Chapter 23: Building Bridges

**Thelma Zane’s Perspective** Surrounded by classmates who had already awakened their werewolves, I couldn’t help but feel a distinct sense of longing. Even Aldrich, with his ever-present air of confidence, had his werewolf, though I had never seen it. My parents, perhaps out of concern for my feelings, always refrained from letting their werewolves manifest in my presence. They feared it might highlight the gap between me and everyone else. As a result, while I had grown up around those who had their wolves, I’d never truly seen one—not even once. This realization gave me an idea. Maybe today, I could act cute and persuasive to convince my parents to show me their werewolves. Miss Horace’s voice brought me back to the present as she continued the lesson. “The first transformation is always the most challenging and painful. It is also the easiest to fail. The key lies in allowing the process to unfold naturally. Do not force it. Once you complete your first transformation, the di