Chapter 29 The Wolf's Return

Chapter 29 The Wolf's Return
Aethon emerged from the room, his face a mask of indifference, a red stone clutched in his hand. The shadows cast by the hut's entrance grew longer and darker as his eyes drifted to the sky, where the full moon was slowly rising. 

"We must begin the ritual now, before the moon reaches its peak," he said, his voice low. "The process of reuniting your wolf with your spirit is a delicate one, and the full moon's energy is essential to its success…" 

His gaze turned to Dixon, his expression calm. "The ritual requires a sacrifice, but I've already seen to it. You have nothing to worry about, Dixon." He offered no further explanation, leaving the nature of the sacrifice shrouded in mystery, as he gestured for Izzy to follow him.

Dixon's fingers intertwined with Izzy’s, his grip like a lifeline as he stood beside her. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was it, that this was the last moment they’d share before everything changed.

Aethon had finally cracked the seal that had held Izzy’s wolf captive, after countless attempts had left him drained. He claimed that the wolf was now standing behind Izzy, a presence only visible to his eyes. 

“Izzy, I…” Dixon started, his voice barely above a whisper. He trailed off, unsure of what to say

Izzy’s hand trembled in his, her eyes locking onto his with a mix of fear and determination. “I’ll be okay…” She whispered back, her voice soft.

“Come with me, please…” Aethon said. 

He led Izzy to the mat at the entrance of the hut, gesturing for her to sit. She settled onto the woven fibres, her back straight, her eyes fixed on some point ahead. Aethon sat behind her, his legs crossed, his eyes closing as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Are you ready?" He asked, his voice low and soothing.

Izzy's lips tightened, her jaw set in determination. She nodded, a small, sharp movement.

Dixon walked to the table, his eyes never leaving Izzy's face. He sat down, his body tense, his heart racing with anticipation. He watched as Aethon's eyes remained closed, his hands steady on Izzy's shoulders, while her eyes stayed wide open, fixed on some unknown point.

Aethon's gaze didn't open, but his voice whispered, “The seal’s broken. Your wolf’s free.”

Izzy took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with a shaky movement. 

Dixon's eyes remained fixed on her, his hands clenched into fists on the table.

Aethon's expression was grim, his voice low. "Dixon, I need you to stay back. Don't touch her, no matter what happens."

Dixon sprang to his feet, his eyes locked onto Izzy's face. "What's going to happen?" He asked, his voice laced with worry.

Aethon's eyes finally opened, his gaze meeting Dixon's. "It'll hurt. She's going to feel things she's never felt before. But it's necessary. Trust me…" He warned, his tone turned threatening as he added, "What you should worry about is Izzy's wellbeing. If you interfere, you'll only put her in greater danger. I'm doing this for her own good, so please, stay out of it."

Dixon slowly nodded, his eyes still locked onto Izzy's face, and sat back down, saying "Okay" in a low, resigned tone. He wrapped his arms around himself, as if trying to hold onto his own composure, and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside him. 

He summoned his courage, thinking that if Aethon's warning was meant to keep Izzy safe, then he'd heed it, no matter how hard it was to stay away. His mind raced with worst-case scenarios. he fixed his gaze on Izzy, silently willing her to be strong, to make it through whatever lay ahead.

Izzy shifted in her seat, settling into a cross-legged position, her back straightening as she prepared herself for what was to come. She took a short, yet deep breath, feeling her lungs expand, and closed her eyes, letting her body relax into the calm, centred state she sought.

‘Keep cool, Izzy,’ she told herself, her inner voice steady and reassuring. ‘This is just another hurdle, another test of strength. You've survived the worst, and this won't be anything compared to the pain and fear you've already faced. It'll pass, it'll be over soon. Just breathe, just let go…’

As she exhaled, her shoulders dropped, releasing the tension that had gripped them, and her mind quieted, focusing on the present moment and the promise of rebirth that lay ahead.

Aethon's hand slipped away from Izzy's shoulder, leaving a faint warmth in its absence. He reached for the black stone, his fingers closing around it like a vise, and raised it to his lips. 

With a deliberate motion, he placed the stone in his mouth, the sound of his teeth clicking against it barely audible.

As the stone's dark energy mingled with his own, his eyes fluttered shut, and his hand returned to Izzy’s shoulder, his grip firm and steady once more. 

His chest rose and fell with a slow, measured breath, and his face relaxed into a mask of concentration, his features set like stone as he prepared to channel the ancient power that would restore Izzy's wolf.

"Espíritu de la luna, escucha mi voz, Llama al lobo de Izzy, haz que regrese a su voz. Con el poder de la piedra, te llamo a volver, Lobo de Izzy, regresa a su cuerpo, haz que se sienta completa otra vez.”

Aethon began to chant, the words spilling from his lips like a dark incantation. The air grew dense, and Izzy’s body arched, her eyes squeezing shut. 

“Hummn…” A low moan escaped her lips, the sound sending a shiver down Dixon’s spine.

Dixon remained frozen, his eyes locked onto Izzy’s contorted face, his heart breaking with every passing moment.

Aethon's voice grew louder, more insistent, as he continued the spell. “Luna llena, presta tu poder, devuelve el lobo a su hogar…”

Izzy’s eyes remained closed, but her face contorted in pain, her brow furrowing as she bit back a cry. Her body began to tremble, her muscles tensed.

Dixon shifted in his seat, his body taut with tension, as if he was about to spring into action at any moment. He couldn’t take it anymore. The sight of her pain was unbearable. He felt it in his mind, a sympathetic ache that made him wince.

He sprang to his feet, his mind torn in two. Part of him yearned to run to Izzy’s side, to hold her hand, to ease her pain. But Aethon’s warning echoed in his head, a cold, clear voice that rooted his feet to the spot. 

“If you interfere, you’ll only put her in greater danger…”

Dixon froze, his body quivering with the effort to stay still. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. He couldn’t move, couldn't breathe, could only watch as Izzy’s pain grew, her body shaking with the force of it.

This should have ended already!