Max followed Kael deeper into the forest. The woods were quiet now, and the howl that once echoed in the distance had faded. The moon hung low, casting long shadows over the ground, and every rustle of leaves made Max's heart race. He could still feel the strange energy that was moving through his veins back then.
Kael moved ahead of him. Max tried to match his pace, but he could barely keep up.
"You've felt it, haven't you?" Kael's voice came from ahead, steady and calm. Max nodded, though he wasn't sure what to say. "You're becoming more attuned to the world around you", Kael continued, drawing Max's focus. "The change is happening slowly, but once it's complete, you'll understand what I mean. You'll feel the pulse of the earth beneath your feet, the rhythm of the wind in your lungs. It'll be as natural to you as breathing".
Max swallowed hard. "I don't want to feel that. I don't want to change".
"You don't have a choice". That was Kael with a softened tone. "The transformation is already taking place. Your body is rejecting it, which only makes the process harder. But it's inevitable. You're a part of this world now, Max".
Max didn't reply. He had thought of himself as an ordinary teen-ager in a small town, but now he was being told he was part of something ancient and wild. It was a too much to process.
They finally arrived at a small clearing, few tents set up around a faint campfire. A group of people were gathered around the fire. As Kael approached the fire, the group stood and nodded in acknowledgement. "This is Max", Kael said. "He's the one".
Then one of the figures stood up. A woman with long, wild black hair, stepped forward. "The new blood", she murmured, studying Max carefully. "He doesn't look like much".
Kael stepped in. "Don't underestimate him, Lyra. The wolf in him is awakening, and it's only a matter of time before he starts to change". Lyra raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. She turned back to the fire, and the others did the same, accepting Kael's words without questions.
"This is the pack. They're the ones who'll help you understand what's happening. They've been through this transformation before, and they'll guide you. You're not alone". That was Kael, his voice softer than before.
Max glanced at the group. There was a man sitting off the side, sharpening a long knife with a focused expression. He looked up, nodded at Max and said, "Don't be so afraid of what you are. It has always been a part of you. Embrace it".
" What now ?", Max said.
Kael turned towards him. " Now you learn. The first thing you need to understand is that the wolf isn't just a beast. It's a part of you. You need to learn to control it or it'll control you".
"I don't know if I can do this". That was Max.
" You don't have a choice, Max. But you're not alone. We'll guide you and we'll also help you", Kael said. Max let out a long breath. For the first time, he saw a small spark of hope. He wasn't entirely powerless in this situation. Maybe there was a way to make sense in all of this.
He wasn't sure of what the future held. But for the first time, he felt like he was beginning to understand his place in this strange, new world.