Heat surges through my body, jolting me awake. A voice whispers in my mind, making me scan the empty room before I realize its source. "At last, our souls unite, Jadon. My name is Jade." The voice pours through my mind like sunlight through amber. My legs seized with white-hot agony, dropping me to the floor. "Don't fight the change," the voice soothes. "Let me guide you through this pain. “I watch crimson fur erupt across my palms while my nails stretch into deadly points. “You’re doing beautifully," Jade whispers. "Keep breathing."

Seconds later, a strange sensation ripples through me as my new body instinctively shakes, settling fur into place.

"Let's find a place to see our reflection and stretch these new legs," Jade suggests, her voice warm in my mind.

I picture the pond five miles from the cottage and launch forward, surprised when the distance melts away beneath my paws. At the water's edge, I gaze down at my reflection—a majestic dark red wolf with piercing green eyes stares back at me.

"We're magnificent," Jade's laughter ripples through me. "The most beautiful in these woods, without question."

Studying our image closer, I notice a black mark above my right shoulder near my birthmark. "Are those my scars?"

"Yes," Jade confirms with a gentle tone, "just as the scar that lines our back marks where we lost our family years ago. But now we'll heal faster—only the deepest wounds will leave their mark."

I settle against a nearby pine, and for hours we rest by the pond, sharing thoughts and memories as though we've been lifelong companions.

"I want to run more before heading back," I tell Jade, rising to my feet. A putrid stench hits my nostrils—like decaying flesh left in summer heat. Jade's growl vibrates through my chest.

"Let me take control," she commands. "We need to flee. Now."

I surrender to her instincts, feeling our body accelerate to a blur. A chilling howl pierces the air. Three wolves with crimson eyes flank us, jaws dripping with saliva.

"I've never fought another wolf before," I admit.

"Trust me," Jade's voice steadies me. "I can handle them."

More paws thunder against earth, closing in. Jade lunged without hesitation, her jaws finding the throat of the nearest attacker. The metallic taste of blood floods our mouth and sprays our coats. We pivot, ducking beneath another wolf's leap before sinking teeth into a shoulder. Pain explodes through our back leg as fangs pierce its muscle. Jade whirls around, disemboweling our attacker with one savage swipe.

Glancing back, I see a wave of red-eyed wolves surging toward us. We attempt to flee, but our injured leg slows us. We turn, bracing for the final stand. Then I spotted them the silver wolf and his brown companion, charging toward our attackers with three others at their heels.

The clash of fangs and fur erupts before us as the wolves’ tear into each other. My first instinct is to flee, but something pulls me toward the battle instead. Through the chaos, I spot the silver wolf surrounded by four attackers. Without thinking, Jade and I launch ourselves at the nearest enemy, sinking our teeth deep into its shoulder. Blood floods my mouth as the wolf howls in agony, then bucks us off with enough force to send us tumbling.

Ignoring the pain, we scramble back to our feet and charge again. This time we slam into the wolf's flank with our full weight, sending it crashing to the ground. As another attacker lunges, I pivot and clamp down on its leg. Its painful howl pierces the air before we release our grip only to lunge for its throat in one decisive, lethal strike.

The battlefield falls quiet. The red-eyed wolves lie motionless as their blood darkens the forest floor. Our injured back leg throbs with each step as we limp away, eventually collapsing against a cool boulder. When we gather strength to move again, I freeze—the silver wolf stands directly in our path.

The silver wolf lifts his muzzle, nostrils flaring as he scents the air around me. Again, with all the sniffing does he not understand personal space. The wind shifts, carrying his scent to me—forest rain and cedar, so intoxicating I nearly forget my wariness. I study his unusual eyes—one blue, one black—mesmerized by their beauty until Jade's voice cuts through my thoughts: "Mate."

My heart races. I pivot to flee, but my injured leg buckles beneath me. I collapse against a tree trunk, panting. The silver wolf approaches cautiously. A warning growl rumbles from my throat, but he continues forward. Light shimmers across his fur as he transforms, revealing a man with wind-tousled brown hair and a muscular frame that makes my breath catch. I avert my eyes from his nakedness.

"Shift," he commands. I meet his gaze defiantly. Who does he think he is? "Shift," he repeats, his voice deeper, resonating with authority. I answer with another warning growl. With a sigh, he disappears behind a nearby tree, returning moments later in basketball shorts. He tosses a large shirt in my direction and turns his back, offering privacy.

I eye the shirt skeptically. "What do you think?" I ask Jade silently. "His scent carries no deception," she replies in my mind. "Only concern. "Still wary, I shift forms and slip the oversized garment over my head. "It's safe now," I call softly.

He turns, his face brightening with recognition. "It is you—I've been searching for you."

I drop my gaze to hide the heat rising in my cheeks. He kneels beside me, examining the gash on my leg where blood streams down my calf. "This needs attention," he murmurs, disappearing briefly behind a tree. He returns with another shirt, already tearing it into strips. "Brace yourself," he warns before binding the wound tight.

A hiss escapes through my clenched teeth. His hand settles on my shoulder, warm and steady. "My pack's doctor should look at this. "I appreciate it, but my home isn't far” I can manage."

The brown wolf from earlier approaches, his form shimmering as he shifts. I can't help but stare at his sculpted torso before averting my eyes, my face burning. Two encounters with naked men in one day—both looking like they stepped from Greek mythology. He addresses his companion tersely: "We need to return to others."

The silver wolf's eyes fix on mine, concern etched in their mismatched depths. "Let me take you to our pack doctor," he says, his voice low and firm. "That leg needs proper attention."

I force a smile. "I'll be fine."

He sighs, then glances at his companion. "I'll catch up shortly." With a nod, his friend shifts forms and disappears into the trees.

"At least let me help you home," he persists.

Stubbornly, I push myself upright, wincing as pain shoots through my injured leg. "I've got this," I insist, taking a shaky step.

Before I can protest, he scoops me into his arms. The sudden closeness makes my heart stutter.

"Which way?" he asks, already walking.

"East, about two miles," I manage, acutely aware of his warmth against me.

"I'm Jadon," I offer, heat rising to my cheeks. "And you are?"

"You can call me Evan," he says, his voice softer than before.

"Nice to meet you properly, Evan." I shift slightly in his arms. "Do you always patrol these woods? Twice in two days seems like more than coincidence."

He laughs, the sound vibrating through his chest against my side. "This is the border of my pack's territory. Those rogues you fought—they've been causing trouble for weeks."

"Fighting wolves wasn't exactly on my birthday agenda," I say with a weak smile. "Neither was getting injured."

"Birthday?" His eyebrows lift. "Eighteen, I'm guessing?"

I nod, surprised. "How did you know?"

Instead of answering, his lips curve into a knowing smile. "Do you live nearby? With family? Are you part of a pack?"

The questions tumble out faster than I can process them. My eyelids grow heavy, the day's exertion finally catching up with me. I rest my head against his shoulder, inhaling his scent of cedar and rain as consciousness slips away.

A gentle shake pulls me from sleep. "We've covered about three miles," Evan says, his voice low. "Which direction now?"

I scan our surroundings, spotting a familiar boulder. "You can set me down by that rock ahead."

Once my feet touch the ground, Evan studies the area, brow furrowed. "Your house?"

"Not far," I say with a quick smile. "Thanks for getting me this close."

When I attempt to leave, his fingers wrap around my arm. I sigh and turn back to face him.

"When can I see you again?" he asks, stepping closer.

"I'm pretty busy with work and research," I reply, hoping the excuse might create distance. Something about his intensity makes me uneasy around him, despite Jade's assurances.

His lips curve into a smile as he takes my hand, bringing my wrist to his mouth. The warmth of his kiss against my pulse sends an unexpected shiver through me.

"We have an extensive library at the pack house," he murmurs. "You're welcome to research there anytime."

Before I can respond, his form shimmers and shifts. The silver wolf gives me one last meaningful look before disappearing into the trees.

I watch the silver wolf disappear into the trees before limping toward the mountain boundary. My cottage appears through the mist as I cross the threshold, its familiar scent welcoming me home. In the kitchen, I grind dried comfrey and yarrow with practiced hands, adding drops of witch hazel until the mixture forms a thick paste. The herbs tingle against my wound as I spread them carefully, then secure everything with a clean bandage.

"Christa?" I call out, my voice echoing through the cottage.

"In here!" she answers from the living room. The television flickers as she pauses her movie, eyes widening at my disheveled appearance. "Oh my god, your leg! What happened?"

I collapsed onto the couch beside her, wincing. "You wouldn't believe it. I met my wolf today—she's gorgeous, this deep crimson red—then we got attacked by these wolves with glowing red eyes. And remember that silver wolf I told you about? He showed up again."

Christa shakes her head, smiling. "Only you could pack that much adventure into one day."

We settle in to finish her movie, my legs tucked beneath me, the day's tension slowly unwinding. Later, sitting on my bed, I unwrap the bandage from my leg and gasp. The wound has vanished completely.

"Jade?" I whisper internally. "Did you heal us?"

Her voice ripples through my mind. "Our bond accelerates healing now."

I trace the smooth skin where the gash had been. No new scar to add to my collection. As exhaustion pulls me toward sleep, I can't help but smile at this unexpected gift.

Sinking into the worn couch cushions, I exhale slowly. Meeting the same wolf twice in one day, especially on the day I bonded with Jade, feels like more than coincidence.

"A mate is the last thing I need right now," I whisper, running my fingers through my tangled hair.

Jade's voice ripples through my mind. "The moon goddess brings mates together at the perfect moment. Our paths crossed for a reason."

I trace the edge of my bandage. "His eyes, though..." I murmur, remembering their mismatched intensity. No one at the coven had ever made my pulse quicken like that.

The shower beckons, promising to wash away the day's chaos. Steam fills the bathroom as I step under the spray, only to glance down and groan at my soaked bandage. Another wrapping awaits me in the kitchen.

I peel back the soaked bandage, expecting raw flesh, but instead find smooth skin where the gash had been. My fingertips trace the unmarked surface in disbelief.

"Jade?" I whisper internally. "Did you do this?"

Her voice ripples through my consciousness. "Our bond accelerates healing. This is only the beginning."

I marvel at the unblemished skin, remembering the countless scars that map my body like constellations of past mistakes. The thought of never adding another makes me dizzy with possibility.

Exhaustion finally catches up with me as I pull my favorite shirt—a faded baby blue button-up worn thin from years of washing—over my head. The cotton settles against my skin like an old friend.

"Tomorrow we train," I murmur, sliding between cool sheets. "Tomorrow we become stronger."

Jade's presence dims as sleep approaches, a gentle retreat like waves pulling back from shore. "Together," comes her final whisper as my consciousness unravels into darkness.