The Stolen Wolf

The Girl Without a Wolf Elena knew better than to stand in the middle of a shifting ceremony. The moment the first howl rose from the training ground, she stepped back. Not because anyone had told her to. Nobody needed to. After eighteen years in Moonridge, Elena had learned where she belonged whenever wolves gathered. At the edge. She folded her arms and watched the young wolves in the clearing. One after another, they shifted beneath the pale morning sky. The sounds were familiar. So familiar that Elena could recognize each stage without looking. She had never experienced any of them herself. A boy near the center shifted into a large brown wolf. A few people cheered, and his friends congratulated him when he shifted back. Elena smiled when everyone else did, even though she felt that old, quiet ache in her chest. “Still watching from there?” She turned. Isla stood a few steps behind her. Her hair was tied back neatly, and she was still wearing the training clothes she had worn that morning. She looked comfortable in the pack courtyard in a way Elena never had. People noticed Isla when she entered a room. They always had. Elena raised an eyebrow. “Where else should I be?” Isla looked toward the clearing. “I don't know. Somewhere less obvious.” Elena glanced down at herself. “I'm standing at the edge. How is that obvious?” A small smile touched Isla's mouth. “That wasn't what I meant.” Elena understood. She always had to. Before she could answer, Isla moved closer and reached for the loose strap on Elena's shoulder. “Hold still.” Elena blinked. “What’s wrong?” “Your strap.” Isla fixed it with quick fingers, then stepped away from her. “There. You look less like you got dressed in the dark.” Elena stared at her for a second before laughing softly. “You could have just said it was crooked.” “And miss the chance to insult you? Not happening.” Isla said flashing her a bittersweet smile. Elena sighed. She was already used to being taunted by her very own sister. “You'd survive.” “I doubt I will.” For a moment, they looked like ordinary sisters. That was what made Isla difficult for Elena to understand. Sometimes she was kind. Sometimes she noticed little things before anyone else did. And sometimes she could say something that stayed in Elena's head for days. Isla turned toward the clearing. “Damon is coming.” Elena followed her gaze. He was walking across the courtyard with two members of the Alpha's guard. Damon didn't look rushed, but people moved aside when he passed anyway. That was one of the things Elena had always noticed about him. Damon never demanded attention. He simply had it. He was the future Alpha of Moonridge, and everyone knew it. His father had been preparing him for the position for years. Even now, there was a seriousness around him that made people straighten when he approached. His eyes found Elena. His expression changed. It was small. Almost nothing. But Elena noticed. He smiled. She smiled back. Isla noticed the exchange. Her hand tightened around her other wrist before she relaxed it. “You two are becoming predictable,” she said. Elena looked at her. “What does that mean?” “Nothing.” “Isla.” “I said nothing.” Damon reached them before Elena could press further. “You're early,” he said to Elena. She shrugged. “I couldn't sleep.” “Again?” “You sound like an old man.” Damon gave her a flat look. “And you sound like someone who should sleep at night.” Elena laughed. “You're one to talk.” “I sleep.” “You stare at the ceiling for hours.” “How would you know?” “Because you've told me.” “I never told you that.” “You did.” Damon shook his head, but the corner of his mouth lifted. Isla watched them for a moment. Then she smiled. “You two really do talk too much.” Damon glanced at her. “Morning, Isla.” “Morning.” Her smile stayed in place, but Elena noticed it did not reach her eyes. Damon looked back at the training ground. “Did you watch the last shift?” “No,” Elena said. “Why not?” She gave him a look. He understood immediately. His expression softened. “Right.” Elena hated that look. The careful one. The one people used when they remembered she was different. “Don't,” she said quietly. Damon frowned. “Don't what?” “Look at me like that.” “I wasn't.” “You were.” He opened his mouth, then stopped. Isla stepped in before the silence became uncomfortable. “She doesn't like pity.” “I know,” Damon said. Elena looked at him. There was no pity in his voice. That was the problem. He really did know her. Before she could say anything, a loud cheer came from the clearing. Everyone turned. Isla's attention sharpened. The next person stepping into the center was her. She handed her jacket to someone nearby and walked forward. Elena watched her sister take her place. There was confidence in the way Isla moved. She wasn't showing off. She didn't need to. The trainer gave her a signal. Isla closed her eyes. For one second, nothing happened. Then she shifted. Her wolf appeared quickly, strong and steady. The clearing erupted in approval. Elena clapped with everyone else. She meant it. She was proud of Isla. At least, part of her was. The other part hated how easy it looked. When Isla shifted back, she caught Elena watching her. Their eyes met. Isla walked over. “Well?” Elena smiled. “Very impressive.” “That's all?” “What do you want, a speech?” Isla laughed. “No. I just thought you'd say something nice.” “I said impressive.” “You make everything sound like a school report.” Damon chuckled behind Elena. She turned. “Don't encourage her.” “I didn't say anything.” “You laughed.” “That isn't the same thing.” “It is when you're laughing at me.” “I wasn't.” Elena rolled her eyes. For a few seconds, the three of them stood there like they always had. Then someone behind them spoke. “Must be nice.” Elena's smile disappeared. She turned. A young pack member was looking at her. “What?” Elena asked. He shrugged. “Nothing.” “No. Say it.” He glanced toward Isla, then back at Elena. “I just meant it must be nice having everyone celebrate your sister while you stand around.” Damon's face hardened. Elena lifted a hand before he could respond. “It's fine.” The boy smirked. “Of course it is.” Elena looked at him for a long second. Then she smiled. “Enjoy your morning.” She turned away. Damon followed. “Elena.” “Don't.” “He shouldn't have said that.” “He's not the first.” “That doesn't make it okay.” She looked at him. “I know.” There was a pause. Damon lowered his voice. “You don't have to pretend with me.” Something in Elena's chest tightened. She looked away. “I know.” He studied her face. Then his eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you feeling okay?” Elena frowned. “Why?” “I don't know.” He stepped closer. For a moment, his expression became strangely focused. Elena felt it too. A sudden pressure settled in her chest. Not pain. Something else. Something she couldn't name. She pressed her fingers lightly against her shirt. Damon noticed. “What is it?” “Nothing.” “Elena.” “I said it's nothing.” The feeling disappeared as quickly as it came. Damon still looked unconvinced. Before he could ask again, Isla called from behind them. “Damon.” He turned. Isla stood near the edge of the clearing. “What?” “Your father wants you.” His shoulders stiffened. “I'll be there.” Isla nodded. Then she looked at Elena. For one brief moment, something strange crossed her face. It wasn't anger. It wasn't jealousy. It looked almost like fear. Elena blinked. The expression was gone. Isla smiled. “See you later.” She walked away. Damon watched her leave, then looked back at Elena. “You're sure you're okay?” Elena nodded. “I'm fine.” She wasn't sure why, but the lie came easily. Damon hesitated. Then he nodded. “Fine.” He started walking away. After a few steps, he stopped and looked back. “Elena.” “Yeah?” “Stay away from the northern woods today.” She frowned. “Why?” “Just don't go there.” “That's not an answer.” “I know.” He gave her a small smile. “I'll explain later.” Then he left. Elena watched him disappear into the crowd. She should have gone home. Instead, she looked toward the northern path. Something about Damon's warning bothered her. Not because she wanted to disobey him. Because it sounded like he knew something he wasn't telling her. She took one step toward the path. Then stopped. For a moment, the world around her seemed strangely quiet. A cold sensation moved through her chest. Elena's hand went there again. And this time, she heard something. Not a voice. Not exactly. Just a faint sound inside her mind. A low, distant growl. Her breath caught. She stood completely still. The sound came again. Then disappeared. Elena looked around quickly. No one was watching her. She swallowed. Her heart was beating too fast. That couldn't have happened. She had no wolf. She had never had one. At least, that was what everyone had always told her. But for the first time in her life, Elena found herself wondering if everyone had been wrong.