44. Ryan

Chapter forty-four

Ryan

A scent on the wind woke me. I didn't recognize it, couldn't place it but my wolf stirred. He wasn't uneasy, just curious. Mai's breaths were soft and even as she slept peacefully beside me. I carefully extricated myself from our bed on the leaves and moss, not wanting to disturb her. As I stood, I felt the familiar tingle beneath my skin, the wolf inside me yearning to be set free.

I stepped away, allowing the shift to overtake me. It started with a prickling sensation along my spine that quickly spread throughout my body. My muscles rippled and reformed, growing larger, more powerful. Fur sprouted from my skin, a thick, dark gray coat that would protect me from the chill of the night. My face elongated into a muzzle, my teeth sharpening into fangs. My senses heightened, the scents and sounds of the forest becoming impossibly clear.

I shook out my fur, loving the strength and power of this form. Then, with a last glance at Mai's sleeping form, I turned and bounded into the trees, my paws carrying me swiftly and silently through the undergrowth .

I followed a path that seemed to call to me, an ancient trail that wound through the heart of the forest. Before long, the crumbling ruins of the Dark Goddess's temple came into view, its weathered stones seeming to whisper secrets long forgotten.

I slowed; ears pricked for any signs of life. Silence. I lowered my nose to the ground, inhaling deeply, sorting through the myriad scents that painted a picture of the temple's recent history. The musty odor of ancient stone was overlaid with the fresher scents of the forest—the earthy aroma of soil, the sharp red of fallen leaves, the acrid tang of animal droppings. There were trails of different creatures—the light, quick-footed scent of rabbits, the deeper odor of a fox, the rich, loamy smell of a deer.

But as I traced these scent trails, I noticed an odd pattern; their paths rarely led them across the temple's boundaries. It was as if some unseen force was gently guiding them away, preventing them from venturing too close to the Dark Goddess's domain.

Intrigued, I padded closer. The scents here were older, more faded, as if few living things, except for those of us who were here the other night, had passed this way in a long time. A sense of anticipation grew within me, a prickling awareness that I was standing on the threshold of something ancient and powerful.

I stepped forward, and a tingling sensation washed over me. A pull on my human form.

Okay, then.

I focused, and the change began. Fur receded into skin, claws retracted into fingers, and my muzzle shortened into a human face. Within moments, I stood on two legs .

I made my way to the altar and brushed away the dead leaves, revealing the ancient stone beneath.

What the fuck did I do now?

How exactly did you go about summoning a Goddess? This hadn't been covered in any school I went to.

Mai's face flickered in my mind, her gentle smile, her kind eyes. She was my everything, and I was nearly bursting out of my skin with the need to protect her. We were facing threats from all sides, and I needed more power if I was going to keep her safe. I scanned the ground. My eyes fell on a sharp rock.

Had to be worth a try.

I picked it up and drew it across my forearm. Blood welled up from the cut, crimson and glistening in the moonlight. I held my arm over the altar, letting the blood drip onto the ancient stone.

For a long moment, nothing happened, the only sound the steady drip of my blood hitting the dusty altar. Then I felt a slight breeze on my naked skin. Leaves scattered across the temple floor. I turned, my blood leaving a dripping trail as I did so.

Nothing.

I felt a soft touch on my shoulder. I spun around, but there was no one there.

Fuck this.

"Enough games," I called out, my voice echoing off the crumbling walls.

A laugh rang out, musical and mocking. "But I love games," a voice purred, "especially with little wolves like you."

I turned back to the altar and found myself face to face with a woman. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with an air of timeless grace that seemed to defy any guess of her age. Her long, golden hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, catching the moonlight with a glow of otherworldly radiance. Her skin was flawless, smooth and pale as marble, and her features were delicate and finely sculpted, like a masterpiece carved by an artist's hand. She was dressed in sleek black pants that clung to her long, slender legs, and a tight top that hugged her curves, revealing a figure that was both lithe and voluptuous. The fabric seemed to shimmer as she moved, as if woven from the very shadows themselves.

But it was her smile that truly captured my attention. It was mischievous, playful, with a hint of something darker lurking beneath the surface. Her lips were full and sensual, curved into a shape that promised both pleasure and danger.

There was no doubt in my mind who she was. The Dark Goddess. Power radiated from her, an almost tangible force filling the air around us. It was both alluring and intimidating, a reminder of the ancient, primal forces that she embodied.

She looked me up and down, her eyes lingering on my crotch. She raised an eyebrow suggestively. "Well, well," she murmured, "what do we have here?"

I resisted the urge to growl at her. "You're not my type."

"Really? You would say no to a Goddess?"

I held her stare. "I said, enough with the games."

"Pity," she sighed. "I do so love to play. The last one who came to me was much more fun. But, if not for games, then why have you come to my temple, little wolf?"

Okay, I had to get this right. There was no doubt in my mind that she could crush me like a gnat if I got it wrong here. "Your ways have been forgotten here," I swept my arm out, indicating the state of the place. "Your temple abandoned."

Her eyes flashed angrily. "These are things I know already. Are you here, Alpha of the Three Rivers Pack, to make amends? Will you offer yourself as sacrifice for the insults your ancestors gave to me?"

"No. I have come to, respectfully, ask for a gift," I said, my voice steady. "The gift of the True Werewolf form."

She laughed, a sound both beautiful and horrific. I resisted the urge to cover my ears. She circled around me, her fingers trailing across my shoulders. "A bold request," she mused. "And what would you do with such a gift, I wonder?"

I thought of Mai, of the dangers surrounding us, closing in, ready to strike. "Protect my mate," I said simply.

The Goddess came to a stop in front of me, her head tilted to one side. "And would you do anything to achieve this? Be careful of your answer, Alpha. The price of power is often higher than you think."

I met her gaze unflinchingly, my resolve unwavering. I was going with the assumption that the less you said to the Goddess the higher your survival rate.

The Goddess studied me for a long moment, her pale blue eyes searching mine. "I see. I need to hear you say it, my little wolf. You desire a power-upgrade? You wish to become more than you are, to surpass the limits of your kind."

"Yes. I do."

She clapped her hands together, a gleeful expression crossing her face. "Excellent! I do so love a man with ambition. But..." She wagged a finger at me, her tone turning sly, "what will you offer me in return? Your firstborn, perhaps? "

I couldn't stop the laugh that burst from my lips. It was a rough, humorless sound. "If you were truly a Goddess," I said, "you would know that there's no way I would ever agree to that. My children are mine."

The Goddess shrugged. "I am the Dark Goddess. I test my subjects, again and again. You'd be surprised how a little time, a small twist of events, can change someone's answers."

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

"Very well. No firstborn for me. Not yet, anyway," she said, her smile turning shrewd. "Another price then? One that I think you'll find more...palatable." She stepped closer to me, her scent enveloping me, a heady mix of night-blooming flowers and dark spices. "In exchange for the gift of the True Werewolf form, all children born to you will be dedicated to me. They must worship me, and me alone, forsaking all other goddesses."

I frowned, turning her words over in my mind. "I will not enforce this belief on them their whole lives," I said slowly, choosing my words with care. "But until they reach the age of eighteen, I will ensure they come to this temple and learn everything there is to know about you, about the ways of the Dark Goddess. This, I can promise."

The Goddess considered my words, her head tilted to one side. "Twice a week," she said finally. "Your children must come to my temple twice a week until they reach adulthood. Those are my terms."

I took a deep breath, then nodded once. "Agreed," I said, my voice firm.

The Goddess's smile was wide and triumphant. "Then we have a deal, Alpha," she purred .

She raised her hand, and I braced myself, unsure what to expect. Suddenly, an invisible force gripped me, and I felt as if my insides were being rearranged. It started as a deep, wrenching sensation in my gut, like a hand had reached inside me and was pulling everything out.

I doubled over, gasping for breath, as the feeling spread through my body. My bones seemed to liquefy and reform, stretching and elongating in ways that defied nature. My muscles burned as they expanded, growing larger and denser with each passing second. I could feel my skin stretching, straining to accommodate my new size.

The pain was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It felt as if I was being torn apart and put back together, every cell in my body rewritten by the Goddess's power. I wanted to scream, but my vocal cords were changing too, and all that came out was a strangled, inhuman sound.

It seemed to go on forever, an eternity of agony as my body reshaped itself. As suddenly as it had begun, the pain receded. I blinked, shaking my head, trying to clear my vision. Everything seemed different, sharper, more vivid. I could see details I had never noticed before, could hear the rustle of leaves at least a mile from the temple as if they were right next to me. I took a deep breath, and a thousand scents flooded my nostrils, painting a picture of the world around me.

I looked down at myself.

Holy shit!

I was massive, towering over the altar, my head nearly brushing the temple ceiling. Thick, dark fur covered my body, rippling over muscles that bulged with new strength. My claws, when I flexed them, were like daggers, sharp and deadly .

I had done it. I had become a True Werewolf, a being of legend and nightmare. Power thrummed through me, ancient and primal, begging to be unleashed.

Unable to contain myself, I threw back my head and howled, the sound echoing through the night like thunder. It was a sound of challenge, daring our enemies to come for us now.

The Dark Goddess watched me, her smile wide and satisfied. "Go, little wolf," she whispered, her voice seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. "Go and show the world what you have become."