As I lay trembling, the pain pulsing through my body in waves, I could barely focus on anything else. My breaths were shallow, as if each one fought to break free from my tightening chest.
Yet, when I felt Damien's steady hand on my forehead, something inside me shifted.
"We're here," he whispered. Xavier moved closer, gently pulling me into his arms, the warmth of his chest against my back. The heat of his skin was comforting, easing the unbearable ache I felt.
"Let us take care of you," he murmured softly. My breathing hitched, not from pain this time, but from the unfamiliar sensation blooming in my chest.
Magnus knelt beside me, his strong hands resting on my knees as he gazed into my eyes. His usual playful demeanor had softened, replaced with a tenderness that made my heart skip.
"We're going to make this easier for you," he said gently, his thumb tracing circles along my skin. The tight coil inside me was loosening with every touch.
The fear that had gripped me so tightly began to fall away. It was replaced by a strange, comforting warmth. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on their hands, their touches. Damien leaned in closer, his lips brushing against my temple.
"Let go, Andra. Let us in." As if sensing my hesitation, Xavier's arms tightened around my waist, holding me firmly yet tenderly. Magnus's hands slid up my thighs, slow and deliberate, his touch igniting a different kind of warmth within me.
He leaned forward, his lips traveling over my knee as he whispered, "We'll ease every ache, every fear. Your pain is ours as well, Little Wolf, remember that."
The pain, still there, now seemed distant, overshadowed by the growing heat in my core. My breath quickened, my body responding to the care and desire surrounding me. Damien's fingers threaded through my hair, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. His lips lingered, and I found myself leaning into him, craving the closeness, the safety he offered.
Xavier's hand traveled down my side, his fingers tracing delicate patterns along my waist, sending ripples of pleasure through my body.
"Just breathe."
I followed his command, my breath growing deeper, more controlled as I surrendered to the moment.
Magnus shifted, moving closer until his lips were at my other ear. "How does this feel? Hmm? More?"
His words melted the last of my resistance. Each kiss, each caress, was a promise. To ease my suffering and replace it with something far sweeter.
As Magnus's lips found the curve of my neck, I let out a soft gasp. Damien's hand slid down my arm, his fingers lacing with mine as he brought my hand to his lips. Xavier, still holding me close, pressed his lips to my shoulder, his breath hot against my skin.
My chest tightened, but this time it wasn't from pain. I let out a shaky breath, my eyes fluttering open to meet theirs.
"Thank you," I whispered.
The three men exchanged soft smiles.
"We've only just begun."
My body grew heavier with each passing second. The warmth from their touch, the soothing whispers in my ear, had dulled the pain for a moment, but now something deeper seemed to be happening. My vision blurred, and my breath came in short gasps. Suddenly, my legs gave way beneath me. Damien caught me instantly. My body crumpled into his arms, and the last thing I heard was Xavier's frantic voice...
When I awoke, my head throbbed, and my body felt strangely light. My eyes fluttered open. I was on a bed, surrounded by the familiar faces of Damien, Xavier, and Magnus. They sat on the edge, concern written in their eyes.
"You're awake," Damien said softly as he leaned closer. His hand brushed my hair away from my face. "You scared us."
I blinked, trying to shake off the confusion clouding my thoughts. "What… what happened?"
Xavier's hand rested on my arm, his thumb drawing soft circles against my skin. "The transformation is starting to take hold faster than we anticipated."
"Transformation?" My mind struggled to grasp his words. "What are you talking about?"
"The marks, Little Wolf," Magnus said. "They're changing you. You're becoming one of us."
The room seemed to spin. I sat up quickly. "What? No… no, that can't be. I'm human. I've always been human. My parents were human."
Xavier, ever the calm one, placed a hand on my shoulder. "Normally, the transformation is slow, but with three marks… it's happening much faster."
My pulse quickened. I stared at each of them, searching their faces for some sign that this was a mistake. "No, this can't be happening. I'm human—I can't just… turn into a wolf." The idea of becoming a creature I had feared and only heard of in stories...
"I don't want this. I never asked for this."
Damien's jaw tightened as he exchanged a look with Magnus and Xavier. "Once it begins, it can't be stopped."
I shook my head, refusing to accept what they were saying. "But… I could be your Luna. I could accept that role. But I can't—" My voice broke as I spoke. "I can't be a werewolf. I don't want to be one."
Damien's eyes softened. "Xavier's mother was human too, Andra. She went through the same process. She accepted it, just like you will in time."
I looked toward Xavier, my eyes pleading for something that made sense. "She… she was human?"
Xavier nodded. "Yes. My father found her during a hunt, just like we found you. It wasn't easy for her either, but she came to accept it." He paused for a moment before adding, "In fact, she never liked being human. She found more freedom, more power, in our world."
"But I'm not her," I insisted. "I had a life—a human life. I can't just leave that behind. I want to go back to how things were."
Magnus finally spoke. "And what exactly is waiting for you back in that human life?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. I didn't know what to say, because the truth was painful and impossible to deny.
What did I have to go back to? My old life had been filled with struggle, with loneliness and survival. I had no family, no future that I could see clearly.
Damien's gaze softened. "You've been through so much, Andra. We know this isn't what you wanted, but…"
My throat tightened, tears threatening to spill as I looked between the three men. "What if I hurt someone?" I asked quietly. "What if I'm not… strong enough?"
Damien leaned closer. "You're stronger than you think, Andra. You survived the Purge."
Magnus nodded in agreement, his hand resting on my leg. "We believe in you."
The room was silent for a moment. "I'll try," I whispered.
The three men, though hesitant, exchanged glances, unsure of how to ask more. But it was Damien who broke the silence.
"What happened to your family?" he asked. He knew the weight of the question but needed to ask anyway.
I took a slow breath, staring down at the blanket. "They're gone. My parents…" I closed my eyes as the memories flooded back. "They died when I was young. And my sister… she disappeared. Five years ago. During the Purge."
Damien's brow furrowed, and Magnus shifted slightly beside me, his hand resting lightly on my knee. Xavier remained quiet.
"I'm sorry," Damien said.
I shrugged, though my heart ached at the mention of my sister. "It's just… how things are, I guess. Life has never been easy. But…" I hesitated, the question I had been meaning to ask for so long suddenly pushing its way to the surface. "The other women… during the Purge. Do they… do they all die?"
The trio exchanged another glance, and my stomach churned at their silence.
"No," Xavier said firmly.
"Then why… why hunt them? What's the point?"
Magnus spoke next. "It's to trigger the dormant instincts in us, to sense who's right for us. The hunt isn't meant to harm the women. It's a way to detect who our mates are."
"But…" My voice wavered. "Then why do humans believe they die? Why don't they ever come back?"
The men looked at me as though they didn't have an answer. Xavier spoke again. "That… we don't know. Perhaps it's because they leave their old lives behind once they're claimed. Many don't return to their human families, especially after they've bonded with their mates."
My hands trembled as I tried to make sense of their words. "But their families never hear from them. It's like they just vanish." I paused. "It's always felt like a reminder of how weak we are compared to your kind. That we don't matter."
"No," Damien said quickly. "That's not what it is."
"My sister…" I let out a shaky breath, my eyes staring blankly at the wall. "She was lost in one of the hunts. We weren't close. But I still wonder… if she's out there. Somewhere. Still alive."
The room fell silent once more. Magnus cleared his throat. "What was her name?"
"Her name was Sarah. But… she could have changed it by now."
Damien cautiously reached for my hand. "I'll check," he said softly. "I'll see if she's among the women now, living with a mate. She might have pups by now, living her life."
It was a comforting thought, the idea that my sister could be out there, living a new life, perhaps even happy. But I couldn't bring myself to fully believe it. Too much time had passed. Too many unanswered questions.
"I've always told myself she's probably dead," I whispered. "It was easier that way. But… I still hope. I still wonder."
The men didn't speak, giving me the space to process my thoughts.
"I just want to know," I said softly. "If she's alive… or if she's gone. Either way, I need to know."
"We'll find out," Damien assured me. "And if she's out there, we'll let you know."
I nodded. I didn't know if I would ever get the answers I needed, but for now, I allowed myself the hope that maybe, just maybe, my sister was out there, somewhere in the vast world of werewolves.