Chapter 49
Ayla
I awaken from my sleep in a meadow. Sitting up confused; I take in my surroundings. The last thing I remember was sliding down the wall of my room. I remember feeling fear and anxiety. Now, I wake up in a deep green field of tall grass. I can hear a faint trickling of a creek or some form of running water. There are beautiful trees everywhere with blooming flowers and the light of the moon brightly shines over everything. I stand up and brush my clothing off. “Hello? Is anyone there? I turn around and scan the area, but I see nobody. I think I remember Thane talking to me. Something vague and garbled about my throat and something else. I am not sure what, but it feels like I am forgetting something important.
I start walking through the meadow and find a worn–down path through the trees. I decide to follow. I have no idea if it is a good idea or not, but I really have no other options at this point. I follow the path, and it leads to a wide opening. A clearing from the trees straight to a creek with a large waterfall. I walk over to the water and stop suddenly in my tracks. Sitting next to the creek on the rocks is the most beautiful, snow–white wolf I have ever seen. Immediately recognize her. She is me. I have only seen her one time, but I know that she is my missing half. She is my wolf and she is beautiful
“Aramana” I get out in quiet whisper. She immediately turns her head to look at me with her piercing teal eyes and I feel like I am finally home. The overwhelming sense of peace washes over me and know that she is safe, free, and protected. That is all I ever wanted for her. For her to be free while I was caged. For her not to feel what I was feeling and go through what I went through. In hindsight, the wolfsbane was a blessing in disguise, because it kept her protected. “Aramana, what are you doing here? Where are we? I have missed you so much.”
“It is okay my child. We are in the deep recesses of your mind. I have been here, caged without you for as long as you have been caged yourself. My cage may be prettier, but a cage all in its own. I am sorry I couldn’t protect you, my sweet Ayla. There isn’t a moment that goes by that I don’t wish I could have been with you. I would have saved you. I would have saved us.” “You may have been trapped here, but I am happy you weren’t with me. If something would have happened to you, if they would have hurt you because of who we are, I would have died Aramana. I couldn’t live knowing that you were being tortured right alongside me.” I whisper to her as I sit down next to her and watch the water coming down the waterfall.
“It is my honor as your wolf to protect you. And with our special gifts, I could have saved you. I reach out to you often, but you have me locked away. Not intentionally, but I remain away all the same.” “What do you mean I have you locked away? I have been waiting for you and longing for you since we have been freed.” “No Ayla. You have me locked away now out of fear of who we are. Yes, we were stolen because of who we are and the gifts we possess, but you have to come to terms with who you are and who we are destined to be and what we are made to do. You cannot hope for me my child and plan to run away and hide me, hide us from the world. We have a responsibility because of the gifts we possess from the fates. We have a responsibility to rule, to lead, and to use our gifts to better the packs in which we are allied with, a part of, made for.” “We have no pack left. The castle estate and surrounding village was burned to the ground. Burned because of who we are. I was taken and my family murdered because evil alphas decided that they didn’t need to be ruled and didn’t need to have a white wolf around.” “The pack should not have been hidden in the first–place child. The white wolf is destined to rule. To be the person who decides what gifts help which packs. As a white wolf with the gifting, the first one in 50 plus years, that is your calling. You were made to lead. The shifter world needs accountability. There are evil packs with evil agendas. The gift was chosen for you. I was chosen for you. That means you are called, and you have the ability within yourself to do it. You just have to accept it for me to be free.”
“I don’t want to rule. I can’t. I am broken. I have panic attacks, hallucinations, nightmares. I live my life constantly functioning with a low level of fear. I thought I had a close bond to Thane, but I was wrong. I am alone. If I don’t have you, I have nothing. I need you Aramana.” “You have to accept me child. When you do, I will protect you. I will keep you safe. Nobody will harm a head on our head ever again. We are gifted by the fates. Called to lead bravely and with strength. Do not underestimate what I will do to keep you safe Ayla. You may be timid and fearful now, but I am not. You will heal and recover, and I will protect you while you do. I will eliminate any who dare wish us harm. I will rip out the throats of all that have wronged us Ayla.” My chest tightens as I take in her words. She is right. I am timid and fearful, Quiet and not bold, but as I sit here watching my wolf and taking in her words, I know that she means it. Her words hold power, and I feel them. She is strong and brave. She is bold and fearless. Everything I wish I was. I am not sure however, if I can bring myself to take on that personality, that role. “That is a lot to think about Aramana. I want you at person.” “You have time to think Ayla. I am always here, deep. I always will back, but I don’t know if I am strong enough to be
feel it, I will breakthrough your holds and I will return to you. I just hope you make the right decision before that happens.” “What is that supposed to mean Aramana?” She is looking at me, but she is staring to fade. The trees are getting blurry, and my surroundings are moving. I can no longer hear the waterfall and rushing water. I am losing her.
- be. You will come to a point where you need me.
