---- "Get ready," he told me as if I were going to do something.


    I felt him move closer to the edge of the forest.


    Despite his size, he stalked inplete silence.


    Every muscle tensed, his mindser-focused, and suddenly, I could feel the adrenaline of the hunt.


    Ina blur, heunched himself several meters forward, practicallynding on top of the stag, which finally reacted The entire herd scattered at the predators sudden appearance, but Vorath had already marked his target for death.


    The others escaped, but he chased the stag through the clearing, almost as if toying with it.


    His massive ws extended, shing into its right nk.


    His gaping jaws lunged straight for its throat.


    I felt the warmth of blood sttering onto his snout, dripping.


    In mere seconds, he granted the animal a swift, merciful death.


    "Lets take it to the river to prepare itand Ill wash up while we''re at it." Just like that, he acted like the master, and I his servant.


    Hemanded with authority, and I let him take control because, in nature, he was the experienced predator.


    After all, once we returned to the castle, hed be locked inside my body again, unable to transform at will.


    ---- Following the sound of anearby stream, he grabbed the stags hind leg with his ws, dragging it along to gut it and prepare the meat for breakfast.


    seek KATHERINE ?1 walked through the dimly lit house, my bare feet pressing against the old wooden floors.


    I climbed the dusty steps of a wide staircase to the second floor.


    Through hallways thick with cobwebs and lurking shadows, pale fingers brushed against the peeling wallpaper, guiding me through the mansionsbyrinth.


    At the end, I could only see her back.


    Therge circr window covering the far wall bathed her in light like a ghostly figure.


    Her brown hair floated gently, tousled by an unseen breeze.


    Suddenly, she stopped and looked up.


    I followed her gaze to a long rope hanging from the ceiling, barely visible in the darkness.


    T lowered my eyes to ask, full of doubt, but then...


    Apair of brown eyes stared back at meshe had turned to face me?