Chapter 4
1158 Words
ARIA
The forest was endless.
Trees towered in every direction, their ancient trunks crowded so tightly that little moonlight pierced the canopy.
I stumbled with every step I took. I didn’t know how long I'd been walking—hours had melted into days, and days into a numb blur.
All I knew was I couldn’t stop. Not yet. Not until Mooncrest Pack was far behind me.
I didn’t have a destination. Just a direction. away.
The forest didn’t welcome me. It felt cold. My stomach had long since stopped growling; now, it simply ached—a dull, constant reminder of how empty I was.
I pressed on until my legs gave out. Twice. Each time, I sank beside the base of a moss-covered oak, back against the rough bark with my lungs gasping like fish flung from water.
My mind was blank, and my wolf was silent—buried deep inside me broken like my spirit.
“Just a little more,” I murmured through cracked lips, though I had no idea what “more” looked like anymore.
Everywhere was quite. Too quite. Something felt wrong. Then suddenly I heard a faint rustle, accompanied by a low growl from beyond the underbrush.
There was a shadow shifting between the trees.
My heart leapt into my throat.
“Please… no,” I whispered.
I stumbled back to my feet with my vision narrowed by panic. Every of my muscle tensed as I heard the snap of breaking twigs.
Then suddenly a shape lunged from the shadows.
It was a wolf. A big black wolf.
The rogue wolf burst into view. It's fur matted with dried blood, and eyes burning with feral intent. It moved like a hunting machine. It didn’t circle. It didn’t hesitate. It pounced.
I barely twisted aside as the beast’s claws swiped mere inches from my throat.
I tumbled down the leaf-strewn slope with mouth dry and spine shivering. I landed in a crumpled heap, the branches biting at my legs.
Pain surged through my whole body.
I gasped, struggling to rise. A fallen branch scraped her palms, but I grabbed it anyway even though my hands were trembling with terror and exhaustion.
The rogue reappeared and snarls. In that moment, I realized I was small, human flesh up against a predator’s strength—but i couldn’t let fear paralyze me.
“I’m not yours,” I hissed, stepping forward as I raised the jagged branch before me like a talisman. “Go back.”
The wolf snarled and circled, it's eyes locked on me. Then suddenly it sprang. I lifted the branch in a wild arc.
It connected with a dull thwack against the wolf’s shoulder—but did little more than piss it off.
The rogue yanked the branch from my grip, sending me sprawling. I banged my head on a root, stars exploding behind my eyes.
My breath came in ragged gasps as my vision was becoming blurry.
It struck my ribs with it's claws and fiery agony spread across my side.
I doubled over. I kicked out, grazing its jaw, and scrambled to my feet.
The rogue lunged again, snapping at my throat. I sidestepped, slamming my back against the tree as nettles tore at my shirt.
I cried out in pain.
The wolf pinned me, trapping me. It opened it's Jaws wide, snarling at me as hot fetid breath ghosting over my face.
I panicked. This is it.
I spiraled into desperation. No I couldn't go down like this I thought.
This can not be the end for me.
I shrieked, a loud guttural sound. I struck out, raking my fingernails across the wolf’s chest, drawing thick, red stripes and a howl of outrage.
It reeled.
A fragile moment of reprieve.
Then the beast closed in on me again.Its teeth descended.
The wolf knocked me to the earth again, pinning me under its weight. Pain exploded when it's claws tore into my forearm. I felt my skin stretch and snap—my arm went numb. Pain shooting up my arm.
I shut my eyes tightly as I awaited my doom.
Just as the wolf was about to bite into my neck, Something slammed into the rogue wolf from the side.
A massive silver shape wolf stood growling at the rogue wolf.
It was much more bigger than the black wolf.
The rogue collapsed. The silver wolf's powerful muzzle pressed against its neck. The rogue whimpered and then managed to push the silver wolf of itself and fled—retreating fast into the shadows.
I lay motionless and shaken with my chest heaving—caught between consciousness and darkness. I clawed at the ground to stay awake, but pain was unbearable.
The forest became silent once more. Only my ragged breaths and the crackle of distant twigs could be heard.
The silver wolf walked closer to me, it's silver fur brushing my face. I gasped, still trying to keep my eyes open.
It knelt beside me with his head bowed. Then it turned and padded away a few paces, it's gaze locked on me. A low rumble vibrated in its chest.
It stayed.
I tried to keep my eyes open but I couldn't anymore. My eyes fluttered shut slowly.
Then… darkness.
I wasn’t sure when the dream started.
Moonlight poured across a vast open field. Silver grasses bent as if to welcome me. A huge, luminous moon hovered overhead.
I stood barefoot with bruised limbs staring at the empty space around me.
Then I heard a voice.
“You are more than a rejected mate, child. You are chosen… You are marked.”
My pulse leapt. I spun, searching the horizon but there was no sign of source.
It was like the voice was coming from everywhere.
“The bond you thought broken was only the beginning of your journey. You will rise beyond what was expected.”
I inhaled sharply.
“Remember—when you wake, choice will be yours. Not theirs.”
There was A bright flash then suddenly I gasped, my eyes snapping open. I groaned as pain roared from my ribs and arm. I lay stiffly in a bed, my body cocooned in blankets. It was warm.
I looked around my surroundings, confused. I saw a table held a jug of water and a bowl of soft berries.
I blinked again trying to focus my vision.
I lowered a trembling hand to my side, it hurt. My ribs ached shallowly and i sucked in a breath and exhaled slowly.
I also touched my arm and saw that my arm was already bandaged.
I was alive. I can't believe I am alive.
I looked around my surroundings once more in confusion. This place doesn't look familiar.
Then panick hit me as I sprang up on the bed bed, hissing from the pain as my body protested against the sudden movement.
“Where… where am I?” I whispered.
- Writer
