Chapter 98 A bond forgotten
Ira's POV
“Valira,”
I hug myself tighter, my arms locked tight around my chest as if that will stop the strange, restless feeling crawling under my skin.
“Valira, wake up.” A deep soft voice whispers again, settling against my cheek like a warm breath.
My face crinkles into a frown as I turn the other way, needing the distraction to leave. But then my whole body jolts when I feel something odd underneath my body. And my eyelids pop open.
I instantly wince as the brightest moonlight I've ever witnessed hits me in the face.
“Where am I?” I stutter, my leg shaking as I fearfully push myself off the wet grass.
I'm not on my bed.
The back of my nightdress is super cold, But I barely get the chance to focus on that, as my senses pick up the gentle breath of the forest.
It makes no sense but it seems like I can feel their life.
“How did I get here?” I ask myself , my eyes wide with horror. I'm in the woods… and from the look of it, I'm deep in it.
How? This makes no sense.
I fell asleep alone. Curled tight after Ruel walked out. I remember my chest feeling cold, the sting of a stray tear drying on my face, the way the silence within my room grew impossibly loud.
And now I’m here? Shit, this must be a dream,
My heart begins to pound as I look around. If I've been captured by someone…
“Up here.”
That voice again… low and soft yet achingly familiar, like a song I used to know every word to.
I tip my head back, spotting it immediately.
A raven is sitting on a low branch, its black feathers are glossy under the moon. Its eyes aren’t right. They glow pure white, like two small moons trapped in its skull.
I stumble back as I watch it even more closely.
It tilts its head, studying me closely.
“You really are ignorant,” it says.
I recognize it immediately. I've heard that deep relaxing tone before.
I shake my head hard. “I’m losing it,” I mutter under my breath. “I’m actually standing in the woods claiming to recognize the voice of a bird. Fantastic.”
The raven hops down to a closer branch. Now it’s near enough that I see the faint gleam on its beak and the way those white eyes never blink.
“You really don’t remember me?”
I turn away fast, hugging myself again, nails digging into my arms. “Okay, Ira. Wake up. Wake up right now. This isn’t happening.”
I glance back and to my disappointment, it's still watching me, patiently, in that sad way that twists something inside my chest.
“You used to be obsessed with my bird,” it says softly. “I thought seeing him again would help you remember. But I was wrong. I’ve undone everything I did. I've loosened every knot, yet you still can't remember…”
My brows furrow. “What are you talking about?”
“Do you really want to know?” It asks carefully. “If I show you the truth, you'll have to bear the consequences. Valira, you can’t walk into the truth and still wake up wearing this identity like a mask.”
“What truth?” My voice cracks.
The raven holds my gaze. Those white eyes pull, steady, relentless.
“Look into my eyes,” it says.
“Why?”
“It’s the only way to see.”
My brain tells me to run. But something keeps me rooted there. Perhaps my thirst to end the mystery is finally taking over.
And I stare into its eyes. Immediately the forest vanishes.
I’m tiny. So tiny my feet dangle when I launch myself onto the huge bed. Laughter spills out of me, when a loud groan rumbles from under the blankets.
I bounce harder, giggling louder when a pillow flies at my head.
My hand flicks up on instinct. The wind answers swiftly, flinging the pillow across the room and away from me.
“Valira!!” The boy yells, bursting from the covers, his black hair wild. Sharp glassy blue eyes zero in on me just before he lunges with a feigned angry cry.
I squeal and bolt with my little feet. Servants jump aside, causing their trays to shake. Guards give way, their lips twitching in amusement.
“VALIRA, YOUR MOTHER WON’T BE PLEASED!” a maid calls, her skirt hiked as she chases us.
“I can’t! Boo’s gonna hit me!” I laugh.
“She hit me first!” the boy shouts, but his grin quickly turns to pure mischief as he closes in on me.
“Bukasvad, enough!” A thunderous voice cracks down the hall.
I skid to a stop so fast I nearly tumble. Boo freezes beside me too.
A tall man marches toward us, his white hair gleaming, fury carved deep in his face.
“Don’t you know your place?” he snaps at Boo. “How many times must I tell you not to hurt the princess?”
“F..f..forgive me, Pa,” Boo whispers, bowing low with fear in his eyes.
The man’s hand rises.
“That’s enough, Gerald.” A familiar voice cuts through and I smile as strong arms lift me high, pressing me against a chest that smells like spring. “The real troublemaker here is this little pumpkin of mine.”
“Dad!” I giggle , reaching up, to brush his stubble with my fingers.
His eyes crinkle when he smiles at me. “Yes, sweetie?”
“Are you mad?”
He lets out a soft laugh. “No, I’m not.” he assures then glances over. “Gerald?”
“Y-yes, Alpha.”
“Head to the field. The children will stay with me today. Fay’s got cookies waiting.”
Boo’s face lights up, and when Dad sets me down, I grab Boo’s hand and we race off, laughter trailing behind us.
The scene shifts.
Now we’re at the long dining table. A woman I instantly recognize as my mother sits there. Her brown hair is loose, her brown eyes look soft and worried.
“Are you still holding the meeting?” she asks quietly.
“I have to. It’s the only way to stop the hate inside the pack.” Dad says.
“I don’t trust commander Andre. He doesn’t like your kind.”
“But this was his idea. If I succeed, I'll gain your father's respect.”
“It could be a trap. What if something goes wrong? What happens to our daughter?”
I watch them quietly.
“Buk,” father says.
“Yes, Alpha,” Boo answers right away.
“Take Ira outside. Show her your bird or something.”
Boo turns to me. “Hey, wanna play with Raven?”
I nod, jumping off my chair and chasing after him when he takes off. We run, laughing, until halfway across the grass Boo’s body shimmers. My smile widens as black feathers explode from him and in a second, a raven soars ahead, leading me toward the open field.
My eyes snap open, my heart pounding uncontrollably.
Bukasvad? Bukasvad… he is...
“Ira?”
I turn at the sound of my name, immediately sitting up when I see Cath and Sia staring at me in fear.
“Cath, Sia,” I whisper, quickly composing myself. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Sia points at me, her chest heaving. “Y…your hair,”
Oh no.