The Long Lost Tribrid

14. Wolf Eyes

Emily's Pov:

I stalked closer to Hope and her friends, my footsteps echoing softly in the corridor. I watched with a mixture of amusement and curiosity as they slowly backed away, their eyes widening with each step I took. My hybrid face was still showing, the veins around my eyes prominent and my fangs slightly visible. Despite my intimidating appearance, I knew deep down that they understood I would never intentionally harm them. Our bond was too strong for that kind of fear.

Hope's gaze met mine, and she attempted to give me a forced smile. Her eyes, usually full of confidence, were now wide with a hint of uncertainty. She turned her head slightly, meeting the twins' gaze in a silent communication that spoke volumes about their shared apprehension.

"Run," she whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with urgency. The word hung in the air for a brief moment before chaos erupted. Two seconds later, as if a starting gun had been fired, the twins took off down the corridor, their footsteps rapid and frantic. Hope, however, remained rooted to the spot, her eyes locked with mine in a silent challenge. She stood still for a heartbeat, perhaps weighing her options, before she too bolted after her friends.

"Hope Andrea! Get back here right now!" I yelled, my voice echoing off the walls. Despite the temptation to use my vampire speed and catch them instantly, I decided against it. I wanted to let them think they had a chance at freedom, to feel the thrill of the chase. It was all part of the game we were playing.

The girls' laughter and hurried footsteps filled the air as they raced down the corridor. They reached the end, probably thinking they had escaped, when I made my move. With a playful growl, I pounced on Hope, my momentum carrying us forward and causing us to collide with Josie and Lizzie. We tumbled to the ground in a tangle of limbs, and I heard grunts escape their mouths as we landed. But those grunts quickly transformed into peals of laughter, the tension from moments ago dissipating into genuine mirth.

Still playing my part, I flipped Hope around to face me, pressing my arm gently but firmly to her chest. I flashed my hybrid face again, letting my eyes glow and my fangs extend just a bit more. It was all in good fun, a way to mess with her and keep the playful atmosphere alive.

What happened next, however, took me by surprise. Hope's eyes suddenly flashed a brilliant yellow, the wolf within her responding to my challenge. I don't think she even realized she could do that yet, given her shocked expression. I heard twin gasps from Josie and Lizzie, but I quickly looked up and gave them a pointed look that clearly said "be quiet." This was a moment for Hope to discover on her own.

I looked back down at Hope and slowly removed my arm from her chest, giving her space. As I did so, her eyes began to glow even more intensely, shifting from yellow to a mesmerizing blend of yellow and orange. It was a beautiful sight, a clear sign of her hybrid nature awakening.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Hope questioned, her voice a mix of confusion and curiosity as she sat up. As quickly as they had appeared, the glow in her eyes faded, leaving behind her normal blue irises.

...

"What the hell do you mean my eyes glowed orange and yellow?" Hope exclaimed, her voice rising with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. Her hands instinctively moved to her face, as if trying to feel the change that had occurred.

"The Queen activated the magic beaker," I explained, my words coming out in a rush. "Everyone's magic has been gradually returning throughout the day, at different times for each person. Yours just happened to manifest later than the others. It's a sign that your hybrid nature is—" My explanation was abruptly cut short as I witnessed a horrifying sight: my sister's bones began to break and reshape themselves.

"Agh! Emily!" Hope's agonized scream pierced the air, her body contorting in pain. The sudden transformation caught us all off guard, the severity of the situation escalating rapidly.

"Hope!" Josie cried out, her voice thick with concern. She instinctively moved to help her girlfriend, but I gently yet firmly pushed her back. This wasn't something Josie could assist with, and I needed to ensure her safety as well.

"Fuck, Hope, you're transitioning," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the urgency of the situation. "Your body is struggling to adjust to the sudden influx of magic, and it's triggering the werewolf inside you." I attempted to reassure her while simultaneously assessing the situation. "Lizzie, go get your mom, now! We need all the help we can get!"

Lizzie didn't need to be told twice. She sprinted off, her footsteps echoing down the corridor as she went to fetch Caroline. Josie, however, remained rooted to the spot, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and concern for her Hope.

"Hope, we need to get you to the basement immediately," I said, my mind racing through our limited options. Without waiting for a response, I scooped Hope up in my arms, her body trembling with the pain of the transformation. "Josie, come with us," I instructed, grabbing her hand. Using my vampire speed, I transported us swiftly down to the cells in the basement.

Once there, I gently placed Hope in one of the cells. Josie, understanding the gravity of the situation, quickly locked us both in before taking a seat outside the cell. Her presence was a silent comfort, a reminder that Hope wasn't alone in this ordeal.

"Hope, I need you to listen to me carefully," I began, my voice taking on a soothing tone despite the chaos unfolding around us. "This transformation is going to be incredibly painful, there's no way around that. But you can get through this. You need to focus on your breathing. Concentrate on feeling the air as it fills your lungs, and the solid ground beneath you. These sensations will help anchor you through the pain."

As I spoke, Hope's transformation progressed rapidly. Her screams of agony echoed through the building, each cry punctuated by the sickening sound of bones breaking and reshaping. It was a horrifying symphony of pain and change, one that tore at my heart even as I tried to remain calm for Hope's sake.

"Emily!" Hope cried out in desperation, her voice raw with pain. The name escaped her lips like a prayer, a plea for help or comfort in this moment of extreme distress.

"I know it hurts, Hope," I said, my voice laced with sympathy and understanding. "The first transformation is always the most challenging. It can take hours to complete."

"Hours?!" Hope barely managed to grunt out the word, her face contorted in a grimace of pain and disbelief.

"Yes, if you resist it," I acknowledged, knowing that honesty was crucial at this moment. "The pain is intense, and it's natural to want to fight against it, to try and delay the process. But remember this, Hope: if you let it in, if you surrender to the transformation entirely, it cannot break you. You are stronger than this pain. Embrace the change, and you'll come out the other side."

The next few minutes were a blur of agonizing sounds as the rest of Hope's bones broke and reshaped. Her screams tore through me, each one a reminder of the pain she was enduring. But gradually, almost imperceptibly at first, her cries began to die down. The transformation was nearing its end.

And then, suddenly, it was over. Where Hope had been writhing in pain just moments before, there now sat a majestic white wolf. She was perched on her hind legs, her posture regal despite the ordeal she had just endured. Her golden eyes, still unmistakably Hope's, looked first at me, then at Josie, giving us both a small nod of recognition.

"This isn't how I wanted your first transformation to happen," I whispered, moving closer to scratch gently behind her ear. "You should have been in the woods, under the open sky. But you did it, Hope. You made it through."

Just then, Caroline's voice rang out, tinged with worry. "What happened? Is Hope okay?" She and Lizzie had arrived at the cells, both looking breathless and concerned.

I turned to them, a smile of relief and pride spreading across my face. "She's okay now," I assured them, gesturing towards the white wolf. "She's transitioned. Hope's a full hybrid now."