Kate's POV
The line from the old book still lingered in my mind like a thorn—a brother's envy shall strike the death blow. Even after a full night's rest in Ryker's arms, the words haunted me. They hovered at the edge of every thought, whispering that my blood might not be as pure or simple as I wanted to believe.
But when morning sunlight spilled across our chambers, warming the sheets and chasing away the shadows, I forced myself to breathe. Today couldn't be about old words on a page. Today had to be about me, about control, about strength.
Ryker was already awake, propped against the headboard, his hair tousled and his chest bare. His eyes softened when they found me. "Morning, little flame."
"Morning," I murmured, stretching. His gaze followed the movement, heat simmering there, but he didn't let it linger. Instead, his tone shifted into something more serious.
"We train today," he said. "Not just your fighting. Your shifting."
My stomach tightened. Shifting was no longer simple. It wasn't just about bones cracking and fur replacing skin. Not for me.
I swallowed hard, nodding. "Alright."
---
The training grounds were quiet, only a handful of warriors sparring in the distance. Lila waited for us, arms crossed, a crooked grin on her face.
"Ready to show me what you've got today, Luna?" she teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Depends. Ready to see it?"
Her grin widened. "Always."
Ryker stepped into the middle of the field, his presence commanding even when he didn't say a word. "Kate," he said, voice deep and steady. "Shift."
I closed my eyes, drawing in a breath. And immediately, the tugging began—two pulls, not one.
Choose me, Lysandra's voice purred in my head. My wolf. Fierce, sharp, loyal. She was the instinctual part of me, the part that longed to run through forests and tear down anything that threatened us.
But beneath her was another presence—heavier, hotter, like molten fire just under my skin. The Lycan. It didn't speak in words but in raw energy, in power that made my bones ache.
Two forms. Two choices. And I stood trembling in the middle of them.
Ryker's voice cut across the storm. "Kate. Trust yourself."
With a shuddering exhale, I let go—and Lysandra surged forward.
The shift came with a rush of heat and snapping bones, fur spreading across my body. In seconds, I stood on four legs, the world sharper, scents exploding around me. My white coat gleamed in the sun, the tips of my fur glowing faintly like embers.
Gasps sounded from nearby warriors who'd stopped to watch.
Ryker's eyes softened, his lips curving. "Beautiful," he murmured, and the bond between us vibrated with pride.
But Lysandra wasn't content.
You're holding back, she growled inside me. You feel it too, don't you? The fire under your skin? That's not me. That's her.
Before I could argue, the pressure swelled. My wolf's form rippled, my fur bristling as if flames licked just beneath. Pain tore through me again—deeper this time, bones shifting further, frame expanding.
And then I wasn't Lysandra anymore.
I was taller, broader, my limbs stretched into something between beast and human. My fur blazed white with streaks of red at the tips, glowing like fire. My claws dug deep into the dirt, my chest heaving.
Silence fell over the grounds.
"Moon above," Lila whispered, awe and a flicker of fear in her voice. "A Lycan."
Ryker didn't move for a heartbeat, his eyes locked on me, wide with something between reverence and worry. Then slowly, carefully, he stepped forward.
"Kate," he said softly, as though I were something fragile despite the raw power rippling off me. "It's alright. You're in control."
But was I? The heat inside me burned wild, urging me to fight, to dominate, to burn. My claws flexed involuntarily.
Control it, Lysandra's voice echoed faintly. She's part of you, but so am I. Balance us. Breathe.
I dug my claws into the dirt, forcing air in and out of my lungs, grounding myself on Ryker's steady gaze. His wolf pushed gently at the bond, not overwhelming but anchoring me.
Slowly, the fire cooled. My Lycan form steadied, no longer trembling on the edge of frenzy.
Ryker reached me, resting a hand against my blazing fur without flinching. His eyes held awe and pride. "You are extraordinary."
The words wrapped around me, soothing the storm.
---
Ryker's POV
I'd seen many things in my years as Alpha King. I'd fought enemies twice my size, faced down rogues who wanted me dead. But nothing—nothing—had ever stolen my breath the way Kate did when she stood before me in her Lycan form.
The raw power radiating from her was enough to make every wolf nearby instinctively bow their heads. Yet within that fire, I could still feel her—my mate.
I wanted to shout to the skies that she was mine. That this woman, this Lycan, this miracle—belonged to me.
But I kept my voice steady, my touch gentle. She didn't need my dominance. She needed my trust.
And when her eyes—still that vivid green, even in this form—met mine, I knew. She was balancing both sides of herself, wolf and Lycan, not letting either consume her.
When she finally shifted back, collapsing to her knees with sweat plastering her hair to her face, I caught her instantly.
"You did it," I murmured, brushing damp strands from her forehead. "Both forms. You command them."
Her laugh was shaky. "Barely. I thought I was going to lose it."
"You didn't," I said firmly. "And that's what matters."
Lila stepped closer, eyes still wide. "Do you even understand what this means? No one has ever shifted into both. Wolf and Lycan—it shouldn't even be possible."
Kate looked at me, uncertainty flickering in her gaze. "What if it's dangerous?"
I tightened my arms around her. "Then we learn. Together. Nothing about you will ever be a danger to me."
And for a moment, despite the uncertainty, I saw a spark in her eyes—hope.
---
Kate's POV
The training ended, but the weight of it lingered. Two forms. Two selves. And me, caught in between.
As we walked back toward the palace, the whispers of warriors followed us, awed and respectful. For once, there was no hatred in their eyes—only reverence.
But deep inside, I couldn't shake the thought that maybe my dual nature wasn't just rare. Maybe it was tied to that prophecy, to the shadows creeping closer.
I swallowed hard, leaning against Ryker's side as we entered the palace. His arm came around me instantly, solid and sure.
Whatever the truth was, whatever was coming—I wasn't facing it alone.