Chapter 2 An Apology

Sasha curled up on the floor of her room, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to hold her heart together. The image of Darius and Rachel, locked in a deceitful embrace, burned behind her eyes, the betrayal suffocating her.

"Lyra... can you hear me?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling as she called out to the wolf that lived within her.

"I hear you, Sasha," came Lyra's soft reply, but the wolf's voice was faint, distant.

Sasha squeezed her eyes shut, desperately trying to shift.

'I need you, Lyra. I need to be stronger. I need to fight back.'

Her fingers dug into the floor, and her body shook with the effort to force the transformation.

"Come out, Lyra! Please, come out!" Sasha's plea was barely a breath, her voice breaking under the weight of her desperation. Cold sweat slid down the back of her neck, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"You know I can't, Sasha," Lyra's voice murmured, soft as a sigh.

"No! You can!" Sasha choked on her words, her hands clutching at her sides. "Come on, Lyra, just... please!"

"I'm sorry."

"No, no... no! Don't do this to me!" Her voice cracked into sobs. "Please, Lyra, come out. I need you. I-"

But no matter how hard Sasha willed it, no matter how much she screamed inside, Lyra remained hidden, unreachable.

Tears spilled down Sasha's face, silent at first, then in wrenching sobs that shook her fragile frame. She felt like a failure. A werewolf who couldn't even shift into her wolf form-what could be worse?

"I don't want to be weak. I don't want them to look down on me..."

"Mom... Dad..."

Their faces blurred in her mind, lost to the years since their passing. She was alone now, and that thought hollowed her out from the inside.

The distant howls of wolves pierced the night air, slipping through the cracked window like a haunting reminder of what she was supposed to be. The sound mingled with Sasha's quiet sobs until, exhausted, she finally sank into a restless, dreamless sleep.

The next night, Sasha couldn't avoid attending the party at Darius' house. Despite everything, Mr. Anderson had personally invited her, and it was impossible to refuse. The event tonight wasn't just any gathering-it was a celebration of her and Darius' relationship.

Her heart still ached, the wounds of Darius' betrayal were fresh in her chest, and her body felt weaker than usual. Yet, Sasha forced herself to go. She had no choice. Wearing the ivory-white dress her mother had left behind, she tried to hold herself together, even if it felt like she was unravelling inside.

As she entered the house, her eyes scanned the crowd. The party was already in full swing, with werewolves scattered throughout the large room, mingling and laughing. But Rachel was nowhere to be found. Sasha hadn't seen her since the day before.

Where was she? Not that Sasha particularly wanted to see Rachel, especially after what she had done.

"Sasha! My dear, you look stunning tonight," Mr. Anderson's booming voice broke through her thoughts.

Sasha forced a smile in return. "Thank you, Mr. Anderson."

"Darius! Come over here, your lovely fiancée has arrived!" Mr. Anderson called out.

Sasha stiffened as Darius approached, having been engrossed in conversation with his friends. She kept her gaze down, the cruel words he had thrown at her the night before still echoing in her mind.

"Stay with Sasha for a bit, I'm about to make the announcement about your engagement," Mr. Anderson said, before turning to leave.

"Sure, Dad," Darius replied obediently.

As soon as Mr. Anderson walked away, the air between Sasha and Darius turned thick with awkward silence. Sasha swallowed, fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

"You... you don't have to stay with me if you don't want to," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Sasha, I-" Darius hesitated. His usual confidence faltered. "I need to talk to you. Just the two of us. Is that okay?"

Surprised, Sasha nodded, her heart racing as Darius gently led her outside to the garden, away from the noise and the crowd. The front yard was quiet, bathed in soft moonlight.

'Was he going to reject me here? Was this where it ended?'

"You look beautiful in that dress," Darius said softly, his eyes lingering on her.

Sasha froze. What?

That was the last thing she expected to hear from him.

"I... I want to apologize for last night. I shouldn't have treated you like that. I'm so sorry, Sasha. I know I hurt you."

"It's... it's okay," she managed to say, though her voice trembled. "Really, I'm okay."

The tightness in Sasha''s chest began to ease as Darius' apology sank in. The sincerity in his voice felt real, and for the first time in days, a weight lifted from her heart.

"Really? You'll forgive me?"

Sasha nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. His regret seemed genuine, and for a brief moment, warmth blossomed in her chest.

Maybe things could get better.

"Of course I forgive you," she replied softly.

"I'm glad to hear that." He stood up quickly, excitement lacing his movements. "Let me get you a drink. Wait here, I'll be right back."

Moments later, Darius returned, holding two glasses of wine. He handed one to her, his smile still warm and reassuring.

"This is for you," he said, his voice tender.

Sasha accepted the glass with a quiet thank you, taking a sip as she settled beside him in the gazebo, surrounded by the fragrant blooms of the garden. Above them, the crescent moon hung softly in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the scene.

For a while, they sat in silence, the atmosphere peaceful yet heavy with unspoken words.

"I didn't see Rachel tonight," Sasha finally said, her voice hesitant.

"Why are you looking for her?" His tone was sharper than before. "She's already done enough to ruin us, Sasha. Just let her go."

But Sasha couldn't let go. Rachel had been her best friend since childhood, and despite everything, a part of her still cared.

"You know, I don't care that you can't shift with your wolf. I'll protect you, Sasha. You don't need to worry."

Sasha opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly, her vision blurred. The garden around her swayed, the soft glow of the moon becoming distorted. Her head spun violently.

What's happening?

"Sasha? Did you hear me?" Darius' voice seemed to come from far away, distant and distorted.

Panic surged within her as her body grew weak, her limbs heavy. Darkness crept in from the edges of her vision, swallowing the world around her until there was nothing but black.

And then, she fainted.