The triplets’ party buzzed around her, but Jade was lost in her own thoughts. The strange sensation she had felt earlier had been fleeting, but undeniable. For the first time in years, she sensed her wolf stirring inside her. Her hands trembled slightly as she left the dance floor, slipping away into the shadows of the academy’s courtyard to clear her head.
Alone beneath the moonlight, she closed her eyes and focused. Something was there, a presence that had always felt distant—her wolf, restless and waiting. Jade’s heart raced. Maybe she wasn’t broken. Maybe her wolf had been there all along, waiting for the right moment.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to see Eric, his expression as unreadable as ever. The eldest of the triplets moved with quiet authority, his presence commanding without needing words. He stopped a few feet away, his sharp gaze locking onto hers.
“I saw you leave,” Eric said, his voice low. “What’s going on?”
Jade hesitated, unsure if she should tell him what she’d felt. But the look in his eyes made it clear—he wouldn’t let her hide. “I think... I think my wolf is waking up.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, studying her. “Finally.”
The weight of his expectation made her stomach twist, but she held her ground. “It’s not something I can control.”
“Maybe not,” Eric replied, his tone cold, “but you don’t have time to figure it out. If you don’t shift by the end of the week—”
“I know,” Jade snapped, her frustration boiling over. “I get it. One more failure, and I’m out. You’ve made that clear.”
Eric didn’t flinch, but something in his expression softened, just for a moment. “You don’t have to do this alone, Jade. You can still come to us. We can help you.”
Jade’s breath caught. It was the first time any of the triplets had offered something other than threats. But she didn’t know if she could trust them, not after the way they had treated her.
“I’ll figure it out,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt.
Eric’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned and walked away, leaving her alone in the moonlit courtyard. Jade let out a shaky breath, her mind racing. The pressure was mounting, but for the first time, there was a glimmer of hope.