Chapter 5 Old Wounds

"I was scared. Not of you being scary. I was scared of how you made me feel." He picked up a small stone and threw it into the water. "Every time I saw you, my wolf went crazy. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't focus on anything else."

Morgana felt her heart speed up. "What?"

"I knew you were my mate from the time we were kids. But the pack elders said I needed to choose someone who would make the pack stronger. Someone calm and safe." He laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound. "They said you would bring chaos."

"So you chose the pack over me."

"I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought if I sent you away, you'd find someone better. Someone who deserved you."

"That wasn't your choice to make."

"I know that now." He turned to look at her. "I've regretted it every day for nine years."

The moon was directly overhead now. Its light made everything shiny and magical. Morgana could feel power moving through her blood, stronger than before.

"There's something else," she said. "About why I came back."

"What?"

"I didn't come here by choice. I was running from something. Someone." She touched the healed cuts on her side. "The Iron Claw pack didn't just hit me randomly. They were hunting me."

Dolph went very still. "Hunting you? Why?"

"Because they know who I am. Somehow, they found out about the forecast." Her voice got scared. "Their Alpha, Viktor, he said he would kill me before I could unite the packs."

"Viktor Ironclaw." Dolph's voice was full of hate. "He's been causing trouble for months. Attacking border towns, stealing land."

"It's worse than that. He's planning something big. I heard his men talking." She looked at Dolph with scared eyes. "He wants to destroy all the old packs. He thinks werewolves should live like wild animals, not in villages."

Dolph stood up fast. "We need to tell the pack council."

"No." Morgana grabbed his arm. "Not yet. If the council knows about the prophecy, they'll expect me to become Luna right away. I'm not ready."

"Morgana, if Viktor is planning an attack-"

"I know. ⁸But I need time to learn. To understand my power." She stood up too. "Will you help me?"

They were standing very close now. The mate bond hummed between them like lightning. Morgana could smell his scent - woods and leather and something wild that made her wolf growl.

"Help you how?" His voice was rough.

"Teach me to fight. To lead. To be what the scripture says I should be."

"And then?"

"Then we face whatever comes together."

Dolph reached out and touched her face softly. "You really forgive me?"

"I don't know yet," she said honestly. "But maybe we can start over."

He smiled for the first time since she'd returned. "I'd like that."

The wind picked up across the lake. In the distance, they heard a wolf howl. Then another. Soon the whole pack was singing to the moon.

But underneath the pack's song, Morgana heard something else. Other wolves, farther away. Their cries sounded angry and hungry.

"Do you hear that?" she whispered.

Dolph nodded, his face getting serious again. "We need to get back. Now."

As they ran toward the village, the silver light of the moon followed them. And in that light, both their marks glowed brighter than ever before.

The forecast was starting. And with it, the danger was coming closer.

*********

The morning sun came through the small window, making dust dance in the air. Morgana sat on the edge of the bed, testing her strength. The deep cuts on her ribs were almost healed now. Too fast, even for a werewolf. But she didn't want to think about that either.

"You're up early." Runa walked in with a tray of breakfast. Warm bread, honey, and tea that smelled like pine needles.

"I can't stay here forever," Morgana said, taking the cup. The tea was bitter but good.

"Where will you go?" Runa asked. She sat down in her old wooden chair, the one that creaked when she moved.

Morgana didn't answer. She didn't know. For nine years, she had lived in the cold mountains of Eastern Europe. She had learned to hunt alone, to fight alone, to survive alone. But this place... it still felt like home, even after everything.

"He's been here every night," Runa said quietly. "Dolph. He sits outside the door for hours. Just listening."

Morgana's heart did something stupid. She put down her tea cup harder than she meant to. "I don't care what he does."

"Liar."

The word hung in the air between them. Morgana wanted to argue, but the old healer's eyes were too knowing. Too kind.

"I was sixteen," Morgana whispered. "Sixteen and stupid and in love with a boy who looked at me like I was broken."

"And now?"

"Now I'm twenty-five and not stupid anymore." But even as she said it, Morgana knew it wasn't true. The stupid part, anyway. Her heart still jumped when she heard his voice outside the cabin.

A knock came at the door. Speak of the devil.

"Come in," Runa called.

Dolph entered, and the small cabin felt even smaller. He was tall and broad, with dark hair that always looked like he'd been running his hands through it. His eyes were the color of winter storms, and right now they were focused on Morgana like she was the only thing in the room.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Better." She stood up, just to prove she could. "Strong enough to leave."

Something flickered across his face. Pain, maybe. "Where will you go?"

"Does it matter to you?"

The question came out sharper than she meant it to. But seeing him here, in this place where she'd spent so many nights crying over him, brought back all the old anger.

Dolph looked at Runa. "Could you give us a minute?"

The healer nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Now it was just the two of them, and nine years of silence hanging between them like a wall.

"Morgana," Dolph started.

"No." She held up her hand. "You don't get to say my name like that. Like it means something to you."

"It does mean something to me."

Really? Because the last time we talked, you told me I was dangerous. That I didn't belong here. That I was..." She swallowed hard, remembering. "That I was a mistake."

Dolph's face went pale. "I never said that."

"You didn't have to. I could see it in your eyes every time you looked at me. I was the wild girl who couldn't control her wolf. The one who started fights and broke things and scared the other children."

"You were sixteen and hurting," Dolph said quietly. "Your parents had just died. You were grieving and angry and-"

"And what? You decided I was too much trouble?" Morgana felt her wolf stirring under her skin, responding to her emotions. "You were supposed to protect me. You were supposed to be my Alpha."

"I was trying to protect you!" The words came out louder than he meant them to. Dolph ran his hands through his hair, that old gesture she remembered too well. "You don't understand. There were things happening. Threats. People who wanted to hurt you because of who you are"