Chapter 4

Life in Millbrook was peaceful.

I washed dishes during the day and trained in the woods outside the town at night.

Shadow guided me to channel the energy in my body. At first, it just made my vision clearer in the dark. Then, I could hear the stream miles away. Finally, under the full moon, I shifted for the first time.

It hurt like hell. My bones broke and reformed, but when my paws hit the dirt and I smelled the earth, I felt the raw power.

Shadow taught me how to quick-shift. Normal wolves took seconds to transform, but with Shadow's help, I could do it in the blink of an eye.

This went on for two weeks.

I thought I was hidden well.

But one night, as I walked back to my apartment from the woods, Shadow's voice suddenly cut in.

*There's a wolf scent. A stranger.*

I stopped instantly, my heart hammering.

*Where?*

*Right outside your door. Just one.*

I held my breath, sneaking around the side of the building to get a look.

A tall figure in dark clothes was picking my lock.

He had a silver dagger tucked into his belt.

Silver. The weapon wolves used to kill wolves.

Harold sent him.

My first instinct was to run.

But Shadow stopped me.

*You can run today, but you can't run forever. If he found you, it means your location is leaked. Kill him, or he will bring a whole squad next time.*

My hands shook. *I... I'm not ready.*

*You are ready,* Shadow said firmly. *Two weeks of training wasn't for nothing. Follow my lead. You can do this.*

I took a deep breath and nodded.

I slipped off my shoes, walking barefoot on the cold asphalt, making no sound.

The assassin was still focused on the lock, completely unaware of me.

Shadow’s voice echoed in my head. *Shift into your wolf. Jump him from behind. Aim for the throat. One clean bite. Don't let him shift.*

I held my breath. Three steps away, I shifted.

My bones clicked, muscles expanded, and claws tore out.

The assassin heard the sound and whipped around, but he was too slow.

My wolf slammed into him, my fangs sinking deep into his throat.

He let out a muffled groan, the silver dagger clattering to the floor. After a few seconds of struggling, his body went limp.

The smell of fresh blood filled the air.

I let go of his throat, stepped back, and shifted back into my human form, my body shaking uncontrollably.

I had just killed someone.

Shadow’s voice was calm. *You did well. If you didn't kill him, you would be the one dead.*

I crouched on the floor, panting for minutes before I could calm down.

I had to get rid of the body.

I dragged him deep into the woods, dug a deep hole, and buried him.

By the time I got back to my apartment, the sun was almost up.

I washed the blood off my body and sat on the edge of my bed, staring into space.

Harold found me once. He would find me again.

I couldn't stay here anymore.