KODA'S POV
The Dakaru estate loomed before me, its imposing gates standing open like the mouth of some great beast. My wolf form carried me through the entrance without challenge. The guards stationed there recognized royal authority even in my shifted state, though their faces showed confusion and alarm.
I bounded across the manicured grounds, my paws silent on the stone pathways that wound between carefully tended gardens. Every second counted now. The moonstone burned against my chest, its magic eating away at my strength with each passing moment. I could feel my body beginning to reject the forced transformation.
The main house rose ahead of me, all sharp angles and towering spires that spoke of old money and older power. Lights blazed in the windows, casting long shadows across the courtyard. I reached the grand entrance and felt the shift beginning whether I willed it or not.
