A wolf that didn’t come
Zara Ashford
“Happy birthday, sweet pea.”
My mother’s soft, melodic voice, followed by the rich aroma of pancakes, lulls me out of sleep. “Time for you to get up before you’re late to school,” she calls as she steps out of my room.
I groan and pull the covers over my head. Being eighteen doesn’t change the fact that waking up at the crack of dawn is still so not my thing. School itself isn’t the problem—I’m a straight-A student, but mornings? No thanks.
With a reluctant sigh, I finally drag myself from my warm, comfy bed and stumble to the bathroom. After a quick shower and brushing my teeth, I throw on my favorite outfit—a cropped, long-sleeved, red crocodile-print leather jacket over a black graphic tee. My low-rise black jeans hug my hips perfectly, and after brushing my long, thick curls into a sleek ponytail, I swipe on some light makeup. Grabbing my black Vans, I head downstairs, the buzz of my family’s voices filling the air.
“Good morning, sleeping beauty. Happy birthday.”
Dad’s deep voice greets me the moment I step into the kitchen. He stands from his seat at the head of the table, arms wide open.
I smile and walk into his embrace. “Thanks, old man,” I tease, feeling his familiar, comforting warmth as he crushes me in one of his famous bear hugs.
“You’re going to squash our daughter, Zane,” Mom says with a laugh, shaking her head.
I barely have time to recover before Celara, my older sister, swoops in and kisses my forehead. “Happy birthday, mini.” She grins, ruffling my hair like I’m still ten. No matter how old I get, I’ll always be her “mini.”
“Happy birthday, little sis,” Lucian chimes in from across the table, his signature smirk in place as he reaches over to mess up my hair.
“Ow! Lucian!” I slap his arm lightly, and he just laughs, sitting back down with an amused grin.
Breakfast is lively as usual—laughter, teasing, and the comforting warmth of family. But beneath the cheerful surface, something feels… off. I notice the way my parents exchange glances, how Lucian’s jaw tightens every so often, and how Celara keeps opening and closing her mouth like she wants to say something.
The pack’s mind link.
My heart sinks a little. I can’t hear it—not yet. Without my wolf, I’m left out of the private conversations they have within the bond. It’s one of the many things I’ve looked forward to, but the way they’re whispering now… it makes me uneasy.
“What is it?” I blurt, unable to take the suspense.
The table falls silent. Mom and Dad look at each other again, and I can see the hesitation in their eyes.
“Did you talk to anyone special today?” Dad finally asks, his tone casual—too casual.
I frown. “I mean, besides you guys? No.”
Another heavy silence. I glance around, feeling more on edge by the second. “Spit it out.”
Mom sighs, placing a gentle hand over mine. “We just… we thought you might’ve heard your wolf by now, baby.”
My heart stutters in my chest. “Am I… supposed to?” My voice comes out smaller than I’d like.
“Everyone’s different,” Mom says quickly, squeezing my hand reassuringly. “Some wolves greet their human side first thing in the morning, some take a little longer.”
I glance at my siblings, needing reassurance. “Is that how it was for you guys?”
Lucian clears his throat, exchanging a glance with Celara. “For most of us, yeah. It happened first thing,” he admits carefully. “Except for Cel—hers came when we were attacked by rogues.”
“Great,” I mutter, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach. “So something has to go horribly wrong for me to meet my wolf?”
Celara shakes her head. “No, Zara, it’s not like that. Your wolf will come when she’s ready.”
I nod slowly, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest. What if she never comes?
As the day drags on, I’m not really present in class. My body might be here, but my mind is somewhere else entirely. Why didn’t my wolf greet me today? The question circles endlessly in my head, gnawing at my confidence. Is there something wrong with me?
“Zara?”
I blink, startled out of my thoughts by the concerned voice of my best friend, Lyra Monroe. Her hazel eyes study me intently, brow creased with worry. “Are you alright?”
I force a small smile, hoping it looks more convincing than it feels. “Sorry, Lay,” I mumble, realizing I’ve completely missed whatever she was saying.
She tilts her head, not fooled for a second. “You’re distracted. What’s going on?”
A sigh escapes my lips before I can stop it. I don’t want to burden her, not today. Not when I barely understand what’s happening myself. “I’m alright, Lay. Just… worried, that’s all.”
Lyra doesn’t back down. “Do you want to talk about it?” she asks, her voice soft but persistent.
I shake my head, offering her another half-hearted smile. “I’m fine, my friend,” I say, nudging her playfully. “Back to what you were saying.”
She watches me for a moment longer before finally letting it go. “Well… I was saying there’s a party tomorrow. Do you want to go?”
I groan, already dreading it. “Lay… you know I’m not really into all that.”
Lyra grins, leaning in conspiratorially. “Come on, you need to have some fun, or else you’ll shrivel up like a prune,” she teases, pulling a ridiculous face before poking my ribs.
I can’t help but laugh, swatting her hand away. “Fine! But you owe me,” I warn, holding up a finger to make my point clear.
Lyra beams triumphantly. “Deal.”
Despite the brief distraction, the rest of the day feels like it drags on forever. The knot in my stomach tightens as the hours slip by, and I find myself counting down the minutes until I can finally go home and face the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life.
