MY MOTHER IS ALIVE
1170 Words
“It was my mother.”
I barely said the words before Draven’s whole look shifted. He let go of my shoulders—slowly, like he had to convince himself.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded. “I know her voice.”
“You haven’t heard her voice in years.”
“I know.” My chest still felt tight. “But I know it was her.”
Draven looked somewhere else. That little flicker in his face made my stomach twist.
“You know something.”
“I know there are things you don’t understand yet.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
He stayed quiet. So I stepped closer, almost daring him to move.
“Draven.”
He met my eyes then.
“Your mother disappeared for a reason.”
“Then tell me the reason.”
“I can’t.”
The anger surged back. “You always say that.”
“Because the truth isn’t safe.”
“The truth isn’t safe?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Nothing about my life is safe anymore.” I pointed at the cracked floor. “My wolf was sealed.” I pressed a hand to my chest. “Someone tried to kill me.” I looked straight at him. “And now I’m seeing my dead mother in my dreams.”
Draven’s face went hard. “She isn’t dead.”
It felt like time stopped. “What?” He didn’t answer, just looked away.
I grabbed his arm. “Draven.”
He looked at me again. “I said she isn’t dead.”
My heart hammered in my chest. “You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“You suspected my mother was alive and never told me?”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Stop,” I snapped. My voice cracked right through me. “You keep protecting me from the truth.”
His jaw worked, stubborn. “Because the truth has already hurt you.”
“Then let me decide how much more I can take.”
He just stared. A long, slow silence. Then finally he sighed.
“Your mother disappeared twenty years ago.”
“I know.”
“She didn’t disappear because she wanted to.”
“Then why?”
“She was running from people who wanted you.”
My blood chilled. “Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know everything.” He almost sounded apologetic. I scoffed.
“Of course you don’t.”
“But I know this.” He stepped closer, voice low. “If your mother is alive, she knows why your wolf was sealed.”
I stared at him. “And she knows why someone is hunting me.”
“Yes.”
I swallowed hard. “Then I need to find her.”
“No.”
He shot it down before I even finished. I stared. “You can’t be serious.”
“You’re not ready.”
“There it is again.”
“Aurelia—”
“No.” I shook my head. “You don’t get to decide this for me.”
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“And I’m trying to find my mother.”
His eyes sharpened. “You don’t know what you’ll find.”
“I don’t care.”
“You should.”
“She’s my mother.” I barely got the words out, softer than I meant.
For a moment, we just stood there. He looked at me, really looked, and something in his face changed.
“Fine.”
I blinked. “What?”
“I’ll take you.”
“You will?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if your mother’s alive, I want to know why.” He paused. “And I’m not letting you go alone.”
A little smile tugged at my mouth. “Was that an order?”
“No.” He stepped forward. “A promise.”
Something warm spread through my chest, so I looked away before he noticed.
—
We headed out before sunrise. Draven insisted on just two guards. I didn’t argue.
The farther we got from my pack, the quieter everything felt. For the first time ever, I was leaving the only place I really knew.
You’d think I’d be scared, but honestly, I felt calm. Maybe because Draven was with me. That thought made me twitchy.
I glanced at him riding ahead. Eyes locked on the road.
“You’re staring.”
I jerked my gaze away. “I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
“You’re imagining things.”
He smiled—barely. I hated that I noticed.
Time passed. And then, suddenly, the world tilted. I grabbed the side of the carriage. Draven saw right away.
“Aurelia?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re pale.”
“I’m fine.” I wasn’t.
The burning crept in again. Not as bad, but enough to mess with my vision. I tried to stand, legs useless. Draven caught me.
“Aurelia!”
“I can walk—”
“No, you can’t.” He didn’t bother listening. Just scooped me up.
I stared at him. “Put me down.”
“No.”
“Draven.”
“You’re shaking.”
“I can walk.”
“You’re terrible at admitting when you’re weak.”
I shot him a glare. “And you’re terrible at listening.”
He actually grinned. “True.”
He carried me to a nearby shelter. I should’ve fought him. Instead, I let my head rest against his chest. His heartbeat—steady, strong, solid.
For once, I didn’t have to fake being brave. My eyes fluttered shut.
—
I woke up still cradled in his arms. At first, I forgot about everything—the rejection, the assassin, the secrets, my mother. I just listened to his heartbeat.
Then I realized how close we actually were. My eyes opened.
Draven was looking down at me. Neither of us moved.
“You’re awake,” he whispered.
I nodded. “You can put me down now.”
He didn’t move. “You’re sure?”
I paused, then surprised myself. “No.”
His eyes went soft, and he adjusted his grip. We didn’t say anything else. It was the first time I let myself actually trust him, even just for a heartbeat.
Then we found the place where my mother was last seen. An old house sat alone among the trees, windows shattered, door hanging crooked.
Draven stopped fast. Something was wrong.
He set me down. “Stay behind me.”
We moved toward the house, slow. I saw the walls first. Then the floor. Then the blood.
My stomach flipped. Draven tried to block my view, but I’d already seen it.
Someone had scrawled something on the wall in fresh blood.
My name.
AURELIA, YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED ASLEEP.
I couldn’t breathe. Draven’s hand clamped around mine.
And somewhere inside the house, something moved.
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