Val watched them through a film of water, eyes focusing and unfocusing but never really getting rid of that blurry effect.

She took a wobbly step forward, still getting used to her strong legs, and looked around.

She could see better than before, eyes catching on every single detail, colors more vibrant than ever. Her sense of smell had doubled, tripled even. She could smell the sweat in the room, the fear, the blood—

She shook her head.

"How are you feeling?" Daphne raised a hesitant hand.

Val tilted her head and started to take slow steps around them. She thrust her head forward and took in the smell. Daphne carefully lifted her hand to stroke her muzzle and she jumped back, sneezing. Her current form was taller than her.

Zack chuckled. "The heightened senses take a while to get used to."

She lowered her head and sniffed again, walking toward him. They smelled nice.

Daphne smelled musky, like their morning pancakes and syrup, and Zack smelled like mint, with a faint sense of lime. Turning her head, she let Damian run his fingers through the fur at the side of her head and breathed him in. Leather, she realized, with another, wood-ish smell. Like the forest.

He rubbed under her ears and she tilted her head to give him more reach, a small purr coming from her lips. Zack chuckled, mumbling something about an overgrown puppy before trailing his fingers at her sides, checking for injuries. She let them, leaning into their touch.

Then her nose caught on something else. She had a feeling Daphne had done something with her magic because the previous odor covering the gym had diminished. The sweat was ignorable but the blood came from herself. Her wounds.

Her eyes glazed over. She could faintly feel Daphne caress her jaw when an image of the lake flashed in her mind. The wolves rushing at them, jaws snapping; Robin, kneeling on the grass with blood running down her arm and — her screaming. So much screaming.

She whined, overwhelmed for a moment, then she leaped back and away from all the wandering hands. Zack frowned, and she licked her lips. She remembered how the rogues had attacked them, her friends fighting them off; she remembered the little girl when she touched Ian's sketchbook, being told she was torn apart when they'd attacked; then Sam, watching with bleary eyes as her father pranced into her home.

A snarl rose in her throat, rumbling over her chest and making her whole body shake with feral need. Her tongue licked at her teeth, lips pulling back, and suddenly the scent was too strong — everywhere. She wanted to lean her head on Daphne, smell the mint on Zack, or breathe in Damian's scent. Like the forest.

She tried to move toward them but her legs wouldn't budge, her head turned to the door as the Beta took a step forward.

He didn't have the time to say anything before she spun and ran past the double doors.

She could still smell them. Hear Damian running after her, Zack tearing into his shift, but it felt like a curtain had been dropped in front of her. She wasn't the one controlling her body, her wolf was.

She gave a small rumble, as if in answer.

She had given her everything, yielded all control to her, and yet she was surprised when her wolf chose to act on that freedom.

She'd been an idiot.

Still, Val hadn't been the one to be looking at everything through eyes that weren't her own; limbs she couldn't control. Fighting over that hold now and realizing how scary that truly was, how lonely and frustrated she must have been, she couldn't really blame her.

But blood was on her wolf's mind, and she dreaded to find out what she had in mind.

She pushed and banged at the invisible walls of her mind to no avail. Her wolf rumbled, biting at the air and pointedly ignoring Damian yelling something from the back.

She let the hold over her loosen slightly, just enough for Val to be able to feel what she was.

She wanted her to feel how the air split and ruffled her fur as they ran through the forest, paws perfectly balanced and stable over the ground. She leaped over rocks and felt every leaf brush through her body. Birds flew away from every tree they ran past and animals hid and ran away when they got close enough to hear them. They were the hunters in that forest, the top of the food chain, and she loved it.

Her breaths came in whizzing puffs of excitement, and her head cleared. Her wolf ached to run freely around their territory, feel the crunch of leaves under her powerful paws.

A pressure slowly built up in her mind, snarls and growls making Zack's presence known from their back. Her wolf sped up, mocking him with yips and small rumbles.

He gained on them. She zigzagged through the trees while throwing a look over her shoulder, tongue out like a dog thrusting its head out the car window.

She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it.

The pressure continued to build in her — their — mind. Val felt a tug, emotions that didn't belong to her flooding her thoughts. Their nose twitched, and her wolf made sure to take everything in. The forest; the cool ground under her feet that she'd desperately wanted to feel more of; Zack's minty scent and Damian's — like the forest. Like freedom.

She quit fighting and let her steer the wheel, simply enjoying the feel of her new body.

The air changed, the humidity sticking to her fur in small droplets of water. They started to slow down after a while, trees giving way to grass and ground lining around a large lake. The water was illuminated by the full moon's light, an exact copy of it sitting on its surface with tendrils of its light reaching for the edge.

She sniffed the air, a low rumble making Zack stop a safe distance away next to Damian. They panted, she could hear them, but her wolf simply trotted over the silky blades of grass, claws out and pulling chunks of it from the ground.

She walked over the edge and lowered her head to glance into the water. The tendrils had pulled back, as if shy of her presence.

Their body stilled, more out of Val's reaction than anything.

Their fur, silky-soft-looking and slightly wet, was pitch black.

A distant voice whispered in her ear as the pressure came back, nudging at her mind.

The color of one's eyes, along with one's wolf form, is a reflection of our soul — most wolves have light-colored fur because of that. The powers the moon gave us come from light magic, but just like every other being on this planet, we are prone to black magic, to impurities, and while you can't tell the difference in our skin, our wolf characteristics give it away.

Zack had told her that when she first shifted. He'd said that was also why wolves tended to be of light color, usually brown, maybe darker sometimes but never black.

Because they were born of the Moon-Goddesses' magic — light magic — and whatever reach black magic had on them, they always had a spec of light in their souls. A piece of her to protect them.

But her fur was black.

And she wondered what that meant. If when her wolf lashed out, there was a reason behind it.

Our wolf characteristics give it away.

Was that black magic then? They had reassured her that those impulses of hers were out of a frustrated wolf too long held back by the spell. But none of them lashed out as she did, and only a few minutes prior the smell of blood had triggered her.

She had wanted to shred the rogues at that lake to pieces when they first fought; then afterward with Sam's father, she'd wanted to taunt him, hurt him — badly. And she had done enough already at practice.

She was feral. Dangerous.

Nothing short of those mindless beasts running from the treeline.

Nothing short of the monsters that killed Ians' sister and forced Damian to become something he didn't want to be.

Had their bloodthirstiness repulsed even the Goddess that was supposed to look after them?

Had she given up on them, a lost cause, and chosen to leave them to their fate?

Had all that darkness snuffed out the sole part of them that held any light?

Val felt for their bond. A flimsy, scrawny thing that felt as fragile as a piece of string holding them together. But she could feel it grow. Second by second, minute by minute, the bond grew stronger and their fate spiraled and weaved together. They were one, for now and forever.

Zack reached over with Damian, and she realized she'd been looking out at that treeline. Maybe waiting for more wolves to start running toward them. Maybe she just wanted an excuse to shed blood.

He nudged her with his muzzle, and she pushed him away with her head, irritated.

Nipping at her legs, she finally glanced at him.

Zack gave her a pointed look, eyes glowing with the presence of his wolf. Damian looked from the side, as human as any vampire could look.

Val tilted her head, feeling that same nudge in her mind. Her eyes widened in realization.

She didn't know how to let him in, so she simply imagined a bond between them. Like the one she had with her wolf, a string tying them together. She opened an imaginary door in her head, letting him in.

Finally, Zack huffed in her mind. She gave a mocking sniff and had the urge to shut that imaginary door in his face. Are you in control?

Right now I am, she said and heard him sigh in relief. Familiar with the process, she understood immediately when Damian tried to form a hesitant link of his own.

I'm glad you're okay, he whispered in her mind and she dipped her head, nudging his calf with her snout.

How did you get your control back? Zack asked hopefully. She almost felt bad to have to crush it.

I didn't. She let me. The disappointment was obvious but he tried not to let too much of it show.

What's on your mi—

He stopped abruptly. His eyes were still glazed over so she knew someone was mind-linking him. When he snapped back to focus it was with a snarl. He looked at her, then Damian in contemplation.

"What happened?" Damian asked out loud.

The run is over. The Alpha is meeting with the Parks. He glanced at her. Sam is with them.

Val's straightened. Where?

He looked hesitant at first, but the glare she threw his way helped with the decision. Follow me. He nodded and spun, taking off at full speed.

Val didn't find it difficult to catch up to him, matching his speed with not much effort. She wondered if he was going slower for them to catch up. Damian was right next to them, and while when they ran before he had been a little more than a blur, she could see him clearly now.

Her wolf lashed out at her mind but didn't fight her for control. Their goal was the same.

Passing through the trees and circling around animal carcasses on their way, blood still fresh from their pack's hunt, Val recognized the path they were following.

Take cover. Don't move in unless I find it necessary, Zack rushed over the link. He broke the tree line while she and Damian stayed back, each standing behind a particularly large tree trunk and hiding in its shadows. She didn't think it mattered, he'd probably already smelled them approach.

Zack shifted back and one of the men by the Alpha's side threw him some shorts to pull on.

"What the hell are you doing, Marcus?" Zack snarled. The Alpha's eyes darkened, red visible from even her vantage point. She crouched low, head sinking into the ground and lips curling back. Damian watched her from the corner of his eyes, warning her not to make a move.

"I think you've missed my title, Beta," he bit out from atop the rock. She'd been coming back to that place after she found out what she was. She remembered the dread that made the hair on the back of her head rise every time she walked in and the surprising relaxation that soothed her wolf. Now she just felt angry.

Zack gritted his teeth but tilted his head to the side anyway, submitting. She was ready to jump him right there and then, wolf howling and barking in her head. She pushed for them to run in and sink their canines into his neck. Val was still in control, but she could feel her patience slipping.

The grass never grew in that clearing, even as it absorbed water from the rain into its roots, and she wondered if it had been used as another training place in the past. It was dry, smoothly moving with the slight breeze and carrying with it whispers of her life before. When she knew nothing — when she was ignorant.

Breathing it in with a large breath, she calmed her nerves.

Sam watched him with wide eyes a few feet away, her parents standing tall at either side of her as Ryan observed her from the other side. She recognized the person next to him as his older brother — Lucas.

"We're here for the treaty," Lucas declared, an air of authority in his voice. "As I'm sure you know, my father's illness has progressed, so I'll be acting on behalf of our pack." Illness? A werewolf could get sick? Zack said they healed too fast for that.

Sam's lip curled for a second, then her face fell back to a somewhat calm mask, encouraged by her mother. Meghan observed everything through furrowed brows. They had partaken on the pack run, she noticed, their clothes consisting of some shorts for her father and large shirts for her mother and her to cover themselves with.

That's how they celebrated their daughter shifting for the first time? She wanted to shout at them.

"I hope you can find the root of his illness," Zack said diplomatically, nodding his head. Val didn't miss the pointed way he looked at him. Marcus got up, hands crossed over a muscled chest.

"We've been talking for a while about how it would benefit both packs if the fighting stopped." He gestured to Sam. "Samantha over there has a strong bond with Ryan, and she has a strong wolf," — an acknowledging smile to her — "she would make a great Beta female."

"And have you asked the girl?" Zack asked as calmly as he could. His hands curled to fists at his sides; Marcus watched him with interest.

His eyes, red and utterly cold despite the small smile on his face, searched the trees in their direction. Damian cursed, head lurching back behind the trunk, even though he already knew he was aware of their position.

"She'll be happy there," he said dismissively, gaze locked with hers from within the shadows of the forest. "Why haven't your pupils joined us? Diplomatic experience is greatly valued in a pack."

Zack pursed his lips. Sam's father — Henry — smiled from the back. "Pups have no place in a pack meeting."

"Ah..." he mused, "then why are they here?"

"It took one of them longer to shift. She was nearby with me."

Marcus' nose flared. "It's only right for an Alpha to meet with his packmates on a full moon," he leered, "since they're here, we might as well." He tried to take a step forward but a hand clamped around his arm.

"We need to resolve this first. The girl should go home and decide if she wants to pass over into their pack or not."

Marcus looked down at his hand as Zack slowly withdrew. His eyes darkened and the tension hung thickly over them as the two men that had escorted their Alpha to their training grounds before made to walk forward. A raised hand stopped them.

"I think you've forgotten your place in my absence," he seethed. "Shall I remind you?"

"I've only been acting out yours," Zack said, not missing a beat.

"Is that a challenge, then?" Marcus crooned.

Zack glanced back briefly, catching her look. "No," he said lowly. And she wanted to scream.

Seeing him brought so low by a man — a male — that deserved none of the respect his title ensured him made hot fury boil in her veins. She lifted a paw, taking half a step forward.

"I don't want to go." She stilled.

Zack and Marcus turned to Sam, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"I thought these matters had been taken care of already." Marcus narrowed his eyes at Henry.

The Gamma paled. "No, they have," he rushed. Martha remained a statue by her daughter's side. "She's just a little anxious."

"You agree, then?"

Henry nodded vigorously, his mate giving him a dejected look.

"It's set then." Marcus clapped his hands. "Since you have the parent's blessing, I'm sure everything will be fine." Zack stared at him wide-eyed, face twisted in indignation and disgust.

Ryan looked between him and Sam hesitantly, then started walking toward her.

Val sprung forward, body taking charge. She didn't know which of them was influencing their actions, maybe it was both, all she knew was that she wouldn't just sit back and watch them take her away.

Marcus hummed, "There she is."

She snarled while Zack threw her an alarmed look. He tried to stop the Alpha from advancing toward her but when he pushed past him Zack grabbed his arm and pulled him back roughly.

Marcus rolled back and jumped up, glaring at one of them, then the other. He tore into his shift the same moment the two men from the back did.

A brown wolf now stared back at her, looking mildly surprised.

He glanced at Zack by her side, who had also shifted, and said something over the mind-link, muzzle pulled back into a snarl. Damian walked over as the wolves flanked their Alpha.

Lucas looked at the situation with interest, not really moving from his place in the clearing. Ryan had moved back to his side while Sam was having an intense argument with her parents, pushing her father back when he tried to move over to them. Probably not to help them.

Marcus gave a rumble, watching her intently, but what caught her attention was his eyes. They were glowing a bright red, similar to her golden, and small veins as dark as her fur started to crawl upward into the sclera, almost completely covering the white.

I've been looking for you, a voice crooned in her head — Marcus. But he sounded different from before, deeper, darker in a way.

The words triggered something in her and a flash of golden locks came to mind, eyes that pleaded up at her attacker. An Alpha.

She squinted. No, it couldn't be him. His voice was different, and she remembered enough of his features through the mirror to be able to differentiate the two.

A foreign scent hit her nose just when she saw Henry and Sam shift from the corner of her eyes. She was blocking his way, trying to hold him back and no doubt trying to put some sense into him. Her mother watched from the sidelines, tears catching in her eyes but refusing to make any other move.

Val looked in the direction the scent was coming from, all she could tell was that they were close. Zack didn't seem too worried, so she looked back at Marcus, who snarled in annoyance.

Been poisoning my pack, haven't you? he hissed.

If you were here in the first place, maybe they'd have more faith in you, she retorted.

He lunged forward, and when Zack tried to intercept him the two wolves tackled him to the side.

Marcus slashed at her side with his claws; Val leaped away but he managed a small nick.

She retaliated by jumping on him and locking her jaws on his shoulder. He howled, hind legs pushing and scratching at her belly. He finally managed to throw her off and she quickly jumped back, spitting a small chunk of fur and flesh on the ground. Blood oozed from his wound, flesh jagged and scraggy.

He managed to pin her head on the ground and tried going for her throat but she pushed him away, making him bite her front right leg instead. She thrashed, growling and howling in pain but his jaws wouldn't budge.

Her wolf thrust forward, taking control and tilting her head to the side — to his wounded shoulder. She bit him as ferociously as she could, leg throbbing in pain and feeling as though he would snap the bone until he let go with a furious snarl.

Val stood on her shaking leg. She tried to hide the agony from her face as she regarded him with a menacing growl.

Never show weakness in front of your opponent, Damian had said. She tried not to look in their direction, hoping they were alright, as the male in front of her started to make a move. His eyes were narrowed at her, and then they widened, locking on hers.

Behind you! Damian bellowed over the link.

Three wolves ran over from her back and she half prepared to defend against both sides when she noticed their eyes.

A glowing mix of blue and golden.