Emelia hesitated, longer than a second before flipping it open. Then, from memory, she dialed a number. The line rang a bit longer than it should. Testing her patience. On the third ring, someone finally picked up.
For a moment, silence filled the space between them. Emelia didn't speak immediately. Slightly, her fingers tightened around the phone. Her gaze drifting toward the dark kitchen window as if expecting someone to be standing there.
"You wouldn't be calling unless something went wrong." Finally, the voice on the other end broke the quiet. It was a man's. His voice low, and calm.
Emelia's jaw tightened. "She's awakened." She managed to say the words that felt heavy on her tongue. But there was a long pause.
Then, the man exhaled slowly on the other end of the line. "I was hoping we still had more time."
"So was I," Emelia replied. For twenty years she had built a life around one goal. That was, keeping Evelyn hidden and safe.
But that fragile illusion was now starting to crack. "They've already sensed it," Emelia continued. "One of them was outside the house." Her voice felt heavy with panic.
"You're sure?" The question came slightly sharper.
"I saw him." She turned her gaze toward the window again. Partially expecting that shadowed figure to still be lingering somewhere across the street. " But he didn't approach," she added. "Just watched."
There was silence, obvious the man on the other end seemed to be thinking. "That means the others will know soon."
Emelia briefly closed her eyes. "I know."
"And Evelyn?" he asked.
"She doesn't understand what's happening yet," Emelia replied. "But she's starting to ask questions."
"Then you need to tell her the truth."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it. "The truth?" she repeated. "You mean the part where she finds out her entire life has been a lie? Or the part where she learns that half the supernatural world will want her dead the moment they realize what she is?"
"She deserves to know."
"She deserves a normal life," Emelia snapped softly. Her voice dropped again after a moment. "But that option disappeared tonight."
Upstairs, faint footsteps echoed across the ceiling as Evelyn moved around her room. Emelia's shoulders stiffened.
"She's stronger than you think," the man said on the phone.
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of." There was a brief silence. Then the man spoke again, his voice more serious now. "Has she shifted yet?"
"No, not that I have seen. But she's close." Even without saying, Emelia could feel it.
That subtle vibration in the air, that only those with experience could recognize. It was like the quiet pressure before a storm broke. The awakening had begun somehow. And once it started, it couldn't be stopped.
"Then you don't have much time," the man warned. "When the first shift happens, every Alpha within range will feel it."
Emelia's fingers tightened around the phone.
"And if Lyall hears about this…" The sentence trailed off.
She didn't need to finish it. Both of them knew what that meant. But what they didn't know, was that it had already happened.
The man spoke again on other end of the phone. "I'll come tomorrow."
"No," Emelia was quick to reply. "He's already watching the house. If you show up now it'll confirm everything."
"Then what do you want me to do?"
Emelia looked up toward the ceiling. Toward Evelyn's room. And Her voice slightly softened. "I'll handle it."
" But you can't protect her forever."
"I don't need forever," Emelia replied. "Just long enough for her to learn how to protect herself."
The man sighed. "Emelia… when her wolf wakes up, things will change."
"I know."
"And when she learns she's the Lunar Shadow—" Emelia ended the call before he could even land.
The kitchen fell silent again. For a long moment she stood there, staring at the blank screen of the old phone. Then, slowly closed it.
Upstairs, water suddenly started running. Evelyn had turned on the shower. Emelia placed the phone back into the drawer and carefully closed it. Her reflection stared back at her from the kitchen window. She looked tired but determined.
"She's not ready," she whispered to herself.
*****
Sleep came slowly. Even after the hot shower, Evelyn's body still felt restless. As if something beneath her skin refused to settle. She had tried reading through her notes for the upcoming exams, but the words had blurred together after the first page.
And her mind still spinning with the weight of the conversation with her mother. Emelia's words echoed in her head: "You are not allowed to use that power."
But eventually exhaustion won. The lights were off as usual. And her room lay quiet. Evelyn drifted into sleep. Just like that, darkness was the only things present. Then came the sudden wind.
The cold air brushed against her skin, as if she were standing somewhere open. Somewhere so vast. The pine and damp scent that came with it filled her lungs.
Evelyn frowned. 'Where am I?' She looked down her feet. They were bare against soft grass.
Stretched endlessly around her was the forest. Its tall trees rose toward the sky like silent guardians. With their branches swaying gently under a pale silver light.
Her gaze slowly lifted to the massive full moon which hung above the forest. It was far larger than any moon she had ever seen. Its glow was what had left the entire clearing in a pale silver light.
The air somehow, felt alive. The entire experience stirred a strange warmth in her chest. It was then, that she heard it.
A low growling sound. Soft but deep.
Evelyn froze.
At that moment, the sound came again. But this time, from somewhere behind her. Her pulse quickened as she slowly turned. At the edge of the clearing stood a wolf. It wasn't just any wolf. It was enormous.
Its fur was pure white, glowing faintly beneath the moonlight like freshly fallen snow. A silver light shimmered across its coat as it moved. The wolf's piercing and electric blue eyes locked onto hers. Evelyn's breath caught. Something about those eyes felt familiar.
Slowly, the wolf stepped forward. A step at a time. Yet, Evelyn didn't feel any fear. The closer the creature came, the stronger that warmth in her chest strangely grew. Like some for of recognition. Just like coming home.
"Who… are you?" Evelyn whispered.
The wolf stopped a few feet away. For a moment, it simply stared at her. Then slightly tilted its head. Evelyn swallowed.
The moonlight seemed brighter now. The forest quieter than before. It was like the entire world was holding its breath.
On an impulse, the wolf howled. The sound ripped through the clearing like thunder. A powerful, haunting cry that echoed through the trees and into the sky. Just as the howl ended, something inside Evelyn snapped awake.
Pain shot through her body. Her knees buckled. And she gasped as heat surged through her veins like wildfire. Her heart slammed violently against her ribs. And her vision blurred.
Suddenly, the wolf stood right in front of her. Close enough that she could see every strand of glowing white fur. Its blue eyes burning into hers. Impossibly…
The wolf spoke. Not with words, but directly inside her mind.
"You cannot run from what you are."
Evelyn's eyes widened. "What… what are you?"
The wolf's gaze softened. "You."
The ground beneath her suddenly cracked like glass. And the forest dissolved into swirling shadows. The moon shattered.
Evelyn screamed, shot upright in bed as she stirred awake. Her breath came in sharp gasps. As her heart raced wildly like she had just run miles. The room was still dark as the
Morning sunlight was only beginning to creep through the curtains.
Intuitively, she pressed a hand against her chest, trying to steady her breathing. "That… that was just a dream," she whispered.
But even with that, the memory of those glowing blue eyes lingered vividly in her mind. Like it was all happening all over again. Deep down, something stirred.