Page 84 of Dark Bonds

Matteo chuckles at my reaction, a rare smile softening his features. “Just wait,” he says, a hint of pride in his voice. “With practice, you’ll be able to do even more. The shadow realm amplifies our abilities, but it also magnifies the dangers.”

As I look around, marveling at this shadow version of our world, something on the horizon catches my eye. Out over the Atlantic, dark clouds roil and churn, far more ominous than any storm I’ve seen in the normal realm.

“What... What is that?” I ask, a chill creeping down my spine.

Matteo’s expression darkens as he moves to stand beside me. “That,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper, “is what we’re fighting against—the death of the realm creeping closer with every breath we take.”

I strain my eyes, trying to make sense of the churning darkness. “It’s... It’s alive?”

Leo shifts back to his human form, his usual smile replaced by a grim set to his jaw. “Worse. It’s hungry.”

Red lightning cracks across the sky, and I jump. It doesn’t boom like normal lightning, it... screams. The sound makes my skin crawl.

“It’s getting worse,” I murmur, unable to tear my eyes away from the nightmarish storm.

Matteo nods, his hand a steadying weight on my shoulder. “It is, but that’s why we’re here and why we’re training you.” His eyes lock onto mine, intense and unwavering. “I know there is a way to push it back and restore balance.” There is sadness in his voice before he turns back to me. “Are you ready to learn what it truly means to be a shadow shifter?”

I blink, taken aback. “Shift? But I can’t... I’m not...” I trail off, shaking my head. “I don’t have an animal form like Leo.”

Matteo’s expression doesn’t waver. “Come on, Frankie. Those wolves of yours? They are not just pets, they are you. Always have been.”

I feel a jolt of surprise. How does he know about that? “Yes, but... they are not me. They are separate. They protect me.”

“They are you,” Matteo says gently, his tone firm but understanding. “They are a part of you that you’ve always viewed as separate. That’s the problem—you’re seeing yourself as separate identities, not as a whole.”

I furrow my brow, trying to process this. “But...”

“Call to them,” Matteo urges, his usual stoic demeanor giving way to intensity. “They are here, in this realm. They are you. Reach out.”

Hesitantly, I close my eyes. I think of my wolves, my constant guardians, and to my surprise, I feel a connection I’ve never fully acknowledged before.

I hear a growl, and my eyes snap open. Holy shit. My wolves are here, but they are... different, all shadowy and weird, with glowing red eyes. It’s cool and creepy at the same time. They are made of the same inky darkness as Leo’s lion form, their eyes glowing red with an inner light.

“They... They are here,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

Matteo nods, satisfaction evident in his stance. “They’ve always been here, Frankie. They are you. Your strength, yourinstincts, your will to survive… You’ve kept them separate, but to truly master your abilities, you need to become whole.”

I look at my wolves, really look at them. For the first time, I see myself reflected in their eyes, in the set of their shoulders, and in the tilt of their heads. They are me, in all my complexity.

“How?” I ask, my voice thick with emotion.

“Embrace them,” Matteo says, his tone gentler now. “Don’t think of them as separate entities. They are aspects of you, waiting to be integrated.”

I take a deep breath and reach out to my wolves. As my hands touch their shadowy fur, a surge of energy courses through me, both terrifying and exhilarating.

“That’s it,” Leo encourages. “Let go of the boundaries you’ve created and become who you were always meant to be.”

I close my eyes, trying to focus. The wolves, my protectors... my strength. They are... me? The idea feels weird, like trying to fit into clothes that are too small, but as I concentrate, something clicks. Warmth spreads through me, starting in my chest and flowing out to my fingertips. It’s me, it’s always been me.

The world starts to tilt and spin. I panic for a second, thinking I’m going to fall, but then... everything changes. When I open my eyes, the world looks different—lower and sharper. Holy crap, I can smell everything. It’s overwhelming and amazing all at once.

I try to ask what happened, but all that comes out is a soft whine. I shifted. I’m a freaking wolf. Part of me wants to freak out, but another part... It feels right, like I’ve finally found a piece of myself I didn’t know was missing.

Matteo kneels beside me, his hand gently stroking my furry head. “Welcome to your true self, Frankie,” he says softly, a rare warmth in his voice.

Another bolt of red lightning illuminates the sky, stretching across the Atlantic. It’s almost beautiful in its destruction, but a pang of sadness washes through me. All my life, I’ve been searching for home, and now that I’ve found it, the threat of losing it looms over me.

Chapter 27

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