Chapter 7:Learning the Beast
955 Words
Morning came too quickly.
Elara barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him—those red eyes, that calm, terrifying voice.
You will come to me.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands again. They looked normal. Too normal for something that had claws just hours ago.
But she could still feel it.
The wolf wasn’t gone.
It was waiting.
“Again.”
Kael’s voice was sharp.
Elara groaned, bending over slightly with her hands on her knees. “I just did it!”
They stood in a small clearing deep in the forest, far from the town. Sunlight filtered through the trees, but it didn’t make things feel safer. Not anymore.
“Not good enough,” Kael said. “You hesitated.”
Elara straightened, frustration flashing across her face. “I’m trying, okay? This isn’t exactly normal!”
Kael crossed his arms. “Neither is being hunted by an Alpha.”
That shut her up.
She exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself. “Okay… what do I do?”
Kael stepped closer, his tone shifting slightly—not softer, but more focused.
“Stop thinking like a human,” he said.
Elara frowned. “That’s not helpful.”
“It is,” he replied. “Right now, you’re fighting it. That’s why it hurts.”
She crossed her arms. “So what? I should just let it take over?”
“No,” Kael said firmly. “You don’t lose yourself. You balance it.”
Elara stared at him. “Balance?”
He nodded. “The wolf isn’t your enemy. It’s part of you. The more you reject it, the harder it pushes back.”
She hesitated.
That… actually made sense.
“Okay,” she said slowly. “So how do I ‘balance’ it?”
Kael stepped back, giving her space.
“Feel it,” he said.
Elara closed her eyes reluctantly.
At first, there was nothing. Just her own breathing, uneven and unsure.
Then—
There it was.
A low, steady pulse inside her chest. Warm. Alive.
The wolf.
Her breath caught slightly.
“Don’t panic,” Kael said quietly. “Stay with it.”
Elara swallowed and focused. The sensation grew stronger, spreading through her arms, her legs…
It didn’t hurt this time.
It… responded.
“Good,” Kael said. “Now, call it.”
Her eyes snapped open. “Call it?!”
“Yes.”
Elara hesitated. Then, slowly, she lifted her hand.
“Okay… okay…” she muttered.
She focused again, reaching for that energy instead of pushing it away.
The response was instant.
A sharp tingling shot through her fingers—
Then—
Her nails extended into claws.
Elara gasped, staring at them. “I did it…”
Kael nodded, impressed despite himself. “And you’re still in control.”
Elara flexed her fingers slowly, watching the claws move with her. No pain. No panic.
Just power.
A small, amazed smile formed on her lips. “That’s… actually kind of cool.”
Kael almost smiled. Almost.
“Don’t get used to it,” he said. “We’re not done.”
Of course they weren’t.
“Again.”
Elara lunged forward this time, faster, more confident.
Kael dodged easily, grabbing her wrist and flipping her over his shoulder.
She hit the ground with a grunt. “Ow!”
“You’re predictable,” he said.
She glared up at him. “You’re annoying.”
“And you’re still slow.”
Elara jumped to her feet. “I am not slow!”
“Prove it.”
That was all it took.
She charged again—but this time, she didn’t just rely on her human instincts. She tapped into the wolf.
Her movements sharpened. Faster. More precise.
Kael’s eyes flickered with surprise as she almost caught him off guard.
Almost.
He blocked her, but just barely.
“Better,” he admitted.
Elara smirked slightly. “Told you.”
But then—
A sudden wave of energy surged through her.
Too much.
Her vision flickered gold. Her breathing changed, becoming deeper, heavier.
“Elara,” Kael warned.
“I’m fine—”
Her voice cut off as a low growl slipped from her throat.
Not controlled this time.
Instinct flared. Strong. Wild.
Her stance shifted again—but this time, it wasn’t balanced. It was aggressive.
Dangerous.
Kael stepped back slightly, his expression serious. “Pull it back.”
Elara shook her head, her thoughts starting to blur. “I… can’t…”
“Yes, you can,” he said firmly. “Focus!”
But the world was getting louder again. Faster. Sharper.
Her control was slipping.
Kael moved closer, grabbing her shoulders.
“Elara, look at me!”
She resisted at first—then slowly, her eyes met his.
Amber met gold.
“Breathe,” he said.
She inhaled shakily.
“Again.”
Another breath.
The wild energy inside her fought back—but this time…
She didn’t fight it.
She steadied it.
Slowly, painfully—
It calmed.
Her claws retracted. Her breathing returned to normal.
Silence.
Elara blinked, her body trembling slightly. “I almost lost it again…”
Kael didn’t let go of her.
“But you didn’t,” he said.
Their eyes held for a moment longer than necessary.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Trust.
Maybe more.
Kael stepped back first.
“We don’t have much time,” he said, his tone serious again. “The Alpha won’t wait forever.”
Elara nodded slowly.
Then she looked down at her hands—stronger now, steadier.
“I’ll be ready,” she said.
Kael studied her for a moment.
Then he said something quiet—but certain:
“You have to be".
- Writer
