The Messenger

The Eve of Awakening

In the days that followed, Iva retreated into a quiet routine, the world outside her room a blur as she focused on something that felt almost dangerous: her future. She spread brochures across her desk, folding and unfolding them as if the paper could somehow give her courage, flipping through descriptions of colleges, programs, and courses that had once seemed completely out of reach.

She traced her finger along the words of Lycan Academy, imagining herself walking through the grand halls, training, learning, becoming something beyond the small, controlled life her father or the pack had designed for her. Each program she read offered a possibility, a sliver of hope, and yet each glance at her father’s dismissive face in her memory reminded her that hope came at a price.

Lori appeared one afternoon, dropping into the chair beside her with a grin that didn’t quite mask her worry. “So… you really are thinking about sending applications?” she asked.

Iva hesitated, fingers tightening around a brochure. “Yes… I’ve decided to take your advice. I… I need to try, even if he doesn’t approve.”

Lori’s expression grew serious. “Even if you do, Iva… what could go wrong? What if your father changes his mind? He could—”

“I don’t think so,” Iva replied quickly, the words more a shield than a conviction. But you never know… she thought bitterly. The memory of his scorn, his harsh laughter, the iron weight of his disapproval still burned in her chest.

Still, despite the gnawing fear, she began gathering the forms, filling out her information carefully, quietly, methodically. Each signature, each word typed felt like a rebellion in itself, a small victory against the life she had been handed. She sent the application to Lycan Academy in secret, a quiet act of defiance that thrilled and terrified her in equal measure.

She didn’t have the extraordinary mind or the exceptional skills to follow in Lori’s footsteps into medicine, nor could she aspire to the top specialties that the Elites so proudly occupied—management, banking, investment, or the financial sectors that were the envy of most ambitious wolves. But she had something else: determination, careful thought, and a sense that even the smallest roles could be crucial if approached correctly.

She settled on administration—a field considered too mundane, too “unprestigious” for the majority of the Elites. It was safe, practical, and would allow her to carve a place for herself without relying on her father’s favor. And for now, it was enough.

Lori leaned back, watching her friend in silence for a long moment. “You’re really going through with this, aren’t you?” she said softly.

Iva nodded, pressing her hands against the table, her heart pounding. “I have to. Even if he never agrees… even if the pack never respects it… I can’t do nothing anymore. I won’t.”

It was a quiet declaration, almost lost among the papers and brochures, yet somehow, in the small sanctuary of her room, it felt like the first spark of fire she had felt in years. A fire that refused to be tamed by her father, by tradition, or by the pack’s expectations.

And deep down, Iva felt a strange, fluttering certainty—something she couldn’t explain, something more than hope—that life was about to demand more from her than she had ever imagined. Something that might change everything.

--

A few days before her birthday, Iva sat on her bed with Lori perched on the edge, flipping through a small notebook of sketches and notes the two had been keeping for years. The sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, making the room feel warmer, calmer—though the heat bubbling inside Iva suggested otherwise.

“So… what are you going to do for your birthday?” Lori asked casually, though her eyes were bright with curiosity. “Any big plans? A party? Gifts? You’ll finally get to meet your wolf?”

Iva shook her head, forcing a small smile. “Nothing special,” she murmured, though her chest skipped a beat at the thought. The words sounded flat even to her own ears.

“You’re lying,” Lori said, grinning knowingly. “You’re excited. I can see it in your eyes. You’re thrilled to finally meet your wolf, aren’t you?”

Iva’s smile softened, the excitement she had tried to contain slipping out despite herself. “I am… I can’t lie, Lori. I am. It’s… it’s just…” Her voice faltered as she struggled to put into words the strange combination of fear and anticipation that had been coiling inside her for weeks. “…it’s terrifying too.”

“Of course it is,” Lori said gently, her gaze warm. “It’s a big deal, Iva. Eighteen. Passage to adulthood. You get your wolf—your companion for life. It’s not just tradition. It’s… it’s magic.”

Iva nodded, closing her eyes briefly. She remembered vividly the first time she had seen Lori’s wolf, how her friend’s entire being had changed, a lightness, a joy that seemed impossible to contain. The bond had been immediate, undeniable, and seeing it had made Iva ache with longing for her own companion.

Later, that evening, her mother came into her room, carrying a small tray with tea and a few pastries. Her eyes were kind, soft, and a little wistful.

“Iva,” Rana said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her daughter’s face, “have you thought about what you want to do for your birthday? I can make it special if you like.”

Iva shook her head again, but this time her voice was quieter, almost a whisper. “Nothing… special mom.”

As the words left her mouth, a strange feeling twisted in her stomach—a subtle, unsettling tingle she couldn’t place. It was more than nervousness, more than the usual excitement of a birthday. Her skin felt hot, her body restless, a thrumming pulse running through her veins that made it impossible to stay still.

After her mother left, she shifted on her bed, pressing her hands to her thighs as she whispered to herself, almost in fear. “It’s happening… isn’t it? The signs…”

She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself, the thought of the wolf she would meet filling her with both wonder and anxiety. “I hope… I hope my wolf will not be disappointed in me,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

--

The day of her birthday at school passed like dragging chains across stone. Each hour felt heavier than the last, a slow torture of lectures, whispers, and stifled laughter. Iva tried to keep her head down, but the Beta’s daughter, Ella, made it impossible, trailing her with sharp comments and cruel smiles, while the jocks—led by Nick—mocked her relentlessly, tossing snide remarks about her flat chest and quiet demeanor.

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to walk straight, to not react, but the humiliation pressed down on her like a physical weight, and she could feel the sting of every word against her pride.

It was only Lori who made the day bearable. In the empty courtyard between classes, she handed Iva a small, carefully wrapped box. “Happy early birthday,” she said softly, a sly grin playing on her lips. “You deserve something good after today.”

Iva opened it to find a delicate gold pendant in the shape of a wolf, finely etched with intricate markings that seemed to shimmer slightly in the sunlight. Her chest tightened with gratitude. “Thank you, Lori… really, but is too much…” she whispered, touching the pendant, feeling as though her friend’s faith in her was tangible.

By the time she returned home, the shadows were long and the sky painted with the muted gold of evening. Her mother awaited her, smiling softly, holding a small cake decorated with simple candles.

“Happy Birthday, Iva,” Rana said, her voice gentle and proud. “I hope this year brings you what you wish for… and more.”

Iva smiled faintly, hiding the swirl of nerves and excitement building in her chest. She lingered just a moment before changing into a light summer dress, letting the soft fabric brush against her skin, a tiny comfort against the storm of emotions inside her.

As midnight approached, the family made their way to the pack’s shifting ground, the sacred space where new wolves were initiated into their lifelong companions, where bonds were sealed under the silent watch of the moon. The air was alive with anticipation. Other families had gathered, and, as tradition dictated, the Alpha’s family was present to witness the awakening and bless the joining of the new wolves into the pack.

Iva’s heart skipped as she caught sight of Nick. He was leaning casually against a tree, a smirk playing across his face, eyes flicking over her figure with that same arrogance he had always carried. Her gaze met his, and for a moment, fury flared so hot she could feel it in her throat.

What an immature prick, she thought, clenching her fists inside the folds of her dress, smirking at me like I’m some kind of joke…

But before she could dwell further, a strange, tingling sensation began in her body, soft at first, like the brush of a breeze across her skin. She froze, every nerve on fire. The heat coursing through her veins, the restless pressure in her chest, the faint fluttering she had noticed these past days—all of it intensified.

It’s happening… she whispered to herself, a mixture of awe and fear tightening her throat.

The air around her seemed to pulse in rhythm with her heartbeat, the moonlight glinting on her hair and the grass beneath her feet. Her skin prickled with an energy she could not name, a primal force that made every muscle in her body ache with anticipation.

She looked around—the Alpha, the pack elders, other wolves already shifting silently beside their families—and tried to focus, but the tingling spread, sharper now, demanding her attention. She placed a hand over her chest, feeling the rapid, insistent beating of her heart.

It’s my wolf… it’s finally coming…