Faye's POV
I came to consciousness on the cold stone beside the underground pool, warmth spreading across my skin and the lingering scent of smoke filling my nostrils. The memory of how I got out of the water escaped me completely, but Hardy dominated my first waking thought.
My fingers flew to my throat instinctively. The flesh where his teeth had pierced felt smooth beneath my touch. No scab formed there, no tender bruising remained, nothing at all. Yet underneath the unmarked surface, something faint stirred, like a tiny rhythm that responded when I pressed against it. Not quite a heartbeat, more like a quiet energy that pulsed once, acknowledging my exploration.
Next, I flattened my palm against my ribcage. Heat pooled behind my breastbone, steady and measured, as though something had taken residence there and settled in permanently. The sensation brought no pain. Instead, it felt... substantial. And it felt...
mine.
Could this be my wolf awakening?
No... impossible.
