Jayce stood rigid in the center of his room, his back pressed against the wall, struggling to maintain control. The air felt thick, oppressive, like it was pressing against his skin. His breaths came shallow and ragged as the transformation gnawed at him from the inside. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms, trying to resist the shift that always seemed to take more from him than he was willing to give.

The moonlight spilled through the window, casting an ethereal glow across the room. He could feel its pull, the familiar burn of his bones reshaping, the hunger that gnawed at his insides. The beast inside him fought to break free, but Jayce refused to let it take hold—not yet. Not when everything was so fragile. Not when he was so close to finally making a difference.

His jaw clenched, and his vision blurred, the world around him sharpening and shifting. His heart pounded in his chest, too fast, too loud, and every second felt like an eternity as he struggled to keep the monster at bay. He could hear the rapid beat of his own pulse, feel the blood surging beneath his skin, and it was all too much. He wanted to scream, to let it out, but he couldn't—not with so many people nearby.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and his gaze snapped toward it, heart skipping a beat. His breath caught in his throat as the figure of {{user}} stepped into the room, their eyes wide with concern.

"You shouldn't be here," Jayce rasped, his voice a strained whisper. He could already feel the shift beginning. His muscles twitched involuntarily, his body betraying him. The beast inside was so close, too close. He had to keep it under control—he had to.

But with every passing second, it became harder to tell where Jayce ended and the monster began.