chapter 3

Blake was taking her sister’s words lightly as she stared at her in disbelief. “Are you kidding me, sis? There’s no way your wolf can just disappear like that!”

Lydia agreed; it seemed impossible. She had never heard of anything like it. In all her studies about their wolves, she knew they didn’t die unless their host was killed. They just went to sleep or something similar. This was stunning; it was the first time she had heard of such an occurrence, and the worst part was that it was happening to her. Panic set in. This was impossible! She tried to recall what she had read about wolves years ago in the library. This couldn’t be ordinary.

Just a minute ago, everything had been fine—before she went downstairs to sit with Thalia, drank some wine, and fell asleep. And… then she couldn’t think any further. It was confusing; if she told anyone, they would think she was mad, and no one in the pack would believe her. They would call her a liar because she didn’t have a mate, and that would bring disgrace to her father. She didn’t want that; she couldn’t lose face. Her dad looked up to her, as did her mom, sister, and the pack. She couldn’t mess this up now, especially with the ball happening just moments to now.

She tried to calm down, slowing her breathing. Then, she attempted to call out to her wolf again.

“Circe, are you there? Please, if you’re there, answer me. I know you’re trying to play a trick on me, but I’m scared right now. Tonight is important, and I can’t afford to lose face. I can’t let them look down on me. You promised that our mate would be worth it. I can’t sense him without you. You’re the other half that can recognize him before I can, and I need your help. We’re going to go for a run, miles away after we find him. Please, Circe, return if you’re there.”

She stopped, but there was nothing. As she finished speaking, the seriousness of the situation washed over her; she couldn’t hold it together anymore. Circe couldn’t leave her. She knew Circe as well as any werewolf knows their wolf. Her dad’s wolf was always naughty; she had witnessed that firsthand, and her dad always exclaimed how strong he was. Her mom’s wolf was gentle and caring, always looking out for her, while her sister’s wolf was playful and always on the move.

Circe, however, was known for being big, brave, and protective of her family—always charging ahead to clear the path of danger. Her parents had always admired her leadership. Circe had promised to stay with Lydia through thick and thin and help her tackle all her hardships. She had proven herself many times before and had been there for Lydia when everyone else had turned against her and her family.

And now, just when Lydia was about to find a mate of her own—of their own—Circe was gone. Maybe that was why she had left: because she always thought the mate belonged solely to Lydia. But no…

Blake, who had always seen her cool and composed sister, could tell that in this tense moment, Lydia meant every word she said. She took a step closer. “Lydia, you’re not kidding, right? Circe is not gone,” she said, trying to sound hopeful. But when Lydia’s eyes met hers, Blake realized that it was true.

“No, no, she can’t be,” Blake said. Her sister was shivering, and Blake wrapped her arms around her in a comforting hug. “Look, Lydia, she’s going to be back. Maybe she’s just messing with us, you know?” Blake offered. But deep down, she knew Circe well—she loved to joke.

“Athena,” Blake called to her wolf. Athena responded with a whine. “Can you sense Circe? She is gone—really gone. Please, can you connect with her or call her back?”

“I have, Blake. Her presence is still within you, Lydia, but her scent... it seems different. She’s there, but I don't know what happened. She will likely come back,” Athena replied.

Blake sighed, and Lydia looked up at her, hope shining in her eyes. “She is still inside you; Athena says she might just be recovering or sleeping. But she’s there. Have hope, sis; she will be back.”

Lydia's eyes brightened. “Are you sure? Athena told you that?”

Blake nodded. “Yes, sis. Just have a little patience; she is going to come back.”

“But I need her now! For the Ball, for our mate! Tell Athena to connect with her—to come back and claim our mate!”

Blake sighed. “I know, but…”

“Hey, Blake!” a stern voice interrupted them. The sisters turned to see a young boy, about Blake’s age, approaching. He had short, wavy hair, small eyes, and a well-defined but not pointed nose. He was slightly muscular.

Blake smiled at her lover. “Hey, Sean.”

Lydia wiped her face, trying to appear composed. Sean beamed at them. “Alpha Damon told me to walk you to…” Then he stopped and noticed Lydia. “Hey, Lydia!” he called.

“Hey, Sean,” Lydia greeted halfheartedly. Sean sniffed the air. “Sorry, I couldn't recognize you—you smell different from before.”

Blake and Lydia exchanged puzzled glances. “Different smell?” Lydia asked, echoing her sister's earlier comment.

“Yeah,” Sean nodded. “You smell like honeysuckle.”

“No, that’s not my smell,” Lydia waved him off.

“Well, it’s true! Lydia, you smell like that,” Blake added, sniffing her sister. “If I remember correctly, your smell used to be like ice in a…”

“White snow,” Lydia completed. How could she smell like honeysuckle? Her wolf was associated with the scents of white snow and bluebells. She sniffed at herself but regretted it; without her wolf, she couldn't smell anything.

“Hey,” Sean said, checking his watch. “The Alpha will be waiting.”

Blake looked at her sister, realizing that Lydia was scared to enter without her wolf and risk embarrassing herself.

“Look, Sean, I'm sorry, but we can’t go. Tell Dad and Mom—”

“Let's go,” Lydia said, earning a look from Blake that said, “Do you know what you’re doing?”

Lydia nodded; she was confident in her decision. Blake wanted to protest, but Lydia had already taken the lead.

Sean stepped in beside Blake and held out his arm. Blake smiled and took it, and they walked out of the garden and into the pack house.

Lydia carefully descended the narrow corridor leading to the ballroom, which was located on the lower floor of the pack house beneath the Omega floor. The light from the chandeliers brightened the hallway as she approached the massive door leading into the ballroom. Her breath was ragged; she had to do this.

She muttered slowly, speaking to her wolf. “Circe, I know you're out there; you can hear me. I don’t know what happened to you, but I promise to find out after all this—after I’ve found my mate. Please, I need you to help me for just a moment and guide me to him.”

Blake walked beside her and patted her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, sis. I’m sure Circe won’t fail you. She’s a loyal, strong wolf. Just believe in her,” she communicated through their mind link, and Lydia shot her a grateful look. Sean observed the exchange, aware that the two sisters had just mentally communicated. He couldn’t hear them, but he sensed they were sharing a little secret.

He cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Now, my lady,” he said, looking at Lydia, who nodded at him. He pushed the big door open for them to enter, and the bright light hit her more strongly as she stepped into the vast room. The smell of alcohol filled the air, accompanied by the murmurs and chatter of different wolves. Many high-ranking wolves were walking around, socializing with other packs, smiling and laughing.

This was not going to easy. She reminded herself. Just blend in. She added.