NOVEL WEB Chapter 2: Shadow of the Wolf
"If you enjoy mystery and supernatural powers, you might also like my other novel."
{Shackles of shadow}
This story is for readers who love strong female leads, fantasy adventures, and powerful destinies!
Sunset was approaching as the girl walked with faltering steps through the forest. Her short frame swayed gently with the light breeze that carried the scent of the trees. Her short brown hair and bright green eyes contrasted with her wheatish skin, which nearly blended into the shadows of the forest. There was a tension in her heart, and as she glanced left and right, she was hiding something beneath her clothes.
In that moment, a crow suddenly attacked in front of her, and with incredible speed, it transformed into a boy who shared her delicate features, though in a more masculine form.
"Lara! Where are you going? Didn't our father stop you from doing this?" the boy said in a bored voice, his eyes filled with concern as he looked at her.
The girl felt her tension growing but quickly replied, "What's stopping me? I always do this. I'm just going to the forest to walk for a bit. Do you see any danger in that?"
The boy raised an eyebrow, then spoke with a challenging tone, "Really? Have you forgotten you're my twin? Your failed attempt at lying isn't going to convince me, Lara. I know you well. And you're going to see that wild wolf, aren't you? Didn't our father warn you about that? Didn't he forbid you from going to him again?"
She sighed sadly, then spoke in a quiet voice, as if trying to justify herself before justifying him, "Luke, there's something that draws me to that wolf. I feel responsible for him, and I can't explain it. Please, just this once, let me go give him food. He's injured and can't hunt."
Luke interrupted her firmly, as if dismissing what she was saying as mere evasion, "Enough! We're almost seventeen, and you still haven't found your mutant. Father's worried about you, and so is everyone in the clan. You know what will happen if you don't transform during this period. Do you know what that means for all of us?"
The words took her breath away, and a wave of anger and tension washed over her. "Enough, Luke! I'm more nervous and scared than all of you! I don't know what to do. Everyone else has transformed—some even younger than me. And I can't figure out what's wrong with me. Why haven't I transformed yet? My mind won't stop thinking about it."
Luke approached her, seeing her eyes drowning in a sea of worry, and spoke in a calm yet firm voice, "I'm sorry. Don't worry, you'll transform. I'm here to help you. I won't leave you. Now, let's go home."
He grabbed her hand, trying to pull her along, but the girl stayed still. Her eyes were clouded, and inside her, a fire burned fiercely, one that couldn't be put out. She needed to go to the forest. She needed the wolf; she needed reassurance about him.
Luke sighed, then said, "Alright, go. But don't be late. I'll fly a bit in the sky and wait for you."
She smiled at him, her face full of affection, then approached him and kissed him quickly. Without saying another word, she ran swiftly on her way, while Luke transformed into a huge raven and flew into the sky.
The girl continued running through the forest until she reached the cave. There, she sat in front of him. Suddenly, a large black wolf staggered out of the cave, weakened by exhaustion. He settled beside her, and she pulled out a piece of meat, placing it before him. As the wolf began to eat, the girl fell silent, gently stroking his sleek black fur.
"This might be the last time I see you..." she whispered softly, her words heavy on her heart.
"In a month, I'll be seventeen. Everyone's worried, but I'm the most worried. I don't know what will happen if I don't transform. Will my father take me away from here? Will I lose everything?"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, and in that moment, it felt as though time itself had stopped. Surrounded by the stillness of the forest, the world faded away, leaving only this moment, this feeling of isolation, as her fear closed in on her.
The wolf looked at her, as if he could read the turmoil in her mind. He gently began licking her face with his large tongue, as if trying to comfort her, to assure her that everything would be alright. She smiled softly, tears streaming down her cheeks. How she wished she could find her transformer, that everything would become clear in that instant.
She hugged the wolf tightly, as if drawing strength and determination from him. A deep fatigue overcame her, and slowly, she closed her eyes, feeling as though she were slipping into another world, one where silence wrapped around her like a blanket. She didn't feel anything after that, not until she awoke to find Luke beside her. The night had settled quietly, its darkness creeping across the land, but the moon shone brightly in the sky, its soft silver light breaking through the shadows. Cold breezes brushed against her hair, offering a strange comfort, and when she turned to Luke, she saw him smiling a sad smile. His eyes were full of worry, as though carrying news she couldn't quite understand.
She looked at him, questioning, and he spoke softly, his tone heavy with concern. "Let's go, we're very late for our parents, and it's time for dinner."
She nodded, rubbing her eyes, struggling to stay awake as drowsiness weighed heavily on her. Luke took her hand gently, helping her to her feet, his gaze still filled with worry. She smiled at the wolf standing before her, unwilling to leave, as if an unspoken bond tied them together, one neither of them could break. She waved goodbye to him as she walked away with Luke, sadness settling in her heart. In that moment, she felt as if this wolf had become a part of her, something she couldn't let go of so easily.
When they arrived home, they found her father preparing food at the table. Bloom glanced at them, a frown flickering across his face. "Why were you so late? Where were you?" he asked, his tone laced with concern. She hesitated, unsure of how to explain what had happened. He knew she wasn't weak, but even so, he was still a father worried about his daughter.
At that moment, she looked at Luke, who spoke quickly, stepping in to ease the tension. "Lara and I were training. I was helping her try to communicate with her mutant so we could stimulate its appearance." His voice was calm and reassuring, as though trying to shield her from the weight of the truth. "We're sorry, Dad. It won't happen again."
Her father nodded, accepting the explanation. "Come, eat. I made this myself." They sat around the table, the silence between them growing thick and uncomfortable, until her father finally broke it, his gaze shifting between them. "So, how's the training going?"
Luke replied quickly, "It was our first day, so we're still just starting. But I'm sure Lara will find her mutant, and it will be strong." She smiled at him softly, grateful for his constant support, which gave her a glimmer of hope amid all the uncertainty.
Her father nodded, his voice steady. "Don't worry, you'll find your mutant soon. After we eat, I'll tell you a story about your mother."
A weight settled in her chest at the mention of her. She had passed away when they were five, and her memory had faded into the distance. All they knew about her came from the few things her father told them, though he rarely spoke of her. He had always tried to make up for her absence, but she could see the pain of losing her still lingered in his eyes.
They quickly finished their meal, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Then, they moved to the living room, where they gathered around her father. He was gazing at her mother's picture on the wall, his eyes filling with tears. They didn't fall, but the sorrow in them seemed to deepen with time. His voice was heavy with sadness as he spoke. "As you know, your mother was my cousin. We grew up together, and our bond was always strong. When I found my trans, I knew she was my companion, but she was very late in finding hers. She was always worried, and your features... they remind me of her. Lara, you're so like her—delicate, kind-hearted, with many of the qualities she had."
Tears welled up in her eyes as he spoke of her. A sense of pride filled her, knowing she resembled her in some ways, but the sadness also grew. Living without a mother is an emptiness that never truly fades. They tried to adapt, and her father always did his best to make up for her absence, but the pain of the loss remained, no matter how much time passed.
She focused back on his words, as he continued, "There was a time when your mother lost all hope of finding her mutant. She ran away into the forest, and I followed her. We spent the day there, trying to calm her down, but she wanted to escape from the clan. She couldn't, though, because I was her companion. The clan..." His voice trembled slightly. "After she calmed down, we decided to go back home. But on our way back, she fainted. I was terrified, Lara. I tried to wake her, but she was unconscious. My mutant couldn't feel the strength to communicate with her."
He glanced at her picture again, his throat tight as he whispered, "I took her to the clan's sage. He told me she was fine, but what had happened was that her mutant had been trying to emerge. But she was so frightened, it couldn't."