Page 37 of Wolf Proclaimed

Petra, the strongest among us, crossed her arms over her chest. "It's not that simple, Mira. You know that."

"Does it have to be so difficult?" Jezebel, the youngest, chimed in, her gaze darting between Petra and me. "Can't we try to be a family again?"

"I wish it were that easy," I murmured, a wave of longing filled me. In my heart, I knew there was a way. It was risky, untested, but if it worked...

I drew in a deep breath, letting the magic within me simmer to the surface. "Maybe there is a way, I have to try again,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Petra frowned. "What are you—"

Before she could finish her sentence, I started the chant. My voice echoed over the river and against the mountains, my words carried by the wind. A wave of magic swept over us, warm and pulsating with life.

Suddenly, our past was rewritten. Memories of happy childhoods replaced bitter feuds and rivalries. The painful memory of our father's passing was now a peaceful event that brought us closer together. I felt my memories shift, the harsh reality replaced by the charming illusion I had created.

As the last waves of my incantation faded, I opened my eyes. Petra and Jezebel were staring at me, but their eyes were soft now, filled with warmth and confusion.

"What...what did you do?" Petra asked, her voice trembling.

I swallowed, holding their gaze. "I gave us a second chance. A chance to be the family we were meant to be."

Jezebel looked between Petra and me, her lips curving into a small smile. "It feels...right," she murmured. "Like the way it was always meant to be."

I nodded, my heart pounding with excitement. Only time would tell if my gamble would pay off. But for now, we were a family again, which was worth everything.

As the magic settled, an air of tranquillity wrapped around us, starkly contrasting the stormy disquiet that had reigned moments before. Petra and Jezebel glanced at each other, a faint smile on their lips. They looked at me, their expressions softer, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw sisterly love in their eyes, not animosity or mistrust.

The memories of us as children, our father's warm laughter ringing in our ears, and the feeling of safety and love, when we sat on his lap filled our minds. I remembered our silly games, the competitions to see who could transform faster, and shared secrets and dreams.

"Remember how we used to play hide and seek in the woods?" Jezebel asked, her eyes glimmering with happiness. "And Father would always pretend he couldn't find us?"

Petra chuckled a soft sound that danced in the wind. "And then you two would always cheat and sniff me out."

As we reveled in the warmth of those memories, Luna and Gretel approached, their faces painted with shock and confusion. Luna, always so protective, rushed to us, her eyes scanning each face. "What happened?" she asked, her gaze settling on me.

I met her gaze, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I changed our past, Luna. I made it... better," I said, hoping they'd understand.

For a moment, Luna looked stunned. But then, she relaxed, her face softening into a gentle smile. "It feels like the old days, doesn't it?" she murmured, wrapping an arm around me.

We stood there on the outcropping above the roaring river, basking in the glow of our newfound camaraderie. Our laughter echoed through the mountains, a beacon of hope in these troubled times. It was a fleeting moment, stolen from a past that never existed. But for now, it was ours to cherish.

Bastian

I stood at a vantage point a short distance from the women, observing Mira working her witchcraft. The change was undeniable. I was heartened when Mira, Petra, and Jezebel seemed happy. My gaze traced their faces, softened with laughter and camaraderie, so different from the tension and suspicion I'd witnessed only moments before. The raw, visceral memory of their past conflicts, the painful stinging reminders of a broken family, seemed to be wiped clean.

As their laughter reached me, carried by the wind, it was almost impossible not to be caught up in their joy. Their happiness was infectious, like the sun breaking through storm clouds, a tangible change in the atmosphere.

I watched as Luna and Gretel joined the group. The puzzlement on their faces was quickly replaced by relief, a mirrored reflection of my feelings. I found myself smiling, a rare, genuine smile I hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity.

From my vantage point above the roaring river, I watched them all, their happiness etched on their faces, and couldn't help but think, this is what peace looks like. For the moment, at least, everyone had their happy ending. It was a vision I'd longed to see, a dream I'd yearned to realize. And for now, that dream was a reality. Or was it?

Walking along the narrow, twisting path that led up to the ledge, I could feel a change in the atmosphere. The laughter and joyful chatter gradually subsided as I approached the group. My gaze met Gretel's, and I could see something there, a flicker of worry in her eyes that felt out of place in their joyous surroundings. Intrigued and slightly concerned, I signaled for her to step aside.

"Gretel," I started, my voice barely above a whisper, "What's wrong? This is what we wanted. Peace, unity... happiness?"

She sighed, her gaze distant. "Bastian," she murmured, her tone grave, "You know magic as well as I do, and you should know it's never so simple. Mira's spell... it's sweeping and all-encompassing. It's too much."

I frowned, a knot of apprehension forming in my gut. "What are you saying?"

Her gaze turned back to me, serious and a little sad. "I'm saying that a spell this strong, this pervasive, always has cracks, Bastian," she warned, her voice barely audible against the sound of the river below. "And those cracks... they're going to splinter. I don't know when, I don't know how, but at some point in the future, those true, painful memories will seep through."

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