Remember me..

The Truth..

Embla.

Aska had been running all night, her paws pounding relentlessly against the forest floor until the early morning light crept over the horizon. The first streaks of dawn shimmered on the surface of a small lake nestled at the base of a looming mountain, where she finally stopped. Exhaustion hummed through us, though she had refused to acknowledge me the entire time. My mind had been screaming at her, but she shut me out, focused solely on her primal flight.

Standing here with the cool mist rising off the water, I was beyond furious. My rage simmered just beneath the surface, burning like wildfire through my veins.

'I think we are safe now,' Aska finally spoke, her voice hesitant, almost uncertain.

'Safe?' I shot back, disbelief and anger twisting my thoughts. 'What on earth do you mean by "safe"?' My breath hitched in my chest as I felt the rawness of my emotions boiling over. 'You took control—forced me to shift—then you attacked my boyfriend—' I stopped, catching my own slip, 'I mean our mate. And then you ran off like a coward! We were never in danger, you stupid dog!'

The last words came out like venom, and I felt Aska flinch. Her so far fierce presence shrank, a whimper echoing through my mind. Part of me knew I had been harsh, but the anger clouded my judgment. At that moment, I didn't care. In that moment I would have rather been wolf-less than bound to her.

Silence fell between us. The weight of my insult hung heavy in the air, and for the first time in what felt like hours, Aska seemed small. Vulnerable. Then, without warning, she receded, shifting control back to me. My body twisted, bones rearranging painfully as I was thrust back into my human form.

I blinked, disoriented for a moment, and the full reality hit me like a slap to the face. Here I was, naked, cold, and alone. Miles from my pack, standing at the edge of an unfamiliar lake with no idea where I was. Great, I thought bitterly, just great. Aska had left me completely stranded. No clothes, no sense of direction, and, frankly, no patience left.

My skin prickled as the wind blew against me, sending a shiver down my spine. The world felt too big, too exposed now that I wasn’t covered in fur. But I refused to let that stop me. I was going to get back to Erik and the pack—my pack—whether Aska liked it or not. Determination hardened inside me, like a stone in my chest, and I started walking. My bare feet crunched over the underbrush as I moved through the dense forest, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The trees felt oppressive, their shadows stretching long and foreboding.

'Home is the other way,' Aska’s voice drifted back into my mind, soft and tentative.

I paused, my hands clenching into fists. 'And how exactly do I know I can trust you, Aska?' I spat her name like it tasted bitter on my tongue. 'How do I know you won’t lead me in the wrong direction again? Huh? You’ve done nothing but betray me all night.'

There was a pause, and then her reply came, gentle but resolute. 'You don’t. But you need to trust me on this. I... I never meant to hurt you.'

I rolled my eyes, frustration bubbling to the surface again. 'Oh, because you’ve got such a great track record so far,' I muttered sarcastically, my anger barely contained.

Still, I continued walking, even as doubt gnawed at me. It wasn’t long before an uneasy feeling settled in my gut. The path ahead didn’t look familiar, and a sinking realization crept over me—I had no idea where I was. I stopped in my tracks, eyes scanning the dense forest, panic rising. We hadn’t passed through here. I was sure of it.

'See?' Aska’s voice returned, a mix of patience and regret. 'I told you that was the wrong way. I never wanted to leave the pack, I just needed to get you away... to protect you.'

Her words struck a chord, but my anger wouldn’t let me listen. I cut her off before she could finish. 'Shut up!' I snapped. 'It’s your fault we’re out here in the first place! You attacked Erik—you put everything at risk!' The fury in my voice echoed back at me, and I felt her presence retreat, folding herself deeper into the recesses of my mind.

The silence that followed was suffocating. My heart pounded heavily in my chest, the reality of my situation sinking in. I had no idea where I was. The cold air pressed in on my skin, making me feel smaller, and more fragile than I ever had before.

Why was I cursed with this wolf? The thought drifted bitterly through my mind like poison slipping into my veins. I felt helpless and lost, all the anger I had been directing at Aska suddenly started to feel hollow.

After what felt like hours of wandering, I started scanning my surroundings, my eyes sweeping through the forest for any sign of stashed clothing. I knew the chances were slim—this was no man's land, far from the pack’s territory—but desperation clawed at me. The cold air prickled my skin, and every step I took felt like another reminder of how exposed I was out here.

Eventually, I stopped to take a break by a small stream, the soft trickle of water doing little to calm the swirling chaos in my mind. My anger, which had fueled me for so long, was beginning to settle, leaving behind something worse. Confusion. Doubt. I had only ever heard of wolves forcefully taking control when their human was in imminent, life-threatening danger. But that wasn’t what happened to me. Not even close. So why had Aska done it? What could make a wolf reject her mate so violently, so completely?

'I did not reject our mate!' Aska's growl cut through my thoughts, sharp and defensive.

'Could’ve fooled me,' I shot back, sarcasm laced with a bitterness I couldn’t hold back. 'Maybe you should’ve rejected him. It would probably hurt less than attacking him and running away like a coward!' The fire that had dulled in my chest roared back to life, anger rushing through me again, burning in every word.

Aska bristled, her fury rising to match mine. 'You left me no choice!' she snapped. 'If you’d just stopped to listen to me for a single moment instead of acting like a lovesick puppy, none of this would’ve happened!' Her frustration vibrated through every word, echoing in the back of my mind. I could feel her pacing restlessly, her hackles raised, ready to fight back.

I was about to lash out, ready to tell her exactly what I thought of her excuses when the unmistakable sound of branches snapping nearby made my heart stutter. My head snapped toward the noise, muscles tensing instinctively.

A large, rugged black wolf stepped out from the shadows of the trees, his eyes locking onto mine. His scent hit me almost immediately, rogue. The familiar sour tang filled the air, and a knot of unease tightened in my stomach. His gaze was intense, dark and predatory, and yet, beneath the surface, there was something oddly familiar about him. The recognition unsettled me more than the danger.

Aska surged forward, ready to take control, her need to protect me simmering in the back of my mind. I could feel her muscles coiling, prepared to shift at a moment's notice, but something held me back. Despite the rogue’s feral appearance, I didn’t feel the overwhelming urge to run. In fact, a strange sense of security—however small—settled over me, though I knew I shouldn’t trust it. Shouldn’t trust him.

The rogue moved closer, each step slow and deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine. My body was frozen, torn between the instinct to shift and the confusion swirling through my thoughts. I realized then that he was holding something, something small and crumpled in his mouth.

He stopped a few meters away, lowering his head slowly, almost cautiously, before dropping whatever it was he carried onto the ground. His eyes flicked back up to mine for a split second, filled with something unreadable—almost like a warning—before he turned abruptly and disappeared back into the forest, his dark form blending into the shadows until he was completely gone.

I stood there, heart pounding in my chest, unable to process what had just happened. My breath came in ragged bursts, the adrenaline rushing through me making everything feel sharp, too real. What the hell was that?

Slowly, I walked toward the object he had left behind, the soft dirt cool beneath my bare feet. When I reached it, I realized it was a piece of fabric, a shirt—grey, long, and well-worn. I crouched down, hesitantly picking it up. My fingers trembled slightly as I ran them over the material. It was a simple shirt, but the question that echoed in my mind was far from simple: Why would a rogue give me clothes?

I held it in my hands, baffled. This made no sense. Rogues didn’t help, especially not a lone and naked wolf in the middle of nowhere. They attacked, took what they wanted, and disappeared into the wilderness like predators. And yet, here I stood, holding this strange offering like a lifeline.

'He didn’t seem hostile,' Aska murmured, her voice softer now, more thoughtful.

'But why would he help me?' I asked, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me again. 'There’s no reason he should have'

I decided not to dwell on the encounter any longer and pulled the T-shirt over my head. The fabric felt soft against my skin, a simple but welcome comfort. It wasn’t much, but at least I didn’t feel as exposed anymore. No matter how much I was used to everyone shifting, the naked vulnerability of returning to human form always made me uncomfortable. I shuddered at the thought.

'Okay, Aska, I'm done arguing with you,' I sighed, starting to walk again, the damp earth cool beneath my bare feet. 'Care to finally explain yourself?'

'You’re cursed,' Aska said bluntly, her voice devoid of any preamble like she was telling me the sky was blue. Casual, almost dismissive.

I scoffed. 'No s**t! I’m stuck with you, aren’t I?'

'Ha, ha. Very funny.' Her tone remained serious, cutting through my sarcasm like a knife. 'But I'm not joking, Embla. This is real. Every blessing comes with a curse.'

I could feel her weight behind those words like she was trying to prepare me for something monumental. My brow furrowed, confusion creeping in. 'What’s that supposed to mean? Stop with the cryptic nonsense, just explain.'

'You’re not a normal werewolf, Embla,' she said, her voice lowering as if she were revealing a dark secret. 'You’re a hybrid.'

I stopped dead in my tracks. 'A hybrid? Aren’t we all, technically? I mean, we’re part wolf, part human…'

Aska’s frustration prickled in the back of my mind, sharp and unmistakable. 'You know there’s a difference between a supernatural and a hybrid, right?'

I rolled my eyes. 'Okay, wise one. Since I’m clearly in the dark here, why don’t you enlighten me?' My voice dripped with sarcasm, though a knot of anxiety was beginning to twist in my gut. Something told me I wasn’t going to like what she had to say.

'You can be a real piece of work, you know that?' Aska shot back, annoyance flaring through our bond.

I bit my tongue, sensing she was about to lay it all out for me.

'Fine, here’s the deal,' she continued, her voice hardening with seriousness. 'A hybrid is a crossing between two species. And no, we’re not just talking about wolves and humans. Hybrids are a fusion of different supernatural beings. Say, for example, a werewolf and a vampire.'

My heart skipped a beat. 'Wait—vampires? Are you seriously telling me vampires are real? I’ve been a werewolf for years and never heard anything about vampires!' My voice rose, disbelief crashing over me.

'As real as you and me.'

Her calm response left me reeling. The world I thought I understood was suddenly turning upside down. Vampires? How had I been so clueless? But that wasn’t the part that stuck. I still didn’t get how this applied to me.

'But… both my parents are werewolves,' I said slowly, my mind racing. 'There’s no way I’m a hybrid if that’s the case, right? How does that even work?'

'Exactly. Hybrids are usually born from the union of two different species, yes,' Aska explained, her voice patient but firm, 'but there’s another way. You can become a hybrid. Through a blessing or, in your case, a curse.'

I felt a cold shiver snake down my spine as the pieces started to fall into place. The odd feeling I’d always had like I didn’t quite belong, was beginning to make sense. But it wasn’t a comfort—it was terrifying.

'So… you’re telling me I’m cursed?' I said my voice barely above a whisper. I tried to keep the panic from rising in my throat, but my chest tightened my pulse quickening. This wasn’t what I’d signed up for. Being a werewolf was one thing, but now this? A hybrid? A curse?

'And blessed!' Aska replied, her words landing like a punch to the gut. 'You’re not just any werewolf, Embla. There’s something else inside you. And it comes with power… and consequences.'

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. Power. Consequences. I didn’t want to think about what that meant. My legs felt shaky beneath me, but I forced myself to keep walking. I had to focus. I had to stay grounded.

I was at a loss for words. Hybrids, vampires, curses—everything I thought I knew about myself felt like it was unraveling before my eyes. The ground beneath me felt less stable, and my mind struggled to catch up.

'Do you know who cursed me… well, who cursed us?'

Aska was silent for a moment, and I could sense her hesitation. 'It can also be a blessing,' she said slowly, trying to sound reassuring, 'but no, I don’t know exactly how it happened or who did this to us. I only know that we’re hybrids now, and it affects us in ways you need to understand.'

'Affects us?' I repeated, my heart picking up speed. Dread curled around my insides. 'Oh my God… will I have to start drinking blood now?!' The thought made me feel nauseous, my stomach churning at the very idea. I could almost taste the metallic tang on my tongue, and I swallowed hard to push the feeling away.

'I never said we were vampire hybrids,' Aska quickly interrupted, sounding almost amused. 'I used that as an example.'

Relief washed over me like a wave, but it was short-lived. 'Then what does that make me?' I muttered to myself, already dreading the answer.

'We are hybrids between werewolf and nymph,' Aska finished, her voice carrying a weight of finality.

'Nymph?' I echoed, my confusion deepening. Of all the things I might have expected, that was not one of them.

'Yes, a nymph,' Aska continued calmly. 'Nymphs are nature spirits, deeply connected to the earth and all its life forces. You, Embla, are linked to nature in a way most werewolves are not. We possess extra abilities, things beyond the usual scope of a wolf’s power. In our case, we’re faster, we can hold our breath longer, and we have enhanced healing and regeneration abilities.' She made it sound like it was the most natural thing in the world. And maybe for her, it was. But for me? This was shattering every belief I’d ever held about myself. My breath hitched as I tried to process it all. Nymphs? Nature? Healing powers?

'I don’t know the full extent of our abilities yet,' Aska admitted, her voice softening. 'That’s something we need to discover together. But what you need to understand right now is this…' She hesitated, and I felt a heavy tension build between us, like the truth she was holding back was almost too painful to speak.

'Just say it, Aska,' I said, though my voice trembled with uncertainty. 'I can handle it.' I wasn’t sure if I believed that, but the anticipation was gnawing at me, suffocating me. I needed to hear the truth, no matter how ugly it was.

Aska took a deep breath, her reluctance palpable. 'We cannot accept Erik as our mate.'

Her words landed like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. My chest tightened, my heartbeat pounding in my ears as if someone had just stolen the ground from beneath me. The ache that followed was like nothing I’d ever felt—sharp, searing, and all-consuming. It felt like my heart was being torn apart.

"What? Why?" The question came out broken, more of a plea than anything else. My throat constricted, and breathing became difficult as if all the oxygen had been sucked from the air around me.

I could feel Aska’s pain echoing through me, heavy and bitter, and I knew she wasn’t lying. Still, it didn’t make the truth any less devastating.

'As I told you earlier,' she began gently, 'every blessing comes with a curse. Being mated to someone would allow you to unlock the full potential of our abilities. Your regeneration, your healing powers—they’d become even stronger. You could heal others without sacrificing your life force, but it comes at a cost. Your mate, Erik, would act as a conduit for your power. His energy would fuel yours, making you stronger.' Her words cut through me, each one heavier than the last.

'But it would drain him,' she continued, her voice quieter now, filled with sorrow. 'Eventually, it could kill him, Embla.'

I froze. My entire body went cold. The world around me seemed to be still, the sounds of the forest fading into the background. A numbness washed over me like my mind was trying to protect me from the full weight of her words.

'You could end up killing him,' she said, the final blow.

The full reality of it hit me like a tidal wave. Erik—my Erik—the man I’d loved for so long, the one I’d waited for, dreamed about—he wasn’t just out of reach. He was a danger to me, and I was a danger to him. How could fate be so cruel? To pair me with the man I loved, only for me to never be able to truly be with him?

My legs felt like they were made of lead, and I stumbled, barely catching myself. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the forest around me. I fought to keep them at bay, but one slipped down my cheek, burning as it fell.

'I’m sorry, Embla,' Aska whispered, her voice laced with guilt. 'I took you away so I could explain this before you did something irreversible. If you two marked each other, there would be no going back. I couldn’t let that happen without you knowing the truth.'

My throat tightened, the lump of grief almost too big to swallow. 'Thank you,' I muttered, my voice barely a whisper. It was all I could manage. At that moment, I felt numb—no pain, no anger, no happiness—just a hollow emptiness.

I started walking again, every step feeling heavier than the last. I had to go back. I had to face Erik, but I had no idea what I was going to say. How could I look him in the eye and tell him that I loved him, but that I could never be with him? How could I destroy the future we had both longed for?

The wind whispered through the trees, and the forest seemed to close in around me as if the very earth was mourning with me. Fate had dealt me a cruel hand. I bit down hard on my lip, trying to stop the tears, trying to keep them from falling apart. But inside, I was breaking.