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.”

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

I needed to talk to Camilla, my best friend, about everything. She was the daughter of Marilyn, my sign language tutor.

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.

***

The sheets covering my body did little to stop the chill that seeped into my bones. My head pounded like I’d been hit by a rock, and my limbs felt heavy.

Where was I?

It was raining outside, I could hear the sounds of soft raindrops.

Fear shot through my bones, causing my eyes to open widely. Rain never came during this part of the year. How far away from home was I?

My fingers brushed the soft fabric of the bed beneath me. It wasn’t familiar. Nothing here was.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my side, forcing me to lie back down.

It all came rushing back.

The attack. The wolves. The pain.

My hand flew to my side, expecting to feel open wounds, but instead, there was nothing but smooth skin.

What happened?

Amidst my confusion, the door creaked open.

Frightened, I pressed my back against the headboard and I looked up at the intruder.

The last thing I had remembered seeing was a silver wolf leading me up to meet the goddess. But this definitely wasn’t heaven.

“Don’t be scared. I don’t bite.” There was nothing calming about the man’s voice, or his stance.

He was tall, far taller than the door. I watched him bend slightly to enter the room, and it was only when he walked in that I could make out his features.

His pure white hair, wet and shiny, fell past his shoulders. On his body was a loose shirt that clung to his muscular frame, water dripping from the tips of his hair onto his broad shoulders.

He looked like he belonged to the heavens with amber eyes that lit up his face.

“You’re awake.” His deep voice broke the silence, startling me.

I didn’t respond. Couldn’t.

“Kiara feared you’ll be dead. Your injuries were very severe. She said your wolf is a strong one. Saw you through.” He ran his eyes over my entire body, assessing my injuries.

Was he scrutinizing me?

He frowned, narrowing his eyes at me.

“I’m not the most cultured man, I accept. Perhaps you have heard of me.” He tucked his hands into his pockets.

“But from the little I know, I believe this is the time you thank me for not allowing you bleed to death in the middle of nowhere.”

My eyes widened.

He was the silver wolf?!

That explained the hair.

Still, I didn’t flinch. I simply stared into his eyes, waiting for the moment he will realize it.

“Are you being a rude ingrate, or can’t you speak? If it’s the former, you must know I have no tolerance for…”

He paused. His hands fell from his pockets as he lowered himself, resting his body’s weight on his knees so that he could look closely at me.

“You can’t speak, can you?”

I shook my head.

No, I can’t.

I hadn’t known what to expect when he finally understood, but it definitely wasn’t what he did.

He threw his head back and laughed. It was a deep, rich sound, but it made my stomach twist.

Why was he laughing?

His amusement only seemed to grow as he looked back at me.

“This has to be a joke,” he said, more to himself than to me. “I’ve waited years—years—for the promised silver wolf that would be mated to me, be by side and help me take everything the ingrates at the north took from me. Now she’s here, and she can’t speak?”

Mate?

My heart skipped a beat. He had to be mistaken.

Sierra?

I tried to contact my wolf, but she didn’t respond. The fight must have taken a lot from her.

He let out a bitter laugh again, and I frowned this time around. I had been laughed at all my life. I had learned to block it out and not let it affect me, but something about his tore past my defenses, reduced me to nothing. I normally didn’t care. But for this man, I did.

For the first time in a long time, I felt the sting of my shattered pride.

“Stop,” I signed, my movements sharp.

He tilted his head, his amusement fading slightly. “What was that?”

Of course. He didn’t understand.

I glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

His silver eyes softened slightly, a curious smile playing on his lips. “Feisty, aren’t you?” He stepped closer, the air around him commanding and overwhelming.

I wanted to move away, but my body wouldn’t obey.

“Well, it seems I’ll have to be the one doing the talking now.” He rose to his feet.

“That’s splendid. I’ve always dreamt of a woman who can shut the fuck up.”

I wanted to lunge at him, reach for his neck and twist it with all my strength, but I remained still. He would probably kill me before I had time to reach him.

“My name is Ryker Veylard,” he continued.

The last name rang a bell in my head, but I couldn’t place my hands on it.

“And you’re my mate.”

White hair, golden eyes…

It dawned on me.

Veylard! The wolves of the south, and our sworn enemies. The reason the war was happening, the reason the prophecy between Kael and I was a thing.

What the hell is the goddess playing at?