ight of it pressed against my chest, leaving me breathless. My gaze darted between her and Adrian, trying to mak

the table. "What do you mean by that?" His voice was

ura is unlike anything I've seen before. There's power within her-ancient, untamed pow

any sense. I'm just... me. I grew up in a small town, went to a regul

d grounding, yet it sent a shiver through me. "The extraordinary often hides in the ordinary, Elena.

h me. "We'll figure this out," he said, his voice low and steady. "But we need to k

adows that danced like phantoms on the walls. "There are legends," she began, her voice tinged with reluctance. "Stories passed down through generations of thos

worlds?" I echoed,

he wild, untamed realm of the shapeshifters. If that

nitting together. "Are you

Her aura suggests she's tied to something much larger than herself. The rival p

too much, too overwhelming. I'd gone from an ordinary woman with a love

" I whispered, my voice barely au

is difficult, child. But the path we're given is not always the path we choose. You ha

anchored me in the storm of emotions threatening to pull me

all I saw was determination. Somehow, his presence steadied m

a shimmering silver liquid and brought it to the table. "This will help mask your aura," she explaine

wirling like liquid moonlight. "Than

take it daily. And you must stay close to Ad

over me, but I nodded. For now,

oken questions and a tension that refused to dissipate. I clutched the vial in m

to look at him. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly,

all so much. I feel like I've been

t's your story, Elena. You just didn't know it yet

w, watching the dark forest blur past. Despite the fear and uncertainty swirling wit

g me go inside. I stood on the porch, the vial still clutched in my hand, as he p

side. "But keep your doors and windows locked.

ainst the phone in my pocket. "T

ile. "Get some rest. We'll fig

life would never be the same. The shadows outside seemed darker, the silence heavier, an

red in my chest like a caged bird testing its wings. It was the faintest glimmer of hope-a hope that maybe I