What?" I blurted out.

Luca appeared behind me, his movements so stealthy that I didn't notice him, until he spoke. “Try again, Mother."

She glanced at him. “My spell cannot be wrong. But I will nevertheless."

She began again, twirling her hands as a blue glowing back formed again. Her concentration was unbreakable, and her lips moving as she muttered inaudible words. After what felt like ages, she stopped, the glow disappearing into thin air.

“What did you see?" I asked hurriedly.

“It's the same thing." She held my eyes. "The Aurora's seal is in Alpha Thane's territory.”

Wow! 

“That's strange. Don't they know that the seal is there?" Luca asked.

His mother shook her head. “I'm guessing they don't. It was hidden very well, I can tell. She must have given it to a very trusted person, because it wasn't me." Something flashed in her voice, but I was too engulfed in my thoughts to fathom what it was.

“We have to get the ring before they figure it out!" Della said.

I turned to her, feeling the heat of her stare, and Luca's on me. No way! 

“I am not going back there." I snapped.

Della spoke up immediately, like she was waiting for me to refuse. “Mira, we don't have much choice. You've lived there for years, you know your way around the pack more than anybody else here. You're our only chance of getting that ring."

“No… " I began, but she cut me short..

“Mira, do you have any idea what will happen if that ring lands in the wrong hands? We are running out of time…”

It was my turn to cut her short. "Well, do you have any idea what I am going through right now? Do you even care? I was exiled, banished like a common criminal, all my years of hard work and search for knowledge tossed away, and now I'm here, with responsibilities I never planned for. And yet, you expect me to go back there.”

“Mira, we…”

"I won't go back. You can find another way to get the jewelry, but my decision is final.”

I stormed away from the clearing immediately afterwards, my boots crunching against dry leaves and twigs, every step fueled by frustration. My breath came in sharp bursts, my chest tight with a mixture of anger, fear, and something I couldn’t name.

Go back to Thane’s territory? The very place that tore me apart? No. Absolutely not.

I didn’t realize I was trembling until I reached a clearing by a small stream. My hands were clenched into fists so tight my nails bit into my palms. I forced myself to take a deep breath, the cool air doing little to settle the storm inside me.

The memory of that council chamber flashed in my mind—Thane’s silence, Alexa’s smug smirk, the way they stripped me of my identity in front of everyone. I squeezed my eyes shut, but it only made the memories sharper.

The betrayal. The humiliation. The heartbreak.

I leaned against a tree, its bark rough against my skin, grounding me for just a moment.

“Stubborn, aren’t you?”

I jumped, spinning around to find Luca standing at the edge of the clearing, hands in his pockets, watching me. His expression wasn’t mocking like I expected—it was calm, curious, even a little concerned.

“What do you want?” My voice was hoarse from the emotions clogging my throat.

“To make sure you don’t disappear into the woods and get eaten by something.” He took a few casual steps closer. “Though, you could probably handle it.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t be so sure.”

Silence stretched between us, broken only by the faint gurgling of the stream and the rustling of the wind through the trees. Luca didn’t push, didn’t demand answers. He just stood there, steady, present.

It was oddly comforting.

“Why does she want me to go back there?” I asked, my voice cracking despite my best effort to sound strong.

Luca tilted his head slightly. “Because you’re the only one who can. That place broke you, true—but you know it better than anyone. If the ring’s there, you’ll find it.”

“I can’t.” My voice was barely a whisper. “I… I can’t go back.”

Luca didn’t argue right away. He just walked over and leaned against the same tree, his shoulder brushing mine lightly. “Tell me why.”

I bit my lip hard, trying to hold it all in. But for some reason, standing here with him, in this quiet pocket of the world, it didn’t feel so impossible to let it out.

I turned to face him, arms folded tightly across my chest like armor. “Thane rejected me,” I said bluntly. “He was my mate, my fated mate, and he denied it—denied me—in front of the entire council. Like I was nothing. He called me obsessed.”

Luca’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t interrupt.

“And Alexa,” I spat the name like poison. “She made sure I was banished. She convinced the council I was dangerous, that I’d stolen something sacred. They all turned on me. All the wolves I’d spent my life protecting, studying for… they cast me out like a criminal.”

Luca’s gaze was steady, but his hands curled into fists at his sides. “They’re fools,” he said quietly. “All of them.”

My throat thickened with emotion. “You don’t even know me.”

He shook his head. “Don’t have to. I’ve seen enough. You didn’t break when they threw you out. You’re still standing. That’s all I need to know.”

His words slipped under my skin, warming something cold inside me. I didn’t know how to respond, so I didn’t.

Instead, I took a shaky breath and changed the subject. “I haven’t shifted in days,” I admitted. “Since they did… whatever they did to me.”

Luca raised an eyebrow. “Let me see her, then.”

“What?”

“Your wolf,” he said simply. “Let me see her.”

I hesitated. My wolf had been silent for so long, cut off by whatever dark spell had wrapped around me back at the pack. But Della and Cara had worked to break that barrier, and I could feel her now—faint, but present.

“Okay.” I stepped back a few paces, closing my eyes. I reached inside myself, feeling for the familiar spark that was my other half. She stirred hesitantly, as though waking from a long sleep.

The shift came slower than usual, my body protesting at first, but then the change flowed over me—bones realigning, muscles reshaping. When I opened my eyes again, the world was sharper, brighter, more alive.

I stood on all fours, my dark silver fur shimmering faintly under the moonlight.

Luca grinned, stepping back to shift himself. His wolf was sleek and dark, larger than mine but not by much. 

I gasped slightly. “You're a wolf too?"

“Yes." His voice echoed in my head. “Father was one, mother is a sorceress." 

He gave a playful wag of his tail, then took off into the trees.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I ran—really ran. The wind tore past my face, my paws hitting the earth in a rhythm that felt like freedom. Luca kept pace beside me, occasionally bumping my side, encouraging me to run faster, push harder.

I had almost forgotten how good this felt.

But then Luca skidded to a sudden halt, his ears pricked forward, his body tense.

I followed his gaze, my heart racing for an entirely different reason. Through the trees, two figures moved—wolves, but not from Thane’s pack. Their scents were wrong—metallic, tainted with something unnatural.

We shifted immediately. I ducked low, shifting behind a fallen log, Luca following suit.

The strange wolves were talking, their voices low but clear enough in the stillness.

“She has to be close,” one said.

“Alpha wants the book,” the other growled. “He says the girl stole it—the librarian.”

My stomach clenched. They were looking for me.

“What is it with that book anyway that the Alpha wants it back so badly. It’s just an ordinary book!” the other said sounding a little cowardly and ignorant.

I turned and spared Luca a glance, he was listening to them intently and I figured that’s what I must do too.

“Shhh!” the wolf paused, “You don’t spill words like that.” He warned. “That book is a a very important book and contains all the magic spells used in the ancient history of magic. It contains one of the most powerful spell chants and Alexa needs that book as well.” He explained gritting.

I wanted to reposition myself and didn’t know when I stepped on a twig. It cracked sound was like a trumpet through the quiet forest. The two wolves stopped talking immediately and listened, their ears straightening and inclining to the direction of the sound 

One sniffed the air. “I smell her.” He said sniffing some more taking steady but calculative strides towards me.

My heart skipped a bit as I was afraid of being caught. I didn’t know what to do and how to react. I tried hiding myself behind the fallen log plainly so he wouldn’t see me but then something came at it and threw him off to the ground.

I looked up and saw a familiar sleek dark fur… it was Luca.

While pinning the one he attacked under his feet, he commanded me to run.

“Run Mira! Run!!!” he yelled turning to me.

My adrenaline was already spiked. I hesitated a bit because everything was happening so fast and I couldn’t deal with the shock so quickly.

The other wolf started coming at me then he gritted his teeth and yelled even louder.

“Run, Mira!!”

His words finally echoed in my mind and I don’t know when I got up, placing my claws on the earth, I ran as fast as my wolvie strength could carry me.

I looked back and saw the other one coming at me but Luca knocked him down and as I fled into the distance I watched Luca battle the two wolves. In the midst of the battle he turned to me with a reassuring eye, like he was trying to say that he was alright and would see me later on the safe side.

My eyes started to water. Was I about loosing the only person that was on my side? But my legs wouldn’t stop running, was I a coward for running away? Leaving him to face those unnatural wolves all alone?

I stopped running when I felt I had finally ran my way to safety. I stood on a small hill and stretched forward, I could see the small village under the moonlight. Lanterns and torches were lighted all over the place to live direction and illumination.

I got down from the hill and ran down there, through a paved lane. 

I got to the small village and held my breath, immediately switching form, I shifted into my human skin again and as I walked into the room, I met Della. 

I was quite surprised how quickly I turned back form.

Upon seeing her, I tried to say more than one word in a sentence but I ended up speaking gibberish.

“Take a deep breath Mira.” Della said realizing how tense and unorganized I was, emphasized on the “deep”. She helped me inhale and exhale properly until my breathe was even.

I did as she directed, inhaling and exhaling sharply—controlling my breath and heart beat. Just as I was ready to speak because I felt I have had enough breathing and probably my breathing pattern should be balanced by now. 

As I opened my mouth to speak, she picked up something from my shoulders and showed it to me.

It was a silver fur—mine.

“You’ve  reconnected to your wolf!” she said calmly but the excitement inside her was lighting up her face with brightness and smiles as she looked at me so fondly— she looked so proud of me.

“When did you turn?” she asked, the smile not leaving her face.

“Today in the woods.” I replied. “I and Luca were practicing some stunts when we came across two wolves, their scent was something I couldn’t lay my fingers on, and it felt so strange and unnatural, and they were discussing about capturing me back to the Alpha and the spell book I took—I finally learned of its importance. They weren’t Thane’s men, they scented differently as if deported from a spiritual portal, I could sense this dark energy within them and I… I mistakenly stepped on a dry twig and they caught my scent and tried to capture me but Luca got in the way and stopped them, I could only run.” I explained, feeling disappointed in myself, the weight of leaving Luca behind fell on my conscience more strongly than ever.

Della smiled and went to sit peacefully.

“What?” I exclaimed, I didn’t understand her sudden calmness.

“I just explained to you that Luca could be in danger even now as we speak and you’re not even bothered?” I slammed.

What kind of mother are you?

“If you know Luca like I do then you would know that fighting two stray wolves isn’t something he can’t handle.” She said with such a calm like the ocean.

“Luca is fine.” She guaranteed. “Come sit with me.” She patted the space next to her. “I’m glad you could finally wield your wolf without fear.” She noted. A smile staying on her face.

I watched her with so much confusion. I didn’t understand anything.

“I’m going back to save him.” I said turning my back on her. “I shouldn’t have left him behind.” I closed my eyes, guilt surging through me as I had a recall of how brutal he fought the two wolves while I ran away.

“You can’t. You’re not strong enough.” Della tried to discourage me.

“Well, I can’t sit around doing nothing.” I spread my arms. “It’s my fault he is in trouble in the first place, he was trying to protect me.” I argued.

“And you would be walking into a death trap if you go back.” She countered. “Don’t let your heart over ride your head and your rightful judgement. Trust me, Luca is fine.”

“I can’t trust your judgement either, what’s the difference between helping him stay alive and going back to Thane for the cursed blood ring?” I questioned and for the first time the look on her face was completely blank, she had no answer for me.

I wasn’t going to let him die on my account. It was foolish of me to have run away in the first place.

I exhaled and muttered inaudibly… “They are both death traps anyways.” I lowered my head-guilt tripped. I knew I had won because she had nothing else to say to me.

I stood quietly, still weighing my options. I tightened my eyelids and clenched my fist. I didn’t care about me anymore, “I’m going save him!” I said.

“Save who?” A baritone voice ransacked my thoughts and I instantly popped my eyes open.

“Luca?” I called out, excitement bursting through my nerves the moment I laid my eyes on him, he stood there so casually by the threshold.

“Is that how much you were worried about me?” he said.

I ignored his sly comment and ran towards him engulfing him in a tight hug. I stayed that way without saying a word. “I was scared that something had happened to you.” I muttered, giving him a gentle squeeze.

“If this is the kind of treatment I will be getting then I promise to always get in trouble for your sake all the time.” He jested and I pushed him away playfully, detaching from him.

We laughed over it and then he turned towards Della.

“Mother.” He said to her, recognizing her presence in the room. She lifted up her head and looked up at him with a daunting smile.

“Tell me about those wolves.” She said.

Suddenly, Luca’s eyebrows furrowed. His memories went back to the fierce battle he had between those wolves .. “They were odd.” He started.

“As we wrestled, I could tell something was different about them. There were no ordinary wolves—they were too strong even for me but I held my ground.” He said, worry lines drew on his face.

“Had they escaped?” she probed further.

“Yes.” He replied and went mute.

She exhaled deeply. “That means trouble is looming ahead of us. They will surely come back for revenge.” She spoke and fear gripped me from my head to my toes, my skin hair stood from end to end.

What does that mean? Are we in danger? 

“Those could have been Alexa’s men and she wields a dark force. An evil energy which swerves the wolves to serve her purpose.” She explained.

My heart pounded frantically in my chest, now we’ve been discovered!

No, it is I that has been discovered and now nobody here is safe again because of me.

“I guess I should take my leave.” I said bowing curtly.

“Why?” Luca turned to me immediately, “Where are you going?” 

“Its my fault the wolves got my scent and discovered me and then you had to fight to protect me but now, everyone is in danger because of me and that is something I cannot live with.” I stated, lowering my head in shame.

“If I go away from here then… if they come and cannot find me, they would leave the town in peace.” I said. Sounding wise in my own thinking.

But really, this sounds really lame.

“No!” Della interrupted. “Its too late for that. All we have to do now is prepare for battle. And we’d need your help with that.” 

I raised my head and stared at her with both defiance and bewilderment. “If Luca, as brave and mighty as he is, couldn't fight off two wolves successfully, who am I to stand a chance against their full army or battalion? We aren’t strong enough.” I disagreed.

“Still! We have a fighting chance.” Luca cut in. “Its better to die as brave warriors than as cowards.” A fierce spark of determination and anger flickered in his eyes and I could tell he was more than ready to face them head on but I was scared, not for myself but for the people who lived here and had found solace here. It was no longer safe for them.

I gulped. 

They weren’t ready for this …but no one is listening to me.

*ALPHA THANE’S PACK*

 ROYAL COURT

Alexa laid her head comfortably on Thane’s laps as she occasionally took a sip from her glass of freshly brewed grape wine.

Thane brushed his hands over her red silky hair as he admired the frail fair figure before him.

They stayed quietly in their court except for the occasional exchange of loving stares and glances. A guard announced the arrival of some soldiers who requested to see the Alpha and his Luna. Especially his Luna.

“We are busy, tell them to go away.” Alexa whispered to Thane.

“I and my Luna are having a good time. Tell the soldiers to report later.” Thane’s deep voice thundered across the yard.

The guard hesitated before adding, “They say it’s about the librarian you seek.”

Alexa immediately got on her edges the moment she heard the guard say that. “Let them in!” she ordered.

The court’s heavy metallic door roared to life as it’s nuts and screws rumpled through the yard to give way to the soldiers who have come bearing an important news into the court room.

The men walked into the court in military regard and knelt before the Alpha and his Luna.

“My Alpha. My Luna.” They curtsied with one knee on the ground.

Thane nodded indicating they could carry on.

“We came across Mirabelle’s scent by the woods just before the outskirts of a small remote village. She had assumed her wolf state and as we were about capturing her, a male wolf attacked us. His strength and ability surpassed anyone or anything we’ve encountered. He was very strong and had protected her fiercely. We had to come give you the news. We believe she’s hiding in the small village.”

“Incompetent fools!” Alexa lashed throwing her glass of wine to the ground. Her maids immediately gathered around her to clean it up. “How can you be defeated by one wolf?” 

“We apologize Luna.” They bowed their heads on the ground to avoid persecution. “What would you have us do?”

Thane had been sitting quietly, a sting of jealousy daunted his mind but he concealed it successfully.

“So she has quickly picked a new mate in a such a short while. How is it so that she has forgotten about me so soon?” He wondered within himself and found no answers.