As I strolled through the pack's marketplace, seeking fresh fruits, whispers followed me. Eyes darted, conversations halted, and gazes lingered.
"...her hair's so strange..."
"...doesn't look like one of us..."
"...scarred and ugly..."
Each word stung.
I quickened my pace.
Sorrow threatened to overwhelm me.
Why couldn't they see beyond my appearance?
Why did their opinions matter?
I returned home, seeking solace.
Kael was gone, attending to alpha duties.
Father sat in the study, engrossed in a leather-bound book.
His gaze flicked up.
"Talia," he acknowledged.
No warmth.
No concern.
Just a cursory glance.
I handed him the fruits.
"Thanks," he muttered.
His attention returned to the book.
I stood there.
Unseen.
Unheard.
A ghost in my own home.
As I turned to leave, the room began to spin.
A gentle voice whispered in my mind.
"Hey, Talia, you're doing great. Don't let them bring you down."
The soft tone surprised me.
Who was this voice?
A friend?
Or my own subconscious?
The voice continued.
"You're beautiful, inside and out. Don't believe the lies."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.
No one had ever spoken kindly to me like that.
Later, tasked with cleaning Father's room, I struggled to focus.
The voice returned.
"You're strong, Talia. You've survived so much."
My hands trembled.
As I dusted, my elbow knocked against the vase.
It teetered.
Fell.
Shattered.
Oh no...
Panic set in.
I frantically gathered shards.
Father's voice boomed from the doorway.
"Talia, what have you done?"
His face reddened.
"That vase was your mother's favorite. A precious heirloom!"
I cringed.
"I-I'm sorry, Father."
His expression softened.
"Talia, I loved your mother dearly. She was my everything."
A pang struck my heart.
He loved her, but not me?
"Father, why--"
He interrupted.
"You remind me of her, Talia. Her spirit, her fire. But you're fragile, like that vase."
I bit back tears.
The voice in my head whispered.
"He's wrong, Talia. You're not fragile. You're resilient."
I stepped outside, seeking solace under the moonlit sky. The night air enveloped me, calm and serene, a stark contrast to the turmoil within. As I breathed in, the voice in my head grew clearer, more distinct.
"Talia, I'm sorry it took me so long to reach you," she said, her tone gentle, apologetic.
I turned toward the forest, walking along the winding path, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the trees.
"Who are you?" I asked aloud, curiosity mingling with caution, my heart racing with anticipation.
"I am Adhya, your wolf," she replied, her voice echoing within me.
My heart skipped a beat. My wolf? The one I thought I'd never find?
"Why did it take you so long?" I asked, my thoughts swirling.
"I was waiting for you to be ready," Adhya explained. "Ready to hear me, to accept me. You've been through so much, Talia. Pain, rejection, self-doubt..."
Adhya's words resonated deep within, touching raw nerves.
"I'm ready now," I said, determination rising.
Adhya's presence surged, filling me with warmth.
"I'm here, Talia. We'll face everything together," she vowed.
In that moment, under the moon's gentle light, I felt a sense of belonging, of being whole. The emptiness began to fill.
As I walked further into the forest, Adhya's voice guided me.
"Talia, you're strong, resilient. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Her words became my mantra.