The chaos faded, leaving behind only the sound of ragged breathing and the faint rustle of leaves. Liora's chest rose and fell in shallow bursts as she stared at the brown wolf standing a few paces away. Her heart drummed in her ears, as a mix of excitement and sensation danced in her veins.
His golden eyes gleamed beneath the rays of sunlight seeping through the trees. They were wild and wary, but something deeper lurked within them, recognition, confusion, and longing.
Before she could take another step, his body began to change form. The fur receded, bones shifting, muscles twisting under skin. The air rippled with a cracking sound, then a man stood in front of her.
He stood tall and broad, his body covered in bruises and blood, his chest streaked with claw marks that had not yet closed. His hair was dark and tousled, his brown eyes untamed yet startlingly gentle when they met hers.
"You… Who are you?" he asked, his voice deep and low, carrying the rasp of exhaustion.
