Chapter 7 The Wolf that should not exist

The voice inside Lira's mind faded as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her standing in the middle of the kitchen in stunned silence.

Her heart raced.

Her wolf.

After all these years of nothing...

She had finally heard her.

"Lira," Kael said carefully.

She blinked and looked up at him.

"Yes?"

His eyes searched her face.

"What did you hear?"

Lira hesitated.

The truth felt strange even to her.

"My wolf."

Kael's eyebrows rose slightly.

Clara scoffed loudly from the doorway.

"Oh, that's convenient."

Lira's shoulders tightened.

Clara crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the moment.

"The omega who couldn't shift for nineteen years suddenly has a wolf?"

She laughed coldly.

"Next you'll tell us you're some kind of special Luna."

The words stung more than Lira expected.

But Kael didn't laugh.

In fact, his expression had grown more serious.

"You said your wolf spoke to you?" he asked quietly.

Lira nodded.

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"She just... greeted me."

The warmth inside her chest pulsed again.

As if the voice was still there.

Listening.

Clara shook her head impatiently.

"This is ridiculous."

Her gaze turned sharp.

"Father needs to hear about this nonsense."

She turned toward the door.

But Kael's voice stopped her.

"You will do no such thing. You won't breathe a word"

Clara spun back around.

"And why not?"

Kael stepped forward.

The shift in his aura filled the kitchen like thunder rolling through the mountains.

"Because my mate does not answer to you."

Clara's lips pressed into a thin line.

"You're making a mistake."

"Perhaps," Kael replied calmly.

"But it is mine to make."

For a moment, Clara looked ready to argue again.

But something in Kael's eyes made her pause.

Finally, she let out an irritated sigh and turned away.

"This isn't over."

The door slammed behind her as she left.

The room fell quiet again.

Lira exhaled slowly.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

Kael frowned slightly.

"For what?"

"For causing trouble."

He stared at her for a moment.

Then he said something unexpected.

"You didn't cause anything."

Lira blinked.

"You're my mate," he continued.

"That alone will cause trouble wherever we go."

Despite the situation, Lira almost smiled.

Later that afternoon, Kael convinced Silver Crest's Alpha to allow Lira to walk with him through the forest.

The older Alpha had agreed reluctantly.

"The bond is clear," he admitted.

"But she remains part of this pack until she chooses otherwise."

Kael nodded.

"That choice will come soon."

Now they walked side by side beneath the tall trees surrounding the territory.

The forest air felt cooler than the packhouse.

More peaceful.

Lira inhaled deeply.

"I like it here," she said quietly.

Kael glanced at her.

"You come here often."

She looked surprised.

"How did you know?"

"You smell like the forest."

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

"I come here when the packhouse gets too loud."

Kael nodded.

"I understand that feeling."

For a while they walked in silence.

But the warmth inside Lira's chest continued growing.

Stronger.

Almost like something pushing against a door inside her.

Finally she spoke again.

"Alpha Kael."

"Yes?"

"What if they're right?"

He looked at her.

"About what?"

"What if I'm not meant to be your Luna?"

Kael stopped walking.

Lira took another step before realizing he had paused.

She turned back toward him.

His silver eyes studied her carefully.

"Do you believe the Moon Goddess makes mistakes?"

"No."

"Neither do I."

His voice carried quiet certainty.

"You are my mate."

"But I'm weak," she said softly.

Kael stepped closer.

"Then why did I feel power explode from you last night?"

Lira didn't have an answer.

Kael lifted his head slightly.

"Shift."

Her eyes widened.

"I can't."

"You can."

She shook her head.

"I've tried for years."

Kael's gaze softened.

"But now your wolf is awake."

The voice inside her mind spoke again.

He's right.

Lira froze.

Her wolf sounded stronger now.

More confident.

"What if I fail?" she whispered.

Kael stepped closer.

"Then we try again."

Something about his calm confidence steadied her nerves.

Lira closed her eyes.

She had seen wolves shift countless times.

But she had never done it herself.

She focused on the warmth inside her chest.

The strange power pulsing through her veins.

Come to me, she thought.

The warmth grew suddenly brighter.

Her wolf's voice whispered again.

Let me out...

Pain exploded through Lira's body.

She gasped.

Kael stepped forward instantly.

"Easy."

Her bones shifted.

Her muscles stretched.

Light erupted across her skin like liquid silver.

Then-

Silence.

Kael stared.

Because standing where Lira had been moments before...

Was not the small brown wolf most omegas possessed.

It was enormous.

Her fur shimmered silver beneath the sunlight.

Her eyes glowed bright green.

And faint patterns of moonlight seemed to ripple across her coat like living light.

Kael's breath caught in his throat.

His wolf surged forward instantly.

Not with aggression.

With awe.

She is...

Kael finished the thought quietly.

"Yes. Beautiful"

She was something rare.

Something ancient.

Something blessed.

Lira looked down at her paws in shock.

Is this... me?

Her voice echoed through the mind link.

Kael smiled faintly.

"Yes."

Lira lifted her head toward the sky.

The moonlight patterns across her fur shimmered again.

Deep within the forest...

The rival Alpha who had sensed her awakening watched from the shadows.

His dark eyes gleamed with hunger.

"So the prophecy is true," he murmured.

Because the wolf standing in that clearing...

Was not just a Luna.

She was the One.

And powerful wolves would soon begin hunting her.