Silvia 's POV
We found ourselves in a secluded garden after Piper and Logan's incessant ogling of half-naked men. I had shoved them to a corner of the training field, but their harassment persisted. Putting Xavier in Piper's view had done nothing to deter them, and Logan's relentless commentary on Xavier's physique and the things he'd like to happen to me kept annoying me.
In exasperation, I flicked both their foreheads. They grumbled but finally relented, leading me here.
The garden was stunning. At its center stood a fountain, surrounded by vibrant flowers—roses, dandelions, sunflowers—each blooming with life. It felt almost magical. Bees buzzed, butterflies flitted about, and birds perched on branches, filling the air with their melodic songs. The leaves shimmered in the sunlight, as if kissed by fresh rain. In one corner, a solitary apple tree provided the perfect shade.
I tilted my face toward the sky, letting the beauty wash over me. *This is good. Too good.*
But then a chill skittered down my spine, a sensation that something sinister lurked just beneath the surface. I shook it off, forcing my focus back on the garden's beauty.
"This is so beautiful," I murmured, speaking to no one in particular. It truly felt like something out of my imagination… or perhaps my memory.
The birds sang, and the leaves danced, performing just for me. A smile bloomed on my face, my shoulders relaxing as I breathed in the surprisingly stale air. Yet, I couldn't shake the unease.
I moved closer to the fountain, drawn to its design. It depicted a woman cradled in a man's arms, his face frozen in a mask of devastating terror. His hands rested against her chest, tears streaming down his cheeks. Water flowed from his hand, but it looked almost sinister.
Something called to me from the fountain. The woman's eyes seemed to pull me closer, and suddenly the clear water turned crimson. *What is happening?*
As I stared into the depths of her gaze, the water became fully red, and the air around me turned stale, filled with the rotting scent of metal. My heart raced, a primal instinct screaming at me to turn away.
"Silvia! I'm done!"
I gasped at the sound of Piper's voice, which broke the spell. Everything snapped back into focus, as if I'd been daydreaming again. Strange visions had filled my mind ever since the stabbing, and they were becoming too much to bear.
I made my way over to Piper, who had already spread a blanket on the grass and set out snacks. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since the day I shifted.
"Where's Logan?" I asked, scanning the area for him.
"My brother was called away for pack business," she replied.
"Oh," I said, feeling a hint of concern. "Did he have a phone? I didn't see him bring one."
"That's a little something I'm grateful for. It's called a mind link—kind of like telepathy, but we actually talk to each other in our heads," she explained.
I nodded, a mix of disbelief and acceptance washing over me. So much had happened since I got here, and adding this to the mix barely fazed me anymore. I wished I could do that, too.
Piper sat on the blanket, and I followed suit, crossing my legs in front of me like I was about to meditate.
"Cool! Can I do that too?"
"Not yet. You have to officially join the pack first," she replied, her tone serious. "Xavier will perform the ritual."
"And that's not scary at all," I muttered, the whole situation feeling increasingly cult-like.
"So, being a werewolf is basically like being human but with enhanced senses," she began, launching into her lesson.
*Two hours later…*
I sat in the garden, struggling to shift into my wolf form. It was frustrating; I was supposed to connect with my wolf, but since the last shift, I hadn't heard a whisper from it. Piper said it was because I hadn't fully accepted my wolf yet. I had repeated the words she taught me over and over, but all I felt was my temper rising.
My head spun with the effort, my mind aching from the constant begging to my wolf.
As if the universe had decided I needed a break, the rain began to pour—heavy and sudden.
"This place must truly be magical," I remarked, placing my hand against the trunk of the apple tree. I silently apologized for the frustration I had inflicted upon it.
"Come on, let's go," Piper said, clearly waiting for me to stop being weird.
I took a step, but a shiver coursed through me. The hair on my neck prickled as I sensed a shift in the air. I looked up; the weather had turned gloomy, and everything felt wrong. Time seemed to freeze, raindrops suspended in mid-air as if the world held its breath, waiting for me to act.
Tentatively, I reached out to touch the rain. The moment my fingers met the droplets, a searing heat shot through me, and I instinctively jerked my hand back. A scream tore from my lips as the pain felt like being pricked with a hot needle.
A deafening sound pierced my ears, like a missile ready to detonate. Before I could react, I was flung into the air. I felt weightless for a moment, only to crash back down against the trunk of the apple tree, the impact jarring my body.
I heard the sickening snap of my spine against the bark, the sharp edges biting into my skin. Blood pooled in my mouth as I coughed, struggling to sit up and defend myself against the invisible assailant.
But before I could gather my wits, I was thrown again, this time landing hard in the fountain. The structure shattered on impact, sending shards of stone flying. A sharp cry escaped me as I curled protectively around my ribs, the pain overwhelming.
*Why aren't I healing?*
I gasped, struggling to breathe as I submerged in the murky water. I fought against the current, but the metallic taste of blood flooded my senses. *What is happening?*
After what felt like an eternity of fighting, a strange calm washed over me. My thoughts began to fade, my eyelids growing heavy. I was so tired.
*Help!*
Only one name echoed in my mind, a beacon in the darkness: Xavier. But what could he do? I couldn't even see what was attacking me. My fear of him getting hurt clouded my thoughts.
No, I couldn't let that happen. But as my mind slipped further into unconsciousness, I couldn't fight it any longer.
*Xavier, where are you?*