Chapter 1 Buried in Silence

Mira's POV

I whispered, "Please... don't leave me here," but my voice sounded as dry and cracked as a bunch of old leaves.

Nobody responded.

I tried to see through the blur in my eyes by blinking a lot. I wasn't moving, but the trees above me whirled as if they were dancing. The forest floor felt cold against my body. I was unable to sense my fingers. I had a heavy, stone-like gait.

The wind blew slowly and softly through the branches. It was the only thing I remembered. The one thing that was truthful.

My hand flopped back down next to me when I attempted to raise it. I had pale skin. Under it, I could see the blue veins that resembled spider webs. Spiders were something I detested. I detested feeling weak and insignificant.

No one could hear the screaming that was going on inside of me. No longer.

"Why, Dane?"

I felt like ice when I heard that name. Dane. My friend. My Alpha. My spouse.

He assured me that he would keep me safe. I was his Luna, his light, his forever, he said. But the day I discovered the bitter herbs concealed in my tea was finally over. The day I saw him gaze at Lyra as if she were everything.

I initially believed I was ill. My chest ached. My head was burning. I had trembling hands. I was unable to run. I was unable to move. I was unable to even scream.

Then his eyes revealed the truth to me.

He had no regrets.

He was aware of the poison's effects. He did nothing while he saw me get weaker every day. Even worse, he grinned.

He left me to perish here, beneath the chilly sky. Not a pack. No name. No house.

Nothing but quiet.

Something moist touched my lips as I coughed. It had a metal taste. Blood. I was going to die.

A gentle paw moved close to me. A tiny gray wolf was staring at me when I blinked. It wasn't afraid. It simply appeared... intriguing.

"Go," I muttered. "Stop wasting time on me."

The wolf, however, did not flee. It did nothing but sit. observing.

I chuckled. It was more akin to a gasp.

"Like him, even you won't turn away."

I felt a tear slide down my cheek. It was the only area of me that was still pain-free.

I remembered my former room. The white drapes. The cozy bed. The spot where Dane declared me his Luna and planted his first kiss on my forehead.

The day he stood in front of the pack and declared me unfit came to mind. feeble. A burden.

They didn't ask him any questions. Nobody inquired about my whereabouts. They took him seriously. Because I was fortunate to be selected as an Omega.

Something deeper than the poison caused my stomach to turn.

To them, I was nothing.

And now, just as I was born, I would die alone.

Once more, the trees swayed. My breathing slowed.

"Is this it?" I muttered. "Is this the true conclusion of my story?"

The gray wolf rose to his feet. Its ears perked up. It walked away after turning.

It wasn't my fault.

I shut my eyes.

The chill grew stronger.

I had a floating sensation. No more suffering. Quit making noise. Just quiet, soft, nothing.

Then there was a noise.

feet.

No paws. feet.

slow movements that apply pressure to the leaves.

I was unable to open my eyes, even though I wanted to.

My forehead was touched by a hand.

Real, firm, and warm.

A deep voice said, "She's still alive."

Not Dane. It was an older voice. Weary. but powerful.

"She shouldn't be alive," said a different voice. A female. Sharp. Startled.

The man bent down. His hands smelled like herbs. Additionally, there's something odd. like a mixture of snow and firewood.

"Death marks this one, but death didn't take her."

The woman asked if we could save her.

"Not in the typical manner," he answered. However, there is an alternative. One that is darker.

My mouth quivered. I wanted to talk. My mouth was too dry, though.

The man said, "Bring the blood of the wolf."

The woman let out a gasp. "You mean-?"

Indeed. Today is not her day to die.

The man put his hand on my chest.

He said, "Sleep now, Luna." "You won't be the same person when you wake up."

Then everything turned dark.

And I noticed something odd in that darkness.

Silver eyes flashed.

A forest fire is burning.

And Dane, who was standing on the edge, was staring at me as if he had forgotten who I was.

My breathing became even slower.

It all seemed so distant.

I had doubts about my survival. However, a tiny, irate thing inside of me refused to leave.

What made them want to save me now?

Why not earlier?

My chest held the man's hand. Something warm pulsed through his palm, and I could feel it. Like fire slipping into frozen crevices, it moved inside me.

Then I experienced a sting.

It had a sharp edge. chilly. similar to ice slicing through bone.

I wanted to scream, but I was unable to do so. My entire body trembled. My heart pounded, paused, then began anew.

quicker.

more powerful.

Warm.

Too warm.

Fire. within me.

I was immobile. However, I noticed things. faces I was unfamiliar with. forests that I had never traversed. In the moonlight, a white wolf stands. Snow and blood. A hand with gold chains reaching out.

Then I caught sight of him.

Dane.

He was standing above a tomb. My tomb.

He wasn't crying, though.

He had Lyra's hand in his.

I'm laughing.

My own deep, wild growl reverberated in my ears.

My internal fire grew brighter.

The woman's voice was near my head, whispering.

"She is evolving."

Calm and steady, the man replied.

"She is not going to die. She is evolving.

What is it becoming?

I didn't inquire.

I was unable to.

However, I had already made up my mind.

I would never again be the helpless girl.

Never the pathetic Luna who pleaded for affection.

I would return if I lived.

Not for him. Not for the group.

However, for me.

Like a bone snapping, a loud crack sounded in my ears.

Then there was quiet.

Then a sigh.

My breath.

However, it no longer felt like mine.

And I sensed a movement beneath my skin just before the darkness engulfed me. Something that was out of place.

*Mira's body starts to change as she passes out-something strong and old awakens inside of her. and it's not only wolves.