The Voice Within
1027 Words
Amara didn’t run.
Not immediately.
She stood beneath the cold moonlight, staring at the entrance of the feast hall while the strange voice echoed inside her head.
Run.
Her breathing became shallow.
She had never heard a voice inside her before.
Every wolf was born with an animal spirit. From childhood, they could sense their wolves, communicate with them, and eventually shift.
Amara had never experienced any of that.
She had been tested repeatedly.
Nothing.
No wolf.
No connection.
No explanation.
So what had just spoken to her?
She pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
“Who are you?”
Silence.
Amara swallowed.
“Are you my wolf?”
Nothing answered.
She glanced toward the feast hall.
Hundreds of pack members were entering.
Nobody was paying attention to her.
Good.
She didn’t know what was happening, but she knew one thing.
She couldn’t tell anyone.
Especially not the elders.
She turned and hurried away from the courtyard.
The safest place she could think of was the small cabin behind the healer’s house.
She had barely reached the path when footsteps sounded behind her.
“Amara.”
She stopped.
Her heart sank.
She recognized that voice.
Lucian.
She slowly turned.
He stood several feet away, his black jacket open at the collar. His expression was different from before.
More serious.
“What are you doing out here alone?”
“I needed some air.”
“At night?”
“Yes.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You look frightened.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve never been good at lying.”
Amara looked away.
Lucian took a step toward her.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
Nothing about his voice sounded like the Alpha everyone feared.
For a moment, she saw the boy who had once sat beside her at the training grounds.
The boy who had told her she didn’t need a wolf to prove her worth.
She hated how easily that memory could still weaken her.
“Nothing is wrong,” she whispered.
Lucian stopped in front of her.
“Look at me.”
She did.
Their eyes met.
Something moved between them.
A sudden pressure filled the air.
Lucian’s breathing changed.
His pupils widened.
Amara felt heat spread through her body.
Then
Mine.
The word exploded inside her mind.
Amara gasped.
Lucian stepped back as if he’d been struck.
“What was that?”
“What?”
“My wolf.”
Her heart stopped.
“Your wolf?”
Lucian stared at her.
“He spoke.”
Amara’s face went pale.
“About me?”
Lucian didn’t answer.
His jaw tightened.
For the first time since she had known him, genuine confusion appeared on his face.
“My wolf has never reacted to anyone like this.”
Amara didn’t know what to say.
Neither did Lucian.
Then a woman’s voice interrupted them.
“Lucian?”
They both turned.
Selene stood several yards away.
Her eyes moved from Lucian to Amara.
Her expression hardened.
“What are you doing out here with her?”
Lucian’s face immediately became cold.
“I was speaking with her.”
“At midnight?”
“It’s none of your concern.”
Selene’s lips tightened.
“Everything involving you is my concern.”
Amara lowered her eyes.
She didn’t want to be caught between them.
“I should go.”
Lucian looked at her.
“Wait.”
She stopped.
But before he could say anything else, Selene stepped forward.
“Amara, you should understand something.”
Amara looked at her.
Selene smiled.
It wasn’t a friendly smile.
“Lucian is the future Alpha. His life is already decided.”
Amara felt a familiar ache in her chest.
“I know.”
“Then act like you know.”
Selene walked closer.
“You may have grown up here, but that doesn’t mean you belong beside him.”
Amara remained silent.
She had heard worse.
But somehow, hearing those words tonight hurt more.
Perhaps because Lucian was standing right there.
Perhaps because some foolish part of her had started believing his attention meant something.
Lucian’s expression darkened.
“Selene.”
“What?”
“Enough.”
Selene stared at him.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Finally, she turned away.
“Come inside when you’re finished.”
She walked toward the hall.
Lucian watched her disappear.
Then he looked back at Amara.
“I’m sorry.”
Amara forced a smile.
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because she shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”
Amara’s smile faded.
“She’s right.”
Lucian frowned.
“About what?”
“About me.”
He stared at her.
“You’re the future Alpha. I’m wolfless.”
“And?”
“And that means we’re different.”
Lucian stepped closer.
“Amara, look at me.”
She did.
“I don’t care that you don’t have a wolf.”
Her heart skipped.
“You say that now.
“I mean it.”
“Then why do you keep looking at me like something is wrong
Lucian went silent.
Because he didn’t have an answer.
His wolf had been restless since he’d approached her.
And now it was practically clawing at the inside of his mind.
Mate.
Lucian’s entire body went rigid.
He had never heard that word from his wolf before.
Not once.
He had always assumed his wolf would recognize his mate when the Moon decided the time was right.
But why now
Why her
And why did the scent of Amara suddenly feel so intoxicating?
He stepped back.
Amara noticed
Pain flashed across her face.
She mistook his confusion for rejection.
Again.
“I should leave, she whispered.
Before Lucian could stop her, she walked away.
He watched her disappear into the darkness.
His wolf growled
Follow.
Lucian closed his eyes
“Why her
His wolf answered with one word.
Mate.
Across the courtyard, Amara suddenly stopped
Her hand flew to her chest.
The mysterious voice returned.
But this time, it wasn’t telling her to run.
It whispered something far more frightening.
He has found us
And deep inside Amara, something ancient awakened.
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