Chapter 5 Secrets and Mysteries
Layla's POV
I held my breath as Maya asked Ethan to be her partner for the bonfire celebration. The moment stretched like an eternity while my heart pounded in my chest.
"Sure," Ethan replied with that easy smile that made my wolf whimper. "That sounds fun."
Maya's face lit up with pure joy. She glanced back at me, eyes shining with excitement. I forced my lips into what I hoped resembled a supportive smile, giving her a thumbs-up even as my insides twisted with pain.
"Great! I'll see you there tonight then," Maya said, practically bouncing on her toes before hurrying back to me.
"He said yes!" she whispered excitedly, grabbing my hands.
"That's wonderful," I managed, feeling my wolf howl in despair. "I told you he would."
That evening, flames leaped toward the star-filled sky as pack members gathered in the clearing for the bonfire celebration.
I stood near the edge, watching as Maya and Ethan arrived together. They made a striking pair—her red hair gleaming in the firelight, his tall frame protective beside her.
"They look good together, don't they?" someone commented nearby.
I nodded mechanically, not trusting my voice. My skin felt too tight, my wolf restless beneath the surface as I watched Ethan take Maya's hand for the traditional dance around the fire. The elders began the ancient drums, and couples moved in rhythm with the flames.
Ethan's father, Alpha Donovan Gray stood to make his ceremonial blessing, but I barely heard his words. The burning in my chest intensified as Ethan smiled down at Maya.
Later in the evening, I noticed them standing close together, his arm around her waist. When he leaned down to whisper something that made her laugh, then gently kissed her, something inside me snapped.
I slipped away from the gathering, my breathing shallow as I reached the tree line. The pain became unbearable, the pull toward my mate fighting against my loyalty to Maya. I surrendered to my wolf, letting the transformation take me. Bones shifted, skin replaced by pure white fur, and I ran deeper into the forest, trying to outpace my breaking heart.
The forest was unnaturally quiet tonight, with strange scents lingering at the boundaries. From somewhere beyond our territory, distant howls echoed—unfamiliar and threatening—but lost in my own anguish, I barely registered these warning signs as I raced through the trees.
"Laaaaa...la!" Maya's excited voice called out to me in the hallway the next day. Her face was radiant as she rushed toward me. "I have to tell you something!"
I steeled myself, already guessing what was coming. "What is it?"
"Ethan asked me to be his girlfriend last night! After the bonfire!" She squealed, practically vibrating with excitement. "I can't believe it!"
I forced the corners of my mouth upward. "That's amazing, Maya. I'm so happy for you." Each word felt like glass in my throat.
"It's all thanks to you," she said, squeezing my hands. "Without your support, this never would have happened."
"That's what friends are for," I replied, feeling my wolf howl in protest.
"You have to come over to my house tonight," Maya insisted. "I want to cook dinner for you as a thank you. Mom's teaching me her special pasta recipe."
I couldn't refuse without raising suspicions. "I'd love to."
The hours dragged by slowly until evening. I found myself standing outside Maya's familiar two-story house, gathering courage before knocking on the door.
The moment she opened it, a warm wave of delicious aromas enveloped me.
Maya's house smelled of herbs and tomato sauce when I stepped inside. She proudly showed me the table she'd set, complete with candles and fresh flowers.
"Is that Layla?" Selena called from another room.
"Yes, Mom!" Maya answered. "I'm going to finish the pasta. Can you entertain her for a minute?"
Selena appeared in the doorway, her long red hair cascading over her shoulders in waves much like Maya's. The resemblance between mother and daughter was striking—the same vibrant red tones, the same piercing emerald eyes that seemed to look straight through you.
But where Maya's gaze was always bright with youthful enthusiasm, Selena's held the depth of ancient wisdom as she studied me with unusual intensity.
"Come sit with me in the living room, dear," she said, her voice melodic and calming.
I followed her into the cozy space, immediately drawn to the array of framed photographs adorning the wall. Among them was a family portrait—Maya and Selena standing beside a tall man with broad shoulders.
Oddly, the top portion of the frame where the man's head should have been was empty, as if that part of the photo had been carefully removed. Something about his stance and build seemed strangely familiar, though I couldn't place where I might have seen him before.
I realized with a start that Maya had never once mentioned her father to me in all our years of friendship. I'd always assumed something tragic had happened—perhaps he'd died or abandoned them—and respected her silence on the matter, never pressing for details she wasn't ready to share.
Once we were alone, Selena spoke softly. "Something troubles your spirit."
"I'm fine," I lied, averting my gaze.
"The white wolf who ran from the bonfire didn't seem fine," she replied, causing me to freeze. "Few wolves in our pack have such pure coloring."
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. "You saw me?"
Selena nodded, her expression gentle. "The moon sees all truths, Layla. As do mothers." She placed a warm hand over mine. "You've already attended the Moonlight Blessing ceremony, haven't you?"
I nodded, surprised by the shift in conversation. "Last week."
Her eyes softened with understanding. "And did you... find what most young wolves hope to find during their Blessing?" Her voice was careful, tender.
I swallowed hard, unable to maintain eye contact. The silence between us answered her question.
Selena's expression shifted to one of deep compassion. She took both my hands in hers, her touch warm and maternal.
"Oh, my dear child," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Your heart bears a burden it shouldn't have to carry."
A tear escaped before I could stop it. "I don't know what to do," I confessed, my voice barely audible.
"The strength you're showing—putting Maya's happiness before your own—it's rare and precious," Selena said, gently wiping my tear away. "But it comes at great cost to you."
"She's my best friend," I whispered. "How could I do anything else?"
Selena fell quiet, her eyes distant as if seeing beyond the present moment. When she spoke again, her voice carried a mysterious weight. "The moonlight reveals truths, but sometimes those truths are temporarily hidden by fate for reasons we cannot understand."
"What do you mean?" I asked, my heart quickening.
"The ancient texts speak of destinies that unfold in unexpected ways," she said, her eyes taking on a knowing gleam that reminded me she wasn't just Maya's mother but one of our pack's most revered witch and knowledge-keepers. "What seems fixed and certain may yet shift like river currents beneath still waters."
I leaned forward, drawn by the wisdom in her words. "Do you think... is there hope?"
"There is always hope, sweetheart," she said with quiet conviction. "The moon goddess weaves patterns too complex for us to see in their entirety. Trust that what feels like an ending may be merely a bend in the path."
She squeezed my hands. "Your heart knows what others cannot yet see."
Something in her words made my spirit lift slightly, like a small flame rekindling. "Thank you," I whispered, feeling for the first time that someone truly understood.
"Dinner's ready!" Maya announced proudly from the doorway, her face flushed from the heat of the kitchen. She balanced a large ceramic dish in her hands, wearing an apron splattered with red sauce.
The pasta was artfully arranged, topped with fresh herbs and grated cheese. "Mom's special recipe, with my own little twist."
"It smells incredible," I said, rising from my seat.
"Come on," Maya urged, backing toward the dining room. "I've got garlic bread too, and I want to hear everything about your week."
I followed her to the dining room, where the table gleamed with the careful arrangement I'd noticed earlier. As I took my seat, Maya served me a generous portion, her smile so genuine that for a moment, I almost forgot my pain.
"Best friends deserve the best pasta," she said, taking her own seat across from me.
I twirled the first bite onto my fork, watching the steam rise. Best friends forever.
