Kael was shaking. He looked at his hands. Claws… they were no longer human. His fingers had elongated, his nails sharp as daggers.
"No… this can't be real…" he whispered. But it was. Something had awakened inside him. A voice from deep within whispered:
"Power… control it."
Kael covered his ears. "Stop!" he shouted to himself, but the voice didn't stop. Instead, it grew louder. A power that stole his breath and made his heart race.
A distant howl echoed. Kael froze. Now he knew: he was not alone. Other werewolves lurked in the dark forest, silently observing, tracking every move he made.
Kael tried to steady his breathing. Could he channel the rage inside him into control? His body moved on its own, his reflexes faster than any human's. His claws tore into tree bark, leaving deep gouges.
The voice whispered again:
"Feel them. Rule them."
Kael's eyes glowed. The choice was clear: run—or accept the beast within and fight.