White Wolf Awakens

White Wolf Awakens
The soft smell of herbs filled the room.
Nicole slowly opened her eyes as the light from a nearby lamp flickered across the walls. Her vision gradually cleared, revealing an elderly man sitting beside her with one wrinkled hand resting gently against her wrist.
He studied her for a moment before sighing in relief.
“Thank the Goddess,” the physician muttered, shaking his head. “You’re okay, Moonborn. If something had happened to you, it would have become a real predicament.”
Nicole blinked at him, still struggling to understand where she was.
“I see,” she murmured.
From across the room, Vander’s voice broke through the haze.
“Are you sure she’s okay, old man?”
He stood with his arms crossed, looking far more worried than he wanted to admit.
“She keeps saying something’s wrong with her head. What if it’s more serious?”
The physician chuckled softly.
“It’s all right, young master. The Moonborn only suffered a brief shock. She should feel better soon.”
His calmness should have comforted Nicole.
It didn’t.
Her fingers tightened around the sheets.
If she was supposed to feel better soon, then why did everything still feel so wrong?
Her chest felt heavy, and her mind remained clouded.
She glanced around the room.
Vander was pacing restlessly, while Javier leaned against the wall with a complicated expression on his face.
Nicole did not want to make them worry more.
She took a slow breath and forced a small smile.
The door opened.
Alicia and Nicole’s stepmother hurried into the room.
“Nicole!”
Alicia rushed to her and grabbed her hand.
The sudden touch sent a strange shock through Nicole’s arm, making her flinch.
Alicia immediately stopped.
“W-what’s wrong, sister?” she asked. “Did I hurt you?”
“Move, Alicia. Don’t hurt your sister.”
Nicole’s stepmother stepped forward.
Alicia lowered her head.
“I didn’t do it on purpose. I would never hurt Nicole.”
She looked back at Nicole and gently held her hand.
“How are you feeling? I heard from the maids that you were sick.”
Nicole stared at her in confusion.
Everyone in the room looked concerned.
Their eyes were filled with worry, and their voices trembled as though Nicole were someone precious to them.
For a moment, she could not understand it.
Why were they acting like this?
More strangely, why did it feel so wrong that they were treating her this way?
Nicole tried to remember.
The moment she did, a sharp pain shot through her skull.
“Ah…”
She pressed a hand against her temple.
The pain throbbed violently, blurring the edges of her vision.
“Nicole?”
Her stepmother’s voice softened.
She touched Nicole’s cheek gently.
“Nicole, what happened? Should I call the physician back?”
Nicole forced her eyes open and looked at her.
“No… it’s okay.”
Her voice was weak.
“I’m sorry for worrying everyone. I just need some rest.”
Her stepmother hesitated before nodding.
“All right. Let’s leave. Your sister needs to rest.”
Alicia looked as though she wanted to say something, but one warning look from her mother made her stop.
She nodded and stood.
“I’ll bring your favorite snacks for you, Nicole.”
As they left, Nicole watched the door until it clicked shut.
The silence that followed pressed heavily against her chest.
She rubbed her temples and tried to breathe through the dull ache in her head. Her vision blurred again, and exhaustion slowly spread through her body.
Before she knew it, her eyes slipped shut.
When Nicole opened them again, sunlight was filtering softly through the curtains.
Morning.
She blinked several times, still disoriented, then slowly sat up.
The sheets slid from her shoulders as she leaned against the wall and rested her head there.
Her body felt lighter than it had the night before.
Nicole exhaled.
Fragments of yesterday slowly returned.
The confusion.
The fear.
The headache.
And something else.
A strange warmth.
The feeling that her family cared about her.
It was nice.
The door opened softly.
Nicole turned toward it.
Nadine stood there with her brown eyes wide.
The moment she saw Nicole awake, her face lit up.
“My lady! You’re awake!”
She hurried toward the bed.
Her happiness was infectious, and Nicole smiled.
“Good morning, Nadine. How long have I been sleeping?”
“A while,” Nadine replied with a grin. “But I’m so glad you’re awake. Everyone was worried about you.”
She clasped her hands together.
“Your father wanted to see you before he left for work, but he didn’t want to wake you.”
Nicole blinked.
“My father wanted to see me?”
Nadine nodded eagerly.
“Yes. He said he’ll come back early to see his little princess.”
Nicole froze.
His little princess.
Something about those words struck her harder than she expected.
Heat crept into her face.
Nadine immediately giggled.
“You’re turning so red, my lady!”
Nicole looked away, embarrassed.
“Shut up, Nadine.”
Nadine laughed again.
“Oh! Master Javier brought you your favorite snacks. They’re on the counter. Should I bring them to you?”
Nicole shook her head and pushed the blanket aside.
“Don’t worry. I was just about to get up.”
Her legs felt steady as she crossed the room.
A neat tray sat beside the mirror.
Strawberry snacks.
Her favorite.
A soft smile touched her lips as she reached for one.
Then she looked up.
And froze.
The snack slipped from her fingers and landed silently back on the tray.
Nicole stared at her reflection.
The same eyes stared back.
The same face.
But her hair…
Her eyes widened.
Every trace of sleepiness disappeared.
Slowly, she lifted a trembling hand and ran her fingers through the long strands.
“My lady?”
Nadine's voice immediately became concerned.
“What happened?”
Nicole turned toward her, still gripping a handful of hair.
“My hair…”
Her voice trembled.
“What happened to my hair?”
Nadine blinked.
“Nothing happened to your hair, my lady.”
“Nothing?”
Nicole looked back at the mirror.
“Nadine, there’s something wrong.”
Her reflection stared back at her.
The white strands shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
“Why…” Nicole whispered.
Her heart began beating faster.
“Why is my hair white?”
Nadine looked between Nicole and the mirror.
“My lady, is your hair supposed to be another color?”
Nicole turned sharply.
“What?”
Nadine hesitated.
“You’re the Moonborn, my lady. Your hair is supposed to be white.”
Nicole's mouth parted slightly.
She was right.
Her hair was supposed to be snow-white, as white and pure as Alicia’s.
Slowly, Nicole turned back toward the mirror.
She ran her fingers through the strands again.
The color shimmered like moonlight.
But something about it was different.
Beneath the white, there seemed to be another color trying to emerge.
A strange pulse moved through Nicole’s chest.
For one brief second, her reflection blurred.
Then a voice whispered inside her mind.
“Try to remember, Nicole.”
Nicole frowned.
She tried to reach for the memory, but the same fog blocked her.
What was she supposed to remember?
Why did it feel as though something important had been taken from her?
Before she could find an answer, the door slammed open.
A young servant stumbled into the room, breathing heavily. Her face was flushed from running.
Nadine rushed toward her.
“What’s wrong?”
The servant looked up, still trying to catch her breath.
Then her wide eyes turned toward Nicole.
“My lady…”
She swallowed.
“Prince Zandro is in the temple.”
Nicole stared at her.
“He’s looking for you.”