The cave was silent, save for the rhythmic crackle of the small fire Kael had built. Its dim glow cast flickering shadows along the walls, shifting as the flames wavered. Nova sat near the entrance, knees drawn up to her chest, staring out at the moonlit forest.

  She hadn’t spoken much since she woke.

  Kael could feel her energy, taut like a bowstring, vibrating, restless. The air around her seemed charged. He watched her for a long moment before finally breaking the silence. “Want to talk about it?”

  She exhaled sharply, rubbing her hands over her face. “It felt so real.” Her voice was quieter than usual. “Like… she was waiting for me. Like she already knew me.”

  Kael studied her expression, the way her brows pulled together like she was working through a puzzle with missing pieces. He knew that feeling.

  “That’s because she does.”

  Nova turned to look at him. “How do you know?”

  Kael’s gaze drifted toward the treetops, his own memories tugging at the edges of his mind. “Because I remember what it felt like when mine came.” His jaw tightened. “Only,” he paused, “mine is a complete jackass. He usually ignores me, but when he does decide to acknowledge me, it’s to ridicule me or insult me. I’d even venture to say he hates me. He definitely doesn’t care about my well-being.”

  Nova frowned, sensing there was more to the story. "What's his name?"

  Kael hesitated again, his expression guarded. "Fenrir."

  Nova's brow furrowed, the name tugging at something deep in her memory. "That sounds familiar."

  Kael smirked faintly, though there was no humor in it. "It should. It's a name that carries weight in our world, even if most only know it as a myth."

  Nova tilted her head, trying to piece together what he wasn't saying. "So… what does it mean?"

  Kael's gaze darkened, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought. "Fenrir is a god in Norse mythology," he said finally. "He helps set the world aflame and brings the collapse of humanity."

  Nova stared at him wide-eyed, her curiosity burning, but his expression made it clear he didn’t want to say more. She filed the name away, a seed of unease planting itself in her mind.

  Kael shifted, brushing his fingers against his knee before standing abruptly. “Let’s take a run.”

  Nova glanced up. “Didn’t you say that we should stay hidden or something? Stay safe, away from prying eyes?”

  Kael smirked but didn’t argue. Instead, he turned and stretched, rolling his shoulders before glancing back at her. “So?” he said, leaning against the cave wall beside her. “You scared?”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Nova scoffed, pushing herself up. “Hardly.”

  “Good,” Kael said, the grin still playing on his lips. “Then let’s go.”

  They stepped out of the cave, the cool night air washing over them. Nova inhaled deeply, the scents of damp earth and pine filling her senses. The moon hung bright and heavy in the sky, casting silver over everything, illuminating the world in a way that felt almost ethereal.

  Kael wasted no time. He shifted in a blink, his massive wolf form standing before her, dark fur catching the light in streaks of shadow and silver. His amber eyes gleamed as he waited.

  Nova rolled her shoulders, the familiar pull started, bones stretching, reshaping. In seconds, she stood on all fours beside him, shaking out her fur.

  Kael let out a low growl of approval before lunging forward, disappearing into the trees.

  Nova hesitated for only a moment before she sprang after him.

  The forest was a blur of motion. The wind rushed past her ears, the ground firm and sure beneath her paws. Everything felt sharper, more alive. The scents of the wild filled her nose, damp moss, fresh bark, the lingering musk of animals that had passed through earlier. She could hear everything, the rustling of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, the faint trickle of a hidden stream somewhere off to their right.

  Kael stayed just ahead of her, weaving through the trees with effortless grace. Nova pushed herself faster, the more she ran, the more it felt like something inside her was releasing, like her body was remembering something she had never been taught.

  She pushed harder, her paws digging into the earth, and for the first time since she’d woken up to this life, she felt weightless.

  Kael suddenly changed course, veering left toward a ridge that overlooked the valley below. Nova followed, her heart pounding in time with her steps. They burst through the trees onto an outcrop of rock, and Kael skidded to a stop, lifting his head toward the sky.

  Nova came up beside him, panting slightly. The view stretched for miles, the rolling hills and endless trees bathed in moonlight.

  Kael let out a long, mournful howl.”

  Nova glanced at him, then lifted her head and joined in, letting herself go completely.

  She closed her eyes and let the night settle around her.

  Kael stepped closer. His shoulder brushed against hers as he turned his gaze back to the sky. The wind stirred around them, a whisper against her fur, and suddenly, something shifted inside her. A warmth spread through her chest, deep and steady, a presence she hadn’t noticed before. Not like this. It wasn’t overwhelming. It wasn’t a rush of chaos or fire. It was just…there.

  Constant.

  Familiar.

  A voice from within resonated through her.

  Athena.

  Nova’s breath hitched. She wasn’t sure if she had heard it or if she had simply known it. But the name settled into her bones like it had always belonged there.

  She exhaled slowly and opened her eyes.

  Kael was watching her, his head tilted slightly, waiting for her to speak.

  Nova hesitated, then met his gaze. “I think,” she said quietly, “I know her name.”

  Kael’s brows lifted slightly, intrigued. “Yeah?”

  Nova turned her gaze back to the valley, the night stretching endlessly before them.

  “Athena.”

  The name rolled off her tongue like it had been waiting to be spoken.

  And deep inside her, something rumbled in quiet approval.