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The morning after their dinner at Mina's house, something felt... different. A strange stillness settled over everything, like the world was holding its breath. It wasn't a bad feeling, just unfamiliar, like standing at the edge of something vast and unknown.

Mina woke up in a daze, heart pounding in her chest as the remnants of a dream clung to her mind like mist.

A massive wolf had stood before her in the dream, its dark fur blending into the shadows, its golden eyes glowing with something almost.

.

.

familiar.

It hadn't spoken in words, but its presence had resonated deep within her, as if it knew her—no, as if it was part of her.

She sat up, breathing hard, wiping the thin sheen of sweat from her forehead.

She turned to her phone and saw a message from Tasha:

Tasha: Hey, weird night. You good?

Mina frowned. Was it just a coincidence, or had Tasha sensed something too? She quickly typed back:

Mina: Yeah, just a weird dream. You?

Tasha responded almost instantly.

Tasha: Tell me about it when I get there.

Mina sighed, setting her phone aside. She had been overthinking a lot lately, but this... this was different.

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**Morning Tension**

Downstairs, the scent of coffee filled the air, but the usual warmth of their morning routine was missing. Mina padded into the kitchen, still feeling groggy.

Her dad was already seated at the table, his hands wrapped around his coffee mug. He was reading the newspaper, but his eyes weren't moving across the page. Instead, he was staring at a single spot, deep in thought.

Mina slid into her chair. "Morning."

He looked up sharply, as if she had startled him. "Morning."

Mina grabbed a slice of toast but only picked at it. "Did you sleep okay?"

Her dad hesitated. "Fine. You?"

She shrugged. "Weird dreams."

His grip on the mug tightened. "What kind of dreams?"

Mina studied him. He was trying too hard to sound casual, but she could hear the strain in his voice.

"Nothing crazy. Just... a wolf." She hesitated. "It felt like it was calling me."

Her dad's expression barely changed, but she noticed the way his fingers twitched slightly.

"A wolf?"

Mina nodded. "Yeah. It felt... I don't know, familiar. Weird, right?" She let out a forced chuckle.

Her dad took a slow sip of his coffee before setting it down. "Dreams can be strange that way."

That was not the reaction she had expected. He wasn't surprised. He wasn't even dismissing it as nonsense. He was hiding something.

Mina narrowed her eyes. "Dad, is something wrong?"

He shook his head. "No, sweetheart. Just... let me know if you start feeling different, okay?"

Mina's frown deepened. "Different how?"

Before he could answer, the doorbell rang.

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**Tasha's Growing Suspicion**

Mina opened the door to find Tasha standing there, arms crossed. "Okay, weird night, weird morning. Spill."

Mina sighed and stepped aside to let her in.

The moment they reached her room, Tasha flopped onto the bed, watching her closely.

"You look like you barely slept," Tasha noted.

Mina sat at the edge of the bed, running a hand through her hair. "I had a dream. A wolf was... calling me."

Tasha raised an eyebrow. "Calling you? Like, Mina, come join my fluffy wolf cult kind of calling?"

Mina rolled her eyes. "I'm serious. It felt like it knew me."

Tasha tapped her chin. "That's freaky. You think it means something?"

Mina hesitated. "I don't know. But I feel... weird today. Like I can hear things more clearly, and everything seems sharper."

Tasha squinted at her. "Mina, you're not... sick, right?"

Mina shook her head. "No. Just different."

Tasha huffed. "Maybe you need to lay off the sugar."

Mina laughed, but deep down, she knew this wasn't about sugar.

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**Secrets Weighing Heavy**

While the girls went about their day, their parents wrestled with secrets they couldn't yet share.

Tasha's mom sat at the kitchen table, staring at a small vial. The witch had given it to her with clear instructions—mix it into Tasha's drink when the time was right. It wouldn't harm her, but it would make sure she didn't fully grasp what was happening if Mina shifted first.

She sighed, gripping the vial tightly. Could she really do this?

Meanwhile, Mina's dad was pacing in his office.

The signs were there. The way Mina described her dream. The way she said she felt different. It was happening.

She would shift soon.

He had hoped for more time. Hoped she wouldn't have to face this so soon. But fate didn't wait for anyone.

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**A Shift in the Air**

That evening, the girls sat outside on Mina's porch, watching the sunset. The sky was painted in hues of orange and pink, the air thick with the scent of earth and trees.

Mina leaned back against the railing, eyes drifting to the treetops. "Do you ever feel like something is coming, but you don't know what?"

Tasha turned to her. "That's oddly specific."

Mina let out a soft laugh. "I don't know. Lately, it's like... I can feel things more. Like I'm more aware of everything around me."

Tasha studied her for a moment. "You have been acting weird. Maybe you're stressed?"

Mina sighed. "Maybe."

But deep down, she knew this wasn't stress. Something was shifting inside her.

And it terrified her.

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**The First Sign**

Later that night, Mina sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone when a sharp, high-pitched sound rang through her ears.

She winced, clutching her head. It wasn't like a regular noise—it felt like it was coming from inside her.

She sat up, listening.

She could hear everything. The ticking of the clock. The rustling of the trees outside. Even the distant hum of a car passing on the street.

Her breath hitched.

Something was happening to her.

And she had no idea how to stop it.

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