The Woman in the Forest
1144 Words
Morning sunlight entered through the cabin windows, but Luna felt no warmth.
She remained standing near the table, staring at Elara.
The old woman's words continued repeating inside her mind.
Because he dreamed about you too.
No matter how she thought about it, the sentence made no sense.
Luna had never met a Lycan before yesterday.
She did not even know whether the giant black wolf had truly been a Lycan King or simply an ordinary Lycan.
Then how could he dream about her?
And how did Elara know?
The old woman calmly poured tea as though she had said nothing unusual.
Luna finally sat down.
"What do you mean?"
Elara pushed the cup toward her.
"What part confused you?"
Luna stared.
"All of it."
Elara smiled slightly.
"Good."
Luna frowned.
"Good?"
"People who stop questioning things too early become easy to control."
Luna had no idea whether that was wisdom or avoidance.
She took a slow breath.
"You know things."
Elara nodded.
"Yes."
"You knew I left my pack."
Another nod.
"You knew about my mate."
Another nod.
"And now you're talking about a Lycan."
Elara finally looked directly at her.
"I know enough."
Luna crossed her arms.
"Then tell me."
The old woman remained silent for several seconds.
Outside, wind moved through the trees.
Finally she spoke.
"Tell me something first."
Luna waited.
"If you had not been rejected… would you still have crossed the border?"
The question surprised her.
Luna thought for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"No."
Elara nodded.
"Exactly."
Luna did not understand.
The old woman continued.
"You think yesterday was the worst day of your life."
Luna looked away.
Part of her still did.
Elara placed both hands around her cup.
"But sometimes life removes one road because another road exists."
Luna did not respond.
She was tired of people turning pain into lessons.
Her rejection still hurt.
The mate bond still existed.
She could still feel Ryder.
Nothing about that felt meaningful.
Elara seemed to understand.
She did not continue.
Instead she stood.
"Come outside."
Luna followed her.
The morning air felt fresh.
The stream beside the cabin reflected sunlight beautifully.
Birds moved between trees.
Everything looked peaceful.
Elara walked toward a small garden behind the cabin.
Dozens of herbs grew there.
Luna immediately recognized several rare medicinal plants.
Her eyes widened.
"These shouldn't exist together."
Elara glanced at her.
"You noticed."
Luna stepped closer.
Some herbs belonged to cold climates.
Others required dry land.
A few should have been extinct.
Yet they all grew here.
Healthy.
Impossible.
Elara handed her a basket.
"If you're staying another day, work."
Luna blinked.
"Staying?"
Elara looked at her.
"You have somewhere else to go?"
Luna became quiet.
No.
Not really.
The realization felt strange.
She had left home.
Crossed the border.
Entered unknown territory.
And somehow ended up collecting herbs beside a mysterious old woman.
Hours passed quietly.
Luna helped prepare medicines.
She cleaned shelves.
Sorted herbs.
Made treatments.
The work felt familiar.
Comforting.
For the first time in days, her thoughts became quieter.
Until—
Pain suddenly hit her chest.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
She grabbed the table.
Her breathing stopped.
The mate bond.
Again.
But this time—
It felt different.
Not sadness.
Not longing.
Pain.
Real pain.
Luna's eyes widened.
Ryder.
Something had happened.
The feeling disappeared almost immediately.
Elara looked at her once.
"You felt him."
Luna stared.
"How do you know?"
Elara returned to her work.
"Mate bonds connect emotions."
Luna looked away.
The pain had disappeared already.
But it left confusion behind.
Why would Ryder feel pain?
She shook the thought away.
It was not her problem anymore.
She refused to care.
Unfortunately, emotions rarely obey decisions.
That afternoon, Elara suddenly announced something unexpected.
"We're going to town."
Luna looked up.
"There is a town?"
Elara gave her an odd look.
"Did you think forests survive on dreams?"
An hour later they followed a narrow road through the woods.
Eventually trees opened.
Luna stopped.
A town appeared ahead.
But not an ordinary town.
Stone buildings.
Markets.
People everywhere.
Children running.
Workers moving goods.
The place looked alive.
Normal.
Yet something felt different.
Everyone seemed stronger.
Taller.
More dangerous.
Luna quietly observed.
A man passed carrying an entire wooden cart by himself.
Two women argued while casually crushing stone beneath their feet.
A child jumped onto a rooftop.
Luna blinked.
Elara noticed.
"Don't stare."
Luna lowered her voice.
"Who are these people?"
Elara answered casually.
"Mostly Lycans."
Luna nearly stopped walking.
"What?"
Nobody around them looked unusual.
No giant wolves.
No obvious signs.
Just people.
Elara continued.
"Not all Lycans live as beasts."
Luna followed silently.
This changed everything she believed.
Growing up, she had heard stories describing Lycans as isolated monsters.
This place looked more peaceful than many pack villages.
As they walked, Luna noticed something else.
People greeted Elara.
Respectfully.
Not like an ordinary old woman.
Some even bowed slightly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Before Luna could think more, a loud noise interrupted everything.
A crowd had gathered ahead.
People whispered nervously.
Luna immediately moved closer.
A young man sat against a wall.
Pale.
Sweating.
His breathing looked wrong.
Several healers stood nearby looking worried.
Luna instinctively moved forward.
One healer shook his head.
"The poison is spreading."
Another replied.
"We don't have enough time."
Luna crouched beside the patient.
The healers looked annoyed.
"Step back."
Luna ignored them.
She examined his eyes.
Pulse.
Breathing.
Skin.
Then she looked at his hands.
Her expression changed.
"This isn't poison."
Everyone looked at her.
One healer frowned.
"What?"
Luna looked again.
"It's an allergic reaction."
The healer laughed.
"Impossible."
Luna pointed.
"The swelling started from the fingertips."
People became quiet.
She continued examining.
Then stood.
"He needs cold treatment and breathing support."
Nobody moved.
Elara suddenly spoke.
"Do it."
Immediately everyone obeyed.
Luna noticed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Minutes later the patient slowly stabilized.
His breathing improved.
Color returned to his face.
The crowd began whispering.
The healers looked shocked.
The young man's mother started crying with relief.
Luna stepped back quietly.
But before she could leave—
A shadow fell across the street.
Everyone became silent.
People turned.
Then bowed.
Luna looked up.
Several black vehicles stood nearby.
Soldiers stepped out.
Tall.
Disciplined.
Dangerous.
Then someone exited the center vehicle.
Black clothes.
Golden eyes.
Tall.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Luna froze.
The world seemed to stop.
She knew those eyes.
She remembered them.
The forest.
The dream.
The giant black wolf.
His gaze moved through the crowd.
Then stopped on her.
For one second—
Neither moved.
His expression remained unreadable.
But his eyes changed.
Recognition.
He knew her.
Luna's heart started beating faster.
The man slowly stepped forward.
Everyone lowered their heads.
Nobody spoke.
He stopped several feet away.
Looked directly at her.
Then said calmly—
"So."
His golden eyes remained locked on hers.
"The healer survived."
- Writer
