Chapter 19
998 Words
_Lyla's POV_
The journey to the southern border was quiet, but tension sat thick in the air. Aaron drove in silence, his hands gripping the wheel tightly. I stared out the window, watching as the trees became denser. The familiar roads of our pack territory were fading behind us. My stomach twisted in knots.
As we neared the forest, a strange unease settled over me. The path became rough. The car was bumping over uneven ground. Aaron slowed the vehicle to a stop.
"We can't go any further by car," he said, glancing at me. "We'll have to walk from here."
I nodded and swallowed down the nervous lump in my throat. The guards stepped out first, scanning the surroundings. The moment I stepped outside, a chill ran through me. The air felt heavier. The forest seemed to be darker than it should have been despite the sun overhead. It was as if the trees held secrets they refused to share.
We walked deeper into the woods, the sound of crunching leaves beneath our feet the only noise breaking the silence. Every shadow felt like it was watching us. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to push away the growing fear curling inside me.
Aaron walked close beside me. His presence was a comforting shield against the unknown. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low.
I nodded quickly. But the further we walked, the more uneasy I became. We were no longer in our pack’s land. We were vulnerable here. Rogues could attack at any moment. The stories about Adeline’s cottage and those who never returned echoed in my mind.
After what felt like forever, the trees finally thinned, revealing a small clearing. In the middle of it stood an old cottage.
It was unlike anything I had expected. The wooden walls were covered in vines, twisted and overgrown, as if the forest was trying to claim it. The roof sagged slightly. The stone chimney was cracked with age. Strange symbols were carved into the wooden door, faintly glowing in the dim light. The windows were dark, the curtains drawn, hiding whatever was inside.
I shivered. There was something eerie about this place, something that made my skin crawl. Aaron must have sensed my unease because he reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. "Stay close," he murmured.
The guards stepped forward first. "Alpha, let us knock," one of them said. "If she attacks, we will handle it."
Aaron hesitated before nodding. The guard raised his hand and knocked firmly on the wooden door.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then, the door creaked open.
An old woman stood in the doorway, her silver hair cascading down her back like a river of moonlight. Her eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto us. Deep wrinkles lined her face but there was strength in her posture. There was an air of quiet power surrounding her.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice rough.
Aaron stepped forward. "We need your help."
Adeline narrowed her eyes. "And why should I help you? Your people banished me from my home and forced me to live in isolation. Now, you dare come asking for my help?" Her voice dripped with bitterness.
I stepped forward before Aaron could respond. "It was the former Alpha who did that," I said quickly. "We had nothing to do with what happened to you. We—"
"And yet, you live comfortably in the pack that cast me out," she cut in, folding her arms across her chest. "Why should I care about your troubles now?"
Aaron took a deep breath. "If you help us, I will allow you to return to the pack. You won't have to live in exile anymore."
For the first time, Adeline laughed. It was not a warm laugh, but one filled with amusement and disbelief. "Do you truly think you can manipulate me like that? I am not some desperate fool. I have come to love my solitude. I do not wish to return. I have no reason to help you."
She turned, ready to shut the door.
I started to panic. "Please!" I begged, stepping forward. "I had a dream. The Moon Goddess spoke to me. She told me I am the Lunar Wolf. I need to awaken my powers. I think… I think you are the only one who can help me."
Adeline froze.
Slowly, she turned back around, her sharp eyes scanning me. Her face, which had been unreadable before, now showed something else. Shock. Doubt. Maybe even fear.
"What did you say?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I am the Lunar Wolf," I repeated. "I don’t know what it means, but the Moon Goddess showed me. If you don’t believe me, check for yourself."
Adeline’s expression tightened. "Impossible," she muttered. She shook her head, as if trying to convince herself I was lying. But then, after a long pause, she exhaled sharply.
"Alright," she said, her voice steady once more. "Come inside. But only you. The rest stay here."
Aaron immediately stepped in front of me. "No. If she goes in, I go in."
Adeline lifted a brow. "I do not take orders from you, Alpha. If you want my help, you will follow my conditions."
Aaron’s jaw clenched. "What if something happens to her?"
I placed a hand on his arm. "Nothing will happen to me," I said softly. I looked up at him, pleading with my eyes. We had no choice but to trust her.
Aaron held my gaze for a long moment before exhaling in frustration. "Fine," he muttered. "But if you so much as touch a hair on her head—"
Adeline smirked. "I do not harm those who do not deserve it."
With that, she stepped back, holding the door open. I took a deep breath and stepped inside, the door creaking shut behind me.
The moment it closed, I knew that there was no turning back.
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