Chapter 32 - The Light in the Forest
1064 Words
*Elara – pov*
Time didn’t exist here or maybe it existed too much.
I couldn’t tell anymore.
The moon never moved.
The meadow never changed.
The silver grass always whispered in the same invisible breeze and no matter what Adira and I tried…I stayed trapped.
We accepted each other fully.
Accepted our bond.
Accepted what we were.
Still nothing.
No doorway.
No waking.
No return.
Selene had disappeared days ago.
Or hours ago.
Or minutes.
Again…time meant nothing here.
So Adira and I wandered.
The meadow stretched endlessly beneath the silver moon while mist curled around Adira’s massive paws. Sometimes she chased drifting lights like an oversized puppy despite being an ancient mystical wolf.
It helped.
Because if I stopped moving, I thought too much.
About Raiden.
About Lucien.
About my parents.
About everything I had lost before I even knew it belonged to me.
Adira and I eventually reached the stream again.
Silver water flowed gently over pale stones, glowing softly beneath the moonlight.
It was beautiful and peaceful.
I crouched near the edge and dipped my fingers into the cold water.
Then froze.
My reflection wasn’t mine.
Red hair.
Green eyes.
My mother stared back at me from the stream.
I frowned sharply and leaned closer.
“What the—”
A soft hand touched my shoulder.
I spun instantly and forgot how to breathe.
She stood only inches away from me.
My mother.
Not a vision.
Not a memory.
Her.
She looked exactly like the woman from the visions.
Like me and not like me.
Long red hair spilled over her shoulders while intelligent green eyes studied my face with unbearable tenderness.
Emotion slammed into me so hard my knees nearly gave out.
Adira lowered herself silently beside us.
Respectful.
Quiet.
My mother smiled sadly.
“You have your father’s eyes.”
My throat closed completely.
For a second, I was a child again somehow.
Lost.
Small.
Hurting.
“I don’t…” My voice broke instantly. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
Tears burned violently behind my eyes.
“I looked for you,” I whispered shakily. “After I found out… I looked for pictures… for anything…”
Pain flickered across her expression.
“I know.”
Silence stretched between us painfully.
Then finally she stepped closer.
“I’m sorry.”
Two simple words.
And somehow they shattered me completely.
“I’m sorry we left you alone.”
“I’m sorry you grew up without answers.”
“I’m sorry you had to survive what should never have touched you.”
I stared at her through blurred vision.
But strangely, I didn’t feel anger.
Not the way I expected.
No screaming rage.
No accusations.
Only grief.
Because looking at her now, I understood.
She had loved me.
Desperately.
Fiercely.
Enough to give me away if it meant I lived.
“I don’t blame you,” I whispered.
Her eyes closed briefly like the words physically hurt her.
“You should.”
“No.”
And I meant it.
Because somewhere along the way, I realized parents weren’t gods.
They were just people trying to protect the things they loved.
Even when they failed.
Especially when they failed.
My mother touched my cheek gently.
“You are stronger than we ever hoped.”
I swallowed hard.
“I don’t feel strong.”
“You survived.”
Her voice sharpened slightly.
“You loved despite betrayal.”
“You protected despite fear.”
“You chose compassion even after loss.”
Her eyes glimmered softly.
“That is strength, Elara.”
Emotion clogged painfully in my chest.
I wanted more time.
More answers.
More of her.
But already her outline seemed softer somehow.
Fading.
Panic hit instantly.
“Wait—”
“You must wake soon.”
“No.” I grabbed for her hand desperately. “Please don’t leave again.”
Her smile trembled.
“Oh little wolf… I never truly left you.”
Then she kissed my forehead softly.
Warmth spread instantly through my entire body.
And suddenly—
She was gone.
The meadow fell silent again.
Too silent.
I stood there staring at the empty space where she’d been.
Then the grief finally hit properly.
Violent.
Crushing.
My knees buckled hard into the silver grass while sobs tore out of me uncontrollably.
Everything exploded at once.
Pain.
Anger.
Loss.
Twenty-eight years of missing something I never understood.
“I hate this,” I choked out.
Adira pressed against my side immediately.
Warm fur.
Steady heartbeat.
Pack.
“She knew,” I sobbed. “She knew Lucien was dangerous!”
Adira stayed quiet.
“Why didn’t they stop him?”
“Why didn’t they run?”
“Why didn’t anyone save them?”
The anguish pouring out of me felt endless.
Maybe part of me was angry.
Maybe I did blame them a little.
Maybe I blamed everyone.
For dying.
For secrets.
For leaving me behind with pieces missing from my soul.
Adira lowered herself beside me completely until I collapsed against her thick white fur.
She didn’t try to stop the breakdown.
She simply stayed.
Strong.
Steady.
Mine.
Eventually the sobbing faded into exhausted silence.
I wiped harshly at my face before groaning.
“Well,” I muttered hoarsely, “that was embarrassing.”
Adira snorted softly.
Needed.
I crawled toward the stream and splashed icy water onto my face.
The cold helped.
Grounded me.
“Enough.”
I stared at my reflection again.
Blue eyes.
White-blonde hair.
But stronger now somehow.
More whole.
I exhaled slowly.
“Enough, Adira.”
My wolf lifted her head immediately.
“We need to figure this s**t out.”
Determination settled heavily into my chest now.
“I need to go back.”
Raiden needed me.
My parents needed me.
Rosewood needed me.
And Lucien was still out there.
Adira stood smoothly beside me.
Then suddenly—
She froze.
Alert.
I followed her gaze toward the forest edge.
A small light flickered faintly between the trees.
Warm gold against endless silver.
Not moonlight.
Something else.
The light pulsed softly once.
Almost beckoning.
Adira’s ears lifted immediately.
Path opens.
My pulse quickened.
“You think that’s it?”
Yes.
The light flickered again deeper within the forest.
Waiting.
Adira stepped forward first.
And together—
We followed it into the trees.
- Writer
