The night was still.
The water's surface stretched out dark and undisturbed, reflecting the moon. It was beautiful but in a haunting way. It was the kind of quietness that made you feel like the world was holding its breath, waiting.
The night buzzed with life. Crickets chirped, leaves rustled as unseen creatures moved through the underbrush, and in the distance, werewolves howled. Some were fighting. Others were mating.
But the river remained calm, as if it hadn't just claimed a life.
And then…
A violent ripple tore through the water's surface before a figure exploded out, gasping, choking and flailing as she struggled to the shore.
Her hands clawed at the muddy riverbank, dragging herself out with shaky limbs. Her body shook as the cold night air hit her soaked clothes.
She collapsed onto the ground, heaving, her fingers digging into the damp earth.
For a long moment, she just lay there, her body still, her mind blank.
Then the confusion hit.
What the hell just happened?
Her heart pounded in her chest, as deep unease creeped in her mind.
She forced herself to sit up, her arms shaking as she pushed herself up and tried to gather her thoughts.
And then, the memories hit.
Like a punch to the gut.
A blade sinking into her side. Blood. So much blood. The agony and dizziness as life drained out of her.
She had died.
Raven Blackwood had died.
Her breath paused as her fingers curled tighter into the mud.
Then why the hell was she here? Why was she breathing? And why was she under water?
More memories surfaced, but they weren't hers.
Crying. Running. Her heart clenching with heartbreak. She could still feel it.
Then the cold river swallowing her whole.
She stiffened.
She had never drowned before. She had never felt that kind of pain. But she remembered it. She remembered the way it burned in her lungs, the way her body had grown weak, sinking into the water.
And yet, she could still feel it, the heartbreak, the betrayal. It was raw. Real.
What the hell is this?
Then, she saw a face.
A stupidly handsome face.
Sharp jawline. Piercing blue eyes. An aura of dominance, composure, and effortless steeze.
Damian.
The moment his name crossed her mind, something inside her whimpered.
Her breath hitched.
The sound wasn't external. It wasn't an animal nearby.
It was inside her.
A weird, unfamiliar presence curled in her chest. Heavy. Restless. Alive.
She swallowed hard. Her instincts screamed at her, but she wasn't the type to freak out. She had always been the one to assess, analyze, and act.
But this?
This was beyond logic.
She concentrated as she tried focusing on the sensation.
It was strong, untamed, feral.
And it growled.
Oh, hell no.
Her body went rigid. A different kind of panic crawled up her spine.
This wasn't normal. This wasn't human.
This is a wolf.
The realization slammed into her like a truck.
Her breaths turned shallow. Her fingers pressed against her temple, willing herself to wake up from whatever twisted nightmare this was.
"I thought werewolves weren't real," she muttered.
But she wasn't in the world she knew anymore.
More memories surged forward, memories that weren't Raven Blackwood's, but Selene's.
Lykosya.
A continent ruled by werewolves. A world where humans were the outsiders. Where the strong devoured the weak. Where the moon decided everything. Who you were, who you belonged to.
And she was part of it now.
Her fingers curled tighter into the mud as she exhaled sharply.
This body wasn't hers.
But it was hers now.
She clenched her jaw. She had always adapted. Always survived.
And this wouldn't be any different.
She shut her eyes, focusing on the strange presence inside her.
She could feel it, restless and on edge. A part of her. But also… not.
Slowly, she reached out to it and the moment she did, the world around her blurred.
And then,
Darkness.
She wasn't in the forest anymore. She wasn't even in her body.
She was inside her mind.
A vast, moonlit clearing stretched around her, the air filled with a heavy presence. A shadow lurked in the distance, watching her with sharp, glowing eyes.
A wolf.
It was massive. It had glowing golden eyes burning with emotions
It wasn't friendly.
It wasn't welcoming.
It was angry.
It's growl rumbled through the space, low and threatening.
She swallowed, keeping her posture relaxed, but she could feel its emotions.
Bitterness. Hurt. Broken
She took a slow step forward.
The wolf bared its teeth and snarled as it took a step backward.
It didn't recognize her.
It didn't accept her.
It was reacting just like a puppy that had just been sold to a new owner.
And for the first time since she woke up, a strange, heavy realization settled over her.
She wasn't just in another body.
She had replaced someone.
And the wolf, the he other half of her, knew it.