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Chapter 30
• Aubrey •
Finally, after what seems like an eternity of screaming agony that echoes throughout the room and surely beyond; there comes a gradual ease. My screams turn into gasps and the waves of searing pain become bearable bouts ebbing away slowly.
“Don’t fight it,” he instructs firmly yet tenderly. I’m too weak to respond but nod against him instead.
Just when I think I can’t take any more, that death would be a welcome reprieve compared to this torment; everything stops. The pain recedes completely, leaving behind a peculiar emptiness inside me. However long it took for me to transform completely is unclear as time held no meaning in the darkness of torture, paralyzed by pain. Yet as I remain in that strange state of between, I can breathe finally and I jolt awake, my senses on fire. The silk sheets feel like sandpaper against my skin. Sunlight streaming through the curtains is blinding, each dust particle visible as it dances in the air.
The room tilts and sways, colors bleeding into one another as my vision blurs.
He brushes a strand of hair from my face. The simple touch sends a jolt through my newly sensitive skin. “It’s finally over,” he murmurs, his voice even sounding different, deeper and raspier. “Your strengths will grow, your senses sharpen. You’ll be more powerful than you ever dreamed possible. I bet you’re feeling quite overwhelmed.”
“I get super senses,” I ask, searching his face. “And you get to babysit me.” I laugh only to jolt at the sound. I sit up, but Soren is quick to grab me.
A slow smile spreads across his lips, dangerous and alluring. “I get you, Aubrey. Completely, eternally mine.” The intensity of his gaze makes me shiver. “You need to be slow, you can’t overwhelm yourself.” He pulls me back down on the bed. His calling washes over me, sedating me in a way that is stronger than ever before. I fight it, but with our bond fully forged, I don’t stand a chance, it’s so much stronger than I thought perceivable. Maybe it’s the bond, as I fight in vain against it, it sucks me into bliss.
• • •
When I come to, my stomach growls, a cavernous emptiness demanding to be filled. What’s happening to me? I’ve never felt so hungry, ravenous which I find odd.
I sit up, ears twitching at every tiny sound - birds chirping outside, a servant shuffling down the hall, and… running water? I focus, realizing it’s coming from the en-suite bathroom. Soren must be showering.
My mouth waters as delicious scents waft up from downstairs. Bacon. Coffee. Fresh bread. My stomach clenches painfully wondering how I can smell all that. Then I realize the window is open and so must be a window downstairs.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed, nearly falling as vertigo hits. Everything feels…off. Like my body isn’t quite mine anymore. I stumble to the door, gripping the handle too hard. It crumples slightly in my grasp.
“What the hell?” I mutter, staring at my hand in confusion.
The shower keeps running. Soren has no idea I’m awake. Part of me wants to wait for him, but the hunger is overwhelming.
I slip out into the hallway, following my nose toward the stairs.
Each step echoing unnaturally loud in my ears. As I reach the bottom, and move to the kitchen, pushing the swinging door open, a crash reverberates through the room and I clutch my ears at the horrifying sound. My head whips around to see a maid, her eyes wide with shock, standing surrounded by shattered porcelain.
“I-I’m so sorry, miss,” she stammers, her voice trembling. “I didn’t expect—”
Before she can finish, Maribel bursts into the hall, her usually composed demeanor slightly ruffled. Her gaze locks onto me, a mix of concern and relief washing over her face but I’m more fascinated with what’s on my head. I pinch the furry tufts only to wince when I realize they are attached to me. Moving toward the microwave, I stare into the stainless steel to find two furry ears on top of my head. I poke it and it twitches. Why are my ears furry and up there? I stare at my reflection only to realize the marring gashes Bianca caused are now gone. I pull my skin only for those twitching ears to distract me again. I look normal besides the ears.
“Aubrey! You’re awake,” Maribel says, her words coming out in a rush. “Does Soren know?”
I blink, confused by her urgency. “He’s in the shower. I just… I needed food. Why are my ears not normal?” I ask her. She glances at the servant and so do I, waiting for an answer.
Maribel clears her throat. “You haven’t shifted yet?” she asks, and I try to think back to what I remember.
“I don’t think so, but I have these?” I ask her, pointing to my ears I can feel twitching at every noise.
Maribel nods, a little too quickly. ”Yes, parts will semi shift, it will come and go until you complete the shift fully.” She moves slowly toward the servant who is just staring at me like I’ve grown an extra head not a set of pointy furry ears. “You must be starving, dear. Let’s feed you.”
The mention of food has my stomach growling. I follow her, when another servant comes in letting out a shriek, I stare at the new woman who quickly covers her mouth, acutely aware of the eyes of the staff following my every move. Ignoring her, I make a beeline for the fridge, yanking the door open with more force than necessary. The handle creaks ominously when I hear Maribel tell the girl to get Soren.
“He’s in the shower,” I tell her, rummaging through the fridge. She says nothing and I peer over the fridge door at her. She smiles awkwardly at me. Why is she being weird?
“Sorry,” I mutter, rummaging through the contents. Everything smells so strong, so vivid. It’s overwhelming. Oh… roast beef!
I grab a container of leftover roast beef, fumbling with the lid. It slips from my grasp, clattering to the floor. Frustration bubbles up inside me.
I spin around, nearly knocking over a stool as I try to catch the glass container. The maids flinch back, their faces full of fear. My confusion deepens.
