The werewolf stronghold was silent save for the faint crackling of the hearth in Lyra’s room. Her pale face was bathed in the flickering light, her breaths shallow and uneven. Isla sat beside her, her hands gently stroking Lyra’s hair, though her own trembling fingers betrayed her fear.
“She hasn’t improved,” Isla whispered, her voice barely audible. “She’s slipping further away.”
Draven stood near the window, his expression grim as he stared into the dark forest beyond. “There must be something we can do.”
Adrian was seated on the edge of the bed, his head bowed, his hands gripping the blanket tightly. “There has to be a way to wake her,” he said, his voice raw with desperation. “She can’t leave us like this.”
Draven and Isla exchanged a glance, their unspoken thoughts weighing heavily between them. Finally, Isla sighed and reached out to place a hand on Adrian’s shoulder. “There is one way,” she said softly, her tone laced with hesitation. “But you won’t like it.”
Adrian looked up sharply, his crimson eyes filled with a flicker of hope. “Tell me,” he demanded. “I’ll do anything.”
Isla hesitated, her gaze shifting to Draven for reassurance. “The witch,” she said finally. “She knows ancient magic, the kind that can reach across the veil.”
Draven crossed his arms, his jaw tight. “But her help comes with a price.”
Adrian rose to his feet, his fists clenched. “I don’t care about the price. If she can save Lyra, I’ll pay it.”
Isla’s expression was pained as she looked back at Lyra, her heart breaking at the sight of her daughter so vulnerable. “We’ll leave at first light,” she said, her voice trembling. “But Adrian… be prepared. The price might be more than you can give.”
Adrian nodded, his resolve hardening. “If it means saving her, I’ll give everything I have.”
As the room fell silent once more, the faint flicker of hope mingled with the oppressive weight of uncertainty. None of them knew what lay ahead, but one thing was certain—Lyra’s life hung by a thread, and time was running out.
***
The forest was dense and unwelcoming as Isla, Draven, and Adrian trudged toward the witch’s hut, Lyra’s limp form carried carefully in Adrian’s arms. Every step felt like a march toward the unknown, tension rippling between them as they contemplated the weight of the witch’s potential solution. The air grew colder as they neared the secluded shack, its silhouette looming ominously through the trees.
The witch emerged before they reached the door, her gnarled staff tapping against the ground as she studied them with piercing eyes. She was small and hunched, but her presence filled the clearing like a thunderstorm.
“You bring me a broken soul,” she said, her voice raspy but strong. “Step inside.”
Adrian laid Lyra gently on a wooden table, brushing a strand of hair from her pale face. The witch moved around her, muttering under her breath, her fingers tracing patterns in the air above Lyra’s body. A faint light flickered beneath her fingertips as she worked.
“She is strong,” the witch finally said, her voice carrying both respect and sadness. “But her soul has been splintered by great power. She teeters on the edge of life and death.”
Adrian stepped forward, his voice sharp. “How do we save her?”
The witch turned to him, her eyes narrowing as if weighing his resolve.
“She needs an anchor. Something unbreakable to hold her soul together—a bond.”
Draven frowned. “A bond? What kind?”
The witch pointed a finger at Lyra, her expression grave.
“The kind only a mate can provide. A true bond formed by instinct and will. Without it, her soul will continue to unravel.”
Adrian’s chest tightened. “A mate?” His voice was low, almost disbelieving.
The witch nodded. “One who can complete her. Who will balance the fragmented energy within her. But it must happen soon, or the fractures will grow too deep.”
Isla’s voice was sharp. “She’s not mated. We haven’t had time—”
“Then you must find someone capable of it. Quickly,” the witch said, her tone brooking no argument.
Adrian clenched his fists. “You’re asking us to gamble her life on some stranger.”
The witch turned her sharp eyes on him. “I’m telling you the truth. The bond is her only chance. Bring her a mate, or lose her.”