Chapter 11: Walking Into a New World

Thelma Zane’s POV: Two weeks had passed since my ordeal, and I was finally back on my feet, fully recovered. The speed of my recovery was astonishing, even to me. I had my unique physiology to thank for it. If I were still human, I’d probably have a grave prepared by now. The changes in my body had grown increasingly evident, marking my transition into adulthood. At eighteen, my wolf was awakening, a process that both frightened and thrilled me. It explained why my injuries, sustained from jumping off a cliff, hadn’t been fatal and why I’d healed in such a short time. This transformation was a constant reminder that I was no longer the ordinary human I’d thought I was for most of my life. Discovering my identity as a werewolf had been an overwhelming revelation. I often wondered how I should navigate this new reality. Yet, no matter how uncertain I felt, life pressed forward, and so did I. I rarely allowed myself to dwell on Benard’s rejection that night. My eighteenth year