Chapter 3
1138 Words
Zara’s pov
The doors slammed shut behind us as I followed Headmaster Drayke down a long hallway filled with glowing lights and ancient symbols.
The academy looked like a castle. I watched in awe, staying quiet until we reached his office.
It was massive. The arched windows let in golden light that fell across ancient books and weapons sealed behind glass.
“Sit”, Headmaster Drayke said, calm but commanding.
I hesitated. “Am I in trouble?”
He shook his head. “No. But you are in danger.There are people out there if they get to you first could cause damage, you’re very important to us.”
My heart skipped.
He reached into his desk and pulled out an old photograph.
He handed it to me and I couldn’t believe what I had just seen. A strong man with piercing blue eyes and a glowing woman with golden brown hair and kind eyes.
“My parents”, I whispered.
He nodded. “Seth and Aurora Winters. Your father was an elemental wolf, he controlled all four elements. Your mother was a dreamwalker, one of the rarest wolves to ever live. They were heroes.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. “But they’re gone”
“They were killed,”, he said softly, “because they refused to let the dark packs take you. They left you at the pack and set out to fight the enemy”
I froze.
“The enemies wanted to raise you as a weapon, to use your power for themselves. We all knew you were special. Your parents protected you with their lives.”
I looked down. “But I don’t even have a wolf.”
“You will,” he said with certainty. “Your powers are hidden for now, but they’ll awaken when the time is right.”
“Why bring me here now? And my aunt–”
“We brought you here because we finally found you. Sixteen years ago, your entire pack, the Lunar Fang pack was wiped out by rogue wolves. We thought everyone died, buried what we could find”.
He paused then sighs.
“A man came here last week, he was looking for work. We almost chased him away but he looked sick so we took him to the clinic. While in the clinic, your parents picture showed up on the screen, it was their death anniversary and we were paying tribute to them”.
“So what happened next”, I questioned.
“He saw them. Then began pointing at the photo, his hands shaking. That’s her parents, that’s Amelia’s parents, the little girl I raised for three years”
“Uncle Ted…”
His name left my mouth before I could stop, and then just like that a single tear slipped down my cheek.
“Yes dear, it’s him”, the headmaster responded.
I stayed silent still shocked that Uncle Ted was here. My aunt and I had to keep our identity a secret at the village hence the change of name but she liked Ted, he was the only one she let in and they began dating. He was charming and nice, he taught me all the values I know but he had a curse.
He wandered and wasn’t able to settle, the longer he stayed in a place the worse his health. He stayed with us for three solid years from 10 to 13 years of my age and then one day he just disappeared.
“Zara, Are you okay?”, the headmaster asked snapping me back to reality.
I nodded gently still in shock.
“Your middle name is Amelia, your dad had told me during a visit to my pack discussing a collaboration. We weren’t close but that was what gave me the drive to find you. He gave us the address, we sent a spy there and once we saw the similarities with your parents we knew we got the right girl. This is everything I know.”
The headmaster paused and placed a hand on my palm.
“You’re right, my middle name is Amelia”, I muttered.
Suddenly, I began to feel a pain in my chest. “Where is Uncle Ted now?”
Headmaster Drayke hesitated.
“He died two days ago. His illness was too far gone. He did everything we could to save him.”
“No, no, no, no…”
The words came from my lips, over and over, like it could undo what I’d just heard.
“He’s dead?” I choked out, my head spinning. “He’s gone?”
Headmaster Drayke didn’t speak, he didn’t have to. The silence between us said everything.
I clutched the sides of the chair like they could keep me upright, like I wouldn’t fall apart right there on the polished floor.
“He saved me and I didn’t even get the chance to say thank you.”
The sobs began to burst out. I didn’t care if it was loud or ugly, or if it made me look weak. I didn’t care about anything else except the ache in my chest.
He was the only good memory I had from those years, The only light in the dark. A stranger who stayed long enough to teach me skills and I continued learning with the materials he left me. He also taught me to hold on…and now he was gone.
Just like that.
Headmaster Drayke knelt beside me then, his voice low and gentle. “He may not be alive but he will always be by your side. Your uncle won’t want you to be sad, you have to stay strong and be the best version of yourself for him. He knows your worth.”
I wiped my face, though it was pointless the tears kept coming. “He’s dead”
Headmaster Drayke stood slowly giving me space but not stepping too far away. “Take the day off, Zara. Go to your dorm. Rest. Everything will be waiting for you, uniforms, books, laptop, a phone, my smart door scanned your measurements if you need to know how we got it. This week is your orientation week so your roommate, Tess, will help guide you through things. She should be outside waiting.
I didn’t move. I struggled to.
“We can talk more tomorrow after school, Zara. You don’t have to carry this alone.”
I nodded shakily, standing on legs that didn’t feel like mine anymore. I paused my hands wrapping my hands around the frame.
“Can I keep it”, I asked softly, my eyes lingering on the picture of my parents.
“Yes”, Headmaster Drayke said with a small smile. “It belongs to you.”
- Writer
