Awaken Partially
1153 Words
Ashen
“I followed traces of your scent,” he said to Moon, then swallowed with a wince.
“You came alone?” Moon asked.
His eyes softened when he looked at her.
“For you? Yes.”
Then the softness vanished.
“Dorian stood before the court,” Solan continued slowly, “and for one minute, his aura turned white.”
Veyra’s lip curled. “Witchcraft.”
“That is what I suspected.”
Moon stepped closer to him. “Did no one question it?”
“I did. Your mother did. Quietly.” Solan’s voice darkened. “The council member declared it proof. Dorian played humble. Wounded. Noble. He said he never wanted destiny but would accept it for the kingdom.”
I almost laughed.
There was nothing funny in it.
Sounds like a faker who would know how to wear sacrifices like jewelry.
Then he said, “He claims you are the false wolf.”
The cabin seemed to shrink.
“He says you discovered he was Moon’s fated mate and kidnapped her out of jealousy. He claims you used rogue wolves, hidden magic, and your supposed omega status to get close to the royal line. The council member says the prophecy warns that if you are crowned, war and death will follow.”
Nara’s face went pale.
Moon’s anger rose so sharply I felt it through the bond like a storm wind.
“Ashen would never—”
“I know,” Solan said.
The words stunned me more than the accusation had.
He looked at me, one hand still lightly touching his bruised throat.
“I do not know what you are,” he said. “But I know Dorian is lying.”
My throat tightened.
I looked away.
It should not have mattered.
One person believing me should not have felt like water after years of thirst.
“They’ll hunt him,” Nara asked.
Solan’s silence answered before he did.
“Yes.”
Moon’s hands curled at her sides. “My father would not order Ashen killed without proof.”
Solan looked pained.
“No. Not yet. But the council is pushing fear. Dorian is feeding it. And if they convince enough people that Ashen is a danger to the crown…” He did not finish.
He did not have to.
I had spent my life learning what frightened people did when someone gave them permission.
A low sound moved through the room.
At first, I thought it came from outside.
Then Nara gasped.
“Ashen.”
The air turned cold.
Every candle flame bent toward me.
The frost on the windows thickened into silver-white vines. The basin water froze completely, cracking softly under its own sudden stillness.
Moon touched my shoulder.
Solan stopped breathing.
Veyra whispered something in a language I was used to hearing her use.
And inside me—
Something stirred.
Not with the force of moonlight bursting between Moon and me.
This was slower.
A massive body shifting in a dark cavern.
A breath exhaled through what I believe felt like chains.
I gripped the edge of the table.
Moon stepped even closer to me her hand never leaving my shoulder.
“Ashen?”
Her voice sounded far away, but her touch calmed me a little.
My vision blurred at the edges. The kitchen dimmed, something inside me opened its eyes and looked through mine.
A voice spoke.
Somewhere inside me.
Ashen.
I went still.
My fingers dug into the table.
The wood groaned.
Nara whispered, “Novett feels him.”
I barely heard her.
The voice came again, heavy with exhaustion.
Hello Ashen.
My breath shook.
“Who are you?” I asked.
Everyone froze.
Moon’s eyes widened.
Solan looked from me to the others, confused and suddenly afraid.
The voice took a long time to answer.
Each word seemed dragged through ice.
I am yours.
I knew before I could fully believe.
I had wanted a wolf once.
When I was small enough to hope and foolish enough to pray, I had imagined the day mine would wake. I had imagined strength. A name. A voice that belonged only to me.
Then years passed.
Nothing came.
The pack whispered.
Omega.
Defective.
Weak.
Wolf-less.
Eventually, wanting hurt too much, so I stopped.
But now a voice inside me said—
You have always had me.
My knees almost gave.
I caught myself against the table.
Moon's hand squeezed my shoulder gently.
This time, I did not step back.
“What is your name?” I asked him.
The silence stretched so long that panic cut through me.
Then the voice answered.
Auron.
Auron.
The name filled me like moonlight under ice.
Ancient.
Lonely.
Mine.
“Auron,” I whispered.
The ring flared.
Nara covered her mouth.
Veyra’s eyes shone.
Solan stared at me as if every answer he had expected had just turned to snow in his hands.
Auron breathed again.
I felt him behind a haze layer of smoke and ash.
Huge.
White.
Beautiful.
Exhausted.
Value yourself, Ashen.
My throat closed.
The words were gentle.
That made them unbearable.
You are not what you have been led to think.
My eyes burned.
I looked down before anyone could see.
Moon felt it through the bond, though.
The thread between us warmed, soft with sorrow.
I hated that she could feel me breaking.
I loved it too.
That terrified me.
“You are real,” I said to him, because I needed him to say it again. “I have a wolf?”
A faint rumble moved through me.
Not quite a growl.
Not quite a laugh.
You have a wolf.
Something inside cracked open.
A locked room.
A grave I had buried my childhood in.
I had a wolf.
I had always had a wolf.
All those years of being called empty.
All those years of lowering my head.
All those years of believing there was something missing in me.
And he had been there.
Waiting.
“Auron,” I said again, louder this time.
His presence flickered.
Panic rose. “No.”
Tired, he whispered.
“No, wait.”
The kitchen snapped back into focus. Moon was close now. Nara had tears on her cheeks. Veyra looked stricken.
Auron’s voice faded.
The chain cracked. Not enough.
“What does that mean?”
Sleep now.
“No.” My hand pressed to my chest like I could hold him there. “Don’t go. Please.”
The word left before I could stop it.
Please.
I had not begged anyone in years unless Nara’s safety depended on it.
Now I begged a voice I had only known for minutes not to leave me alone again.
Auron’s breath brushed through me.
Value yourself, little prince.
Little prince.
My vision blurred.
“Auron.”
I close my eyes now.
“No. Auron, stay.”
Silence began swallowing him.
I reached inward, clawing at nothing.
- Writer
