Chapter 35

Chapter 35
HARLEY

I clung to every word my mother spoke, soaking up her presence like water in a desert, desperate to hold onto the moments I knew were slipping away too quickly. She looked at me with a tenderness and strength I’d almost forgotten, her hands resting on mine as she explained what seemed impossible.

“Harley,” she began, her voice soft yet steady, “I know this must all feel strange. But you have to understand: Shane is… unique. He’s a protector, bound by powers you’ve only begun to sense.”

“Powers?” I echoed, struggling to wrap my mind around what she was telling me. “What do you mean?”

Her smile was calm, patient. “Shane isn’t just an ordinary person, Harley. He’s something… more. He has abilities that make him different, abilities that make him strong enough to guard you through what lies ahead.”

I took a shaky breath, my mind flashing back to Shane’s cryptic words, the look in his eyes when he’d told me I was his mate. I had dismissed it, convinced he was just… different, maybe a little intense. But a wolf? It sounded absurd, like something out of one of the fantasy books I used to read.

“Are you saying…?” My voice trailed off, the question too wild to finish. But my mother’s eyes were gentle, her gaze unwavering.

“Yes, Harley,” she replied, her tone steady. “Shane is a werewolf, a creature bound by his nature to protect those he loves. And now, he’s bound to protect you.”

A strange mixture of shock and disbelief washed over me, my thoughts tumbling as I tried to process it. I remembered all the strange things about Shane—his strength, the intensity in his eyes, the way he seemed to sense things I couldn’t. It was like a puzzle piece I hadn’t realized was missing had just snapped into place.

“But… that’s impossible.” My voice was barely a whisper. “People… they don’t just turn into wolves. That kind of thing isn’t real.”

My mother’s smile grew, soft and understanding. “I know it sounds impossible, but the world is filled with things beyond our understanding. There are secrets and truths hiding in plain sight, things only revealed to those with eyes open enough to see them. Shane’s nature may seem like a myth, but he is as real as you and me.”

I swallowed hard, my thoughts swirling. If what she was saying was true, then Shane had been telling me the truth all along. He wasn’t just some intense, mysterious guy; he was something out of a story, something powerful. And he had come into my life for a reason.

“So… he’s here to protect me?” I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief. “To keep me safe?”

She nodded, her expression full of both love and sadness. “Yes. I sent him to watch over you, to guard you. There are challenges ahead, Harley, things I can’t shield you from. But Shane has the strength to stand by your side, to be there when you feel like you can’t go on.”

I felt my heart hammering in my chest, questions bubbling up, each one adding to the sense of wonder and fear building inside me. “But why me? Why do I need protection? I’m just… I’m nobody special.”

My mother’s face softened, and she reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, just as she used to when I was a child. “Oh, Harley, you’re so much more than you realize. You’ve always been special, my little star. And there are those who can sense it, even if you don’t yet understand why.”

My throat tightened, a mix of emotions making it hard to speak. “Mom… I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

She squeezed my hand, her gaze filled with warmth and strength. “You are stronger than you know, Harley. And with Shane by your side, you will find that strength when you need it most. Trust him. Stick close to him. He will guide you, protect you, and help you find the courage you have always had inside you.”

The words settled over me, a strange comfort taking root. I felt an inexplicable sense of certainty, of trust. Shane had shown up in my life at exactly the right moment, just when I was feeling the most lost. Maybe this was why. Maybe he really was here to help me, to guard me against dangers I didn’t even know existed.

But just as I began to absorb everything, a shadow of sorrow crossed my mother’s face, and I felt a pang of dread.

“We don’t have much time left, Harley,” she whispered, her eyes filled with a sadness that tore at my heart.

“No… no, Mom, don’t say that.” I tightened my grip on her hands, holding her closer, desperate to keep her with me. “Please, I need you. Don’t go. Not yet.”

She smiled, a bittersweet expression, her thumb brushing over my knuckles as if memorizing every part of me. “I’m always with you, even when you can’t see me. You carry me in your heart, my little star. But now you must be brave.”

“No,” I choked out, my chest tightening. “I’m not ready. I need you here, I need you to help me. I don’t… I don’t know what to do without you.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she leaned forward, her hand resting gently against my cheek. “Harley, you have so much more strength than you realize. You will find your way. And remember… Shane is there for you. He will protect you. Trust him.”

“But it’s not the same!” My voice broke, my heart twisting. “I want you, not just a protector. I want you with me.”

Her face softened, but she shook her head, her expression filled with both love and pain. “This isn’t goodbye, my darling. I am with you always. But now… now you must let go.”

I felt myself clinging tighter, resisting, but she began to fade, her image growing softer, like mist slipping through my fingers.

“Mom, please!” I cried, my voice desperate, trying to hold on, trying to keep her with me. I could feel her warmth slipping away, feel the room dimming around me, my mother’s face becoming just a glimmer in the darkness. “Don’t go!”

But she gave me one last look, a gentle push, and then everything went dark.

My eyes flew open, my heart pounding in my chest, my breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. I was back in the dimly lit room, the old woman’s house around me, the candlelight flickering softly.

I blinked, feeling disoriented, my hands reaching out instinctively, hoping to find her still there. But I was alone, the warmth of her presence fading, leaving me with nothing but the echo of her words and the hollow ache of her absence.

A choked sob escaped me, and I clutched at my chest, my heart heavy. She was gone, just as quickly as she had appeared, and I was left alone once more, the memory of her touch slipping further with each passing second.