LUCA
“Who’s there?” I asked again, my voice sharp, already rising to my feet.
Every instinct in me flared. The forest, which had felt playful and welcoming moments ago, shifted in my perception. Sounds sharpened, and scents layered themselves in my mind. I let the change roll halfway through me, my bones thickening, muscles tightening, and my senses stretching beyond human limits. Not a full shift, but enough that my wolf stood just beneath my skin, alert and ready.
I closed my eyes briefly and listened.
The snap of the twig replayed in my head. I followed the direction and the weight of the sound. I inhaled deeply, sorting through the smells—pine, damp earth, moss, water, old leaves… and then a small, furry, nervous scent hit me.
I was already moving before Aria could say another wor
