Shadow

I reached the cabin, and when I opened the bag, I collapsed to the floor.

Inside was a dead dog, and all my clothes were soaked in dried blood.

It was horrific. I closed the suitcase and set everything on fire.

Going back inside, I found a bag with clothes, some fruit, and fresh meat on the small table.

"But — how?" I whispered.

I searched around the cabin but found no one. I couldn't even pick up a scent.

I never imagined that at fourteen, I'd have to fend for myself. The worst part was always the sleeping. It wasn't fear of being alone or sleeping in the dark — it was the disturbing dreams that haunted my nights.

I dreamed about the day they stoned me. I dreamed about things I'd never lived through, yet they felt real.

I'd wake in the middle of the night sensing a presence in the cabin.

But I saw no one.

"Is someone there?" I called out.

Silence.

No one answered.

Morning came, and an old man arrived at my door. I recognized him — the head of the Council. He told me I had to go back to school.

I didn't want to. I really didn't.

I already knew everything I needed to know. I'd always been the best in every class.

After a month of enduring attacks at school, I decided to stand my ground. I tried talking it out — that didn't work. So I punched Cintia square in the face. They expelled me, and honestly, I was glad.

Did I get beaten for it afterward? I did.

But at least I wouldn't have to see those bastards' faces every single day.

I spent two days in bed waiting for my bones to heal on their own. My healing process is slow.

Once again, I had no idea how I'd gotten home or who had carried me back.

Before leaving school, I'd taken several books from the pack's magical library.

I searched for any case like mine and found nothing — except one passage about a prophecy. It spoke of a daughter born of light and darkness who would bring salvation to the magical nations. Her powers would awaken when her first mating unleashed the supreme powers in both wolves.

Her mate would accept her as she was, and together they would reign over the earth.

I found it bizarre and didn't pay much attention. It had nothing to do with me anyway.

I thought about training magic. Even though I wasn't a witch, I wanted to try — and I succeeded. I trained for days.

In this place, I had no worries, no troubles.

I sensed that presence again — every time it brought food and clothes for me.

But I could never make it reveal itself. After training hard, I sensed the presence one morning, so I cast a magical barrier around the cabin, trapping it inside.

"Show yourself," I demanded.

Silence.

"Come on."

Silence.

In the dark corner of the room, I could make out the silhouette of a man. He didn't speak, but he watched me intently.

"Who are you? Let me see your face."

"I can't materialize for you, little one," Shadow said.

"Why have you been helping me?"

"It's my duty. Since you're talking to me now, let's start your training early."

"I don't understand," I said, trying to step closer.

"Don't come any closer," he warned.

"I stopped where I was. If he'd wanted to hurt me, I was certain he would have done it already."

"I'm going to help you strengthen your body through combat training and magic. Your wolf will only become her true self when your mate accepts you. By then, she'll be strong."

From that day forward, I spent my days fighting and strengthening my body.

Shadow told me I needed to be mentally strong too — or I could die easily if something ever hurt me badly enough.

My trips into town were rare, but every time I went, I came back with some new injury or more hatred in my heart.

I didn't want to hate the people I'd always hoped would love me.

But even the woman I once called "mother" now threw stones at me and blamed me for losing her wolf.

Enzo and his little friends followed me all the way out here and kept coming to intimidate me. I'd thought about blowing their brains out with a fireball, but Shadow said it wasn't time yet.

On my fifteenth birthday, I spent it alone. Not even Shadow appeared.

On these milestone days, we feel our wolves stirring inside us.

I hadn't transformed since the first time.

I didn't even know how to hunt.

I was at the edge of the lake behind the cabin, where I took my baths.

I sensed Daniel's presence.

Before I could react, he was on top of me.

I tried to scream, but his hands were over my mouth. I clamped my legs shut, but he forced them apart. I tried to break free with magic, but I was too panicked to control it.

I tasted the metallic tang of blood — from a punch he'd thrown that split my lip.

He was saying things that didn't make sense. He said I'd been calling out to him. He called me vile names. Just when I thought he was going to succeed in what he was forcing — I felt him hurled away, and he went dark.

Shadow carried me inside and made me sleep.

I woke up the next day, terrified.

But he assured me that monster hadn't managed to violate me.

Out of fear, I only went to the pack in the mornings, when all the young wolves were at school.

Daniel didn't come near me again. But he didn't leave me in peace either. I couldn't get anything I needed in town. I couldn't even buy clothes because he'd paid everyone to refuse to sell to me.

He already acted like he was everyone's Alpha, since his father had never set any limits for him.

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