Chapter 5 Let Go

Mira's POV

I'm lying on the cold ground outside the castle. My body hurts so much that I am unable to move. My name is Mira, and I'm an Omega. I used to live in the big castle with my husband, Dane the Alpha. But he said he doesn't want me anymore. After telling everyone I was weak, he threw me out. My head is hammering, and my stomach feels like it's full of sharp stones. I'm scared because I can still hear the trees' roar. That shadow with the bright eyes was holding a piece of my dress, and it was getting closer.

This cold wind isn't keeping me warm with my light clothing. My hands shake and my bare feet go numb as I clutch my blanket. It's the only thing I have left. I try to stand, but my legs wobble and I fall back down. My eyes are wet with tears, and my throat hurts from sobbing. I look over at the castle. Its massive walls seem ruthless, as though they're relieved I'm not there.

I hear the growl again, low and threatening, from the dark trees. I crawl backward, my heart thumping quickly, my hands scraping the dirt. The shadow is still there, its eyes burning in the shadows. It moves closer, its sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight. I can't talk, but I want to yell. I'm too weak and too sick.

I pick up a rock and try to get back up. My mind is racing and the world is fuzzy. Not because I want to, but because I have nowhere else to go, I stammer towards the forest. The pack doesn't want me, and the castle gate is locked. I slam my knees into the ground after tripping over a root. Pain burns through me, and I gasp.

The moon is obscured by the tall trees in the pitch-black forest. I hide under a bush, hoping the shadow won't find me. Even though my blanket is now dirty, I pull it over my head. My body feels hot and then cold, and my stomach twists so much that I curl up tight. I'm so tired, but I can't bring myself to close my eyes. What would happen if the shadow showed up?

I'm thinking about Dane. He used to hold my hand and call me pretty. Now all he sees is the red-haired, cruelly laughing Selina. "I'm no longer his mate," he declared. The words hurt more than my sick body. I don't know why he hates me. I worked hard to win his approval.

My head feels like it's being squeezed. When I touch my forehead, it burns. My mouth is dry and my tongue feels heavy. I want water, but there isn't any here. I lay down on the cold ground and pull my blanket tight around me. Even though the forest is now quiet, there's a weird feeling that it's waiting for something.

I hear rustling in the bushes. My heart leaps and my eyes widen as I sit up. The shadow is back and getting closer. Its bright eyes look at me through the leaves. I hope it won't notice me, so I hold my breath. But it moves forward, its big paws digging into the earth. This is no ordinary wolf. It is bigger, and its fur is as dark as the night.

I try to move, but my body won't listen. My arms are heavy, and my legs feel stuck. The shadow snarls again, and this time I see something shining in its mouth that is small and pointy, like a needle, and not my dress. It drops it to the floor and looks at me. Its eyes aren't nice, but they're also not cruel. Due to their advanced age, they appear to possess secrets.

Despite my desire to run, I am unable to do so. My eyes feel heavy, and the world starts to fade. I fall back, my head hitting the floor. As the shadow gets closer, I hear a low voice that sounds like a whisper in the wind. "Mira," it says. "Not just yet." The words make my skin tingle, and I try to stay awake, but everything goes dark.

When I open my eyes, I'm still under the bush. Even after the shadow has disappeared, my body still hurts. My stomach hurts so much that I am unable to move. I'm sweating, but my head feels foggy and my skin feels cold. I look around and the forest is quiet again. The needle is still in the ground. It is small and silver with a small drop of green liquid on the tip.

I reach for it, but my hand shakes and I pull away. For some reason, I'm scared of it. I remember the castle, Selina's ruthless smiles, and Dane's cold stare. My heart aches, so I cry once more. Nobody seems to care that I'm alone. I will die here, in the dark.

Then, instead of a snarl, I hear a murmur that sounds like a lullaby. Further into the forest is the source. I look up, my vision blurry. A soft golden light flickers between the trees like a tiny star. It's warm and feels lighter in my chest. I want to go, but my body won't move.

The buzz gets louder as the light gets closer. Something other than a shadow is visible in the illumination. It is big, like a wolf, but its fur is white and gleaming, like snow in the moonlight. Its eyes are gold instead of fire, and it looks at me as though it knows me. I'm tired, but that doesn't scare me.

As the white wolf gets closer, I can hear the hum. My eyes feel heavy again, and I can't keep them open. I fall back after slipping off my cover. My hand feels warm and cosy against the wolf's muzzle. I hear the whisper again, but it's not the shadow's voice. It's soft and kind. "Mira, hold on," it says. "You're not done."

I try to reply, but my voice goes silent. My body feels like it's floating as the pain starts to lessen. I can't tell if I'm dreaming or dying. The golden light surrounds me, and for the first time in my life, I feel secure. A huge crack that sounds like a branch breaking is the next sound I hear. The white wolf snaps its head up and lets out a low, fierce growl.

I open my eyes a little to get a better look. The shadow is back at the edge of the light. It has glowing fire eyes and bare teeth. The white wolf, its fur rustling, goes before me. The shadow growls and the ground trembles beneath me. I can feel a storm brewing in the air as the two wolves look at each other.

I try to move and help, but my body won't listen. My head tilts back and the world grows dim again. The last thing I see is the white wolf leaping towards the darkness, its claws shining in the golden light. A wail fills the woodland, and then everything is dark.