[Elara's POV][Lost her memory of past few days]I backed away as the creature launched its attack. Clutching the sword from the temple, I struck at it, but the blade passed through its misty fog as if it were nothing. I knew it wasn’t my mother. The Echo Wraith always appeared as a familiar face—a loved one, a long-lost friend, or a figure from the victim’s past—only to grotesquely distort and morph into a disturbing mask of anguish or malevolence. The expressions on its face are exaggerated and twisted, reflecting the lies and deceit it preys upon. One moment it might seem sorrowful, and the next, it could sneer with malevolence. Its misty form occasionally shimmers with an eerie glow that highlights its undulating contours and shifting visage, creating an unsettling contrast with the surroundings.The Echo Wraith’s movements are eerily silent and fluid, and its presence brings a numbing cold that enhances the sense of an entity from beyond, making its touch feel like the icy grip o
[Elara's POV]I continued coughing violently until my throat hurt, and I couldn’t even feel my legs anymore. Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled blindly along the cold tunnel. When I reached the end of the passageway, I collapsed onto the ground, still coughing uncontrollably. After a few moments, my breathing began to slow, and I rested my head against the cold floor. Stalagtor was nowhere to be seen. I lay there for a few more minutes before finally deciding that moving wasn’t an option. Even if I could stand on my own two feet now, I knew I wouldn’t make it to any place safe. I had run out of energy hours ago, when all my body wanted to do was collapse in relief. The only thing keeping me going right now was the faint hope of survival.I stood up and walked towards the edge, where I saw a huge sculpture of my face cemented in the water, stuck in place like a dead fish. Frowning, I knelt down and tried to touch the water slowly, but it kept slipping through my fingers. The water s
[Author's POV]She stood up, holding her injured arm, and slowly limped along the path which leads upwards. The walls were covered with small scratches and scrapes as she climbed the steep path up to the opening of the hole. She looked up at the top of the rocks towering over her. They were dark grey, and looked smooth like marble. They sparkled under the light, like the scales of some strange beast she’d seen once in a book. But unlike any beast she’d ever seen or even read about, there was nothing alive behind these cliffs. There is nothing to be afraid of.She looked down and saw that the trail leading up to the hole was covered in sand and stones. It led straight up to the top, but there was nowhere near enough room for a large animal like the Stalagtor to go through. The tunnel curved sharply to the right before turning around the corner. The tunnel was much smaller than the one she was used to climbing, but somehow she was sure that she knew exactly what she was heading towar
[Elara's POV]I jolted awake at the alarm clock on my nightstand, groaning as I slapped the thing off and rolled to bury my head beneath my pillows. It had been dark outside, so early in the morning, with not a trace of sunshine to be found, just dark blackness and shadows, broken only by the occasional glint of a small window through a nearby crack. I had woken up early because I had an appointment with the doctor today.For the past few days, I had felt very low and tired most of the time, like someone had drained all the energy from me. Even when I slept, I couldn't rest. My mind had constantly raced around in circles, trying to figure out what had happened while I was asleep and how long I had been unconscious. It had felt impossible. No matter what day it was or where I lived, sleep didn't make me forget things or disappear for good.But last night, I vomited and our pack mother checked my pulse. She said I didn't feel good because I was pregnant. I couldn't believe it because Et
[Elara's POV]He had kicked the sturdy timber dining table, causing me to jump as it fell to the wooden floor with a loud thud, shaking the decorations in the glass case."What about you?" He shouted. "You simply wanted to be Luna, right? You knew Natalia and I were in a relationship, yet you shamelessly accepted the marriage and betrayed your own cousin sister by stealing her boyfriend! You lied to me. She told me everything!"I couldn't believe my cousin-sister. I had never thought she would do this. "I'm so sorry," I cried, starting to sob as I hugged myself tightly."She's the love of my life. We had been dating since we were eighteen, even before that," he had yelled at me. "It had taken all my self-control not to punch you, Elara."His voice had been filled with frustration and anger. It had been almost enough to make me break down again, but he hadn't given up yet. He had kept going. "You're such a pathetic bitch who has no sense of loyalty to your friends or family." He had wa
[Elara's POV]I left Ethan's house at night, carrying both pain and the courage to hide it from the world. It was hard for me to conceal my feelings, but I tried not to show them. It didn't matter if I cried, shouted, or screamed—Ethan could never see how much he had affected me. Sometimes it hurt so much that I wanted to take my own life. But I knew better; I knew what would happen. After coming home, I had the feeling that he went to meet Natalia.My heart ached even at the thought of my mate going to see my cousin. How could he do this to me? My love was so pure and sweet; why couldn't he be like that towards me? He must have loved her a lot when they were dating. Natalia's beautiful face filled my mind, and my anger grew again. Gazing at the divorce document before me, I saw that the alimony was seven hundred million dollars. This amount was not trivial. I mean, he really wanted me to leave, didn't he?I hurled the folder onto the mattress. I didn’t need his money. Nothing could e
[Elara's POV][A year ago]My mind drifted back to our past memories, which still haunted me like a pack of hungry wolves, following me around like shadows that could not be shaken off. My body still felt the remnants of last night’s rejection as it buzzed on every inch of my flesh. "If we become parents one day, I wish they’ll look just like you."As he took me onto his lap and brushed his fingers through my hair, I asked, startled, "Me?""Yes, my gorgeous princess," he kissed my neck in response. "And I hope they have curls just like yours too." I closed my eyes to savor the sensation. He continued with a tender tone, "You’re like the most delicate flower in the world to me."He held me close as if trying to absorb all the beauty I possessed. The feeling of security in his embrace was unlike anyone else’s. I imagined myself in that moment as a child again.His hands caressed my back slowly, sending shivers down my spine. "I love you so much," he said as he stroked my cheek. "And now
[Elara's POV]When I returned to the Gravefur pack house, I saw him everywhere, as well as the life we had created there. Crippling pain consumed me as I considered what I was leaving behind, but I refused to let him take anything more from me. I would not allow him to harm the life that was growing within me. These babies were just as much mine as they were his, and I would do everything I could for them. My heart ached and my breaths came in heavy pants as the weight of loss sank into my body. The babies wouldn't make it here. The wounds I sustained from the Gravefur pack raid had only grown worse. It was too much for me, let alone the newborn babies. I didn’t want them dying before I had a chance to save them.I wiped my tears and tied my hair in a bun before packing all my belongings. With shaking hands, I picked up my clothes, my personal items; everything precious was packed away in my suitcase. I didn’t look up once. I didn’t speak. I just needed to get out of there. My home. O