The courtyard broke apart slowly after the woman's warning, but the silence stuck like smoke. Wolves muttered under their breath, elders stared straight ahead, and every glance felt like it scraped against my skin.
Lyra slipped beside me while the crowd scattered. Her fingers brushed mine quickly, like she was trying to keep me from breaking.
Don't let it eat you, she whispered.
I'm not, I said, though my voice was tight.
Lucas walked ahead, shoulders stiff, steps sharp. He hadn't looked at me since the old woman spoke, but I could feel his wolf close too close. It was like a second heartbeat under my skin.
Storm stirred, low and restless. He feels you. He doesn't want to, but he does.
I bit my lip, eyes fixed on the ground.
Something moved near the far end of the courtyard. The cloaked woman, the one from before, stepped out of the shadows. She didn't vanish this time. She was waiting. For me.
Lyra noticed first. Her breath hitched. Ella… she's looking at you.
Before I could answer, the woman's voice rolled across the courtyard, soft but firm.
Child. Walk with me.
It didn't sound like a request. My feet started moving before I even thought about it. Lyra grabbed my arm.
I'm not letting you go alone.
The woman didn't argue when Lyra followed. She just turned and walked, slow, steady, like she already knew I would come. Lucas glanced back once, eyes narrowing, but he didn't stop us.
We followed her down a narrow path, away from the noise. The air smelled of herbs and damp stone. Her small hut sat at the edge of the trees, smoke curling lazily from the chimney.
Inside, the space was dim bowls, jars, dried roots everywhere. A wolf's pelt hung on the far wall, its eyes replaced with black stones.
Lyra stayed close to me. What is this place? she whispered.
The woman lowered her head. Her face was older than I'd expected, strong but lined, eyes sharp as if they'd seen too much. She looked at me, studying me, not cruelly but heavy, like she already knew too much.
You carry something that doesn't belong to ordinary wolves, she said.
My throat tightened. What do you mean? I quickly replied,well maybe because I have the gift of healing, she side-eyeing me and said that's not what I'm talking about child
She didn't blink. "Only a child born from a powerful Alpha line carries what you do.
The words hit hard. I froze. That's not true. My father was a warrior. My mother told me she wouldn't lie.
Wouldn't she? the healer asked quietly.
My chest burned. Don't. Don't stand there and act like you know my life. I only had her. I only knew her.
Lyra's hand brushed my arm. Ella… she whispered, soft.
The healer took a slow step closer. You might not know your blood, but your power does. And power always remembers where it came from.
I wanted to move, to run, but I couldn't.
Listen, child, she said again. What you and the Alpha share if it isn't real, if it isn't born of truth it'll bring ruin. Not death, but something worse. It'll break everything around you.
My breath caught. Ruin?
She nodded once. Deception rots bonds faster than blades cut flesh. If you stand beside him from duty, or he keeps you out of pride, Atlas will crumble. You'll both pay for it.
Storm's voice rolled through my head. She's not lying. But she's not telling everything either.
I wanted to scream. Why me? Why any of this?
The healer's eyes softened for the first time. Because you are not who you think you are. And neither is he.
The room went still. I stared at her, but before I could say anything, she turned to a small bowl of water on the table. She dipped her fingers, then touched my hands. Her hand was too warm.
Choose the truth, she whispered, or watch it burn everything you love.
Then she pulled back and turned away. The conversation was over.
Lyra caught my wrist. Come on, she said quietly, voice shaking. Let's go.
I followed. My legs felt weak. My head was spinning.
Outside, the air hit like cold water. I breathed in hard, trying to steady myself.
Lyra looked at me. Do you believe her?
I stared ahead, voice small. I don't know. I don't even know who I am anymore.
We didn't speak again until the pack's courtyard came into view. Lucas was there arms crossed, eyes unreadable. When he saw me, something flickered behind them, but he quickly masked it.
Lyra shot him a glare. You should've gone with her. Then she walked off, leaving us standing there.
Lucas's voice broke the silence. What did she say?
I met his eyes. She said if this thing between us isn't real it'll destroy everything.
His jaw tightened. Do you believe her?
I don't know, I said quietly. But I don't want to keep pretending either.
Something cracked in his face then small but real. He took a step closer, slow, deliberate. His scent hit first, clean and sharp, and my wolf stirred hard beneath my skin.
Storm whispered, He feels it too.
His hand hovered near mine, not touching but close enough to burn. Then don't pretend, he said..I gave you a fake identity that doesn't mean you should fake your own life, act like it's real he continues you're giving them the impression that you're not genuine don't make them see through you that's why they're raging, what is he even saying... looking at him confused.
My breath came short. The air between us pulsed hot, tense, alive. For a moment, the world outside didn't exist. No elders. No whispers. No healer. Just him.
I let the wall inside me fall, just a little. Storm brushed against his wolf, and I felt it the spark. Fragile. But alive.
I didn't know what it meant yet. I didn't know where it would lead. But for the first time since stepping into Atlas… I wanted to find out.