THE WHITE WOLF HE REJECTED

Chapter 7: Whispers Beneath the Moon

Lyra's POV

I didn't sleep, every time I closed my eyes I saw the Moon Shrine bathed in silver light, I felt the ground flowing beneath my eyes , hear the hush that had settled over the trees like the whole forest was holding its breath, I heard the Moon Goddess voice.

“You were left behind because someone was trying to save your life”

Those words stayed in my mind, long after dawn broke over Silver Crest, no matter how many times I turned I couldn't sleep. At least the celebration was finally over, the once Lively courtyard was now littered with empty mugs, torches and flower petals.

A few warriors stumbled home after celebrating Alpha Kael's coronation, life was returning to normal at least that's what everyone believed. I held the basket firmly hanging around my arm and headed toward the healer's hut, if I kept myself busy perhaps my thoughts would finally become quiet.

“You're here early again,” Martha said with a tired smile as I walked inside.

“I couldn't sleep”

She smiled softly, “You worry too much”

Maybe I did, I spent the next hour grinding herbs into medicine while Martha treated warriors injured during battle, the mortar and pestle a steady rhythm that almost quieted the mouse in my head, thankfully most of their wounds were minor.

“Pass me the moonleaf” she said

I reached for the bundle without looking, the moment my fingers touched it, a strange sensation rushed through me like stepping into water that was colder than it looked, an image flashed before my eyes. A young warrior stumbling through the forest, clutching his bleeding side, collapsing beside the eastern River, the vision disappeared as quickly as it came.

Martha looked at me in surprise, “Lyra?”

I blinked, “I…”

Was I imagining things?

“You've gone pale”

“I'm fine” I forced a smile and bent to gather the herbs before she asked any other questions but my hands were trembling. What had that been? It hadn't felt like a dream, it felt real.

---

Later that morning, I left the healer’s hut to gather more herbs near the eastern woods, the forest greeted me with its familiar silence or perhaps it had never been silent and I simply had not been able to hear it before now I could hear everything, birds calling high above the trees, squirrels darting across branches, the wind weaving through leaves, each one seeming to whisper something just out of reach, even the distant rush of the river reached me clearly, though it had to be a mile off at least.

I stopped walking, the same uneasy feeling from earlier returned without thinking, I changed direction and followed a narrow path leading toward the eastern river. I didn't know why but I felt drawn there.

After several minutes, I heard a weak groan, I was scared. Hidden between thick bushes lay a young warrior, blood soaked through his tunic, his breathing shallow. It was the same warrior I'd seen in my vision.

“No…” I dropped to my knees beside him, “Can you hear me?”

His eyelids fluttered, “B…bandits…” His voice was not audible, “They attacked…” He lost consciousness before he could finish.

I had to do something quick, I tore a strip from my cloak and pressed it against the wound to stop the bleeding.

“I need help” I glanced toward the village, it was too far and if I left him alone, he might not survive.

Then without thinking, the strange warmth inside my chest spread through my body, my hands tinged, sharp and electric like they'd fallen asleep and were now waking.

A faint glow simmered beneath my palms, the bleeding slowed, I gasped and immediately pulled my hands away, half-afraid of what I'd find if I kept watching, the glow vanished.

Had I healed him?

The warrior's breathing became steadier not completely but just enough to keep him alive. I heard footsteps echo through the forest. I quickly covered his wound with fresh cloth just then two patrol warriors emerged from the trees.

“Lyra?” One of them looked shocked, “What happened?”

“I found him like this”

They rushed over, “Help me carry him”

Together we lifted the injured warrior and hurried back toward Silver Crest, no one questioned why I'd been the one to find him, no one noticed the faint silver light on my fingertips but it had vanished.

---

By afternoon, news of the attack had spread throughout the pack, Kael immediately called a meeting with Damon and the patrol captains. I quietly delivered fresh bandages to the command hall before turning to leave.

“...the attack happened less than two miles from our borders” one captain reported.

Kael frowned “That's too close”

“We doubled the patrols”

“It won't be enough” His voice remained calm but I could hear the concern in it. “The rogues are becoming bolder”

As I stepped outside, Kael's voice called me back,

“Lyra”

I turned then he walked towards me dismissing the guards with a small wave,

“You were the one who found the injured warrior”

I nodded, “Yes”

“You saved his life”

“I only stopped the bleeding”

His eyes studied me for a moment, “Still,Thank you”

A strange silence settled between us, his golden eyes held mine longer than usual. Again, that unfamiliar pull tightened inside his chest, his wolf stirred restlessly.

“Closer”

Kael frowned, why? Every instinct urged him to take another step toward me, to close the distance he couldn't explain wanting to close but instead he remained where he was.

“Are you feeling alright? He asked, “You look tired”

I offered a small smile, “I'll be fine”

Before either of us could say more, Selena approached with her usual graceful smile,

“There you are” she slipped her arm gently through Kael's, “The council is waiting”

Only then did Kael seem to remember where he was, “Right” He looked back at me, “Get some rest Lyra”

“I will”

They walked away together, Selena glanced over her shoulder only once, her smile remained warm every inch the Luna the pack believed it needed. Yet, something about the way her eyes lingered on me sent a chill through my body as though she had begun noticing changes she couldn't quite explain, changes she wouldn't rest until she understood it.

I watched them disappear into the command hall before lowering my head to my hands, the faint silver glow had returned only for a heartbeat then it disappeared again.

No one saw it, at least I hoped no one had.