Chapter 235

Olivia

“I’ve had enough,” I said.

Elder Mingan’s steely gaze locked onto mine, her lips curling into a mocking smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“And what do you plan to do, Miss Olivia?” she sneered, each word dripping with condescension. “Everyone knows you don’t have your wolf. And let’s be honest, even if you did—you wouldn’t stand a chance against us.”

The other Elders, draped in their ceremonial robes, nodded in agreement, their eyes cold and calculating.

But it was Elliot, my baby boy, cradled in Elder Corbin’s arms, who truly tore at my heart. His innocent eyes darted around, wide and fearful.

The soft golden curls on his head seemed out of place amidst the cruel austerity of the Elder’s arms, and beside him, his sister still lay in her crib, crying in confusion.

“Let him go, Mingan,” I hissed, trying to keep my voice steady. “This is between you and me. He’s just an infant.”

Her laughter echoed off the walls of the nursery, sending shivers down my spine.

“A child who carries our future,” she responded, her fingers lightly caressing Elliot’s face, causing him to whimper. “He’s just as much a pawn in this game as you are.”

“I won’t let you use him for your twisted ambitions,” I seethed, feeling my resolve strengthen.

Behind Mingan, Elder Corbin, a man of imposing stature with salt-and-pepper hair, chuckled. “Do you hear that, Mingan? The little wolfless mother thinks she has a say in the matter.” His dark eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Oh, I heard,” Mingan replied, her smile never wavering. Pushing past me with a flourish of her deep purple robes, she began to walk toward the front door. “It’s almost endearing, really.”

Corbin followed, Elliot clutched to his chest. Behind him, Amara finally released her grip on Angela’s arm.

My heartbeat rang in my ears, each thud echoing the rhythm of despair. It was then that a faint sound, almost drowned by the booming of my heart, sliced through the atmosphere.

Elliot’s soft, trembling cry.

It wasn’t loud, but it pierced the heavy silence of the chamber with surgical precision.

Suddenly, everything around me shifted. Gone was the familiar ambiance of the nursery, replaced with the soft glow of an otherworldly forest.

Trees radiated a gentle, golden light, and the sky, painted in hues of lavender and pink, created an enchanting panorama. Beneath my feet, the grass felt cool and inviting, every blade shimmering as if touched by stardust.

And there she was. My wolf.

She stood proudly by a crystalline stream, her golden fur almost blinding against the backdrop of the mystical woods. Our eyes locked, her bright blue gaze piercing into mine, and I felt a mix of warmth, comfort, and an intense longing.

“Why does this keep happening?” I asked, my voice tinged with desperation. “Why now? Elliot needs me. He’s in danger, and I can’t be lost in visions right now!”

She approached slowly, her steps graceful and purposeful.

“Here,” she began, her voice echoing softly in the silence of the forest, “time isn’t as you know it. Hours here will feel like mere seconds in your world. To everyone else, it will appear as though you merely blinked.”

I took a shuddering breath, trying to wrap my head around her words. “But why now?” I asked. “Why show yourself like this when Elliot is at risk?”

She circled me, her presence both intimidating and reassuring. “You have yet to grasp the depth of our connection, Olivia. But I’m here to lend you my strength. But you must know this: it will make you sick. It will hurt, and it will make you want to let go. You must not let go. Understand?”

“Let go?” I asked, taking a step back. “What do you mean?”

“The spell that binds me restricts me from telling you about my true nature,” my wolf said. “But I can say this: the strength I’m about to give you is powerful, far more powerful than all of the Elders combined, and even then I can only lend you a fraction of it. If you don’t hold onto your sanity, it could end up in dire circumstances. Now, we don’t have much time; are you willing to take the risk?”

“Anything,” I whispered fiercely, “anything to protect my son.”

She moved closer, so close that I could feel the coolness of her breath. “Remember the letter you received. Meet the stranger at the Ancient Wolf cave. It's safe; trust me.”

Confusion clouded my mind at my wolf’s vague words. “How do you know?” I asked. “You always seem to know so much. I don’t understand.”

She began to fade, her form becoming translucent. “In time, everything will become clear,” her voice, now distant, echoed around me. “Trust in our bond. Remember the cave.”

“No, wait!” I cried, reaching out. “I have more questions!”

But she was already vanishing, the forest around me starting to dissolve into a whirl of colors. A sensation of being pulled back to reality washed over me. My living room was reformed around me.

I could feel the weight of her power coursing through me, a raw, untamed force. It felt like a tempest trapped within my frame, and a wave of dizziness gripped me.

“Nathan!” Angela cried, tugging on Nathan’s shirt. “Stop Mingan! Help your son!”

Nathan’s eyes darted around wildly, but he couldn’t move.

Amid the chaos of sensations, I held onto my wolf’s words. The promise of her strength. The mention of the cave. The letter. My son. These became my anchors, keeping me grounded as the world threatened to spin out of control.

Everything inside me shifted then.

An ancient and primal force surged up from the very depths of my soul. It wasn't just the presence of my wolf; it was rawer, more ferocious. My vision blurred for a moment, replaced by a primal awareness of everything around me.

The scent of the burning candle on the table, the soft rustle of robes, the collective intake of breath from the room’s occupants, and most vividly, the petulant beating of Mingan’s heart.

Without thinking, I let out a feral snarl, baring sharp fangs that now felt foreign in my mouth. An explosive shockwave emanated from me, so potent that it sent the massive chandelier above swaying.

The Elders, despite their decades of power and training, were flung back. Even the unflappable Mingan found herself knocked off balance, her magical grip on Nathan slipping. Beside her, Corbin stumbled and began to fall.

Elliot cried.

As chaos unfolded, Nathan, with his newfound freedom, dashed forward with the grace of his wolf, snatching Elliot from mid-air before he could crash to the ground. He shot me a quick, astonished glance, his blue-green eyes wide, but didn’t utter a word.

I took a deep, steadying breath, the taste of the room metallic and charged.

The Elders, some still on the ground and others staggering to their feet, stared at me in shock. Angela, her deep-set eyes filled with a mixture of fear and awe, whispered, “Olivia?”

But it was Elder Mingan’s reaction that was most telling. The usually composed and imperious leader now looked shaken, her icy demeanor shattered.

She slowly pushed herself up, her eyes never leaving me. Her lips moved, but no sound came out at first. Finally, she managed to find her voice, even if it was just above a whisper.

“It can’t be true...”