The birds are quiet, only the sound of the wind comes to my ears, unless it's my breath that I am hearing.

One thing is certain, I will not run away, and I will not show my fear. If I have to die, it will be with dignity. It's decided, I will put all my skills in the test. 

I walk backwards, keeping my eyes on the beast.

Tom peers into my eyes with intensity, but remains at the doorway's side, letting us pass besides him out of the cabin. I look at him with deadly eyes. His definition of surprise needs to be redefine.

A few meters of clearing separates me from the forest where I can seek refuge. The environment will give me an advantage.

Wolves are immune to magic spells, it can't hold them forever and wiches suck at close range combat. These reasons are enough to make them comply and cooperate with them. Lina also known them for being unmerciful when face to a weak opponent. She always praised me and thought I could become a formidable opponent with due time and practice. It was time to put her theory to the test.

Blinking, I look at the wolfs movements. It's studying me, it's holding on. My feet take another step back and the beast growls in a warning. The fight is gonna happen here. In a swift movement, the animal launches at me. Gesturing with my hand, rocks fly towards the beast, making it lose a second to dodge the projectiles protecting its eyes.

That move gave me enough time to fill my lungs with air to the maximum, exhaling I use it to make a breeze to push the animal back into the cabin. Its paws falter and it walks backwards under the pressure. Dried leaves, pines cones and tiny branches brush my face. The hair tied on top of my head won't hold, just like my spell. The wolf is already adjusting and walking forward.

It's just slowing it downs, steadily, it's closing the gap between us. My heart skips a beat. I have no other training. All I can do is to retreat.

The gentle breeze turns into fierce whirlwinds, following the movements of my rotating hands. It carries me to a high branch of a mature tree. "Not bad," I smile.

The beast is unhappy, jumping up, trying to grab me, but I'm too high for it to reach. Smarter than expected, it uses its claws to climb the tree, but its hind paws are too weak for it to climb, causing it to fall.

"Tom, don't just stand there like
like this is normal because it's not!" I pout while he walks with a nonchalant pace. He is obviously unimpressed with what happened so far, showing how devious and cunning he can be.
"What is that thing? It's not a wolf, it's not a bear. It's as big as a bear but it looks like a wolf. What is that thing?" I ask him pointing the thing below that is pacing around the tree.

"Okay Philip, you can turn back again. You won't be able to take her down in this form anyway. She is smart, you need to give her credit for that. Let's get things rolling. " the beast twitches its ears and turns his body to Tom.

What the hell is going on? That was a praise in disguise, he was obviously waiting for a nerve racking reaction.

Before my incredulous eyes, the animal' bones tremble, its fur melting into its skin. It was shrinking, with horrible cracking bones sounds piercing the air. Blood dries in my body.

It sounded painful, I forgot to breathe.

Finally, in front of me, there is nothing but a young man squatting completely naked. Tom throws a towel that seems to come from nowhere in his direction.

Phil covers himself, wraps it around his lower half and stands up next to Tom, turning to face me.

At the same time, the adrenaline leaving my body makes me shake and lose my balance. I cling to the tree, but it's futile, I have no more energy left.

Phil laughs, "not so special after all," before walking back to the cabin.

My emotions are back to normal now that I am safe, and so is the magic leaving me in a helpless state. A few weeks ago, I barely moved a leaf in the air thanks to Lina's instructions and today I did what I did.

Exhausted, I cling to the branch, wondering how I will ever get down. My muscles go numb, I have no muscle mass.  Ready or not, it's happening now. I am falling, all I can do is close my eyes.

Footsteps move below me, but I'm too tired to look. Instead I gather the energy from the fright, if only I could break the fall.

Panting, I push my remaining energy to the ground and slowdown the drop. My energy  now depleted, my body refuses to move into a protective position after that. All I can do is wait for the ground to knock me out.

Instead, I feel my body land harmlessly on the ground, unharmed.

"He saved us! Waaa!!! How cute!!!" my head concludes.

"Stop, why do you say it's him?" I ask my Leah. "There is no proof."

"He's the only one around here, I remind you?"
She's a real groupie, settling for the crumbs. I, on the other hand, don't know what to think of him. After all, he is pulling the strings and I don't know what he is planing to do with me. My lips twitch to that though and I bite my lip to make it stop.
"Besides, had he be the least bit chivalrous, he would have caught me in his arms."

"Oh yes! I would have loved it, if it had happened like that!!!" Leah dreamy voice reminds me that she is new to the outside world and boys. I sight.

Tom move closer and crouch down next to me.
"Annie, I know you're not passed out. I can hear your thoughts. What you saw was not a dream. Now come join us in the kitchen and I'll make the introductions. I'll leave you a drink to give you some energy."

Doubting if I can lift my arm to get the drink, I remain on the floor. He gets up without offering his help to lift my weak body in a standing position.

Wait, what? He can hear my thoughts? Like now, right?  My eyes widen, he's leaning over me, on my right side.

My body gets hot and my hands are wet fuelling the magic inside me.

"Yes, I can hear what you're saying in your head and I can hear your wolf too."

"My wolf!?" I pull myself into a sitting position. Phil is far ahead, walking toward the cabin, but I can still hear his cackle.
"Holy shit!!!"
My head spins, the outburst beginning to subside along with my energy.
"WHAT!? Explain this to me!" 

He opens the glass first holding my hand and brings it to my mouth. Riding myself from his hand I take a drink.

He smiles,
"It's a unique gift I was born with, it has nothing to do with magic."

My flickering eyes make me feel like a headless chicken while I try to take it all in.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?  You mean all these thoughts, even the ones about you, you've HEARD them ALL?"
My finger points to him.

He gets up and looks away, but he wasn't fast enough, letting me notice his blushing ears.

"Never mind, Annie, that's not important right now. We have more pressing things to discuss. Come on."
He grabs my wrist and pulls me to my feet, leading the way.

They have invaded my privacy, from my wardrobe to my bedroom and even my "fucking" MIND!

He stole my privacy, just like a hacker.

The worst part is that Leah is enjoying every part. Giving comebacks about his derriere, the way he talks, the way he moves.

How am I to survive this knowing he can hear it all? It's a nightmare! My pace gets slower.

As if he wants my ramblings to stop, he slows down, grabs me by the shoulders and rushes me back to the cabin.

Of course, he wants me to stop. He's hearing everything. No censorship, just me. I don't know what to expect anymore.

Did you enjoy reading my brain? Is that why you did what you did yesterday? Was it an experiment? What else are you hiding from me? Why couldn't you tell me? Damn it!!! It's been weeks since I learned magic and you haven't said a word. You bastard!

Feeling his fingers tightening deeper into my skin, I wait for an answer that doesn't come.

We arrive at the cabin,

"Annie, this is my friend Philip. He is a werewolf-like you, but unlike you, he can control his wolf. I told him about you, and he will teach you how to tame the animal in you."

"Animal! Phil may be one, but I am not an animal!" Leah pouts.

My eyes go wide. Tom doesn't react. As for Phil, he seems to be oblivious to other response.

"I mean, gain control over your changes. Stop being a threat to everyone around you and our entire community every time you get anxious or angry. You can't turn in the middle of the city."
He pleads.

Leah agrees so far. Exited she is ready to learn how to take over my mind.

Tom leaves a package on the table and turns to me. I blink again; wondering where it came from.

"I'll leave you with him. He'll take you back to campus, where you can meet me after practice."
With that, he disappears.

Stunned, I pursue my search, but he is nowhere to be found.

My mouth goes dry. He left me in the middle of nowhere, deep in the woods, in a weird cabin with a psychopathic stranger who scared me to death. Just like mom, he only cares about his needs and wants, leaving me behind. Who cares about me?

I turn my head and look at the guy.

He's a guy who hangs out with the boys from time to time. He isn't close to them. I saw him at the club the first night and a few days later at lunch.

Phil studies me from head to toe and turns around me.
"The first lesson you need to learn is that on your first change, you will destroy everything in your path. The wolf is a brute beast that cannot think. Its instincts and desires guide it."

Leah gets angry in my head. "The only brute I see is him!" I blink. Leah doesn't fit the description.

"That includes your clothes," he continues. "Wear this, no underwear." He tosses me a long blouse. "Tom brought in a lot of bodices for you to wear should you need to shift more than once before accomplishing the deed." I look at her quizzically. "It was Tom's idea, a waste of time, if you ask me. A true shifter loves attention and honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing you in your natural attire!"

My hands tense up along with my features.

"You're a pervert! You both are. Seriously, such nerve!" Looking deep into it, it will cover just above my buttocks.

He shrugs his shoulders,
"That's up to you, beautiful, but you saw what happened earlier when I changed back into a human. I was completely naked. That's exactly how it's going to be for you, too."

He reaches out to pick up the garment back. I press the fabric against my chest and shake my head.

That reason was ample enough for me to accept his advice. I don't want to be naked in the middle of campus.

I look around. The place is not fancy, but comfortable. The living room appeals to the sink into the couch with a cup of coffee by the fireplace.

This is a wooden cabin with wooden cabinets. It looks handmade. A beautiful piece of craftsmanship made them.

"Draw your clothes already. I've waited enough." Leah is impatient to get into the world and my heart goes to her. Before yesterday, I didn't know she was there.

Rolling my eyes, I open the door and find a room.
This will do. But there are no curtains on the window.
I take my lip between my teeth.

"Don't be such a prude! Are you afraid a squirrel would look at you naked?" Leah has a sense of humour. I have to give her that.

A few minutes later, I join my new teacher outside with Leah, happy about the shift. My hands are moist, the sounds of Phil's bones. It all seemed painful. With shaky legs, I walk to the middle of the clearing. Will she erase me from my existence? Should she prove to be stronger than me?

Philip walks away, making me wonder what I should do.

"Stop it, I have my brain of my own, separate from yours truly, with my memories. If I couldn't be obliterated, neither will you"

I run to him, forgetting about Leah.
"Phil! I don't know how to get back to campus. Don't leave me here!"

'If you knew how to transform, I could have taken us back to campus.' Leah replies, as if her opinion matters to me.

Magic was enough trouble and now this, I can only wonder how I'm going to make it through the day with this constant conversation in my brain.

Shaking my head vigorously, hands resting on either side of my temple, I say, "Shut up, give me my life back. "

My throat tightens.

Hearing a growl, I get startled and panic. A wolf comes out of the clearing. It's the same wolf as before.

So it's Philip in his wolf form.
I reason with myself.

Don't panic. Don't panic...

"Hahaha go ahead, I know it's you, Philip, I'm ready," I say, trying to hide the panic that inhabits me.

My breathing is out of control, and my heart is pounding now. Normally I would use for my inhaler, but I don't have one. Since that day at the mall, I wonder if I ever needed one.

A snarl gets to my ears, snapping me back to reality.
He's getting closer too close. His teeth, pointy ears and raised fur make my skin crawl back.

I put my hands up, but I can't. My body is screaming at me to get in my fourth, but I'm fighting it.

It's not an actual wolf. Don't panic, it's a human, it won't eat you alive. I encourage myself.

The wolf continues its way. He squabbles on my way, revealing his enormous canines. Hypnotized, I can't take my eyes off him, making the hairs off my body stand up.

Locking eyes with me, he approaches, making me lose control of my limbs.

I fall to my knees, keeping eye contact with the beast.

Something nails me to the ground as I try to run away. Pain radiates through my body and makes me crouch. My eyes get blurry even though I don't feel the need to cry.

Then I hear a voice in my head.

Leah, the voice I've been trying to avoid.

A surge of magic invades my body. A bolt of lightning shoots out of me, draining what little energy I had left.

Helplessly, I listen to it.
"Trust me, give me control so you don't feel the pain. We are to transition, he is summoning us to. Then we will become one at last."

She sounds excited. What an odd personality, the complete opposite of me. She talks like I'm her favourite person in the world.

Not feeling like I can fight it anymore, I scream until I have no air to breathe. My heart is beating so fast that I fear a heart attack.

The wolf growls again, which makes me writhe in pain. I can't breathe.

I have to trust her. I follow her lead, focusing on her every word, finally relaxing as the pain disappears.

She keeps talking and distracting me from what is physically happening to me. Still, I can hear the cracking bones, but since she took the pain away, I don't care.

Finally, a new feeling invades me, a lightness. It is the same sensation that one feels between a dream and reality before waking up for good.

When I look down, all I see are white paws. My human body is no longer there.

My eyes, what happened? Everything is slightly gray. I don't understand how this is possible.

An urge to flee takes over.
My body demands it.
I run.

🌺
Finally, Leah is here.
I love her.

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