Page 27 of Wolf Proclaimed

Throughout the meal, Bastian remained observant, his gaze often flitting over to me, his concern palpable. He sat like a silent guardian, his protective instincts never wavering, even amidst the warmth and camaraderie of my reunion.

The laughter, the stories, and the shared meal felt like a beautiful, bewildering dream. A part of me longed to remember these sisters of mine, to be a part of the bond they shared. But another part that saw Bastian's silent vigil knew that our journey was far from over. It was merely the calm before the storm.

The hours passed in a whirl of food and conversation. Amid a particularly animated discussion, one of the shifters, his cheeks flushed with laughter and drink, let slip a seemingly innocent comment.

"And to think, the last time you were here, you had to escape with Bastian from the top of the mountain!"

The room fell into an abrupt silence. My heart seemed to stop in my chest, the words hanging in the air like an unspoken accusation. Escape? I turned to look at Bastian. His face had turned pale, the blood draining from it at the unfortunate revelation.

His eyes met mine, the usual warmth replaced with a spark of apprehension. It was the look of someone who had just been caught, a deer in the headlights.

Escape. The word bounced off the corners of my mind, its implications terrifying. It was like the last piece of a complicated puzzle had just slipped into place, and the picture it formed was anything but comforting. The narrative, the memories I was trying so hard to build, seemed to crumble, replaced by a horrifying new perspective.

My gaze swept over the room, finding the faces of my sisters. Their expressions mirrored my own, a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Had Bastian and I escaped from here before? Why would we have needed to escape in the first place? What had happened on this mountain that they didn't want me to remember?

A sickening wave of anxiety gripped me. The tent, the warmth, the reunion—it all seemed suddenly terrifying. I felt like a puppet in a game I didn't understand, my strings being pulled by forces beyond my comprehension.

As the reality of the situation sank, a hollow pit opened in my stomach. I was back at square one, terrified and more confused than ever.

The silence was shattered by my chair scraping the floor as I stood up abruptly. The last thing I remember before I began to shift, was the look of fear in Bastian's eyes. The terror mirrored my own, and for the first time since I lost my memory, I didn't know who to trust—including Bastian.

Chapter Thirteen

The Alpha’s Legacy

Mira

The specter of unspoken secrets permeated the room, tying knots in my stomach. Fear—the fear in Bastian's eyes, the fear rising in my throat—crowded my senses, casting long shadows over the faces I had started to trust, and I began to consider family.

Suddenly, I felt like an outsider, peering into a world where everyone was privy to a narrative I was cruelly locked out of. My sisters, Bastian, my mother, another woman they called Luna, and even the shifters who had greeted me warmly held pieces of my past, my identity. And yet, I was left in the dark, blind and stumbling.

The frustration within me bubbled to the surface as I found my voice. "Why?" I demanded, my gaze darting between Bastian and Petra. "Why am I the last to know about my past? Why does everyone else get to remember while I'm left in the shadows?"

There was no immediate answer, just a tense silence that seemed to tighten around me. Their silence was as good as a confession, an admission of their secrets. It was too much. The feelings of betrayal and confusion surged within me, metamorphosing into a primal energy.

Everyone in the room watched, stunned into silence as my human form faded away. I felt my bones shift, my senses heighten, and within moments, I was no longer Mira, the woman, but Mira, the wolf. A tangible hush fell over them, their expressions etched with surprise, guilt, and a flicker of fear.

I didn't wait for their reactions, for their hushed whispers, for their apologies, or their excuses. In a swift turn, I tore through the tent's entrance, bolting into the welcoming arms of the forest. The feel of the moist earth beneath my paws and the whispering wind against my fur provided a strange sense of solace.

I ran, allowing the wilderness to swallow my frustrations, confusion, and fear. Here, amidst the rustling leaves and the moon's soft glow, I found a bittersweet taste of freedom—the freedom to escape from the intricate web of secrets and lies that had begun to suffocate me. The trees didn't whisper half-truths or hide behind masks. It simply was. And for the moment, that was all I needed.

The midnight forest was a blur around me as I ran, my paws pounding rhythmically against the cool, damp earth. My heart echoed the beat, thudding loudly in my chest, resonating with my wild, raw energy. Each stride took me further into the dense wilderness, deeper into the heart of the ancient trees that held countless untold stories in their gnarled roots and towering canopies.

As I made my way through the forest, I couldn't help but notice how every sound seemed to be amplified—from the rustling of leaves to the hoots and whistles of the nocturnal creatures. This created a unique rhythm that accompanied my quick movements. While the symphony of sounds wasn't scary or threatening, it served as a beautiful reminder of how the wilderness on Magic Mountain with it’s natural power surrounded me.

It was as if the forest shared a heartbeat with me, guiding my path into its depths and leading me where I needed to go. I didn't question it; I surrendered, letting the forest envelop and guide me.

Then, in an almost uncanny act of intuition, my sprint slowed to a trot and, finally, a halt. I stood there, catching my breath, my gaze settling on a hidden cave shrouded by an overhang of wild ivy—a sense of familiarity pricked at the edges of my consciousness, making my heart flutter uneasily.

Under the gaze of the silver moon, I stepped forward cautiously, approaching the entrance to the cavern. The cave yawned open before me, inviting yet mysterious. The air around me thrummed with unseen energy that whispered to my instincts. It was a call too powerful to ignore.

With a final glance at the night sky, I ventured into the cavern, my eyes instantly adjusting to the dim light within. I was no longer just a wolf lost in the forest; I was a seeker, a traveler stepping into the realm of her forgotten past.

Transforming back into my human form, I cautiously crossed the threshold of the cave. The scent of earth and moss filled my nostrils, intertwined with a myriad of other intriguing aromas. "Feels like another world," I whispered to myself, amazed as I lit the lanterns hanging on the walls.

The cave, it appeared, wasn't just a hollow burrow but an intentionally crafted dwelling. I could see rustic furniture and shelving units carved into the walls of the cave. "It's like... a cabin," I mused aloud, the echo of my voice reverberating gently against the cold stone walls.

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