THE ALPHA'S FORGOTTEN HEART

Amara Vale had been dreaming about the wolf for as long as she could remember. But tonight, for the first time, it spoke. She stood barefoot in the middle of a dark forest, surrounded by trees so tall their branches swallowed the moonlight. Cold mist curled around her ankles. Somewhere in the distance, something howled. Amara turned around. Nothing. Then she heard it again. Howl. This time, it was closer. Her heart began pounding. “Who’s there?” she whispered. A pair of golden eyes appeared between the trees. A massive black wolf stepped slowly into the moonlight. It was unlike any wolf Amara had ever seen. Its fur was darker than the night around it, and a strange silver mark ran across its forehead. She should have been terrified. Instead, she felt strangely safe. The wolf stared directly into her eyes. Then it spoke. “Amara.” She froze. “You know my name?” The wolf moved closer. “You have forgotten me.” “I don't understand.” The wolf's eyes suddenly changed. For one terrifying second, Amara saw a man's face where the wolf's face should have been. A young man. Dark hair. Cold eyes. Blood running down his cheek. Then the image disappeared. “When the moon turns red, remember who you are.” Amara stepped backward. “What does that mean?” The wolf growled. “Run.” A deafening roar exploded through the forest. Amara turned. Something enormous was coming through the trees. She ran. Branches scratched her arms as she sprinted through the darkness. Her lungs burned, but she didn't stop. Behind her came heavy footsteps. Closer. Closer. Closer. She could hear something breathing behind her. Then a hand grabbed her shoulder. Amara screamed. She woke up. Her bedroom was completely dark. For several seconds, she couldn't move. Her breathing was fast. Her heart hammered against her chest. She looked around. Her room was exactly as she had left it. The clock beside her bed read 3:17 a.m. Amara slowly touched her shoulder. The place where the hand had grabbed her in the dream was burning. She pulled back her fingers. There was a thin red mark across her skin. Her bedroom door suddenly creaked open. Amara stopped breathing. “Mom?” No answer. She reached for the lamp. Nothing. The electricity had gone out. Then she heard something outside her window. A low growl. Amara slowly turned her head. Two golden eyes stared at her through the glass. She screamed. The eyes disappeared. She jumped out of bed and ran to the window, but there was nothing outside except the dark street and the trees moving in the wind. Then something caught her attention. A black wolf stood at the edge of the forest. Watching her. Amara couldn't explain why, but she knew one thing with absolute certainty. It was the same wolf from her dream. And somehow, impossibly, it knew her.