As soon as I reach the forest, I shift.
There is no hesitation this time. No pause to listen for footsteps or voices chasing after me. The moment the trees close in and the ground turns soft beneath my feet, I let go completely. Bones realign with a familiar burn that ripples through my body. Muscles stretch and settle into something larger, heavier, stronger. Fur ripples across my skin in a dark wave, and the world snaps into brutal clarity.
Layla takes over.
She always does.
The forest welcomes her like it knows her name. Scents sharpen instantly. Damp earth. Moss. Old bark. The faint trace of deer from hours ago. Wind sliding through branches like a quiet breath. My heartbeat slows, syncing with the rhythm of paws hitting soil instead of shoes on pavement or floors polished for appe
