The Black Wolf
ya's
my eyes sn
ickly realized, this wasn't heaven. I
looked up, the wooden beam was splintered, the rope severed and dangling. That rope was too thick to brea
my feet, guided only by the pale moonlight spilling through the window. My b
down, and that's when it happened. A sharp, agonizing cra
ng, reshaping, skin tearing. The black wolf emerged,
ced the air as we charged down the street, faces blurred past us, terrified, fl
a child, a small
inside. "Please
hen, a stone came flying through the air, st
deserted, silent but for the sound of my wolf's ra
and collapsed onto the cold street, naked and trembling. I d
it with shaking hands, lifted it to my chest, but the wo
stopped me, by force. Tossing me across the room. We battled each other all
to face the people, to take responsibility, but
ed enforcers were scared of me, they kept thei
of them said. "You are to pre
d. As I passed through the village, t
sed. Black
her before she slau
usted... that's how dem
. I didn't flinch or stop, my soul was a
shadowed me, staying at a safe distance. I
inally, the Beta emerged,
ed. "The heartstone rejects your pres
the walk home was worse. Stones, garbage
wolf within not to rise again, not here or n
e that," a woman spat. "She's using her beauty to
ng. Slowly, I turned, searching for the one who'd said i
wa
ied to end my life. Once again, I failed
ing, numb. I couldn't stay. Not when my presence risked more inn
eeded to survive. The silks, the jewels, the pretty gifts that
nd left it on the ki
is house. Don't sleep in people's kitchens or store rooms a
n roads. I took the narrow path by the woods, when I reached the bord
Until I found an old, abandoned cottage nestled betw
ould be at risk, quiet enough fo
I was here, my heart pounded as I approached the door
just enough t
ind me?" voice cracking. "Don't you
h. "You're not
gged, my throat
these here," he said gently,
until he was gone. When I stepped outside,
lanket. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop
d. He didn't knock or call out. Just
tude. I never opened the door, never let him see me or s
him get too close, I might snap and drag him into my darkne
he cold crept into my bones, Zevarion still came, a
rely spared rogues who wandered too close. The main pack k
ear passed in silence and so
ft knock, th
n said gently. "Please... open th
ng over the doorknob, heart breaking,
ng, Vireya,"
I dreamed of him every night? That my so
n just... tap on the door twic
and tapped,
nd unspoken emotion. "I'll keep comi
rough the window. I smiled, a small fragile smi
never asking for it, but always needing it. I surv
bed, staring up at the cracked ceiling,
, many. I bolted upright, breath caugh
e wood crashing to the floor. A tall figure stepped into the co
had no idea if I'd survive