Chapter 285: Episode 285.

Aire stood beside the open window, looking out at the gardens below. Xanden had walked in few minutes ago, just as he had promised.

Aire moved away from the window.

Her knees suddenly weakened.

She reached for the nearest piece of furniture, but her fingers barely brushed the edge before her legs gave way.

Xander turned to her.

He barely had time to register what was happening before he disappeared from the doorway.

In the next second, his arm was around Aire’s waist, catching her before she could hit the floor.

"Aire!"

She clutched his shirt.

"Easy. I’ve got you."

Her breathing became uneven. She tried to straighten, but a sharp pain travelled through her lower back.

She gasped.

Xander tightened his hold. "What’s wrong?"

"I don’t know." Her voice trembled. Another wave of pain moved through her body.

Aire grabbed his arm. "Xander—"

"I’m here."

"My back."

He looked down at her, his expression changing when he noticed how tightly she was gripping him.

"Is it your magic?"

"I don’t know." She shook her head, trying to understand what was happening.

Something inside her was moving.

Her wrist suddenly twisted.

Aire screamed.

Xander caught her hand before she could pull it against herself.

"Aire!"

She stared at her wrist.

It had shifted into an unnatural position, her fingers trembling as though something beneath her skin was trying to rearrange itself.

"What is happening to me?"

Xander looked at her wrist, then back at her face. For a moment, he seemed unable to find the right words.

Then another cry escaped her.

He carefully lowered her onto the rug. "Don’t fight it."

"I can’t—"

"Listen to me. Don’t fight your body."

Aire shook her head. "It hurts."

"I know." He knelt beside her and placed one hand against her back, rubbing it gently. "Look at me, Aire."

She tried.

Her eyes were already filling with tears. "What is happening?"

Xander swallowed. "I think your wolf is coming."

Aire stared at him, suprise, disbelief, and fear circling her gaze. "My... what?" Her voice was barely audible.

"Your wolf."

She looked down at her hands.

Xander’s expression softened. "Aire—"

Her breathing quickened. "Then why is this happening?" She blinked rapidly. "If it’s mine, why hurt so much?"

He didn’t have an answer for her.

Another wave of pain seized her body.

Aire folded forward with a cry, and Xander moved closer, supporting her as her shoulders began to shake.

The door opened again.

Nate entered. He stopped when he saw them. "What happened?"

"Get Alaric," Xander said.

Nate’s eyes moved from Aire to her twisted wrist. "What—"

"Now, Nate."

Nate turned immediately.

Aire tried to lift her head. "Don’t go." She pleaded.

Nate looked back at her. "I’m not leaving you. I’m getting Alaric." He gently coaxed her.

Aire nodded, and he hurried out.

Xander continued rubbing her back. "Take a slow breath."

"I can’t."

"You can. Slowly."

Aire tried, but the next breath caught in her throat. "It hurts."

"I know, Aire." He kept his voice low. "The first time hurts, Aire."

She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Make it stop."

Xander’s hand paused briefly against her back. He wanted to promise her that he could. He wanted to tell her it would be over in a moment.

But he couldn’t lie to her.

"Stay with me," he said instead. "Just stay with me."

Her other wrist began to ache.

Aire looked down as her fingers curled involuntarily. Something beneath her skin shifted again. She cried out and grabbed Xander’s arm.

"Please."

"I’m here."

"I don’t understand." She choked, and folded. "Why does it hurt so much?"

Xander moved closer, allowing her to lean against him. "Your body is changing. It’s trying to make room for something that has always belonged to you."

Aire looked at him through her tears. She closed her eyes.bFor one brief moment, she remembered the little silver creature in the darkness.

It had curled into her arms.

She had thought it was a dream.

Another spasm moved through her body.

Aire screamed.

Xander held her carefully as her shoulders jerked. "Easy. Don’t pull away from it."

"I can’t!"

"Then hold on to me."

She did. Her fingers dug into his shirt, and Xander let her.

Footsteps sounded in the corridor.

Nate returned with Alaric.

Alaric entered first, moving faster than his recovering body probably allowed. His face changed the moment he saw Aire on the floor.

"What happened?"

"Her wolf," Xander answered.

Alaric stopped. For a second, he simply stared at her. Then he crossed the room.

"Aire."

She turned towards his voice. "Alaric."

He lowered himself beside her. "I’m here, Silver Dove."

She reached for him, and he took her hand. The moment their fingers touched, her body seized again.

Aire cried out.

"Gently," Alaric held on. "Look at me."

"I can’t."

"Then listen to me." He moved closer, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "You’re all right."

She shook her head. "No, I’m not."

"I know you’re hurting."

"My hands—"

"I can see."

"My bones—"

"I know." He gebtly cut her off again. His voice soothing, and patient.

Her voice broke. "I’m frightened."

Alaric’s expression softened. "I know." He brought her hand to his lips. "But you’re not alone."

Nate had knelt in front of her by then.

He looked uncertain, his hands hovering near her knees as though he couldn’t decide where it was safe to touch her.

"Aire, take a slow breath," he urged softly.

She tried.

"That’s it. Again."

Another cry escaped her.

Nate looked at Xander. "What do we do?"

"Keep her calm. Don’t hold her down."

Nate nodded. He looked back at Aire. "You’re doing well."

"I’m not."

"You are."

"I can’t even—"

"You don’t have to do anything except breathe."

Aire’s head fell against Xander’s shoulder. Her body trembled violently. A deep pressure rose beneath her ribs.

It spread through her chest and down her spine, as though something that had been sleeping inside her was finally stretching.

She gasped.

Alaric leaned closer.

Her fingers tightened around his. "It’s moving."

Xander exchanged a brief look with Nate.

Neither of them spoke.

Aire’s back arched. The sound that escaped her was no longer entirely human.

It was a strained, broken cry that seemed to come from somewhere deeper than her throat.

Her hair lifted around her face.

Silver strands began to glow.

The room filled with a faint, unfamiliar light.

Nate stared.

He had seen Aire’s magic before. He had watched flowers grow from her hair and silver light gather in her palms.

It was gathering around her body.

"Aire," he whispered.

She couldn’t answer. Her shoulders shook. A sharp crack sounded.

She screamed again.

Xander’s hand moved gently over her back. "Stay with me. You’re doing well."

He looked down. Her wrist had shifted further, the shape of her hand changing beneath the skin.

Aire tried to pull away. "No! No, no, no!"

"Don’t fight it," Xander urged. "Breathe through it."

Nate moved closer, his expression full of concern. "Look at me, Aire."

She turned her head slightly.

"You’re not being hurt by someone," he said softly. "Your body is changing. Your wolf is coming to you."

Aire sobbed openly.

Nate’s face changed seeing ger sob.

For a moment, he seemed to understand that this wasn’t only about the pain. It was about everything she had believed about herself.

He reached forward and carefully placed his hand against her knee.