Karizma: Reborn
Chapter 1: Ryleigh

Ryleigh’s eyes of gold fire stared at the ceiling above her. Pain tore through her body, paralyzing her as it healed itself. Pain in her chest, her thigh, and immense pain in her neck. She felt her body attempt to move, and immediately felt the movement dissipate into even more pain. The last thing that she remembered was Kristopher’s hands around her throat, the air being torn from her body, as he squeezed so tight that she had felt her vertebrae snap as it separated from her spine. She gasped suddenly as a bolt of lightning pain shot from the base of neck down her spine to her tailbone. She felt a grasp tighten against her waist and her wrists and she reacted.

Ryleigh thrashed her body against whomever was holding her down. She groaned as she felt pain erupt from her gums and her attempt to free herself instantly ceased. Her gums split open, and she felt her eyes finally gain the same momentum as the rest of her body. Her eyes flickered around the room wildly. She was breathing heavily as her eyes landed on Lukas’ body above hers, his grip tight as her breathing intensified. His gold eyes were bright as he stared into hers, and the depth of that brightness calmed her. Her breathing began to steady, but the pain remained. She could not remember the last time that just a gaze from someone could calm her so. Even Kristopher’s eyes were not that strong on her. She gasped suddenly and attempted to sit up as her eyes became wild again. She could not see Kristopher anywhere, or her sister. Her eyes penetrated all corners of the room but were only met with Lukas’ gold eyes. “Where are they?!” She snapped hoarsely.

“Resting,” Lukas said gently. “Bailey used most of her strength to bring you back. Kristopher took her to get some rest, but I could not leave you by yourself as you transitioned.”

“It hurts,” Ryleigh whimpered suddenly, and instantly detested herself for it. She was not one to admit weakness, let alone whimper from pain, but she could not prevent it. Her gums split again. and she winced as she something sliced against her bottom lip and her chin. “Please let me up,” she begged. “It hurts so much.”

“You’re not done healing yet, love,” Lukas said softly. “I can’t allow you to run out of here mid-transformation and not yet fully healed.”

“What are you talking about?” Ryleigh breathed heavily.

Lukas sighed. “Naomi did quite the number on your corpse, love. Your lycanthropy is resolving to heal it. I’m assuming the shock that pulled you out of your nonresponsive state was your lycanthropy healing your neck first. All of the pain that you’re feeling is your newfound wolf.”

“What do you mean ‘mid-transformation’?”

“The pointy thing that is making your lip bleed? Those are your canine fangs, my dear. Your wolf is terrified and in a lot of pain, so she is trying to push through. You need to calm down.”

“It hurts,” Ryleigh whimpered as her back arched against the bed. Her blood felt like it was boiling, her skin twisting and knotting itself ruthlessly to repair itself. Even her magic did not hurt as bad as the lycanthropy did. As if on cue, her magic coaxed her gently, reminding her that she was going to be okay. She felt her magic lace itself with the lycanthropy to try to ease the pain, but it only generated it further. Her magic alone was lava; mixed with lycanthropy, her blood felt like acid trying to burn down the skin of the woman that she once was, making room for the wolf that she became.

“I know, but that’s why I can’t let you up,” Lukas murmured. “I am sorry, but I cannot have a terrified wolf that is in pain running around my pack. You need to calm yourself first. Kristopher and Bailey are safe,” he added. “I give you my word that they are. I hope that brings you some peace.” His words did the opposite as she felt the skin of her fingernails rip. She cried out and felt Lukas’ grasp on her wrists tighten. She attempted to sit up and look at herself, but Lukas’ pelvis tightened against hers and forced her to remain lying down. “Not yet,” he said lowly. “You are not ready to see her yet. Allow her to heal you first, then you can meet her.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Your wolf, Ryleigh. The one who is trying to burst through. The pain in your mouth and your hands? Canines and claws. I need you to calm down, before her fur bursts through and she tries to run from me. I promise you, if I need to chase her and catch her, we will fight. I cannot risk her amongst our people right now. Calm. Yourself. Down,” he ordered, the last word laced with a deep growl.

Ryleigh bit her lip and winced as her canine cut into it. Some part of her liked the growl and the promise of his threat, but she bit her lip to try to control herself. She inhaled slowly, deeply, attempting to control her breathing. The pain remained, but Ryleigh reminded herself of who she was. Reborn a wolf or not, she was still a Karizma, and she had endured her fair share of pain before today. She would be damned if she lost to this. Even if it is the worst pain I’ve ever felt. She closed her eyes and inhaled and exhaled slowly. She forced her breathing to slow down, her heartrate no longer feeling like a trapped jackrabbit within her chest, but a leisurely cat. She winced slightly as she felt the skin of her nails twist themselves, as she felt her gums split and seal themselves shut. The acid in her veins raged vigorously, but she felt her external reaction recede. She would be a threat to herself and no one else. That I will vow.

Ryleigh opened her eyes as she felt the weight on the bed shift. Her breath caught in her throat as Lukas’ captivating gold eyes were inches from hers. Pools of gold fire brightened as his eyes met hers. The beauty and power behind his eyes alone were breathtaking, and she suddenly had the urge to touch his face. She attempted to move her hand but found Lukas’ grasp on her wrists had remained, as well as his body pinning hers beneath him. “What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Studying you,” he murmured. “It has been a long time since we have created a Lycan. Lycans are primarily born today. You are magnificent, Ryleigh.”

“You aren’t so bad yourself,” she responded playfully.

“Already getting back to your old self,” Lukas grinned. “Thank the moon goddess above.”

“That’s a thing?” Ryleigh asked. “I don’t believe in god.”

“There is so much more to our world than the human world,” Lukas whispered as his eyes raked over her face. “I cannot wait to show you.”

“But a moon goddess?” Ryleigh asked skeptically.

“She protects us, allows our wolves to co-exist within ourselves without succumbing us to a lifetime of only being our wolves. Without her, we would all just be the animal within.” Lukas cocked his head suddenly as his eyes met hers again. Ryleigh noticed his jaw clench suddenly, and the muscles of his chest against her body tighten.

“Lukas?” Ryleigh asked softly as her eyes widened. “What is it? What’s wrong?” He felt defensive, as if ready for a fight that was coming that she was unaware of. His eyes remained drawn to hers. She tensed her body as well, and her magic stretched out into the room. Lukas’ head jerked up suddenly as he felt her magic and instinctively searched the room. He then looked down at her in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“Preparing for whatever the hell has you on edge,” she snapped. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing,” Lukas sighed suddenly. “Lower your guard, love. I’m sorry. It’s just…my own wolf needs attention, and I can’t give it to him. There is no fight here. We are safe.”

“You’re sure? Because you’re not acting like we are.”

“Ryleigh,” Lukas chuckled as he rose into a sitting position, “even if there was a fight coming, I sure as hell would not allow you in it. You need to rest and adjust to lycanthropy today. You can try to be a warrior again tomorrow.”

“Go, tend to your beast within. I’ll be okay,” Ryleigh smiled gently. It hurt her and infuriated her that he was denying a part of himself because he needed to babysit her. I am better than that. He has other matters to attend to than to make sure the baby wolf does not rogue out.

Lukas hesitated as he gazed down at her. “Ryleigh—”

“Lukas, I appreciate it, but I think I will be okay. You have enough to worry about today than my well-being, like explaining to your pack about your newest member.”

“Right,” Lukas muttered as his jaw ticked. Ryleigh looked at him curiously. The tick appeared to be out of anger, and it made her slightly uneasy. Does he regret my resurrection? He could have said no, after all, but then he would not know about the war. Her eyes widened suddenly as she realized that she had not actually voiced any knowledge of the war; she had been too dead to tell anyone. “Lukas, we need to talk—”

“Rest, please,” Lukas whispered suddenly. His demeanor shifted from anger to compassion so fast that Ryleigh was blindsided by it. “We will talk after you rest, I promise. Like you said, I need to tend to my pack and my wolf. I will send Kristopher in to keep an eye on you. I know that you two need each other right now.” Lukas slowly rose off Ryleigh, his eyes locked on to hers as he searched for a sign that she was going to fight her way free. Ryleigh remained still on the bed as proof that she would remain submissive. Lukas was right; she needed to rest. The acid in her veins had dulled, but only slightly. Her magic and her lycanthropy were learning how to move in sync, to learn a new dance through their host that would benefit the host and not harm it. Ryleigh’s eyes snapped down to her body suddenly and realized that she was nude. Her body’s paralysis instantly dissolved, and she grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her body as she sat up. She shot a glare at Lukas, only to realize that his eyes never faltered; his eyes remained on her eyes, and her eyes alone. Not once did his eyes stray from hers, and her curiosity for this Lycan grew. He listened to her, and he refused to gaze at her naked body in her current state. Before she had time to attempt to formulate a conclusion, a burst of air rushed toward her, and Kristopher’s arms scooped her into his chest.