CHAPTER THREE: THE AWAKENING

My eyes fluttered open,my body aching as though it had been wrung dry. Dim light bathed the stark stone walls around me. I lay on a simple bed,the linen coarse but warm. For a moment,I thought I was dreaming,until the cold reality of my journey came crashing back.

My heart pounded as I sat up,my mind racing. The fortress was nothing like I had imagined. Stark stone walls,sparsely furnished spaces,and a deafening silence painted a picture of a life lived in solitude.

This is Alexander's lair,a place as severe and unyielding as the man himself.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed,my bare feet touching the icy floor. 

Anxiety gnawed at me,three days,I had been away for three days. Ethan didn't have much time left. I clutched at the keepsake around my neck,the token Alexander had given me seven years ago.

I was sixteen then,wolfless,humiliated and broken. And still clinging to the hope that my wolf would awaken,when I stumbled upon Alexander in the woods. He had been wounded,his silver hair caked with blood,yet his aura was no less intimidating.

I had saved him,nursing him through the night,in return,he had given me the keepsake,his piercing eyes promising me that it would guide me to him whenever I needed help.

Back then,I had believed he wanted to train me,to make me into something extraordinary. He had been my fantasy,an unattainable dream that made my heart race. But my wolf never emerged,and my dream crumbled. I clung on to Ethan,hoping he would give me the sense of belonging I so desperately craved.

Now here I am,in the Lycan king's fortress,begging for the life of the man who had always been my safe haven.

I wandered through the fortress,my footsteps echoing in the empty halls. My steps led me to a secluded chamber,where the sound of water rippling broke through the stillness. I froze as I took in the scene before me.

Alexander stood waist deep in a pool,his silver hair slicked back,water cascading down his broad shoulder and toned chest. The soft glow of the looks surface illuminated his striking features,making him seem as if he didn't belong in this world.

My breath caught,saliva drying in my mouth,I should have turned away,but my legs refused to move.

He turned slowly,his golden eyes locking on to mine. For a moment , everything was still,his expression softened,a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. Without a word,he stepped out of the pool in all his glory,safe for the loin cloth,water streaming down his powerful frame.

My cheeks burned as my gaze darted to the floor,though I couldn't stop myself from stealing another glance.

He reached for a robe,draping it over his shoulders with effortless grace, “ You are worried about your boyfriend”. He said.

“What?” For a moment,I had totally forgotten about everything. “ Oh yes” I licked my dry lips,and Alexander's eyes followed the movement. “Yes,he doesn't have much time left”, I said, clearing my throat.

Alexander's eyes bore into mine,he held out a small vial filled with shimmering liquid.

“This is a universal antidote”,he explained,”It will save him”.

My heart leaped with joy,relief flooding through me,”Thank….

“But,” he interrupted,his tone firm,”There is a condition”.

My relief halted,”A condition?.”

“You must return here after saving him”, Alexander said,his voice steady but carrying an edge of command.

I stared at him,confused,”Why do you want me back?.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips,though it didn't reach his eyes,”Because your wolf sleeps within you little one,waiting to be awakened, And you don't belong to them.” He said softly.”You belong here with me,and one day, you will understand.”

My heart skipped a beat,I shook my head,” That's impossible. I'm wolfless. I’ve always been wolfless”.

He stepped closer,his golden eyes narrowing as if searching for something within me. For a moment,his expression changed,a flicker of something I couldn't understand. Without a word,he began to shift. His body changed effortlessly,his silver hair melding into fur. His form is towering and majestic.

The wolf that stood before me was breathtaking,its eyes,the same gold piercing eyes held me captive. Slowly he stepped closer,lowering his massive head until his snout gently touched the middle of my brow.

A sudden warmth spread through me,cascading down my spine like liquid fire. My breath hitched as something deep within me stirred,a presence I had never felt before. It was faint, fragile,but unmistakably alive. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Alexander shifted back,his expression unreadable,”Now you know Lea. But unlocking it fully will require…. patience.

My mind swirled with confusion and disbelief, I clutched the vial tightly. “I have to go,Ethan is waiting”.

“I know,” he said,his voice softer now. But remember your promise. You will return.

I nodded, although my heart was heavy. Gratitude,guilt,and something else,something I didn't care name swirled in me,as I turned and left the fortress.

*******

The sun had set by the time I reached the pack. Exhaustion weighed me down,but my determination burned brighter than ever.

But as I stepped into the clearing,I froze.

The pack was celebrating,laughter and cheers filled the air, different from the sad mood I had left behind. Torches blazed brightly,illuminating the ceremonial circle where people gathered.

I was confused. I grabbed the nearest pack member. “What's going on?.”

The woman turned to look at me with wide eyes. “You haven't heard?,The moon goddess has blessed the new future Luna. She saved the Alpha's son.

My stomach dropped,” The new future Luna?.”

“Yes,” The woman said,her tone filled with awe. “Your sister!,she had been chosen to mate with Ethan. Isn't it wonderful?.”

I was dazed. My breath came in shallow gasps as the weight of the revelation crushed me. Your sister. The world seemed to tilt,the cheers and laughter around me turning into a dull roar.

From the center of the circle,I saw Ethan standing tall,his arm draped around Sophie's waist. His face was no longer pale,no longer the weak,helpless man I left behind. He was smiling,a triumphant,radiant smile.

The antidote slipped from my hand,shattering on the ground as I stared at the unbelievable scene before me.

Tears blurred my vision but I couldn't move.

The man I had risked everything for,the man I had loved, was now celebrating a life I had no place in anymore. 

As if sensing my presence,Sophie turned and our eyes met. The smug smile on her face said it all.

I clenched my fists,the sting of Ethan's betrayal igniting a fire in my chest. I had returned to save Ethan,but now I realized that I may never belong.