Roman POV

The wolfsbane burns through my veins, a fire that dulls my wolf’s roar to a whimper. I’m on the ground, gravel biting into my palms, the pack house’s lanterns casting jagged shadows. Leera’s scream cuts through the haze, her silver hair a beacon as she runs toward me. India’s laughter grates, sharp and cruel, while Khas’s grey eyes glint with something unreadable curiosity, maybe, or recognition. My vision swims, but my mate bond pulses, tethering me to Leera. I have to stay conscious. For her.

“Roman!” Leera’s voice is raw, her hands grabbing my shoulders. Her scent spun sugar, honeysuckles floods my senses, grounding me. “What did she do to you?”

“Wolfsbane,” I rasp, forcing myself to my knees. My side throbs where India’s blade grazed me, the wound shallow but laced with poison. “Stay back, Leera.”

“No way,” she snaps, her icy eyes blazing. She’s trembling, but her grip is fierce. “You’re hurt.”

“Touching,” India sneers, twirling the blade. Her green eyes lock on Leera, predatory. “But he’s not yours, freshman. Back off.”

“Enough, India!” Benny’s voice booms as he steps forward, Andrei and Slate flanking him. Their wolves are close to the surface, eyes glowing in the moonlight. The pack house looms behind them, its wooden walls a fortress against the night.

India scoffs, her boots crunching on the gravel. “You think your little pack scares me, Benny? Roman’s mine. The throne’s mine.”

“He’s not a prize,” Leera says, her voice steady despite the fear I feel through our bond. “And I’m not backing off.”

Khas tilts his head, studying Leera. “Bold for a pup who doesn’t know her own claws.” His voice is smooth, but there’s an edge to it. “You smell like her, you know. Imogen.”

My wolf snarls at her name, the pain of her loss colliding with the present. “Don’t, Khas,” I growl, staggering to my feet. Leera’s hand steadies me, her touch electric. “What do you know about her?”

“More than you think,” Khas says, his grey eyes flicking to Leera. “She’s not just your mate, Roman. She’s tied to us. To me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Leera demands, stepping closer to me. Her warmth battles the wolfsbane’s chill, and my wolf clings to it.

“Enough games,” India cuts in, her blade glinting. “Khas, you promised me the girl. Hand her over.”

“Promised?” I snarl, my vision clearing as rage surges. “You’re working together?”

Khas shrugs, his slicked-back hair catching the lantern light. “India wants her throne. I want answers. Leera’s the key.”

“Key to what?” Leera’s voice shakes, but she squares her shoulders. “I’m nobody. Just a college kid.”

“You’re not,” I say, my hand finding hers. The mate bond hums, strong despite the poison. “You’re a wolf. My wolf knows it.”

India laughs, cold and sharp. “A wolf? Her? She’s weak, Roman. A mistake.”

“Shut up,” Leera snaps, her eyes flashing. I feel it then a faint growl rumbling in her chest, her wolf stirring. My heart lurches. She’s waking up.

“Benny, get Leera inside,” I order, my voice low but firm. “Now.”

Benny moves, but Leera digs in her heels. “I’m not leaving you!”

“You have to,” I say, meeting her gaze. Her fear, her fire it’s all there, pulling me in. “I’ll handle this.”

“Handle it?” India steps closer, her blade raised. “You can barely stand, Roman.”

Andrei growls, his massive frame tensing. “Try it, India. I dare you.”

Slate, quieter but just as deadly, pulls a knife from his belt. “We outnumber you. Walk away.”

India hesitates, her eyes darting between us. Khas remains still, watching Leera like she’s a puzzle. The air crackles with tension, the forest around us silent except for the rustle of leaves.

“Roman,” Zoey’s voice breaks through, sharp and urgent. She’s by the pack house door, phone in hand. “Benny said to call Jeanine. She’s on her way.”

“Jeanine?” Leera glances at me, confused. “Who’s that?”

“Healer,” I say, wincing as the wolfsbane burns deeper. “She’ll help. Both of us.”

Khas steps forward, his expression unreadable. “You’re wasting time, Roman. Let me take her. I won’t hurt her.”

“Like hell,” I growl, my wolf clawing to the surface. My vision sharpens, my claws itching to extend. “She stays with me.”

“Roman, please,” Leera whispers, her hand tightening on mine. “I don’t understand any of this, but… I trust you.”

Her words hit like a spark, igniting the bond. My wolf steadies, and I force myself upright, ignoring the pain. “Khas, back off. India, this ends now.”

India’s lips curl. “Ends? Oh, Roman, it’s just beginning.” She lunges, faster than I expect, her blade aiming for Leera.

I shove Leera behind me, taking the hit. The blade slices my arm, wolfsbane searing my skin. I roar, my wolf breaking free, fur rippling as I half-shift. India stumbles back, her eyes wide.

“Roman!” Leera screams, grabbing my jacket. Her touch anchors me, keeping me from fully shifting.

“Get her inside!” I shout to Benny. He grabs Leera, dragging her toward the pack house despite her protests. Zoey follows, yelling something I can’t hear over the blood pounding in my ears.

Khas moves, his own wolf surfacing, eyes glowing. “You’re making a mistake, Roman. She’s not just yours.”

“Enough!” I roar, lunging at him. My claws rake his shoulder, drawing blood. He snarls, dodging, but doesn’t strike back. Why?

India’s voice cuts through. “Khas, now!”

Before I can react, a sharp prick stabs my neck. My legs buckle, the world spinning. Wolfsbane again, stronger this time. I hit the ground, Leera’s scream fading as darkness creeps in. India’s face looms above me, her green eyes triumphant. “Sleep, Roman. She’s mine now.”

But it’s not her voice that chills me. It’s Khas’s, low and close. “I’m sorry, brother. This is bigger than you.”

My wolf howls, trapped in my fading consciousness. Leera’s scent lingers, her fear pulsing through the bond. She’s close, but I can’t reach her. As my vision blacks out, a new sound pierces the night a guttural snarl, raw and wild. Leera’s wolf. It’s awake. And it’s angry.

Leera’s POV

My scream tears through the night as Roman collapses, his massive frame crumpling to the gravel. India’s smirk burns into me, her green eyes gleaming with victory, while Khas stands back, his grey gaze locked on me like I’m a riddle. The pack house looms behind us, its lanterns flickering, casting shadows that dance across the forest’s edge. Something inside me snaps a raw, burning surge that claws at my chest. It’s not just fear. It’s rage. A growl rumbles low in my throat, louder than before, and my vision sharpens, the world too bright, too vivid.

“Leera, move!” Benny shouts, his hand tight on my arm, pulling me toward the pack house. Zoey’s beside him, her face pale, her curls wild as she stumbles after us.

“No!” I wrench free, my sneakers skidding on the gravel. Roman’s down, blood seeping from his arm, his neck. That smell—sharp, like chemicals and rot—makes my nose burn. Wolfsbane, he said. I don’t know what it means, but it’s killing him. “I’m not leaving him!”

“You don’t have a choice,” Benny snaps, his dark eyes flashing. He’s all muscle, his presence steady, but there’s fear there too. “He’d kill me if I let you get hurt.”

India laughs, twirling her blade. “Smart boy, Benny. Hand her over, and maybe Roman lives.”

“Over my dead body,” I spit, surprising myself. The growl in my chest grows, vibrating my ribs. My hands shake, not from fear now, but something else something alive.

“Leera, what’s happening to you?” Zoey whispers, grabbing my sleeve. Her eyes are wide, darting between me and the figures in the dark.

“I don’t know,” I say, my voice rough. My skin feels too tight, my heart pounding too fast. Roman’s words echo: You’re a wolf. It’s insane, but that snarl inside me feels real, like a beast waking up.

Khas steps forward, his slicked-back hair catching the moonlight. “You feel it, don’t you?” His voice is calm, almost gentle. “Your wolf. She’s strong. Like Imogen’s.”

“Stop saying her name!” I snap, my fingers curling into fists. “Who’s Imogen? Why do you keep looking at me like that?”

“She was my sister,” Khas says, his grey eyes softening for a split second. “And you… you smell like her. Like family.”

My breath catches. Family? My parents are dead a car accident, which happened six months ago. They were photographers, not wolves. But that burning in my chest, the growl it’s not normal. I clutch my moonstone ring, Mom’s gift, and a memory flashes: her giving me “vitamins,” her eyes always worried. Were they hiding something?

“Enough talk,” India cuts in, her boots crunching as she steps over Roman’s body. My stomach lurches, but his chest still rises, shallow but there. “Khas, you said she’s the key. Take her, or I will.”

“Touch her, and you’re dead,” Andrei growls, his massive frame blocking the path to the pack house. Slate’s beside him, knife in hand, his lean form tense.

India smirks. “Big words for pups. You can’t stop me.”

“Try us,” Slate says, his voice low, deadly.

I don’t wait for her to move. That thing inside me the wolf, I guess surges, and I lunge, shoving India back. My strength surprises me, sending her stumbling. Her blade clatters to the ground, and she stares, shocked.

“Leera!” Zoey yells, pulling me back. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know!” I gasp, my hands burning, tingling. My nails feel sharp, too long. I look down they’re claws, short but real. My heart races. “Roman said… I’m a wolf.”

India recovers, snarling. “A wolf? You’re a freak. A mistake.” She dives for her blade, but Benny’s faster, kicking it into the shadows.

“Back off, India,” he says, his voice steady. “You’re outnumbered.”

Khas hasn’t moved, his eyes still on me. “You don’t know what you are, do you?” he says, almost sad. “They kept it from you. Your parents.”

“Stop talking about them!” I shout, the growl louder now, shaking my whole body. My vision blurs, then sharpens again, Khan's face too clear in the dark. “You don’t know anything about me!”

“I know enough,” he says, stepping closer. “You’re tied to Imogen. To me. Let me help you.”

“Help?” I laugh, bitter. “You’re with her.” I jerk my head toward India, who’s circling like a predator.

“Not by choice,” Khas says, his voice low. “There’s more at play here, Leera. You’re not just Roman’s mate.”

Roman groans, stirring on the ground. My heart leaps, and I drop to his side, ignoring Khas. “Roman, wake up!” I shake him, my claws retracting as panic overrides whatever’s happening to me. His mismatched eyes flutter open, foggy but alive.

“Leera,” he rasps, his hand finding mine. The mate bond flares, warm and steady, easing the fire in my chest. “Run. Get to Jeanine.”

“I’m not leaving you,” I say, my voice breaking. “Not again.”

India’s laugh cuts through. “How sweet. But you’re both done.” She pulls another blade from her boot, smaller but glinting with that same chemical Ricci smell. “Say goodbye, little wolf.”

Benny steps in front of me, his stance wide. “Last chance, India. Leave.”

She smirks, tossing her hair. “Or what? You’ll growl me to death?”

Andrei cracks his knuckles, ready to lunge, but Slate holds him back. “Not worth it, man. Jeanine’s almost here.”

“Jeanine?” I ask Roman, my voice shaky. His hand is clammy in mine, his breathing uneven.

“Healer,” he murmurs, wincing. “She’ll… fix this.”

Khas hasn’t moved, his gaze still heavy on me. “Leera, you need answers. Come with me. I’ll tell you about Imogen. About your parents.”

“Shut up!” I snap, my head spinning. Parents, wolves, Imogen it’s too much. The growl in my chest stirs again, but Roman’s touch keeps it quiet. I focus on him, his golden skin pale, his jaw tight with pain.

Headlights flash through the trees, a car pulling up. A woman steps out, older, her white hair tied back, her presence calm but commanding. “Jeanine,” Benny says, relief in his voice. “Roman’s hit with wolfsbane. Bad.”

Jeanine kneels beside Roman, her hands steady as she checks his wounds. “He’ll live,” she says, her voice firm. “But we need to move him. Now.”

“Leera, too,” Roman whispers, his grip tightening. “She’s… like us.”

Jeanine’s eyes flick to me, sharp and assessing. “Is she now?” She pulls a vial from her bag, pouring a dark liquid over Roman’s arm. The wolfsbane smell fades, and he breathes easier.

“Leera,” Khas says, stepping closer. “You can’t stay with them. You’re not just a wolf. You’re”

“Enough!” I shout, standing, my body trembling. The growl surges, louder, and my vision shifts, colors too bright. My claws prick my palms again. “I don’t know you, and I don’t trust you!”

India laughs, her blade raised. “Smart girl. But you’re still mine.” She lunges, faster than before, aiming for me.

I don’t think I will move. My body feels wrong, too strong, too fast. I dodge her blade, my hand swiping out. Claws rake her arm, drawing blood. She screams, stumbling back, and I freeze, staring at my hand. Claws. Real claws.

“Leera!” Zoey grabs me, pulling me toward the pack house. Jeanine and Benny lift Roman, hurrying him inside. Andrei and Slate cover us, their eyes on India and Khas.

Khas doesn’t follow. He just watches, his voice low. “You can’t run from this, Leera. Your wolf’s awake. And so is the truth.”

Inside, the pack house smells of wood and leather, its walls solid, safe. Jeanine lays Roman on a couch, working fast, her hands glowing faintly as she murmurs words I don’t understand. Roman’s eyes find mine, weak but steady. “Stay,” he whispers.

I nod, my heart pounding. But as Jeanine works, a sharp pain stabs my chest, like fire under my ribs. I gasp, doubling over, the growl erupting, wild and unstoppable. My vision blurs, and I feel it my wolf, clawing free. Zoey screams, Benny curses, and Roman reaches for me, his voice faint.

“Leera… hold on…”

But I can’t. The pain’s too much, my body not my own. Something’s breaking loose, and I’m not sure I can stop it or if I want to. Outside, a howl splits the night, close and menacing. India’s still out there. And she’s not alone.

The howl outside the pack house slices through me, sharp and chilling, as the fire in my chest explodes. I’m doubled over, clutching my ribs, the growl in my throat turning into a snarl I can’t control. The room spins wooden walls, leather couches, the glow of Jeanine’s hands over Roman all of it blurs as my body feels like it’s tearing apart. My claws dig into my palms, drawing blood, and my vision flickers, colors too bright, then too dark. Roman’s voice, faint and desperate, anchors me. “Leera… hold on…”

“I can’t!” I gasp, my voice raw. The pain’s like nothing I’ve ever felt, not even after the car accident that took Mom and Dad. Zoey’s scream echoes, her hands grabbing my shoulders.

“Leera, what’s happening?” she cries, her curls wild, her eyes wide with panic. “You’re scaring me!”

“I don’t know!” I choke out, my knees buckling. The snarl grows louder, my wolf God, my *wolf* clawing to break free. It’s real. Roman was right. I’m not human.

Jeanine’s voice cuts through, calm but urgent. “Leera, breathe. Your wolf’s waking. Let it happen.”

“Let it?” I snap, glaring at her. Her white hair glows under the lantern light, her hands still working on Roman’s wounds. “It’s tearing me apart!”

“It’s not,” she says, her eyes meeting mine, steady. “You’re fighting it. Relax. Trust your wolf.”

“Trust it?” I laugh, bitter, the sound morphing into a growl. My nails claws scrape the floor as I grip the couch. “I didn’t even know I had one!”

Roman stirs, his mismatched eyes finding me. His face is pale, but his voice is stronger. “Leera, you’re strong. Stronger than you know. Let her out.”

“Her?” I ask, my breath hitching. The pain surges, a burning wave, and my vision shifts again. I see every detail Benny’s tense jaw, Andrei’s clenched fists, Slate’s knife glinting in his hand. The howl outside sounds closer, joined by another, low and menacing.

“They’re coming,” Slate says, his voice tight. He’s at the window, peering into the dark. “India and at least one other. Maybe Khas.”

“Khas didn’t attack,” Benny says, his arms crossed. “He’s playing his own game.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Andrei growls, cracking his knuckles. “They’re not getting in.”

Zoey’s still holding me, her grip shaky. “Leera, you’re… glowing. Your eyes. They’re like Roman’s.”

I catch my reflection in a glass frame on the wall. My eyes are gold, bright, inhuman. My heart races, but the pain shifts, less like breaking and more like… stretching. My wolf’s there, in my mind, a presence both fierce and warm. She wants out. She wants to fight.

“Leera,” Roman says, sitting up with Jeanine’s help. His arms bandaged, the wolfsbane’s stench fading. “You can do this. I’m here.”

I nod, my throat tight. His presence, his scent of pine and earth calms the fire in my chest. The mate bond hums, steadying me. “Okay,” I whisper. “Okay.”

Jeanine kneels beside me, her hand on my shoulder. “Picture your wolf. Silver, like your hair. Let her guide you.”

I close my eyes, the howls outside growing louder. My wolf’s image forms sleek, silver fur, icy eyes, powerful but graceful. She’s me, but wilder. The pain eases, replaced by a rush of strength. My bones shift, my muscles stretch, and I gasp, falling forward. Fur prickles my skin, soft and warm. My hands paws hit the floor, claws clicking.

“Holy crap,” Zoey breathes, stumbling back. “Leera, you’re… a wolf.”

I try to speak, but a low whine escapes instead. My senses explode as the pack house smells of wood, sweat, and Roman’s blood. The howls outside are clear now, two wolves, circling closer. India’s voice carries through the walls, sharp and taunting.

“Roman! You can’t hide her forever!” she calls. “She’s mine!”

My wolf snarls, the sound vibrating through me. I want to tear her apart. Roman’s hand finds my fur, his touch grounding me. “Easy,” he murmurs. “Not yet.”

I snap my jaws, frustrated. My wolf’s instincts scream to fight, but Roman’s voice keeps me tethered. I nudge his hand, my whine softening.

“She’s beautiful,” Benny says, his voice awed. “Silver. Like the moon.”

“Focus,” Jeanine snaps, standing. “They’re at the door. Slate, Andrei, block it.”

The pack moves, Andrei and Slate barring the entrance. The door rattles, a heavy thud shaking the frame. India’s laugh echoes again. “You think wood will stop me?”

“Try it,” Andrei growls, his massive frame braced. “I’ll break you.”

I pace, my paws silent on the floor. My wolf’s restless, but Roman’s touch keeps me steady. “Leera,” he says, his voice low. “You’re not ready to fight. Stay with me.”

I whine, shaking my head. My wolf disagrees she’s ready, and so am I. India hurt him. She’s coming for me. I won’t hide.

“Leera, listen,” Zoey says, kneeling beside me. Her hands hover, like she’s afraid to touch me. “This is crazy, but… you’re still you, right?”

I nod, my wolf’s head heavy but sure. I’m still Leera, just… more. The bond with Roman pulses, stronger now, like a heartbeat tying us together.

Jeanine pulls another vial from her bag, her eyes on the door. “Roman, you’re stable, but weak. Leera’s shift is new. She’s strong, but uncontrolled. We need to get you both out.”

“Out?” Roman frowns, standing shakily. “This is our territory.”

“And India knows it,” Jeanine says. “She’s not alone. I smell at least three wolves now.”

“Three?” Benny’s eyes narrow. “Khas and who else?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Slate says, his knife ready. “We hold the line.”

The door splinters, wood cracking as a massive paw breaks through. My wolf snarls, hackles rising. Roman steps in front of me, his own growl low. “Stay back, Leera.”

“No,” I try to say, but it’s a bark, sharp and defiant. My wolf’s in control now, and she’s not backing down.

“Leera, please,” Roman says, his mismatched eyes pleading. “I can’t lose you.”

His words hit hard, the bond flaring with his fear, his need. I hesitate, my wolf whining, torn between fighting and protecting him. Another thud shakes the door, and India’s voice rings out. “Time’s up, Roman!”

Jeanine grabs my scruff, her grip firm. “Leera, we’re moving. There’s a back exit. Roman, with me.”

“No way,” Zoey says, her voice trembling but firm. “I’m not leaving her.”

“You’re human,” Jeanine says, her tone sharp. “You’ll slow us down.”

“She’s my friend,” Zoey snaps, her hands on her hips. “I’m coming.”

The door explodes inward, wood flying. India strides in, her green eyes glowing, her lean frame half-shifted, claws extended. Two wolves flank her, their fur dark, eyes glinting. Khas isn’t with them. Where is he?

“Leera,” India purrs, her gaze locking on me. “Pretty wolf. Too bad you won’t live to enjoy it.”

I snarl, lunging forward, but Roman grabs my scruff, pulling me back. “Not yet,” he growls, his own claws extending.

Andrei and Slate charge, colliding with the two wolves in a blur of fur and teeth. Benny joins them, his growl shaking the room. Jeanine drags me toward a back hall, Roman stumbling beside her. Zoey follows, her phone clutched like a weapon.

“Leera, stay with me,” Roman says, his voice strained. “We’ll figure this out.”

I whine, my wolf fighting to turn back, to fight. The bond pulls me to him, but the fire in my chest wants blood. India’s laugh follows us, chilling my bones. “Run all you want,” she calls. “I’ll find you.”

We reach a back door, the forest dark beyond it. Jeanine shoves it open, the night air cold and sharp. My paws hit the ground, my senses alive pine, earth, the distant howl of another wolf. Khas? My wolf hesitates, confused.

“Move!” Jeanine hisses, pushing Roman forward. He’s leaning on her, his strength fading again. I nudge his side, urging him on, my wolf’s instincts screaming to protect him.

Zoey’s panting beside me, her eyes wide. “Leera, this is insane. You’re a wolf. A freaking wolf!”

I bark, soft, trying to reassure her. But the pain’s back, sharper now, my wolf’s strength fading. My legs wobble, and I stumble, my fur receding, skin prickling. I’m shifting back, human again, naked and shivering on the forest floor.

“Leera!” Roman drops to his knees beside me, pulling off his jacket to cover me. His hands are warm, his scent grounding me. “You’re okay. You did it.”

“Did what?” I gasp, my voice hoarse. My body aches, my mind reeling. “I’m… I’m a wolf?”

“You are,” he says, his eyes soft but fierce. “My mate.”

Before I can answer, a shadow moves in the trees. A low growl rumbles, not India’s. Khas steps into the moonlight, his grey eyes glowing. “Leera,” he says, his voice low. “We need to talk. Now.”

Roman snarls, stepping in front of me, but my vision blurs, the pain spiking again. My wolf’s still there, clawing, but something’s wrong. A sharp scent of wolfsbane hits my nose, and my body locks up, a scream trapped in my throat. Khas lunges, not for Roman, but for me, his hands glowing with a strange light. Roman roars, but the world fades, and all I hear is Khan's voice, soft and urgent. “You’re not safe, Leera. Not with him.”