Chapter 66: Not This time

~Alaric~

The pain was unbearable, coursing through my body like wildfire. It was a familiar sensation, reminiscent of my first full moon—a raw, primal agony that threatened to consume me from within. But amidst the agony, a deep rumbling voice echoed in my mind, attempting to sound gentle despite the circumstances.

"Alaric," the voice, Theron, my lycan, spoke, his tone filled with a strange mix of concern and anticipation. "I knew this would cause you pain, but it was necessary. We needed to be away from Azaria for this. This would worry her."

As the pain slowly began to ebb, I realized the significance of his words. This was my first time shifting into my full lycan form, a momentous occasion that filled me with equal parts dread and excitement.

"First time?" I murmured, the realization dawning on me. "You waited until now to shift for the first time?"