EMILY'S POV
I woke to a rustle beside me before my eyes even opened. Every subtle shift, every soft exhale, every movement of the blanket was amplified, clearer than I could ever imagine.
My grandmother stirred in the dim light room, and I felt it—her presence, her careful motions—even though my eyes were still closed.
"Ah, you're awake," she said softly, her voice warm but tinged with authority. I opened my eyes slowly, still adjusting, and saw her sitting up, robes slightly disheveled, face pale.
I tried to move, but my body felt… different. Heightened. Every tiny sound, every whisper of motion in the room reached me. The faint scratch of the rats in the corner, the subtle breathing of Tyler and the others in the living room, even the pulse of the candle flames flickering on the table—it all screamed in my senses.
Grandma's eyes caught mine. "And I see… your senses have awakened fully. You can feel everything now, can't you?"
I swallowed, astonished. "I… I can feel you moving. Every step, every breath…"
She nodded. "Yes. That is the beginning. Your power is stirring, Emily. And there's much you need to know."
I glanced toward the living room. Through the door, I could sense them—the wolves, now human, four in total, standing quietly. Tyler, always alert; the four others, poised and calm. They were still with me. Still protective. I could feel their loyalty in every subtle movement, every breath, every heartbeat.
Grandma reached out, touching my hand lightly. "You were adopted Emily… not because you were unwanted, but to protect you. You carry bloodlines far older and stronger than the city you grew up in. The hunters who chased you… they know this. They sought you because of it."
I swallowed, trying to process everything, my heightened senses catching every nuance in her tone, every flicker of her energy. "I don't understand," I whispered. "Why me?"
Her hands gripped mine a little tighter. "Because you are the First Blood, Emily. Your awakening cannot be hidden forever. And now… you must learn what it means to truly be awake."
I looked around the room, sensing every presence, every motion, every heartbeat. Tyler and the others my wolves, were here for me. Protecting me. Respecting me. I was no longer just a human girl—I was something more.
"And one more thing…" Grandma said, her eyes softening yet sharp, almost reverent. "The wolves who protected you—they obey you, Emily. You are their anchor. You are their future. And soon, you will understand the full extent of your power."
I inhaled sharply. "Power…" I whispered to myself. "I have power…"
Grandma's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Yes, Emily. And it is time you learn how to wield it."