Rise Of The Mute Omega

Chapter Six

The forest was alive with whispers. Every shift of the leaves, every snap of a twig, made my fur bristle and my ears twitch. I pressed closer against the oak tree, the rough bark digging into my side, as though the ancient roots could shield me from the world that had just been turned upside down.

The glow that had poured from my paws moments ago was gone, but its memory lingered. My body still hummed with leftover energy, a low, steady vibration that refused to fade. I curled tighter into myself, trembling as my wolf settled, trying to make sense of what had happened.

The mate bond.

Kael.

The rogues fleeing from me—not because I fought them with teeth and claws, but because something within me had burned them like fire.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I was no omega. At least… not the kind of omega the Blackwood pack believed me to be.

The bond tugged sharply at my chest, insistent, as if Kael’s presence was a heartbeat away. I could almost hear him calling, not with words but with instinct, with that invisible thread that tied us together. My wolf ached to answer, to run to him, to press against him and surrender to the bond.

But fear rooted me to the forest floor. What would he see when he found me? Not the weak, voiceless servant from the basement, but something else—something unnatural. Would he even want me then?

The undergrowth rustled. My head snapped up, ears pricked, claws sinking into the dirt.

“Elara!”

The voice was real this time, not the phantom whisper in my head. And it wasn’t Kael—it was Mrs. Hawthorne.

The housekeeper stumbled into the clearing, her lantern swinging wildly, her gray hair loose from its bun. She looked pale, breathless, her eyes widening when they fell on me.

“Oh, child…” She pressed a hand to her mouth, her voice trembling with awe and fear. “So it’s true.”

I shifted back instinctively, bones cracking, fur receding, skin stinging in the night air. My limbs trembled as I crouched on the ground, naked but too stunned to care. Mrs. Hawthorne immediately shrugged off her shawl and wrapped it around my shoulders, pulling me close with shaking hands.

“You have no idea what you’ve done,” she whispered, more to herself than to me. “The Moon has touched you… the prophecy…” Her voice trailed off, heavy with unspoken secrets.

I grabbed her arm, desperate, my voice hoarse from the strain of shifting. “What prophecy?”

Her eyes flicked nervously to the trees. “Not here. The walls have ears—even the forest tonight. Come. We must get you somewhere safe before the Alpha’s men find you.”

The Alpha. The pack. My heart stuttered. I could imagine their faces, their whispers spreading like wildfire. The omega who shifted. The omega who glowed. They would never let me live in peace.

Mrs. Hawthorne tugged my hand. “Hurry.”

But before we could move, another sound split the night. Hooves. The pounding of them on hard earth, drawing closer with each second.

Kael.

I knew it before the horse even broke through the trees, its chest heaving, its flanks shining with sweat. He swung down in one fluid motion, eyes blazing silver in the moonlight.

The bond hit me like a physical blow. My knees buckled, my chest ached, and every part of me screamed to run to him. His scent—pine and steel and something darker—wrapped around me until I thought I would drown in it.

“Elara.” His voice was low, rough, barely restrained. His gaze swept over me, the shawl, my trembling frame, then lifted to Mrs. Hawthorne with suspicion.

“She’s safe,” Mrs. Hawthorne said quickly, placing herself slightly in front of me. “I found her here, after—”

“I know what happened.” Kael’s jaw clenched. His eyes locked on mine again, and I felt the weight of his wolf pressing against me, testing, probing. “You ran from me.”

Heat rushed through me. I couldn’t find the words. My lips parted, but no sound came out. How could I explain the terror, the shame, the overwhelming pull of the bond that had driven me into the trees?

Mrs. Hawthorne spoke for me. “She’s confused, Kael. Frightened. You must give her time.”

His gaze softened, just slightly. “Time,” he repeated, though his tone carried doubt.

The bond thrummed between us, undeniable, pulling me closer with every heartbeat. My wolf whimpered inside, wanting nothing more than to step into his arms. But fear clawed at me, and I stayed rooted to the ground.

Behind Kael, more figures appeared—warriors from the pack, their armor glinting faintly. Their eyes darted between us, uncertain, wary. One whispered, “That light… I saw it. She burned them. Rogues scattered like ash.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed, his authority snapping sharp. “Not a word of this to the Alpha. Do you hear me?”

The warriors bowed their heads quickly, though unease rippled through them. Secrets never stayed hidden long in Blackwood Manor.

Mrs. Hawthorne squeezed my arm. “Kael,” she said softly. “If the Alpha discovers what Elara has become—what she truly is—he will not let her live.”

Kael’s head snapped toward her, eyes flashing. “And what is she, exactly?”

The housekeeper’s lips pressed into a thin line, her silence louder than any words.

Kael turned back to me, his hand outstretched, palm open. “Come back with me. I’ll protect you.”

The bond ached at his words, pulling me forward step by step. My fingers twitched, longing to take his. And yet… Mrs. Hawthorne’s grip tightened, grounding me, reminding me of the danger that awaited at the manor.

Two choices stretched before me, both terrifying: surrender to Kael, to the bond that bound us irrevocably, or keep running and risk losing myself entirely.

I swallowed hard, torn, the Blood Moon burning above us like a watchful eye.

And deep within, the voice returned, soft and chilling.

Your fate is sealed, Elara. The night has only begun.