The grand entrance of the Black Shadow pack's mansion felt overwhelming. Dark wood lined the walls, and the space radiated power, making me feel small and fragile in comparison. Every step I took echoed across the marble floors, and I could feel the eyes of the pack wolves on me, watching, assessing.
Alpha Dane guided me down a hallway, his hand firm but not forceful against my back. He seemed to know exactly where we were headed, and that alone filled me with a sense of dread. My legs felt like lead, and my heart pounded harder with every step.
We finally reached a large wooden door, slightly ajar. Inside, I could see the flickering of candles and the faint scent of herbs. The room beyond was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the floor.
Dane turned to me, his crimson eyes locking onto mine. "This is it, Neah," he said softly. "We're going to break the binding."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "What will happen to me?" I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty.
"You'll feel your wolf again," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "You'll regain what was taken from you. But... it may be painful."
Painful. Of course it would be. Everything in my life had been painful. But this? This was different. This was about something that had been hidden deep inside me for so long, I had almost forgotten it existed.
"Are you ready?" Dane asked, his gaze never leaving mine.
I wanted to say no, to turn and run as far away from this place as possible, but I knew that I couldn't. I had come this far, and there was no going back now. I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yes."
Dane pushed open the door, revealing a large circular room. In the center stood an old woman dressed in flowing robes, her silver hair cascading down her back. Her eyes were pale and clouded, but her presence filled the room with an ancient, knowing energy. This must be the healer.
She looked up as we entered, her lips curling into a faint smile. "So, this is the one," she said, her voice a soft rasp. "The wolf who's been caged for too long."
I stood frozen, unsure of what to say. The healer motioned for me to come closer, and I felt Alpha Dane's hand gently press against my back, urging me forward.
The room smelled of sage and burning herbs, the air thick with anticipation. I approached the healer, my heart thudding in my chest.
"What's your name, child?" the healer asked, her voice kind but firm.
"Neah," I whispered, feeling my voice catch in my throat.
"Neah," she repeated, nodding thoughtfully. "You carry a heavy burden."
I didn't know what to say to that. Of course I did. The guilt of my parents' death, the years of abuse, the shame of having my wolf bound—it was all too much sometimes. But I had survived, hadn't I? Even if just barely.
The healer's pale eyes seemed to pierce through me as if she could see every secret, every scar I had ever carried. "What we are about to do will awaken what has been asleep for too long," she said softly. "You will feel pain, yes, but it will not break you. You are stronger than you know."
Her words did little to calm the fear rising in my chest, but I nodded anyway. I had come this far; there was no turning back now.
She motioned for me to sit in the center of the room. As I sank to the floor, my hands trembled in my lap. The healer began to chant softly, her words ancient and melodic. The air around me seemed to thicken, and I could feel a strange energy building in the room.
Dane stood off to the side, his eyes fixed on me. He gave me a nod of reassurance, but his expression was serious, as though he knew this would not be easy.
Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my chest, like something was being pulled from deep within me. I gasped, clutching at the floor as the pain intensified. It felt like fire coursing through my veins, burning away the chains that had bound my wolf for so long.
"Let it out," the healer's voice cut through the haze of pain. "Let her awaken."
I wanted to scream, to beg for it to stop, but I couldn't. The fire kept burning, and something deep inside me began to stir. My wolf, the part of me that had been buried for so many years, was waking up.
The pain grew sharper, and my vision blurred. I felt my body convulse, the power inside me pushing against the bonds that had held it for so long. It was overwhelming, like I was being torn apart from the inside.
And then, all at once, the pain exploded, and I felt a rush of energy flood my body. It was raw and wild, like a storm raging inside me. My wolf was free.
I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath. My whole body trembled, but the fire had faded, leaving only a sense of emptiness behind. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and everything felt different. The room looked sharper, clearer, and the scents around me were stronger, more vibrant.
I could feel her now, my wolf, moving just beneath the surface. She was no longer bound, no longer hidden. She was a part of me once more.
Alpha Dane knelt beside me, his crimson eyes searching mine. "How do you feel?" he asked softly.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Different," I whispered. "Stronger."
He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good."
The healer stood, watching us with a satisfied expression. "It is done," she said quietly. "The bond has been broken."
I sat up slowly, still feeling the lingering effects of the ritual. My whole body ached, but it was a different kind of pain—one that felt like healing, like something had finally been set right.
But as I looked up at Alpha Dane, a new fear began to creep in. My wolf was free now, but what did that mean for me? What did it mean for my future?
Dane must have seen the worry in my eyes because he reached out and gently touched my hand. "You're not alone in this," he said again, his voice steady. "We'll figure it out together."
I nodded, grateful for his support, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The truth about my past, my wolf, and everything I had been through was still out there, waiting to be uncovered.
And whatever it was, I knew it would change everything.