The Luna Queen - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

_Leah's POV_
Tariq and I walked into the kitchen together, both trying to act normal after the tension-filled morning. Susan was already at the table, pouring syrup over a fresh stack of pancakes. She smiled warmly when she saw us.
"There you are, Tariq!" Susan said cheerfully. "I was beginning to think you had disappeared."
Tariq, always quick with an excuse, grinned and said, "Sorry, Mom. I got a little sidetracked this morning. One of my friends needed help and I went to meet him."
I glanced at him, surprised by how smoothly he lied without a hint of guilt. Susan, however, seemed none the wiser. She simply nodded and gestured toward the table. "Well, I am glad that you’re here now. Sit down and eat before the pancakes get cold."
I took a seat across from Tariq, my stomach flipping nervously. I was still a little shaken from what had almost happened between us earlier. Every time our eyes met, a warmth spread through me, but I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the food in front of me.
"Leah, dear," Susan’s voice interrupted my thoughts. "Would you like some more pancakes?"
I looked down at my plate. The pancakes were perfect. They were light, fluffy, and topped with fresh fruit. "Yes, please," I said, offering her a smile. "They’re delicious."
Susan beamed at the compliment and placed another pancake on my plate. "I’m so glad you like them!"
As we ate, the conversation stayed light. We talked about the weather, the plans for the day, and Susan’s plans for the house. But then, suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my chest.
It started as a dull ache, but within seconds, it became unbearable. I gasped, dropping the glass I was holding. It shattered on the floor, and my hands flew to my chest. The pain was overwhelming. I couldn’t breathe. My vision blurred as I struggled to stay upright.
"Leah!" Tariq’s voice was full of alarm. He jumped to his feet, rushing to my side. "What’s wrong? Are you hurt?"
Susan’s face was pale with worry. "Leah, sweetheart, what is happening?"
But I couldn’t answer. The pain was too intense, spreading through my body like wildfire. I could feel something inside me, something primal, stirring. My skin prickled, and when I glanced down at my arms, my eyes widened in horror.
Fur. Thick, white fur was sprouting along my skin. My wolf was trying to break free.
"No," I whispered, my voice barely audible as the pain consumed me. I didn’t want to shift. Not here, not now. But my body wasn’t listening. The change was happening, and I had no control over it.
I collapsed to the floor, my muscles spasming as the transformation overtook me. Bones cracked and reshaped themselves, my limbs elongating, my hands turning into paws. The pain was excruciating, but there was nothing I could do to stop it.
Within moments, I had fully shifted. My wolf stood in the middle of the kitchen, panting heavily. But something was wrong. This wasn’t like the other times I had shifted. My senses were sharper, clearer. I could hear every sound, smell every scent in the air. And I felt... stronger, more powerful than ever before.
Tariq cautiously approached me, his hand outstretched as if to calm me. "Leah, it’s okay. I’m here. Just breathe."
But my wolf wasn’t calm. It was angry. Fear and confusion clouded my mind. Without thinking, I lashed out at Tariq, my paw striking his arm. I felt my claws make contact with his skin, and the smell of blood filled my nose.
Tariq winced but didn’t pull away. "Leah, stop!" he called out. "It’s me. I’m not going to hurt you."
My wolf hesitated, but the anger and fear were still there. I wanted to run, to escape. I couldn’t control it. Before I knew it, I had bolted toward the window. With a powerful leap, I crashed through the glass and landed outside, sprinting into the forest.
The wind whipped through my fur as I ran, my paws barely touching the ground. I was faster than I had ever been before, my body moving with a newfound grace and power. The world around me was a blur, but my mind was a chaotic storm of confusion. What was happening to me? Why did I feel so different?
I ran through the trees, my heart pounding in my chest. When I reached a stream, I stopped. As I caught my breath, I glanced at my reflection in the water.
My eyes. They were red.
I took a step back, horrified. This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t like the other times I had shifted. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
I continued to run. I was desperate to escape the strange feeling inside me. But eventually, exhaustion overtook me. I slowed down, my legs trembling with fatigue. Finally, I collapsed under a large tree and curled up against the base of the trunk. My wolf’s breathing was ragged, my body shaking from the overwhelming experience.
After a few moments, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps. My wolf growled low in my throat, ready to defend myself. But then, a familiar scent reached my nose.
Tariq.
The brown wolf stepped out from the trees, his gaze fixed on me. He shifted back into his human form. Without a word, he approached carefully, holding a small pouch in his hand.
"Leah," Tariq said softly. "It’s okay. I’m going to help you."
My wolf watched him warily, but I didn’t move. I was too tired to fight anymore.
Tariq knelt beside me and sprinkled a fine powder over my fur. As the powder settled, a strange sensation washed over me. Slowly, my body began to change back. The fur receded, my bones shifted, and within moments, I was human again.
I lay on the ground, breathing heavily. I felt drained, physically and emotionally. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear. What had just happened?
Tariq knelt beside me, his hand gently resting on my shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
I nodded weakly, though I didn’t feel okay at all. "I hurt you," I whispered, my voice trembling with guilt. "I didn’t mean to. I couldn’t control it."
Tariq glanced at the scratches on his arm, then shook his head. "It’s fine, Leah. I know you didn’t mean to. It wasn’t you—it was your wolf."
My heart ached with guilt. I had never hurt anyone before, especially not Tariq. "I don’t know what’s happening to me," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. "I’ve never felt like this before."
Tariq’s expression softened, and he gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face. "Your powers are awakening, Leah. That’s why your wolf is acting this way. It’s overwhelmed right now, but you’ll learn to control it in time. I promise."
I looked up at him. Could I really control this?
Would I ever be able to trust myself again?
Tariq squeezed my hand gently. "You’re stronger than you think, Leah. You’ll get through this. And I’ll be right here to help you."
A warmth spread through me at his words, but the fear still lingered in the back of my mind. This new power was terrifying, and I didn’t know if I was ready for it. But with Tariq by my side, maybe, just maybe, I could learn to control it.