Chapter 10
Kaelen pulled Sylvia into his arms, his chin resting on top of her head. His embrace was so warm, laced with the scent of cedar and rust.
It brought her back to that rainy night half a year ago: the black wolf's scorching breath, its rough tongue, and the heat that faded with the morning light.
Kaelen's voice rumbled above her. "So, don't say you're not worthy. Actually, you're more worthy than anyone else."
Sylvia nodded against his chest, her tears soaking through his sweater.
*****
Days slipped by in the Forbidden Sanctuary.
Kaelen spent most of his days poring over ancient books, searching for a way to awaken Sylvia's wolf form.
Sylvia lay on the stone bed, letting her wounds heal. Occasionally, she'd get up to stretch and keep her muscles from getting stiff.
One day, Kaelen closed an ancient book and frowned.
"What's up?" Sylvia asked.
"I found it," Kaelen said, his voice grave. "There's a legend about awakening the wolf in the wolfless."
He walked over and sat down beside her, laying the ancient book open in front of her. The pages were yellowed, and the writing faded, but the words were still legible.
It read: [In the 3721st year of the Crescent Pack, there was a low-born girl. She was eighteen years old and had no wolf form.
[When the pack was attacked and faced destruction, she suddenly transformed into a giant silver wolf with a crescent moon on her forehead.
[Her touch could heal serious wounds. She came to be known in legend as the Lunar Healer.
[Once every hundred years, a Lunar Healer could be born. She wasn't wolfless, but a Lunar Wolf.
[The Moon Goddess sealed her wolf form to keep her safe. Only in the hour of dire peril would the seal be broken, and the pack could be saved.]
Sylvia's eyes went wide. "Lunar Wolf? Me? H-How could I be that?"
"You're definitely not wolfless," Kaelen said, his gaze searching her face. "The Moon Goddess sealed your wolf form to protect you. The seal will only break when the pack is in danger.
"But the book doesn't say how to break the seal." Kaelen frowned. "It only says that 'extreme emotion' or a 'life-or-death crisis' could break it."
Sylvia whispered, "Wh-What if I can never break the seal?"
Kaelen closed the ancient book and pulled her into his arms. "Then we'll keep searching. I told you, whether it takes a year, ten years, or my whole life, I'll wait for you."
His chin rested on top of her head, his voice low and unwavering. "But Sylvia, you have to believe in yourself. You're not worthless. You never were."
Sylvia closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his embrace.
She glanced down at her hands. For eighteen years, all she'd done was cleaning pillars, washing dishes, and being pushed around by others.
She remembered every humiliation: Vivian dumping dirty water on her, Rhett shaming her in front of everyone, the nobles beating and cursing her, and everyone calling her a wolfless loser.
She never fought back because she believed she was worthless.
She'd never thought that perhaps there was a Lunar Wolf hidden inside her.
But she wasn't sure whether she was different.
She wondered whether her wolf form was merely sealed away, whether she was destined to be someone extraordinary, and whether she was worth remembering.
"I'll try," Sylvia whispered. "I'll give it my all. Thank you, Kaelen."
Kaelen's arms tightened around her, as if he wanted to fuse her into his very being.
"Sweetheart," he said with a teasing smile in his voice, "so you finally called my name?"
Sylvia's cheeks flushed. Her words just now had sounded all soft and clingy. "I-I didn't mean it like that."
Kaelen chuckled. "I'd love it more if you called me darling someday."
Sylvia buried her face in his chest, not wanting him to see how her ears were burning red.
*****
Trouble struck on the seventh day.
Sylvia was dozing on the stone bed when she suddenly felt the ground shake. She jolted awake. Her gaze shot to the ceiling, where the moonstones were flashing wildly, like some alarm.
Kaelen stepped out of the shadows, his face grim. "Something's wrong."
"What's wrong?" Sylvia asked.
"The last of the vampires are attacking our territory." Kaelen moved quickly toward the door and looked back at her. "Stay here. Don't go outside. The Forbidden Sanctuary is shielded. They can't get in."
"But—" Sylvia stammered.
"No buts," Kaelen cut her off, cupping the back of her head and pressing a scorching, fleeting kiss to her forehead. "Wait for me."
He turned and walked away, his black coat vanishing behind the stone door.
Sylvia sat on the stone bed, her fingers gripping the covers.
The tremors grew stronger, and from far off came wolf howls, explosions, and agonized screams.
She remembered the words from the ancient book: [Only in the hour of dire peril would the seal be broken, and the pack could be saved.]
Sylvia wondered whether this was the peril the legend spoke of.
She looked down at her hands, straining to feel any trace of an inner wolf. But there was nothing but her racing heartbeat, fear, and endless despair.
"It's the Healer!" Suddenly, shouts echoed from outside.
Sylvia's ears caught every word.
The voice was frantic, a mix of hope and despair. "Luna is the Healer. Please bring her out. There are so many wounded. They can't wait anymore."