Midnight Howling Book 1

Chapter 21: Lyra

                                                                              Two weeks later...

 Lyra pushed her four legs faster and faster, the rush of wind against her fur exhilarating. She wove effortlessly between the trees, as if time itself had slowed down.

Suddenly, she burst into a clearing she had never seen before. It stretched endlessly, a tapestry of rolling hills and valleys adorned with vibrant flowers and tall, swaying grass. Her wolf instincts took over, and she tumbled into the grass, rolling onto her back and wriggling side to side, her massive paws playfully kicking in the air.

But then she froze, her gaze locked on her paws. One set was a brilliant white, the other a deep, pitch black. Bewildered, she righted herself and sniffed the air, searching for the scent of water. The cool, fresh aroma soon reached her sensitive nose, and she trotted off in pursuit.

As she drew nearer, the scent grew stronger, clean and invigorating. She rounded the last fur-covered tree and arrived at the edge of a tranquil lake. Lyra stared at her reflection, mesmerized by the sight.

Two bright eyes stared back at her—one blue, one yellow. But the most startling thing was the stark contrast in her fur: black on one side and white on the other. She'd never seen a wolf like this before. Desperately, she squeezed her eyes shut, wishing the image would change. When she reopened them, she was no longer seeing her own reflection.

Instead, she stood between two wolves: one pure white with yellow eyes, the other pitch black with blue eyes. The two wolves studied her briefly before their gaze shifted to each other. A deep, thunderous growl erupted from both, filling the air with a menacing vibration that resonated through her very bones.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched the two wolves recoil, preparing to lunge at one another. The ground beneath their paws shattered as they propelled themselves forward. Lyra stood paralyzed, trapped between them as they charged toward each other. They leapt into the air, their forms closing in on her, and she braced for the impact.

Suddenly, she jolted awake, her heart racing and breath coming in short, frantic bursts. As she looked around her dimly lit room, she gradually realized with a shuddering breath that it had all been a dream.

She placed a hand on her chest, taking slow, calming breaths. Once she felt composed, she got up and headed to the bathroom for a shower before her training session with Alex and Jax.

Jax had become a regular part of her life, just like Alex. Since that night in the cave, she hadn't been alone with Alex again. Jax had shown up with him the very next day for training, and even accompanied them during their nightly patrol punishments.

He was quite the jokester, always flirting with her just enough to irritate Alex. He had even given her a nickname, "Love," declaring with exaggerated flair that she was destined to be his one true love. He had dramatically dropped to his knees, one hand to his forehead, proclaiming it like a scene from a play. All she could do was laugh at him. Alex had shoved him over, but that only made Jax burst into laughter as well.

Lyra turned her attention to the mirror examine her reflection. Her hair had grown longer and was now a more vibrant shade of black. She had gained a few pounds over the past week, thanks to Alex, who made sure there were snacks everywhere they went. Now, she could eat a full meal without it upsetting her stomach.

She gently pulled down the right side of her shirt collar, revealing the claw marks from the attack. The gouges had been deep, leaving ragged valleys of torn flesh. Though they still looked rough and uneven, they were no longer as angry or inflamed as they had been, a sign that time was helping her heal.