Moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting gentle beams of silver over the moss-covered ground. The forest was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. Elara stood still, her hand pressed against the rough bark of an ancient oak tree, her thoughts distant. She had lived in hiding for years, long enough to know how to disappear into the shadows of the world.
Her heart, however, was anything but at peace.
She hadn't seen Lyra in years—her daughter, the girl she had protected and loved more than anything in the world. But Elara knew Lyra was different now. She had grown into a force of nature, one that the world could neither predict nor control. And Elara couldn't stay hidden forever. Lyra had reached the edge of her awakening, the point where everything she thought she knew about herself would change.
The curse.
Elara pressed her eyes closed, trying to push the memories back into the depths of her mind. It was no simple punishment, as so many believed. It was a seal—one placed upon Lyra's potential, a powerful and dangerous force that could destroy everything in its wake if released. Elara had always known it would come to this moment, but now that it was here, she didn't know if her daughter would ever forgive her for keeping the truth hidden.
"I should have told you sooner," Elara whispered to the wind as if the forest itself might understand.
She straightened up, pulling her cloak tighter around her. The cold night air bit at her skin, but it wasn't the chill of winter that made her shiver. It was the weight of what she had to do next.
Elara couldn't let Lyra go on believing the curse was simply a punishment. No. It was a protection, meant to keep her safe and to keep the entire werewolf world safe from what she could become. Elara had kept her daughter's power locked away for years, but now it was threatening to break free.
The time for hiding was over.
Lyra paced along the edge of the camp, her thoughts racing. The cool night breeze ruffled her dark hair, but she didn't feel its touch. She had been trying to focus on her role in Kai's clan, but her mind kept wandering. There was something unsettled within her, a feeling she couldn't shake, no matter how hard she tried.
Damon. The thought of him, and his words, still echoed in her mind. I'll bring you back, Lyra. She knew what that meant—he wasn't going to stop until she returned to the life she once had. But it wasn't her life anymore. The moment she had left him behind, she had chosen a different path. One that led her to Kai, and to this new world.
But something in her still tugged at her heart. She could still hear Damon's voice, and see the hurt in his eyes when she walked away. Yet she had to be strong. She couldn't afford to look back now. There was no place for weakness in the life she had chosen.
Still, there were moments—like tonight—when the emptiness of her choices seemed overwhelming. Lyra closed her eyes for a moment, her hand instinctively clutching the dagger at her side. Her thoughts kept drifting to something she couldn't quite put her finger on. The dreams. The visions. What were they trying to tell her? And why did it feel like something was awakening inside her?
She didn't know, but whatever it was, she couldn't ignore it any longer.
"Lyra," a voice broke through her thoughts.
She spun around, her hand still on the hilt of her dagger. But when she saw who it was, she relaxed, though her muscles stayed tense.
"Draven," she said quietly, giving him a small nod.
Draven, one of Kai's closest allies and the one person who always seemed to watch over her stepped closer, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes studied her closely, noting the way her shoulders were stiff and her gaze distant.
"I didn't mean to startle you," Draven said, his voice low, but laced with concern.
"I'm fine," Lyra replied quickly, though the words felt like they didn't belong in her mouth. She wasn't fine. Not by a long shot. But she didn't know how to explain the unease she felt.
Draven tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving her. "You don't seem fine."
Lyra sighed, rubbing her forehead. "It's nothing. Just... too much on my mind."
Draven studied her for a moment longer, then glanced toward the center of the camp where the others were gathered. He stepped closer to her, lowering his voice. "Kai is expecting you. The council is meeting. It's time to decide what happens next."
Lyra nodded stiffly, though the thought of the council meeting didn't sit well with her. She had already made her choice, or so she thought. But the more she learned about Kai's world, the more complicated things became. It wasn't just about loyalty anymore. There were too many unanswered questions. And the power inside her—this curse or whatever it was—was getting harder to ignore.
"I'll be there," she said, though she didn't sound certain.
Draven gave her a small nod and turned to leave, but as he stepped back, Lyra felt a strange tension rise in her chest. Something about him—something about the way he looked at her—bothered her. He had been by her side ever since she joined Kai's clan, and yet, there was something in the way he moved now, something off, as though he were hiding something. But she didn't have time to dwell on it now. She had bigger things to worry about.
Far away, deep in the forest, Elara continued to stand by the fire, her eyes focused on the flickering flames. The quiet crackle of the fire was the only sound in the still night.
Her thoughts were heavy as she stared into the flames. Her daughter's life had been set on this path long ago. Elara had never wanted it to be this way. She had always wanted to protect Lyra from the truth, to keep her safe from the curse that lay hidden inside her. But that protection had become a prison—a prison Elara could no longer keep her daughter in.
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, and she closed her eyes. Lyra needed to know the truth. The curse was a seal, but it was not meant to keep her from being strong. It was meant to protect the world from the chaos that could erupt if Lyra's true power was unleashed.
And now, Elara knew she had no choice but to tell her. The world was changing. The power inside Lyra was becoming stronger, and soon, there would be no more hiding.
"Elara," a voice called from the darkness.
She didn't flinch. She knew the voice well.
"I've been waiting for you," Elara said, turning to face the figure emerging from the trees.
The man stepped into the firelight, his face shadowed but familiar. It was Draven, Lyra's old protector and a trusted ally of Kai.
"You're here," Elara said, her voice tight.
"We can't wait any longer," Draven replied, his tone grim. "Lyra is close to the truth. You know what that means."
Elara nodded slowly. "It's time. The curse, the seal—it's all connected. She has to know what's inside her before it's too late."
Draven's eyes softened. "I know. But you need to be ready. She may not want to hear it. She may never forgive you for hiding it from her all these years."
Elara sighed, the weight of those words pressing down on her. "I've spent so long keeping her safe, I didn't realize how much it would cost us both."
"You're not alone in this, Elara," Draven said, stepping closer, his voice gentle. "But you need to act now. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for her to accept."
Elara nodded again, her heart heavy. She had no choice now. Lyra had to know the truth, even if it shattered everything.
Back at the camp, Lyra entered the council meeting, her footsteps heavy with uncertainty. The room fell silent as she walked in, every eye turning toward her. Kai sat at the head of the table, his dark eyes sharp as he observed her. He said nothing, but his gaze was intense like he was waiting for her to speak first.
She took her seat, her mind racing with thoughts of her mother, the curse, and the strange power that was awakening inside her. Kai began to speak, but his words didn't reach her. Her thoughts were elsewhere, caught in a whirlwind of confusion and fear.
Suddenly, Kai's voice cut through the silence.
"You're distracted, Lyra," he said, his voice low, but sharp. "What is it you're not telling me?"
Lyra's heart skipped a beat. It was as if Kai could see through her as if he knew she was hiding something.
"I need to talk to you," she said, her voice trembling, but her eyes were steely with resolve. "There's something I need to tell you."
Kai's expression softened, but only slightly. He motioned for the others to leave, and the room emptied, leaving them alone.
Lyra took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. "I don't know how much longer I can stay here," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Kai's chair scraped across the floor as he stood up. The movement was sharp, and deliberate. His eyes locked on Lyra, intense and unwavering. She could feel the shift in the air, like a storm building on the horizon.
"Not stay here?" His voice was soft, but the calmness in it only made it more dangerous. The words hung in the air, thick with meaning.
Lyra's heart raced as she took a small step back, feeling the tension between them stretch like a wire pulled too tight. She wanted to explain, to make him understand, but the words didn't come. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
"I can't stay," she finally managed. "I thought I could, but... I can't be part of this. I'm not the person you think I am." Her voice cracked, the weight of her own words sinking in. She was already starting to feel the pull of something inside her, something she couldn't control.
Kai's jaw tightened, and his fists clenched at his sides. He moved toward her, slow and deliberate, every step heavy with purpose. "So you think you can just leave? After everything? After everything we've been through?"
Lyra's chest tightened. She didn't want to leave, not really, but she had to. She had to find her path, even if it meant breaking away from everything she thought she knew.
"I'm not saying I want to leave," she said quickly. "I just—I need to figure this out. I need space to think. I can't control what's inside me." Her voice trembled, but she stood her ground. She had never felt so torn in her life, between the person she was becoming and the life that had been thrust upon her.
Kai's expression hardened. "You think I've been lying to you? Using you?" The words were sharp, biting, and it hurt more than Lyra wanted to admit.
"No," she whispered, her heart aching. "I never said that. I just—"
Before she could finish, the door swung open with a loud thud, cutting her off. Draven stepped into the room, his face grim, his eyes flickering between the two of them. "It's time," he said, his tone final, leaving no room for argument.
Lyra's breath hitched in her chest. The moment between her and Kai, the tension that had been building, snapped in an instant. Kai's gaze lingered on her, dark and unreadable.
Draven didn't wait for a response. Without a word, he turned and walked out of the room, the weight of what was about to come pressing down on them all.
Lyra stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do, but the sound of Kai's steady breathing filled the silence between them.
Finally, Kai spoke, his voice quieter now, yet no less intense. "We'll see if you still feel the same after this."
And with that, he followed Draven out, leavin
g Lyra standing there, her heart heavy with uncertainty.