The Ice Within.
1176 Words
A wave of unknown power rushed through me. The kick never came time stood still. At least, that’s how it felt.
Under my hands, small ice crystals began to form. Slowly, they spread across the floor like icy vines.
“What’s happening?”
I didn’t have time to think about it. Not now.
I snapped back to reality. Dodged the incoming kick and attacked.
Adam hit the ground I flipped him over and knocked the breath out of him.
He stayed down. Good. At least he had some common sense left.
I kept going. One kick, a right hook everything felt like a dream.
Behind me, I felt that familiar warmth. Mira. Of course she was fighting with me.
And, surprisingly Kaden too. And he was on our side.
Rosi realized his boys didn’t stand a chance.
Only when he yelled with that temple like voice for everyone to stop did I realize what I had done.
Eight guys were lying on the ground. Mira and Kaden had a few knocked out bodies around them too.
But everyone… everyone was looking at me.
Every hit, every touch left a mark.
Everyone I touched had frost on their skin.
They were alive, but they looked frozen. Where I touched them, there were bluish marks frostbite?
The rest of their bodies were dusted with a thin layer of cracking, powdery snow.
Nobody understood what was going on.
Suddenly, they were all looking at me differently. Maybe with fear. Maybe with curiosity.
“Quick! Get them to the infirmary!”
Rosi snapped out of it and started shouting orders.
The men moved to help their friends. Mira immediately grabbed my arm and dragged me away from the crowd.
Kaden’s voice pulled me out of my trance:
“Run! Run now! Lock yourself in your room. I’ll make sure no one enters your wing.”
Those words: Run. Escape.
I let Mira lead the way.
We finally made it to my room.
Mira locked the door and dragged a small dresser in front of it just in case.
She turned to me with wild eyes.
“Savanah, are you okay?”
I just nodded.
“Come on, sit down. Show me your ribs. Where did they hit you?”
Mira was trying to figure out how bad I was hurt.
It overwhelmed me. I hugged her.
It caught her off guard at first, but she hugged me back.
“Thank you, Mira… Thank you. Don’t worry, I’m fine. It healed fast.
I can’t explain it, but… I don’t feel any pain.”
Mira laughed.
“With you, it’s always some mystery, Savanah.”
But her smile faded a little.
“I saw the ones you knocked out… What happened there?”
“I don’t know. When I was on the ground, I felt like… I couldn’t let them win.
That I had to be stronger.
And then I felt this cold power rush through me.
I saw ice spreading from my hands across the floor.
And then… I don’t know. I don’t know how I stood up and started fighting back. It’s all a blur.”
Mira looked thoughtful.
“Savanah… You’re turning eighteen in two months, right?”
“Yes… I’ll be eighteen this year. Why?”
“You know that at eighteen, you find your mate if you’re near them.
But that’s also when your wolf awakens.”
I stared at her in shock.
“Oh my god… I remember! I was with you on your birthday.
But I didn’t see any ice. Nothing unusual. Just you turning into your wolf form.”
Mira nodded.
“Savanah, some wolves are just strong and fast and that’s it.
But others are more special.
Usually alphas, lunas, or wolves from spiritual and powerful clans.
I don’t know exactly how the Moon Goddess chooses her favorites…
but I think you’re one of them.
I think you’re going to be one of the exceptional ones.”
I laughed in disbelief.
“Mira, I’m an orphan. Look where I am. I’m not special I’m just a burden someone had to hide.”
“You really don’t know who your real parents are? Where you come from?”
“No. The only thing I remember is that dream.
Well… I thought it was a dream, but the feelings… the fear it gave me…
I think it’s a memory. One I buried.
I was about five years old when it happened.
They found me in the woods, near the Bloodlust territory.
I was a child, and the Luna didn’t like the idea of killing me.
I didn’t remember anything just my name. Savanah.
Nothing more.
I was a problem for them.
The Luna and Alpha had their own child. They couldn’t take me in.
Neither could the other pack members.
Then my foster parents came.
They were warriors who had lost their child a few years before in an attack.
They adopted me. Raised me.
They were the only ones who loved me.
The only ones who cared.
Because of them, I felt safe and happy.
Well… them, and Dean.”
Mira sat beside me and hugged me.
“Savanah, I’m sorry. But we’ll figure it out together.
You’re turning eighteen soon, and everything will make sense.
Until then, I’ll stay by your side. I’ll be your shield against those cavemen.
I’ll do everything to keep them away from you.
We can’t risk anything going wrong before your wolf awakens and you can control it.”
I hugged her back.
“You don’t even know how grateful I am to you, Mira.
I wouldn’t survive here without you.”
We stayed in each other’s arms for a while.
Letting the truth fade away into the thick stone walls.
Because it wasn’t just my truth it was hers too.
“I’m going to check what’s going on outside,” Mira said.
“I’ll try to find some food… but I doubt anyone’s cooking in this chaos.”
“It’s okay. I’ve got a piece of bread saved from earlier this week.
Be careful, Mira. And come back to my room tonight.
It’ll be safer if we stay together.”
We said goodbye quickly, and when the door closed behind her,
I slid down to the floor in exhaustion.
I dropped my head onto my knees and tangled my fingers into my hair.
Savanah, pull yourself together. You can do this. You have to.
With a sigh, I stood up. I just wanted to nap for a bit…
when something caught my eye. A creamy color on the desk. A letter.
A letter?
The only person who ever wrote to me was Dean.
With sweaty hands, I picked up the envelope.
I ran my fingertip over my name written in his handwriting.
I put the envelope back down.
I can’t.
I can’t read his words right now. My heart wouldn’t survive it.
With a heavy sense of loneliness and hopelessness,
I curled up under the too thin blanket…
and let my body and mind fall into sleep.
- Writer
