Echoes of the Wolf

Emerald's POV

As I walked, my wolf, Lena, suddenly materialized beside me, her argentine fur flashing in the dim light of the hallway, a stark discrepancy to the muted tones of the gravestone walls. She was laughing, a soft, lyrical sound that echoed in my mind, a sound that generally brought me comfort, but moment, it only amplified my

apprehension.

" What is so funny?" I asked a hint of annoyance in my voice, my brow furrowed.

I was still shaking from my own anticipated hassle with Ryker, his piercing eyes staring right into my mind and I was not in the mood for Lena's sportful teasing.

" Oh, nothing," she said, her eyes sparkling with recreation, a mischievous glint in their depths." Just the way

your heart was beating when you saw him. Like a trapped raspberry trying to escape its pen."

I flushed, feeling a surge of embarrassment washed over me, the heat rising in my cheeks." It was not like

that," I murmured, avoiding her aspect, my eyes fixed on the intricate patterns of the gravestone bottom.

" Oh, yes, it was," she claimed, her voice laced with sportful teasing, her tone light and airy." You were virtually wobbling with nervous energy. It was relatively amusing to watch, I must admit. Like a startled

fawn."

" He just startled me," I said, trying to defend myself, my voice slightly protective." And he has piercing eyes.

Like he can see right through me."

Lena scoffed, her horselaugh echoing in my mind, a sound that framed mockery.

" He looked right through me," I said, my voice low, a hint of fear in my tone." Like he could see everything, all my secrets, all my fears."

I said, my voice establishment, a hint of despair." I just want to be left alone. I do not want any further attention."

" Suit yourself," Lena said, her voice laced with a hint of abdication, though I tasted a moping curiosity." But you can not deny that he was relatively fascinating. And those eyes had a certain intensity."

" Do you know him?" I asked, my curiosity piqued, a flicker of interest in my voice despite my demurrers.

" I can only connect with his wolf," Lena replied, her voice thoughtful, her aspect distant." And I can tell you that he is a veritably professed legionnaire. He is also veritably observant. He notices the effects."

" Observant?" I echoed, my brow furrowed, a hint of apprehension in my tone." What do you mean by that?"

" He notices the effects," Lena said, her voice vague, her eyes sparkling with a knowing glint." effects that others might miss. Subtle changes, hidden feelings, implied words."

" Like what?" I asked, my curiosity growing, a sense of auguring creeping into my mind.

" Like your discomfort," she said, her eyes sparkling with recreation, a hint of teasing in her tone." He could smell that you were uneasy around him. It was as clear as day."

I sighed, shaking my head, a sense of abdication washing over me." He made me uncomfortable," I admitted, my voice low, a hint of vulnerability." He looked at me like he knew all my secrets, all my vulnerabilities."

" Perhaps he does," Lena said, her voice teasing, a hint of mischief in her tone." perhaps he can see into your soul, read your studies, and know your deepest solicitations."

" Do not be ridiculous," I scarfed, rolling my eyes, a hint of exasperation in my voice." He is just a man. A veritably observant man, maybe, but still just a man."

" A veritably observant and veritably handsome man," Lena reminded me, her voice laced with a sportful backbeat." And those eyes were relatively switched on, were they not?"

" Stop it," I said, my cheeks flushing again, a blend of embarrassment and annoyance." I am not interested in

him. I do not have time for distractions."

" Whatever you say," Lena said, her voice laced with recreation, a hint of dubitation in her tone." But I saw the way you looked at him. There was a spark of something."

" I did not," I claimed, my voice rising slightly, a hint of guard in my tone.

" Oh, yes, you did," Lena said, her horselaugh echoing in my mind, a warm, comforting sound despite my demurrers." You were virtually drooling. It was quite a sight."

" I was not," I said, my voice filled with outrage, a hint of exasperation."I want to concentrate on my baby."

" Fine, fine," Lena said, her voice laced with mock rendition, a hint of sportful teasing." But you have to admit, he was relatively fascinating. And those eyes"

" He was too nice," I admitted, my voice low, a hint of reticent acknowledgment.

" Nice is good," Lena said, her voice teasing, a sportful backbeat in her tone." violence is instigative. It adds a little spice to life."

" I do not want to be instigative," I said, my voice sick, a hint of sadness in my tone."I just want to keep my baby safe in peace and quiet."

" Peace and quiet is boring," Lena said, her voice dismissive, a sportful ease." You need some excitement in your life, Emerald. You are too youthful to be living like a hermit."

" I've enough excitement," I said, my voice laced with a hint of bitterness, a memorial of the fermentation I was passing." I do not need any further. I need stability."

" You need to lighten up," Lena said, her voice establishing a hint of concern in her tone." You are too serious, too burdened. You are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."

"I have a lot to be serious about," I said, my voice low, a hint of vulnerability." I am carrying a child, and I am living in a pack that does not want me then. I’m a stranger."

" That is not true," Lena said, her voice soothing, a gentle consolation." Caden wants you then. He cares for you."

" He wants my baby," I said, my voice filled with mistrustfulness, a hint of cynicism." Not me. He wants the heir to the law."

" That is not true," Lena claimed, her voice establishment, unwavering." He cares about you, Emerald. I can feel it. You just have to open your eyes and see it."

" I do not know," I said, my voice filled with mistrustfulness, a hint of despair." I do not know what to believe presently. I do not know who to trust."

" Just believe in yourself," Lena said, her voice soft, a gentle stimulant." And believe in your baby. Everything will be alright. You're strong."

" I hope so," I said, my voice slightly a tale, a plea for consolation.

" It'll be," Lena said, her voice filled with confidence, an unwavering certainty." Just trust me. I will not let you down."

I jounced, feeling a sense of peace settle over me, a fragile sense of trust amid my doubts." I do,"

I said, my voice sincere, a quiet protestation." I trust you, Lena. You’re my only friend."

" Good," said her voice filled with warmth and gentle affection."Now, let's go find some food. I am starving, all this talking has made me empty."

I smiled, feeling a sense of likeness return to my heart, a moment of Peace from the weight of my worries "Alright," I said, my voice filled with recreation, a hint of sportsful exasperation."let's go. But no more teasing okay?”