The Wolf Stone.
1125 Words
She collapsed to the floor.
"Another wolf... another heir to the Wolf Stone has been born. And he's with the..."
She froze.
"That means Johannes is no longer the rightful bearer of the Wolf Stone."
She trembled violently.
"Who is this child?"
"Please... my son... don't die." She begged. "I'm so sorry for everything I've put you through all these years. Please forgive me."
She sobbed uncontrollably as she clung to the window, memories of her life before Gerard's birth flooding back into her mind.
"If only you were here, Demonata... you would never have allowed this to happen to your son."
She lifted her tear-filled eyes toward the moon.
"I've waited for you all these years, Demonata. Where the hell are you?"
~ Ivy's POV ~
She was gone.
Without realizing it, I let out a sigh of relief, knowing she was no longer here.
I could have killed her and offered her body to the Moon Goddess on the altar before my entire clan.
How dare she come into my home and claim she knew me?
Who the hell did she think she was?
At that moment, I wished she were dead.
Suddenly, dizziness washed over me, and I nearly collapsed before Amoux and Diana quickly caught me.
"Don't tell me you tried to kill her in your current condition," Amoux said as everyone hurried over to support me.
"You're not strong enough, Ivy. Come on," Diana added as they escorted me to my room and gently laid me on the bed.
She pulled a warm blanket over me while I closed my eyes, feeling a dull ache spread through my hands and neck.
"Will he be alright?" my mother asked worriedly.
"Of course he'll be fine," my father, Aaron, replied with a chuckle as he placed a hand on my forehead. "Don't worry. Everything will be alright. It's not like he's dying. Let's give him some time to rest."
His reassurance eased everyone's worries, and they all left the room to give me some space.
Everyone except Diana.
She remained seated beside me, watching me with a gentle expression.
I opened my eyes and smiled at her.
"Don't you ever feel embarrassed having such a pathetic Alpha for a husband? How am I supposed to lead the Dragon Pack when I'm this weak?" I asked, fully aware she wouldn't appreciate hearing those words, but I needed to say them anyway.
Honestly… I was ashamed of myself. I was the future leader of this pack. If using my powers against that woman was enough to make me collapse...
How was I supposed to lead my people into war?
What was happening to my body?
And why did simply looking at that woman fill me with so much rage?
"No, Ivy." Diana shook her head. "You're my husband, and I'll always love you, no matter what happens."
I chuckled before frowning slightly.
"Oceana," I murmured.
"W-What?" Diana stared at me in shock. "What did you just say?"
Her reaction caught me off guard.
"What's wrong?"
"You just said the name... Oceana."
"Yeah." I nodded thoughtfully. "I just said her name, and... somehow, it feels special when I say it. I hate her people, but not her name. Her eyes are so bright and blue, just like the ocean beneath the sunlight. Sometimes, I get this strange feeling that I once gave that name to someone... someone I can't remember. She reminds me of memories I don't want to recall."
"What kind of memories?"
"I don't know... things about a pack, maybe. I keep seeing flashes of something, like visions, but never mind. I'm probably just talking nonsense because I'm exhausted. I think I need more training so I can better control my powers."
She fell silent. I couldn't understand why.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" I asked, gently pulling her out of her thoughts after several moments of silence.
"Oh... I'm fine." She forced a smile. "I'm just happy you're alive... and I can't wait to be with you again." She quickly corrected herself. "I mean... I can't wait for you to get better."
She stood up and smiled warmly at me.
"I'm going to leave the lights off so you can rest. Sleep well, dear. If you need anything, just ring the monitor beside your bed, and I'll come immediately."
I nodded.
"Good night, love."
She leaned down, kissed my forehead, and quietly left the room, locking the door behind her.
After she was gone… I couldn't fall asleep, no matter how hard I tried. But something felt strange. I just can't explain why.
I got out of bed and stared out the window. All I could think about was that wolf.
Oceana.
She looked exhausted…
A wolf like her shouldn't have looked so worn out.
If she was truly wicked, shouldn't she have looked proud and vengeful? Shouldn't she have been trying to kill me instead of begging me to listen to her?
I ran a hand through my hair and let out a long sigh.
Unable to stay still, I climbed out the window, shifted into my wolf form, and sprinted through the forest, hoping to clear my mind. As I continued running, fragments of memories flashed before my eyes.
A little girl stood beside her father. She smiled brightly before running toward me and wrapping her arms around me in a warm embrace.
She looked just like that wolf.
What is happening to me? Am I losing my mind? Ever since I met her, my body has been acting strangely.
I kept running until I suddenly noticed someone standing in my path.
I slowed to a stop and stared at the figure. His head was lowered, his hair hiding his face. He wore a bloodstained white long-sleeved shirt and blue pants rolled up to his knees.
He was kneeling on the ground, barefoot with blood-covered chains wrapped around both of his legs.
I shifted back into my human form, though parts of my wolf remained visible, and cautiously stepped closer.
"Hey."
He smelled... strangely familiar.
"Are you alright?"
What was someone like this doing out here?
He slowly cracked his neck to one side before lifting his head.
His eyes … They were as blue as the ocean beneath the moonlight.
He looked exactly like me.
Wait...
What the hell is going on?
When he finally spoke, his voice echoed as though countless voices were speaking through him at once.
"If... you... ever... hurt... her... again..." The overlapping voices growled in eerie unison. "I... will... kill... you."
His glowing blue eyes burned even brighter. Before I could react, he suddenly appeared right in front of me.
A powerful uppercut slammed into my jaw, sending me crashing through multiple trees.
- Writer
