Luna. Chapter 104

(Lyra's POV)

I woke up feeling like I was burning alive.

My skin was hot. Too hot. My heart was racing. Everything felt hypersensitive. The sheets against my skin. The air in my lungs. The sound of my own breathing.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I rolled over, trying to find a cool spot on the pillow. My whole body ached. Not the good kind of ache from exercise. This was different. Deeper. More primal.

I needed... something. I didn't know what. But the need was so strong it made me whimper.

The sound scared me.

I stumbled to the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face. It helped for maybe ten seconds. Then the heat came flooding back.

My reflection looked wrong. My eyes were too bright. Too wild. My skin was flushed. I looked like I had a fever.

Maybe I did have a fever. Maybe this was some kind of reaction to the transformation. Some kind of werewolf flu.

I made it downstairs somehow. Dad was already up, making coffee. He took one look at me and frowned.

"Lyra? You look terrible. Are you sick?"

"I don't know. I feel strange."

"Strange how?"

Before I could answer, Kael appeared in the doorway. He must have heard us talking.

One look at me and his expression changed completely.

"How long have you been feeling like this?" he asked, his voice sharp.

"I just woke up. I'm burning up. Everything hurts."

He stepped closer. The moment he did, the pain eased slightly. Not gone, but manageable.

"What's happening to me?" I whispered.

Kael looked at my father. "Could we have a moment alone?"

Dad hesitated. "Is she in danger?"

"No. But she needs to understand what's happening."

"Dad, it's okay. Please."

He left reluctantly. Kael waited until we heard his office door close.

"This is the primitive impulse period," he said quietly. "It happens to all new werewolves. Usually starts within 24 hours of the first full transformation."

"What does that mean?"

"Your body is adjusting to its new nature. The wolf inside you is trying to establish itself. It's... intense."

"How intense?"

His jaw tightened. "Very. The impulses will get stronger over the next few days. Your senses will be heightened. Your emotions will be more volatile. Your body will crave contact."

"Contact?"

"Physical contact. Specifically, contact with your mate."

My breath caught. "You?"

"Me."

I stared at him. "So this burning feeling..."

"Will only get worse unless you let me help you manage it."

"Help me how?"

He ran a hand through his hair. He looked uncomfortable. "Touch helps. Skin contact. The closer the bond between the werewolf and their mate, the more effective it is."

"And if I don't?"

"The impulses will keep building until they become unbearable. You could hurt yourself. Or others."

Panic fluttered in my chest. "How long does it last?"

"Usually about a week. Sometimes longer for celestial wolves. Your transformation was... unique."

A week. I had to deal with this for a week.

"I can help," he said softly. "If you'll let me."

I wanted to say no. I wanted to be strong and independent and handle this myself.

But the rational part of my brain knew that was stupid. This wasn't about pride. This was about survival.

And the truth was, when Kael was close, everything felt better. Calmer. More manageable.

"What do you need to do?"

"For now? Just touch. Hand holding. Maybe sitting close together." He paused. "As the impulses get stronger, we might need... more contact."

"More contact?"

"I'll never do anything you don't want, Lyra. But the wolf in you will eventually demand more intimate contact. It's how the bond works."

My cheeks burned. "Intimate how?"

"We don't need to worry about that yet. Let's just focus on getting you through today."

He held out his hand. "May I?"

I stared at his outstretched palm. The moment I touched him, things would get complicated. More complicated.

But the burning in my veins was getting worse. The need was becoming desperate.

I reached out.

The instant our fingers touched, relief flooded through me. The fire in my blood cooled. The ache in my bones eased.

I gasped.

"Better?" he asked.

"So much better."

He squeezed my hand gently. "This is just the beginning. It's going to get harder before it gets easier."

"Will you help me through it?"

His eyes were so intense. So full of emotion I couldn't name.

"Every step of the way."

I believed him. I had to.

Because without him, I was going to burn alive.