Half-Blooded | The Dark Child Prophecy Series [✔️]

Chapter 38: Haunt Me

A month and a half later, the full moon rose again. I had finally been able to sneak away to go back to my old routine. It felt foreign to me now, carefully escaping the coven house and the watchful eyes of my family. If my father had figured out I had broken his rule, there would be another hollering match the moment I stepped in the door. I had healed and was slowly gaining my old strength back. But I didn't feel the same.

I felt different: harder, removed, and I was angry.

I stamped through the brush and onto one of the old running trails. It was cold still, but the snow had melted and little touches of green began to show within the brown and gold palette that colored the woods. Spring wasn't too far off. I ducked a low-hanging branch and continued my trek.

I found my way to the clearing a couple miles from the coven house. I paused when I broke through the trees and into the tall grass. A sudden rush of emotions washed over me in a choking wave. My eyes misted over and I blinked rapidly to ward off the tears as memories of those nights played across my mind in flashes of scenes fit for a horror film.

I hadn't set foot in my old stomping grounds since the night they took me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and pushed forward. I had yet to go back on assignments for Aunt Eris and I was getting restless. Sitting at my favorite window in the library wasn't enough; all I had was the anxiety, the frustration, and the depression that had begun to eat me alive. To counteract those emotions, I had forced myself to hike out into the woods to face my fear and find myself in my fur again.

I waited for several minutes before I stepped out into the open ground. I made my way to the same spot I had always discarded my clothes and stood in the silence. I looked up at the clear night sky. The full moon was still hidden beneath the tree line and would be high enough soon to take in. My knees weakened and I forced myself to crouch down within the tall grass. I breathed in the smell of the forest and the coming spring foliage, hoping its normalcy would calm my nerves. I closed my eyes and inhaled again slowly through my nose.

My eyes flashed open as his scent filled me: musk, rainwater, soil, and oak.

I looked around quickly, excitement and resentment filling my chest. I stood just in time to see the black wolf standing on the opposite side of the clearing. My hands gripped tightly into fists. The feeling of his influence over our old connection slid through me, overwhelmingly strong. I shook my head. I couldn't do this.

The black wolf moved towards me hurriedly, his ears forward and his tail wagging hesitantly.

"No," I said loudly, walking backward. When he advanced a few more steps, I raised my hand up in signal to keep his distance. "No!"

Before he could take another step forward, I turned around and hurriedly walked away. I couldn't handle him. Not tonight, not with my body already in knots in anticipation of changing again.

"Seren, wait," Jason's voice came from behind me. "Serenity," he called again when I didn't answer.

"What?" I asked. I finally turned to look at him, naked and smelling of his change, as he came to a halt just beside me, careful not to get too close. His brow furrowed at my tone and I realized I had sounded more callous than I intended. I looked down at my feet for a moment and pushed my fists as close to my body as possible so he couldn't take my hand.

"Please," he said softly. "Don't run away."

"I can't do this with you," I said, shaking my head. "Not after what your mother did."

"Seren, she's gone, it's not going to happen again," he pressed, reaching for me. I backed away quickly so he wouldn't touch me. "I'm so sorry, Serenity. Please."