume filled my nose and I knew instantly they were humans. Hunters who have been killing wolves in these woods. "If you want to live, run back to the camp. Your instincts will lead your way." A growl came out of my mouth, surprising me. Alaris seem to know what my growl was for. "You think these people will save you?" "I'll get killed if I returned to camp. What makes you think I'd go back?" A resounding growl came from him that certainly caught the attention of the humans around. "You run away and I will make sure that's the biggest mistake you'll ever make." I heard the human's footsteps getting more hurried and their smell getting closer. I know these humans are going to hunt me the second they spot me but going back to the camp won't do me any good, either. I did not wait for Alaris to say anything else. I ran back to the woods as fast as I could and I was surprised to feel the rush of the cold wind on my ruff. Transforming into a wolf was something I never expected to happen and I know I should be worried about it but it doesn't concern me at all. I was more concerned about living. Besides, being a wolf offers more advantages for me. I am faster, have heightened senses, and am stronger. If some wolf would come for me, I have a better chance of survival. I'll just be surprised about it later. The woods were dark but my sight adapted to it. I ran at the speed of light that the surrounding around me became a blur. My instincts did tell me which way to go back to the camp but there is no way in hell that I am going back there. Not like this. Not when I know what they plan to do to me. I remember what they called me. An abomination. And Alaris told me this is what I am. Was I born like this? Why did it only occur to me now? It would have been nice if I transformed while my aunt and uncle were beating me. The fear would have given them heart attacks and killed them. Suddenly, I came to a halt when I heard something. They were not clear at first but as I listened more closely, I realized they're wolves. And they're running after me. "Fuck." I did not linger further and started running past the trees. All the pain I felt in my body earlier didn't feel as painful now. Even the wound I got from the gunshot didn't feel painful at all. Maybe because all of her bones breaking was a hundred times more painful that it dulled the others. My breathing started to get labored and my legs were getting weaker. I can't afford to get weak now. Not when I know some wolves are after me. I may be a wolf now but that doesn't mean I could take on other wolves. Sharp pain in my neck made me whimper. The next thing I knew, I was rolling on the ground with someone-a wolf behind me, biting my neck. His fangs dug into the vulnerable spot behind my neck and I was thankful we both hit the trunk that made him let go of me. I was instantly on my feet and ignored the pain of the bite on my neck. There are three of them and they may be not as big as Alaris but I know they could easily kill me now even if I'm in wolf form. The way their eyes glowed in the dark tells me that they're going to fulfill their promise of killing me. "Get away from me," I said and they all growled. I waited for their response but I couldn't hear them. What's going on? They could hear me but they're not talking back. "Alaris ordered me back to the camp. Let me pass." But they continued growling as though my statement violated their morals. Their growls became louder and I know they were going to attack me without hesitation-kill me without hesitation. I need to buy time. I need to live. I have to live. I can't let myself die in a place like this. I still have to punch Arleigh again in her face. The wolves prowled closer and I don't have anywhere else to go but back. But I could feel the sturdy trunk behind me which means that I am absolutely cornered and I have no escape. It would only be a matter of time before they advance and bite my limbs off. "Alaris is going to kill you if you continue this-" One of the wolves growled harder and jumped in my direction. I don't know how to be a wolf. I don't know how should I move and what my capabilities are. So I cowered and whimpered as I closed my eyes, waiting for those sharp fangs to bury in my skin. But instead, I heard another whimper-one that didn't come from me. Next I heard was the growl. The sound was so deep and raw and full of authority. It could only come from one person. When I opened my eyes, I wasn't wrong. A wolf stood in front of me, growling at the three others who tried to attack me earlier. Alaris' back was on me but I knew it was him the moment I saw the brownish ruff and the golden glow of his eyes. He was growling at the three wolves and the latter whimpered and dropped their heads as though acknowledging who's the boss. Alaris is their leader. I could feel he is. The wolves follow him and they obey him. The three wolves whimpered and ran back towards the woods. When we were alone, he turned to look at me and for the second time since I saw him, I was frightened at how big of a wolf he is. At that moment, I thought he was going to finish me off. The pain in my neck was throbbing. Apparently, a bite from another wolf is just as bad as me getting shot as a human. I wobbled on my feet and then I felt the ground on my body. My legs are getting weaker and my senses have dulled. When I looked at the golden orbs in front of me, I couldn't help but wonder what does Alaris need from me when he took me here? I don't know if it was just my imagination but I saw that his eyes turned even more golden as he looked at me. I wanted to know why was that but before I could even ask the question, I lost consciousness.