Page 33 of Wolf Proclaimed

I took a step closer, my gaze never leaving hers, "And what about the dancing?" I asked, teasing, "I've noticed you've been enjoying our little dance sessions at the pack gatherings."

A blush spread across her cheeks, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "Oh, is that so? I thought you were too busy tripping over your own feet to notice," she teased back, her laughter ringing through the meadow.

Her joy was infectious, and I found myself laughing along. For a moment, I let myself believe that things were finally falling into place. The mysterious occurrences seemed to have subsided, and Mira seemed happier than I'd ever seen her. As I watched her twirl among the wildflowers, I allowed myself to hope, to believe that maybe things were working themselves out. The relief I felt was as overwhelming as it was fleeting.

"But then, you're not too bad of a dance partner," she added with a wink, pulling me back from my thoughts.

It was moments like these that I clung to, moments of laughter, of light. They gave me hope. They reminded me of what we were fighting for. And no matter what was happening or what was to come, I knew I would do whatever it took to keep that beautiful smile on Mira’s face.

My upbeat mood was short-lived, though. It was not more than a few days later that I found myself standing outside the bathroom door, my heart hammering in my chest as I heard Mira's voice on the other side. She was alone in there, but the way she was talking, it was as if she was conversing with someone else.

"I remember...I remember now," I heard her mutter. There was a pause and then a soft laugh, "But how can that be?"

I felt a chill run down my spine, my blood turning to ice in my veins. She was alone in there, of that I was sure. And yet, here she was, talking to herself.

I pushed the door open slightly, just enough to peek inside. Mira was in the tub, her bare shoulders visible above the steaming water. Her eyes were wide and unseeing, staring at something that wasn't there.

"Mira?" I called softly, not wanting to startle her. She jumped, her gaze snapping to mine.

"Bastian," she gasped, a hand flying to her chest. "You scared me."

"I didn't mean to," I said, stepping fully into the room. "I just heard you talking and... Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said quickly, too quickly. "I was just...thinking out loud."

"About what?" I asked though I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer. Mira paused, her gaze dropping to the water.

"I...I was remembering something," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Something from...from before."

My heart sank. Was this what I had feared? Had her memories, and with them her magic, returned? And had they brought back her insanity with them? The very thought filled me with a dread I hadn't felt in a long time.

"Mira..." I started, unsure of what to say. How did one approach a topic like this?

"I'm fine, Bastian," she said, cutting me off. "Really, I am."

I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe that everything was okay, that Mira was okay. But the fear in her eyes told me otherwise.

I could hardly stand to leave Mira, but I knew that I couldn't help her alone. I needed Gretel, Luna, and the sisters. Without a word to anyone, not even Theon or Dmitri, I shifted into my wolf form and raced towards the apex of Magic Mountain.

The journey was a blur, my wolf's body moving with a speed and agility that was impossible in my human form. The earth beneath my paws was cool and hard, the wind whipping through my fur as I ran.

As I reached the territory of Petra's pack, I noticed a shift in energy. A kind of quiet unease hung in the air. I moved with caution, my senses heightened.

"Who goes there?" a voice called out. I recognized it immediately—Elder Cyrus, one of Petra's trusted shifters. Surprised, I reverted to my human form and approached him.

"Elder Cyrus," I greeted him, "What are you doing here? Where is Petra?"

His wrinkled face held a look of deep concern, his eyes almost pleading. "She is gone, Bastian. She left the pack in my charge. We have no idea where she went or why. Her sisters and the women are no longer inside our territory."

Petra, gone? The news hit me like a punch in the gut. I felt a wave of frustration, quickly swallowed by a swell of worry. "Did she say anything before leaving?"

Cyrus shook his head, his expression weary. "No, they all left in the middle of the night. We woke up, and they were just... gone."

The mystery was growing, deepening like a wound. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling a mix of anxiety and exasperation. I had expected to find answers up here, not more questions. "Did anything strange happen recently? Any unusual occurrences?" I probed, hoping for some clue that would connect the dots.

Cyrus looked thoughtful, his gaze distant. "There were... incidents," he admitted slowly. "Unexplainable ones. But Petra told us not to worry and said she would handle it. And then, she was gone."

"What kind of… incidents?"

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