Chapter 5 The Night Of The Full Moon

The moon was too bright.

Elena hated when it was like this. Too full. Too loud. It pulled at the part of her she tried to keep buried. The part she didn't want to feel anymore.

Her wolf stirred restlessly under her skin.

She hadn't shifted in months. Not since... him.

Not since everything fell apart.

But tonight, the moon wasn't going to let her stay still. It kept calling. Tugging. Pushing.

She tried to block it out. Closed the curtains. Played music. Took deep breaths. Nothing worked.

By the time midnight came, she was pacing her room like a caged animal. Her fingers clenched, her eyes burning.

She was going to lose control soon.

And she didn't want anyone to see her like that. Especially not him.

---

Adrian stood on the roof again, holding two mugs of tea. The steam rose into the cold air, curling like smoke in the moonlight.

She didn't come last night. And she wasn't here tonight either.

Something was wrong.

He could feel it.

Her scent was different today. Faint but unstable. Like fear and heat and something else. He didn't like it. It made his wolf twitch and growl under his skin.

He hadn't felt that kind of alertness since the last time his pack was attacked. But this wasn't about war.

This was about her.

He took out his phone, stared at her contact for a few seconds, then typed.

> Are you okay?

No reply.

He tried again.

> I'm on the roof. You don't have to talk. Just... come sit with me.

Still nothing.

Adrian swore under his breath, dropped the phone into his jacket pocket, and walked off.

He knew exactly where she would go when things got too loud.

---

Elena had made it deep into the woods behind campus, almost where the trees stopped and the land dipped toward the lake. The moon was high above her now, silver and full and merciless.

She could feel her bones shifting already. Her breath was uneven. Her muscles ached like they were screaming to be released.

Her fingers curled into the dirt. "Not yet," she whispered.

She didn't want to shift. Not like this. Not angry. Not alone.

But her body wasn't listening.

She cried out softly as the heat spread through her chest. Her back arched. She fell to her knees, sweat running down her spine. It was starting.

And then-

"Elena!"

She gasped.

She turned quickly and saw him walking toward her.

Adrian.

"No!" she said. "Go back!"

His eyes widened when he saw her. "You're shifting?"

"Leave!" she shouted. "I can't control it!"

But he didn't stop.

He came closer, slower now, hands out.

"Elena, breathe," he said gently. "You're not alone."

Tears streamed down her cheeks. "You don't get it. I haven't shifted since-"

"I know," he said. "But you're strong. I can feel it. Just let it happen."

She screamed as the pain hit again. Her wolf was forcing its way out now. Her bones cracked, her skin burned, her eyes turned golden.

Adrian moved fast, dropping beside her just in time to catch her before she collapsed.

"Breathe with me," he whispered.

And she did.

In.

Out.

Slow.

Her body shook, and for a moment it felt like everything would break.

But then something shifted. Not just in her body, but in her soul.

She let go.

She gave in.

And her wolf came forward.

---

Elena opened her eyes to the sound of birds.

Morning.

She was lying on soft grass, a jacket pulled over her body. Her clothes were torn, her limbs sore, but her chest was calm. Quiet.

She looked beside her and saw Adrian sitting cross-legged, sipping from a bottle of water.

He didn't say anything. Just handed it to her.

She drank without a word.

After a long pause, she said, "You stayed."

He nodded. "Of course I did."

"You saw me shift."

He nodded again.

She looked away. "I must've looked awful."

"You looked powerful," he said.

She let out a dry laugh. "I turned into a monster in front of you and you think that's power?"

"I saw pain," he said. "But I also saw fire. You didn't run from it. You survived it."

Elena looked down at her hands.

"You don't know how broken I am," she whispered.

He leaned closer. "Maybe you are. But broken doesn't mean useless. Or unworthy."

Her eyes welled up again, but she blinked the tears away.

"You saw me at my worst."

"I'm still here."

She didn't know what to say.

So she just nodded.

---

Later that day, after she cleaned up and dressed, Elena sat on the steps outside the dorm.

Something in her felt different.

Not healed. Not whole. But... lighter.

She hadn't shifted in so long, she forgot what it felt like to be connected to that side of herself. It was wild and hard and painful, but also freeing.

And he saw her.

All of her.

And didn't walk away.

She closed her eyes for a second, felt the sun on her skin, and let the moment be enough.

But of course, peace never lasted long.

A voice broke the silence.

"Well, well. The little wolf finally comes out to play."

Elena opened her eyes and saw her.

Tall. Blonde. Cold smile.

Isla.

Adrian's ex.

"Excuse me?" Elena asked, standing slowly.

Isla tilted her head. "He always did have a soft spot for broken things. I guess you're his new project."

Elena narrowed her eyes. "I'm not interested in whatever this is."

"Oh, but I am," Isla said, stepping closer. "You think because you had one shift and shared a couple nights of tea that you know him? That you matter to him?"

Elena said nothing.

"Let me guess," Isla went on. "He told you you're special. That he sees you. That he'll wait."

Elena stayed quiet.

"Yeah," Isla said. "He said that to me too."

That one stung.

Isla leaned in close and whispered, "He left me. He'll leave you too."

And then she walked away.

Elena stood frozen, unsure if she wanted to scream or cry or both.

The weight came back fast.

Doubt. Fear. Shame.

Maybe Isla was right.

Maybe none of this was real.

Maybe she really was just another broken thing for Adrian to fix.

She sat back down on the steps and stared at the ground.

She didn't notice Adrian walking up behind her.

"Elena," he said softly.

She didn't look at him.

He sat beside her.

"I saw Isla talking to you."

She still didn't speak.

"She's wrong," he said after a moment. "Whatever she said, she's wrong."

Elena turned her head slowly. "Did you tell her the same things you told me?"

He didn't lie. "Yes. I did."

Her face fell.

"But not like this," he added quickly. "Not with this weight. This pull. I didn't feel it with her. I feel it with you."

"Feel what?" she asked, voice barely there.

Adrian reached for her hand.

"That you're mine," he said.

She didn't pull away.

But she didn't answer either.

Because even if a part of her wanted to believe it...

Another part was still learning how to love again.