CHAPTER 41

Maya's POV

The forest floor was illuminated by changing light patterns as the early morning sun passed through the thick tree canopy. As Evelyn and I stood in the clearing, the air smelled of damp dirt and wildflowers. I grudgingly agreed to her insistence that we begin immediately, but my heart wasn’t in it.

Every action and every idea was difficult. Darius consumed me like a hurricane in my mind. I detested how much I missed him and the pain his absence caused. But I needed to concentrate for everyone who depends on me, if not for myself.

Evelyn moved forward, her piercing eyes piercing my distracted state. “Maya, you must stop allowing your feelings to rule you. You need focus and clarity to get back in touch with your wolf.”

“I’m trying,” I snapped, sounding harsher than I meant to. “Do you think I don’t want this? That I don’t want to feel whole again?”

Evelyn, unaffected by my fury, crossed her arms.“What I think is that you’re letting him cloud your mind.”

I winced. She was right, but hearing it out loud made the sting sharper.

It’s not that simple.” I muttered, my voice breaking under the weight of my confession. “He isn’t just anybody. To me, Evelyn, he is everything. And he’s gone now.”

Evelyn’s tone stayed hard, but her face softened. “Maya, he’s not gone. He’s merely giving you some room. Perhaps that’s precisely what you need to discover your strength.”

I averted my eyes and blinked away the tears that tried to spill. “How am I supposed to do this without him? He’s the only one who’s ever made me feel safe.”

“And you think safety will awaken your wolf?” Evelyn’s remarks were a harsh reminder of reality. “Maya, even if you’ve been safe, it’s never been enough. You must confront your pain, uncertainty, and anxiety. That’s where your strength lies.”

What she said deeply affected me, and I didn’t want to accept it. I wiped my face and nodded slowly. “Okay. What do I have to do?”

A tiny, reassuring smile curved Evelyn’s lips. ““We start with control. Your emotions are the key. Too much of anything—fear, anger, longing—and you’ll lose yourself. But balance… that’s where the power is.”

She took a step back and motioned for me to follow. “Close your eyes.”

I hesitated, but her unwavering gaze pushed me forward. I closed my eyes, letting the sounds of the forest surround me.

“Breathe,” Evelyn instructed, her voice steady and calm. “In through your nose, out through your mouth. Allow everything else to fade away.

I tried, focusing on the rhythm of my breath. But Darius’s face kept slipping into my thoughts—his piercing eyes, his touch, his voice.

You’re holding on to something.” Evelyn broke the stillness. “Let it go.”

“I can’t,” I said in a tremulous tone. “He is... everything.”

She put a soft hand on my shoulder. “And you think he’d want you to fail because of him?”

I wasn’t prepared for how hard that hit. My fists clenched, pushing the thought of Darius to the back of my mind. This wasn’t about him. Not now. This is about me.

I inhaled deeply once again as the tightness in my chest began to subside. I sensed something wild and untamed, stirring for the first time in an eternity.

“Good,” Evelyn said softly. “You’re starting to feel it, aren’t you?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

The gentle patter of shoes broke the silence. The puppy I had rescued during the fight, stood at the edge of the clearing when I opened my eyes.

He paused, his diminutive figure hardly perceptible against the tall trees. “I... I didn’t mean to interrupt.” His voice was nervous as he said.

“It’s alright,” I murmured, lowering myself to his level. “What’s the matter?”

He stepped forward, holding a little, beaten toy wolf. “I simply... I wanted to express my gratitude for saving me.”

His words caused my heart to tighten. His big, trusting eyes reminded me of all the goodness worth fighting for and the innocence still in the world.

“You don’t need to thank me,” I said quietly. “I’m just relieved that you’re safe.”

He shifted uneasily and nodded. He said, “My name is Caleb.”

I grinned. “Caleb, it’s good to meet you. My name is Maya.

He blurted, “I know,” and immediately reddened. Everyone talks about you, after all. They say you’re… special.”

“Special?” Trying not to giggle at his sincere look, I arched an eyebrow.

He gave a sincere nod. “Yeah. Like, really strong. And brave. My mom always said people like you are chosen by the Moon Goddess.”

Evelyn chuckled and took a step forward. “Smart kid.” Gazing at Caleb, she whispered, Her eyes were warm.

“Chosen or not,” I said, trying to keep my voice light, “I’m still figuring things out. But thank you for saying that. It means a lot.”

With a bashful smile, Caleb gripped his toy tightly. “Do you think I can be strong like you someday?”

His words caused my throat to constrict. “Caleb, you’re already strong,” I murmured, maintaining my composure despite the emotion building inside me. “You survived when so many wouldn’t have. That takes a kind of strength most people don’t even understand.”

A tiny, proud smile appeared on his face for the first time as his eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really,” I affirmed. “Never question that.”

His confidence grew as he nodded. “Then I’ll be the strongest wolf ever. Just like you.”

With her arms folded, Evelyn watched the conversation with a smile. “Sometimes it takes the eyes of a child to see that we’re too blind to notice ourselves.”

I glanced at her and then at Caleb again. Perhaps she is right. Maybe I underestimated my strength.

I ruffled Caleb’s hair and murmured, “You remind me why I have to keep going.”

His innocence was evident as he smiled. “I’ll help you fight the bad guys if you ever need a partner.”

I laughed and said, “Deal.”

With a fresh resolve, I turned back to Evelyn as Caleb ran off. “Let’s get this done. Whatever it takes, I’m ready.”

For the first time, I thought I was finally headed in the right direction as Evelyn’s smile grew.

But even as we resumed our training, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Darius was still with me, his presence lingering like a shadow.

And in the distance, I felt the faintest ripple of something dark approaching—a reminder that our time was running out