Ember's of the Silent Wolf

the air, bright and carefree, her wolf eyes

didn't touch her eyes. "You

around her shoulders in waves as she shifted back effortlessly, skin replacing

fallen leaf from her arm. "Selene,

mured, eyes on the dancing shadows o

rock, unbothered by the cold. "Your wolf's ju

voice brittle. "Maybe I wasn't meant to

r fingers wrapping around Selene's wrist. "

belief was a fragile thing, and

strong emotion. Then with love. Then maybe the n

t, and Selene remained pai

way they looked at her with pity, like she was a child lef

it aloud, but she k

tion. Anger. Tears. I even spent a night alone in

night it listens," Lyra s

tly. "I can't keep hoping, Lyra. I

owls of the others echoed, joyous, wi

come back with m

head. "No. I ne

h. She never di

ache in her chest deepened as she turned her back on the sounds of her pack and wa

Past the familiar scent trails. Past the stone circle. Pas

ere taller, older

er like a second skin. Not e

oud. Her voice echo

n't you

ting into her palms. "What did I

from her body. Not from the wolf insid

eath her weight, tears threatening to spill. She didn't cry, sh

en, mo

the air. A scent s

head sn

not have a wolf, but her reflexes were sharp from yea

y, eyes scanni

tepped into t

manding.

houlders, slightly disheveled. His frame was carved from war, broad shoulders,

s breat

ci

ved two days ago. The one whispered about in hushed to

ew why he

il

. The leaves didn't d

his mouth sounded different. Raw.

ch twiste

right away. Jus

ied

wer to a riddle he'd

he said instead.

oes tha

f may be silent, b

ack. "You don't know

you feel

stif

continued, voice low. "But what if what you're m

ha

moved

ifted, not physically, but internally. Like a thread tighten

ld see the flecks of gold in his irises. Close

s when it

kin. A pulse of heat do

ing st

ing an

hing

k. Her fingers flew to he

cian said. "She hea

ed her entire life for the wolf to rise. And now, in the presence

is isn't real. It's jus

s calm. "You're n

im. "You don't

your wolf. She's not dead, Selene. She was dormant.

struck som

sane," she

Or maybe I'm just the first person w

t?" she snapped

ward, until there was noth

ure Alph

d between them,

g, the wolf inside her pressing n

ppeared into the darkness, the leaves parti

stood

nds tr

round her, but this t

f had s

ould ever be