Chapter 5 The Transformation

• “But she’s a human, not a wolf. How can she possibly marry a Lycan?”
• It was Caryn. She asked her question loudly, but with what could be mistaken for a polite and reverent tone.
• She flashed me a cruel, toothy smile before stepping back into the crowd of girls that were now encircling me and Nolan on the stage.
• Whispers coursed through the audience.
• Then a single voice rang out from the far end of the hall, crying, “This fat human girl has tricked and seduced our prince!”
• The crowd roared in outrage.
• Another anonymous voice shouted, “The Gamma warriors should arrest her! Lock her up at once!”
• A cry of support rang out amongst the nobles.
• The armed guards posted at the entrance paced a few steps forward into the hall. They were members of the king’s guard, known as Gamma warriors, and they were heavily armed.
• I swallowed hard. My palms were sweaty.
• Nolan smirked at the crowd.
• He withdrew his hand from mine, reached up, and ran it through my hair, letting a long golden curl slide through his fingers as it pulled back up in recoil.
• His touch was not only familiar. It was electric.
• I looked into his eyes. They were entrancing, but unreadable.
• Like the glassy surface of deep waters.
• I felt Lily. Not her voice in my head — I felt something stirring inside me.
• It hurt.
• It hurt really bad, actually. Everywhere.
• My lungs felt like they might explode.
• I gasped, but before I could cry out in pain, the transformation had already happened.
• I was on all fours.
• The smell of roses was suddenly overwhelming.
• The light was different, somehow brighter and sharper.
• And I looked down.
• At my paws.
• The crowd was howling with laughter.
• Panicked, I paced backward, only to bump into the circle of girls from the selection party. I looked up at them — way up.
• Their faces showed an array of emotions. Amazed. Amused.
• And disgusted.
• I paced forward.
• Susan was there on the steps. She had a thousand-yard stare, like she’d just been through hell and back. She was well beyond shocked.
• It really happened.
• I was a wolf.
• But my legs were thick and short, unlike those of any other wolf I’d ever seen. And my paws were round and soft.
• My fur was also an inexplicable shade of light gold. Just a little lighter than my blonde human hair. I’d never heard of a golden wolf — not in today’s world.
• I read about one once, though. In a history book.
• About a rare and noble breed of ancient wolves.
• I leaned into Nolan. He was all I had in this moment.
• I had just transformed into an apex predator, and I never felt more insecure in my life.
• Nolan caressed the top of my head, stroking my soft fur. I couldn’t help but feel a little comforted.
• The corners of his mouth curled up in a wicked smile.
• Susan lost her shit.
• She pulled off her shoes and threw one of them at me.
• Nolan stepped in front of me. His face was still unchanged, but his energy was decisive, and Susan felt it.
• She staggered backwards, letting out a breathy, sarcastic laugh.
• “You fucking whore,” she grumbled. “Secret werewolf bitch whore!”
• She turned and sprinted for the exit. The crowd parted, and in an instant she was through the great oak doors and out of sight.
• I tried to leap forward to chase after her, but Nolan held me back, grabbing hard at the scruff of my neck.
• I struggled against him and somehow managed to shift back into human form.
• My gown was crumpled, and ripped in a few places. Every muscle in my body ached.
• I rose from the floor.
• “Be glad you’re through with her,” Nolan said to me quietly. “She’s a traitor. Not a suitable friend for future royalty.”
• His tone was severe and unapologetic.
• He waved at his attendants, who in turn gave some discreet gesture to the Gamma warriors. And just like that, it was all over.
• The guards were escorting everyone out of the hall.
• Including Evan.
• I glimpsed his blue jacket as he struggled against the moving crowd, trying to maneuver his way back to me.
• I turned away and took hold of the prince’s outstretched hand.
• Nolan pulled me into a little private room while the hall was being cleared.
• He said he wanted to explain.
• I was still trying to get my bearings in my body again. I sat down and ran my fingers through my tangled hair, and started stretching my neck and shoulders.
• That definitely wasn’t how I pictured my first werewolf transformation.
• And the chubby gold wolf… that wasn’t how I’d been picturing Lily.
• Nolan went over to a wall mirror at the far end of the room and began straightening his tie.
• “Look,” he said, facing the mirror. “Something you should learn right away.”
• His voice sounded a little different. It felt even more serious than before.
• “Things are a certain way out there in the public,” he said. “But that’s just a show we put on.”
• Nolan cleared his throat and wiped his mouth with his hand. He finished with his tie but stood at the mirror, staring at himself.
• “This isn’t a fairy tale,” he continued. “I’m not about to fall in love with a commoner. Everything I said out there is true, though.”
• Finally he turned to face me.
• “I owe you my life,” he said, “and I took something from you. I must repay you.”
• “And how exactly is it,” I asked, “that you’re going to repay me?”
• He frowned at me.
• “You saved my life,” he said again. “In turn, I can give you a better life.”
• That stung a bit.
• “A better life?” I asked.
• “What I’m offering you,” he replied, “thousands of women would give anything to have.”
• “Well, I happen to like my life,” I said, rising from my seat.
• “You do?” he asked quietly. His tone was icy. “You like… being poor?”
• He turned away again.
• “If that’s all this is to you,” I said, “repaying a debt or doing damage control because you feel bad for screwing me… then I don’t want it.”
• Nolan stopped breathing.
• He turned around slowly.
• “What’s that supposed to mean?”
• “It means I’m not going to marry you.”
• I blinked at him calmly, feeling steely with confidence.
• It felt good to challenge him.
• His confidence wavered just a little. I saw it. I had managed to surprise him.
• I’m sure he wasn’t used to being rejected.
• “There’s more,” he said quietly.
• He brought his eyes to mine again. They were serious as ever.
• “It’s not just that our night together was your first time. It was also mine.”
• I wasn’t sure how to respond.
• Not that I didn’t believe him. I just… hadn’t thought about it from his perspective yet, I guess.
• “This is the right thing to do,” he continued. “We’ll be married.”
• His tone was firm but cool.
• My eyes flicked, instinctively, to the door. For a moment, I kind of felt like running away again.
• But Nolan was giving me his undivided attention now.
• And something about that felt good.