#Chapter 80: Not Myself

Alexander The moment we hit the tree line, I shifted, my body snapping, twisting, reshaping in a way that should be painful but wasn’t. A familiar rush of heat, the pull of instinct taking over, and suddenly I was running on all fours—massive, powerful, my black fur blending into the night. Beside me, a streak of white kept pace. Liam. We ran, fast and brutal, the world a blur as we tore through the forest. The scent of pine, damp earth, and distant prey filled the air, but there was only one scent I cared about. “Split up! We’ll find her!” Liam said, vering off to the right into the trees. My massive breath puffed the cold air as I took in her scent. Lauren. And she was close. Her scent was different now. Darker. Wilder. A twisting, chaotic energy that made my hackles rise. The closer I got, the wronger it felt. Then, I saw her. And my blood ran cold. Lauren was… not the same. A beast. Her coat was a deep, rich brown, but it was more than that—there was shadow