AT THE SAME TIME
AT WANESSA'S POINT OF VIEW:
I ran. My heart was pounding in my chest, my feet barely making a sound as I raced through the halls of the castle. I couldn't stay there. Not after hearing what the elder said, not after everything that had happened. The prophecy. The connection. The scent. None of this made sense. I didn't belong here. I was just an extra character in a game, a background figure with no real purpose. I wasn't supposed to be their mate. I needed to escape. I needed to figure out how I could leave, how to slip away from all of this confusion. I needed the forest, I needed my freedom.
"Wait, a second I got it."I muttered to myself.
Then, I spotted it, the entrance to the hidden corridor. It was hidden behind an ornate tapestry, something I had noticed during my time here, though I had never dared to explore it. I hesitated for only a moment before pulling the tapestry aside and slipping into the shadows of the narrow passageway. The air was cool and damp, and I could feel the weight of silence pressing in around me. I pressed my back to the cold stone wall, trying to catch my breath. What was happening to me? Why was I even here? I had never asked for any of this, never asked to be involved in a prophecy, never asked to be a part of whatever this royal family wanted.
"Wanessa." I heard a voice.
I froze. My name, spoken clearly, as if someone—no, something, was calling to me.
I turned, my pulse quickening. There was no one around, only the shadowed passage stretching before me. But then I heard it again.
"Wanessa. Don't be afraid." A female voice said it again.
I blinked, my mind reeling. That voice, it wasn't coming from anywhere physical. It wasn't the sound of a person, not even a whisper. It was... in my head?
"I am your wolf. I am Wanny."A voice said again,
I nearly stumbled over my own feet as the words hit me like a tidal wave. My breath hitched in my throat. A wolf? I wasn't supposed to be able to hear a wolf, was I? Just a normal girl, trapped in a world that wasn't my own. I left a pack, but I was human since birth. A rare disgrace. I gasped, clutching my head as a sharp, pounding ache throbbed in my temples.
"No, no, no." I whispered to myself. "This can't be real."
"It is real." The voice answered again, softer this time, as if it was trying to comfort me. "I'm here, and I've always been here. You've just been afraid to listen."
I staggered back against the wall, feeling the stone bite into my skin as my knees weakened. A wolf? No. It wasn't possible. How could this be happening to me? I wasn't a werewolf. I wasn't anything special. But... the connection. The scent. The bond I felt when I was near the princes. It was all starting to make sense now.
"It's okay, Wanessa." Wanny whispered. "We are one. You are meant for them."
The words settled in my mind, but they only brought more panic. No. I didn't want to be part of this. I didn't want to be tied to any of them, least of all three princes who thought I was somehow... special. I was just an extra character. I had no place in this world. I never asked for it. I sank to the ground, wrapping my arms around myself, trying to steady my breathing, but the more I tried to control it, the more panicked I became.
"Please, just leave me alone." I muttered, closing my eyes tightly. I could still hear Wanny's voice in my head, but it didn't feel like it was trying to harm me.
It was just there. A constant presence, like a part of me I had never known existed. But the more I listened, the more I realized, there was no running from it. There was no escape from what was happening.
"I can't leave you." Wanny's voice said softly, as if it was apologizing. "We're together, whether you want it or not. And you will learn to accept it."
I shook my head desperately, the tears starting to blur my vision.
"I didn't ask for this!" I cried out loud, my voice echoing in the dark hallway.
The weight of everything, the princes, the prophecy, the wolf, the connection, I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was suffocating.
"You are the one, the mate of the three princes."She said.
Why is she saying this? It's not true. This isn't my life, this isn't what I wanted. I try to push her back, but her voice only grows louder, more persistent.
"Stop hurting me!"I shouted into air.
I try to steady my breath, but it feels like it's slipping out of my control. My body trembling a lot as if it's not even mine anymore. I hear footsteps and soon the princes are there, all three of them. They stand over me, towering like giants, their eyes full of concern. Terrence is the first to reach me, kneeling beside me and holding my trembling hands as it trying to comfort me.
"Wanessa, you need to calm down. Just breath." He says gently, his voice smooth but firm.
"You're okay." Michael adds softly, kneeling next to Terrence, his large hand brushing my hair away from my face. But nothing feels okay.
"We're here for you." Xavier says, his voice rougher, like he's trying to control something deep within himself.
But his words don't help. I can feel their eyes on me, but I can't handle it. I need space. I need to get away.
Before I can speak, the elder steps forward, his presence like a heavy shadow. His eyes are filled with understanding, but also a deep seriousness.
"Wanessa." He says gently, his voice low and soothing."Listen to me. Calm your mind, child."
I can barely hear him over the pounding of my own heart. But his voice is calm, steady, like the quiet before a storm.
"You need to focus. I can help you." The elder says again, kneeling down beside me. His hand moves to rest on my shoulder, the touch warm, grounding. "You don't have to fight it. You're not alone." He mutters gently.
I try to push Wanny away, but it's like I'm pulling on something that's tangled into my very soul. I can't make it stop. I feel like I'm losing control.
"You have to breathe, Wanessa." The elder continues, his voice unwavering. "Slow, steady breaths. In through your nose. Out through your mouth.
"It's okay." Terrence murmurs softly, his other hand cupping my cheek. "We've got you. You don't have to do this alone."
"You're okay." Michael says, brushing his thumb along my arm as if trying to reassure me that I'm safe.
"Breathe with me, Wanessa. Breathe with me, slowly."Elder repeats his words again.
In through my nose, out through my mouth. It's still hard, but I manage to focus for a moment.
"There. You're doing better now." He says with a soft smile, his voice gentle.
But I can't shake the feeling that something is still wrong. Something is happening to me, and I don't know what to do about it. I still don't understand why this is happening to me. Soon I feel how strong hands lift me up and I fall asleep into strong hands once again.