Side Story 3

My parents were already waiting for us when Sara and I came downstairs, dressed and ready to leave. There was no more time to waste, so we headed straight to the car. During the entire drive to the mansion, I couldn’t shake the sickening twist in my stomach. It felt like bile was sitting right under my ribs, refusing to settle. I didn’t know why I was this uneasy, but the feeling had been with me since the moment I woke up. And now, as the mansion came into view, it only grew worse. When we stepped inside, the place was packed. The higher-ranked guests were seated at the front while people like us occupied the back rows. Giant screens covered the hall, displaying the ceremony as Owen’s birthday celebration unfolded. I was so thrilled for him—finally, finally he would get to shift into his wolf. I knew how much he had anticipated this day. As the minutes passed, my anxiety mixed with excitement, and at exactly 11:55, an announcement echoed through the speakers: it was time for