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**Mina's POV**

I woke up to a new world.

The moment my eyelids quivered open, I was aware of it—a shocking clarity that honed all around me and made it infinitely more alive.

The gentle chirp outside turned into a symphony of sound, every creak of leaves, every distant murmur of wind, resonating within me as if the world had come alive.

I blinked, trying to comprehend the blinding sensations coursing through my body.

It was like being born again, but I was no longer myself.

I slowly sat up, the sheets falling away from my body, and tried to steady my breathing.

Even the chill of the air on my skin felt electric, as though the walls that separated my human form from the wolf within me were beginning to dissolve.

I could hear the pounding of my heart in my ears—a quick, merciless pulsing that was a reminder that something fundamental had been changed.

A fog of memories not entirely my own—glimpses of midnight pursuits, the rush of adrenaline, and the gut-level call of a pack—illuminated my mind.

I didn't know if these were mere leftover impressions from my first waking or if they were somehow part of me now, woven into the fabric of my own being itself. For the first time since that wretched night, I was beginning to feel the full weight of my change. The agony wasn't so overwhelming anymore, but altered—a dull, constant ache that reminded me of a border being reshaped.

I kicked my legs over the side of the bed, my toes brushing against the cold floor.

Each step I made echoed with new awareness.

I sensed every detail—the soft carpet threads against my toes, the subtle thrum of the floor, even the lingering scent of lavender from the diffuser Tasha had left me with last week.

Everything was magnified.

And it thrilled and scared me.

Tasha was already awake in the common room.

I noticed her sitting by the window, eyes distant as if she were lost in thought.

There was an unmistakable tension on her face—an expression I had become accustomed to as a mixture of concern and something else that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I wasn't sure if she had yet noticed the changes that had taken place within me.

For the moment, I tried to remain hidden behind my own thoughts, but I could not shake the feeling that she was watching.

I felt a pull—a subtle, hardly tangible pull—like the distant beating of a heart.

I closed my eyes, trying to tune into that internal voice, that of the wolf that lay deep inside me.

It was growing louder now, more insistent, as though it was trying to be heard.

I could hear it whispering, softly but imperatively: "Take hold of me, Mina. Let me go."

I shook, not knowing whether to obey or fight.

I remembered the chaos of my first shift, the torrent of pain and fear that would not be controlled.

Then, I had been stunned, having no idea how to bring together the two parts of myself.

Today, things were different.

The pain tasted of a sense of understanding.

I realized that my wolf inside was not my enemy—it was part of me, a legacy of what I was meant to be.

And yet, the human in me yearned for stability, for the familiar.

I was at war, not of side against side, but of integration.

I rose and walked over to the mirror, looking at myself in the golden light.

My eyes were not the same anymore—breathtaking, with glints of blue specks that shone whenever I moved.

My face, though still very much human, had a sort of untamed quality, like I was poised on the edge of some secret world.

I ran my hand over my cheek, marveling and frightened of the transformation spreading slowly inside me.

As I waited, the door slowly creaked open behind me. I turned to see Tasha come into the room, her face set in determination and worry. "Mina, you okay?" she asked softly.

I delayed and then nodded. "I... I don't know," I admitted, the words trembling on my lips. "It all sounds so... too much. I can hear everything—the thud of my own heart, the scratching of every leaf outside, even my own thoughts—they're all so clear."

Tasha got closer, putting a hand on my shoulder. "That's the shift, isn't it?" She spoke softly. "I recall when I experienced it—intimidating at first, yet you figure out how to live with it. To use it.".

I looked at her, and for a moment, I saw the confidence in her eyes—the same confidence I had long envied.

But now, as I struggled with my own transformation, I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Tasha had embraced her power; she had forged a path in this crazy world. And here I was, still fumbling with the balance between the beast and the girl I used to be.

"Perhaps I should attempt," I breathed, almost to myself, "to open the door, to allow the wolf to speak."

Tasha's face softened. "You will, Mina. But you must do it one step at a time."

Before I could respond, the room fell silent as the thud of footsteps resonated in the hallway.

I tensed, heart pounding.

The door swung open and Cass slipped inside, quiet as a ghost.

His face was etched with concern, and the tension in his posture said it all.

I knew that look—the mix of duty and pain that mirrored mine.

"Cass," I breathed, "I. I feel it all now. I'm kind of standing on the tip of something I can't quite grasp."

He nodded slowly, taking one cautious step nearer to me. "That's alright," he said, his voice low and soothing. "Your wolf is bursting through, but don't struggle too much. Let it in, but remember—you're still you."

I could see the war fought out in his eyes.

He wished to help, to be there for me, but he also understood that some of these things needed to be tolerated in entirety before he could do anything.

I could feel the fierce devotion he had towards me, even though I was not his mate.

It was a truth that hurt, because I knew in my heart he was meant for another—Julia, perhaps.

But that was secondary to the insanity of my own mind.

Cass inched closer, his fingers hovering tantalizingly near my own but not quite touching. "I'm here," he whispered. "I'll wait with you until you're ready."

His words, simple but charged with potential, caused my skin to prickle.

For a forever moment, I allowed my eyes to close, trying to focus on his serene presence.

I could sense the tension in my body begin to change, the searing pain slowly receding into a numbness that was both terrifying and oddly comforting.

Then I heard the wolf inside of me speak again, but this time with a louder and more clear voice. "Claim your nature, Mina. I am you, and we are stronger together."

A torrent of visions swept over my mind—a pack running in the light of a full moon, the sheer thrill of the chase, and the tremendous power of the elements at our command.

I opened my eyes, blinking, and it was all different.

The room was not just the same room—it was suffused with promise.

I felt the gentle thrum of magic on the air, the muffled pulse of the earth at my feet.

My vision cleared, and I was able to see the dance of light and darkness weave across the walls in detailed tapestry.

Sounds of the outside world were but a muted murmur as I sensed the wolf inside me begin to merge into my own beat.

I quivered, overwhelmed by the fierceness of it as I hesitantly set foot.

Cass's fingers closed warmly around my own, holding fast. "It's okay," he whispered. "You're doing it. Just let it happen."

I hesitated, then let out a shuddering breath. "I'm scared," I breathed, my voice so low it was hardly audible. "Scared of what I'm turning into."

He nodded, his gaze softening. "That's natural. But you're not losing yourself—you're finding a part of you that's been waiting to wake up."

Tears blurred my vision as I listened to him.

I felt the boundaries between my wolf and human self shatter, not in a bursting explosion, but in a stifling, aching release.

The pain shifted—no longer an incinerating agony, but a resonating, deep power that flowed through every cell of my body.

I flung my eyes open, and for the first time, I saw myself reflected in the mirror across the room.

A mad fire glinted in my eyes, a flash of gold that ran through the brown.

My skin seethed with an inner fire, and I knew with a mix of awe and terror that I was changing.

I took a deep breath, waiting to hear the whisper of the wolf. "I am strong. I am whole."

Cass's presence constantly was sufficient. I could feel him close to me, his heat and concern wrapping around me like a comfortable blanket. With all of that—the doubts, the fear, the unadulterated power that surged through me—I knew I was not alone. Even if I were not his mate, he would not hurt me. And that, muddying my feelings as it did, was a lifeline.

Slowly, the overpowering rush faded.

I was left with a sharp lucidity—a soft voice in my mind that told me that this was only the beginning of something great and wondrous.

My wolf murmured now, alongside my own thoughts.

"You're mine, Mina. Welcome me in, and we'll walk through the darkness together."

I glanced over at Cass, whose face had a mixture of relief and concern.

His silent promise had given me the courage to let go of my fear, to embrace what I was transforming into.

I realized at that moment that my transformation was not a curse but a birth.

I was able to channel this power, learn to harness it, and maybe even use it to protect the people that I love.

Across the room, Tasha watched us with wide eyes, her expression unchanging. I saw something in her eyes—a flash of hope, or maybe regret. I couldn't be sure. But I knew that our lives were now forever intertwined.

Cass interrupted the silence, his tone soft but firm. "Mina, slow down. Let your wolf talk, but don't let it take over. You have forever to discover who you are."

I nodded, a smile struggling its way to my lips despite the lingering shock of the change. "I... I think I get it now," I whispered. "Not everything has to be controlled at once. I can feel the power, but I can also learn to live with it."

Cass wrapped her fingers tighter around mine, and in the simple gesture, I found the reassurance I required.

The fear remained, lurking on the edge of my mind, but so did something else—a new strength, a glimmer of determination.

I was breaking free from the old shackles of what I believed I was, and in doing so, I was becoming more than I ever could have imagined.

For a moment, I just stood there, feeling the balance of my human body against my wolf as a delicate dance. The world around me was bathed in the gentle light of early morning, and all noise—the hum of the building, the muffled chatter of students in the distance—was a promise of renewal.

I looked at my hands, shaking half and firm half, and I whispered to myself, "I'm not lost anymore. I'm just... evolving."

Cass looked at me, and in that silent comprehension, I knew he understood. He didn't need to say a word; his presence spoke louder than words.

Later, when I met up with Tasha and the others for breakfast in the common room, I couldn't help but think back on that moment—on the way that walls between my human and wolf sides had shattered just enough to allow me a glimpse of truth. It was horrifying, and yet it was thrilling. And I knew, deep in my heart, that this was only the start of a long, uncertain journey.

I made a decision then to embrace the turmoil within me. I would learn to tame it, give the wolf its voice without stifling the girl I once was. And maybe, just maybe, I would get the heart to extend my hand—not so much to find myself but to bridge the gap between what I feared and what I wanted.

Throughout the day, however, I was transformed.

That restlessness, that inner rage, had changed and become coupled with an internal resolve.

My wolf remained in me, felt its savage, unbreakable power inside my chest, but no longer boiled with wrath.

Rather, it whispered to me of what was possible.

I heard echoes of hunts gone past, felt the pulse of earth under my step, saw glints of a line where there had as yet only dawn.

Tasha looked at me once, in one of our classes—a fleeting glance of worry and a kind of pride. I couldn't help but wonder what she'd witnessed, but I didn't inquire. Some things are better kept unspoken.

When the final bell rang, I was alone in the library.

The serene quiet of the old building and the soft rustle of pages turned was a sanctuary for my spinning thoughts.

I sat at a small table by a window, unzipping my notebook.

I had to get this on paper.

All the feelings, all the beats—it was too much to let slip unrecorded.

As I set my thoughts down on paper, I felt a sense of catharsis.

That pain of change, that fear of the unknown, and that uncertain offer of power were all there, raw and laid bare on paper.

I wrote of those voices in my mind, that fiery feeling of power and heat that coursed through me, and that inexplicable sense I had for Cass—a secret understanding that was as much a source of comfort as it was of anguish.

I explained the way Tasha had looked at me previously, as if she sensed the changes though she could not articulate them, and of the irony that I was finding beauty in the chaos in spite of everything.

Every sentence was a hesitatory step towards understanding, a plea for light in the midst of the storm.

I realized then that my path was just unfolding.

The path that lay before me was not an easy one—wars between worlds, battles to maintain the balance, and the inevitable battles that resulted from embracing a fate that was contrary to the grain.

But I was no longer the frightened girl who dreaded the changes within her body.

I was something else—a blend of the old and the new, a living testimony of both human resilience and the unbridled, ageless heart of the wolf.

I clamped my book shut and looked out the window, where the morning sun was just beginning to drive the remaining shadows of night from the campus.

The dorms were beginning to stir, oblivious to the transformation that had taken root among one of its own.

In that quietness, I swore to myself unspokenly: I would understand this power, learn from it, and use it to construct a future in which I was not defined by fear or doubt, but by strength and determination.

Deep inside, a voice inside me—my wolf—whispered to me that I was going in the right direction.

I smiled faintly, experiencing a flash of gratitude toward Cass, whose silent urging had given me the strength to face the storm brewing inside.

I knew there would be more pain, more fear, and no doubt more fights ahead.

But for now, I allowed myself to take the control of my own destiny.

The day had barely begun, and although I had no notion of what the future would hold, I knew that with each passing second, I was becoming more whole—stronger. And maybe, someday, I'd find a way to let go of the pain and let the true me shine through, no longer shattered by the secrets of the past.

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