Silas' mate

Chapter 22: Finding Silas

Hazel burst from the dank confines of the cell, a surge of cool night air washing over her transformed body. The raw energy of the shift thrummed through her veins, propelling her forward with a speed and agility she'd never known.

Following the whispers of instinct, she navigated the dark corridors with an ease born of her heightened senses. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, painted a clear picture of the world around her.

Finally, she emerged from the trees, bursting into a familiar clearing bathed in the silvery glow of the moon. It was the clearing where she'd first met Silas, the place where her life had irrevocably changed.

But a pang of fresh agony pierced her joy. The clearing was empty, devoid of any sign of Silas or the pack. A whimper of despair rose in her throat, but she quickly quelled it. She had to find them.

Suddenly, a rustle in the undergrowth sent a jolt through her. Her fur bristled, ears swiveling to pinpoint the source of the sound. A lone wolf emerged from the brush, stepping into the moonlit clearing.

Hazel's breath hitched in her throat. It was Silas, his magnificent form shrouded in sadness. His amber eyes, usually filled with warmth and determination, now held a chilling emptiness. His head hung low, his gait heavy with despair.

A primal urge to comfort him, to ease his pain, washed over Hazel. But before she could take a step towards him, another wave of transformation surged through her. The raw energy that had fueled her escape intensified, pulling her back towards her human form.

She stumbled, whimpering as the fur receded, her bones rearranging themselves with a series of satisfying pops. Silas' head snapped up, his eyes widening in shock as he saw her, vulnerable and half-naked, in the clearing.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The only sounds were the rasp of her ragged breaths and the frantic pounding of her heart. Then, a flicker of recognition ignited in Silas' eyes, followed by a surge of relief so profound it almost knocked him off his paws.

"Hazel?" he barked, his voice thick with disbelief and joy. "Is it really you?"