The silver wolf

Elora’s POV

Just as I had expected, the meeting was a disaster. Kael had called one in the throne room between his father, my father, Athlea - my stepmother, Selene, and I.

He told them everything. How he had found out we were mates and how he marked me.

Just as Selene said, his father, the former alpha, told him he didn’t have to marry me.

“It’s not compulsory. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

He spoke about the prophecy again.

“But it said you’ll be with one of the Valewind sisters, and you made your pick as a young man.” Athlea cut in. She placed her hands on Selene’s shoulders. My sister’s eyes were swollen from all her crying.

She had always been very cruel to me. Still, it hurt me to see her like that.

“The goddess chose Elora for me. I’m sure there’s a reason for that.” He had responded.

“So, I would take Elora as my Luna, and she would be accorded the respect she deserves. I would not question fate or the goddess. If I am to end this war as is my destiny, then I must obey the laws of fate.”

I stood there, listening as they argued over my fate without a thought to what I wanted. It became clearer that I was nothing more than a means to end for Kael. It hurt me, but at least I would no longer be hidden in the shadows. As a result of our marriage, I would be Luna queen of Stormrider pack. With me by his side, I could finally show him that I was smarter than people have me credit for. I took all my diplomatic and international relations tutorials very seriously. I made sure to read a lot.

He dismissed everyone and told me to get some rest and prepare for our wedding.

First, I needed to talk to Camilla, my best friend, about everything. She was the daughter of Marilyn, my sign language tutor. With a sister who hated me for merely existing, and a step mother who wished she could get rid of me, the palace was never a safe space for me. It was the reason Camilla was such an important figure in my life. It did suck that she lived miles away from the pack house.

Lost in thought, I didn’t notice that the woods seemed more quiet than usual.

The usual chirping of crickets had vanished, leaving only the sound of my footsteps.

Strange!

I felt Sierra stir in my mind. She was equally as uneasy as I was.

“Something feels off,” she whispered.

I stopped, my breath seized in the cool air, and looked around. Nothing. Just trees, and an eerie feeling in the air. I looked ahead and refused to think too much about it.

“Just a few more minutes,” I told myself. Camilla’s house wasn’t far. But as I turned a bend in the path, a shiver ran down my spine.

I heard a sound— a low growl in the terrifying silence.

My heart pounded as four wolves stepped out from the shadows, their eyes glowing menacingly in the moonlight.

My wolf growled, but fear paralyzed me, rooting me to the spot.

“Run,” she urged.

I nodded, struggling to keep my breath even before I bolted.

I couldn't make out the path as branches whipped against my skin. My lungs burned, and my legs screamed for relief, but I couldn’t stop. The sound of paws pounding the ground behind me grew louder.

One of them lunged, knocking me off balance. I hit the ground hard, the air rushing from my lungs. Pain shot through me as I scrambled to my feet, but another wolf blocked my path.

“Shift!” Sierra demanded.

“I don’t know how!”

I had never shifted. As a matter of fact, I had only discovered I had a wolf what? Less than twenty four hours ago?

Camilla once said I’d feel it within me.

But I felt nothing.

The wolves closed in, their snarls echoing in my ears. Desperation surged through me, and I gave in. I let my wolf take over.

I winced in pain as I fell to my knees, bones cracking and shifting.

My skin burned as silver fur sprouted, and my senses sharpened. When the pain subsided, I stood on four legs for the first time.

The wolves hesitated, their eyes narrowing as they took in my silver fur. I didn’t wait.

This wasn't how I had wished my first shift to be.

Not in the midst of life threatening danger.

I lunged at the nearest one, my teeth sinking into his shoulder. He yelped and retreated, but the others attacked.

They were relentless. One bit into my side, another slashed at my legs. I fought back with everything I had. Strength I didn't know I possessed.

But they were too strong. Their claws tore through my fur, and their teeth sank deep into my flesh.

Blood soaked the ground beneath me as I collapsed. My vision blurred, and my wolf whimpered.

They left me there, disappearing into the forest. While I was left— to fight for my life.

“We can’t die here,” Sierra said weakly.

“I don’t want to die,” tears streamed down my face.

My life had never made sense, but despite everything, I didn’t want to die. Not like this, not in the middle of nowhere.

There and then, a figure approached—a silver wolf, larger than any I’d ever seen. Its fur shimmered like the moon, and its eyes glowed with a bright gold that would put the rarest of gold jewelry to shame. It was almost ethereal.

Had I passed on already?

Was this the goddess’ call to the heavens?

Am I dead?

It was the last question that flashed in my mind before I gave in to the darkness that craved my presence so badly, it wouldn’t let me breathe.