Chapter 35

*Hazel*

 I woke up feeling very strong, like a new‑found energy was flowing through me. I was on the bed. Then I suddenly remembered — we were supposed to be on our journey to the desert.

 My eyes darted around the room and finally settled on Orion, who was still holding my hand. My heart melted immediately. My hand ran through his hair, messing with it — it was so soft and silky. That must have woken him, because he opened his eyes at once.

“How are you now?”

 “Are you okay?”

 “How are you feeling?”

 He wouldn’t stop throwing questions at me, not even allowing me the chance to answer.

 “I’m perfectly fine, Orion,” I said softly.

 I knew I had delayed the journey again. Orion probably didn’t want to leave me alone, so he stayed by my side.

 “We should start going now,” I said, but tears filled my eyes immediately. I could never control my emotions when it came to my parents.

 He wiped my tears at once. “I’m so sorry, baby… you shouldn’t cry, hmm?” he said, kissing my forehead. “Go and have your bath. We’ll be on our way soon.”

 I went to the bathroom, bathed, got dressed, and was forced to eat breakfast even though my appetite was very poor. They were all ready too, gathering the resources needed for the journey.

 We shifted in the woods. The shift wasn’t as difficult this time since I had already passed through the first stage. We grabbed our clothes in our mouths and began the journey.

 It was very tiring and challenging, even in our wolf forms. The wind blew fiercely and we had to brace ourselves against it. The sun didn’t affect us much since our fur provided cover.

 We arrived at the desert very late at night. We were communicating through the mindlink.

 “I couldn’t find them!” I cried out, moving around desperately.

 “You should calm down,” Orion said.

 “I found a shelter!” Beta Shane yelled, and we all ran toward him.

 It was a small wooden shelter with dried palm leaves as its roof. We entered, but no one was inside.

 “I need to shift back,” I said.

 Beta Shane walked outside while Orion handed me my clothes. I shifted back and dressed properly.

 “I couldn’t find them!” I sobbed uncontrollably.

 Orion pulled me into his arms, patting my back. “I will search every nook and cranny for them… you just have to calm down.”

 But I couldn’t stop crying. Nothing he said seemed to enter my ears.

 Then I saw something — my mother’s scarf, lying on top of the wooden bed. I grabbed it immediately, her scent filling my nose. I wiped my tears, holding onto that small piece of hope.

 I joined Beta Shane outside to continue searching. The wind was blowing violently, everything around us shaking. I had to hold onto a piece of wood for support as I called out her name, but I couldn’t smell her.

 “You can’t trace scent properly in the desert,” Orion said as he joined me.

 It grew very late into the night and we still couldn’t catch even the slightest trace of them. My hope shattered and tears filled my eyes again. Rumors about the desert flooded my mind — people could burn to death, be blinded by the wind, lose their way, die of thirst and hunger.

 I began sobbing again.

 Orion led me back inside the shelter and sat me on a wooden chair, calling Beta Shane inside as well.

 “Tears won’t solve this,” Orion said gently, wiping another tear from my cheek. “We need another plan. We can’t survive here much longer. If they’re here, we’ll search every corner before we leave. And if we can’t find them, we’ll return and draft another plan.”

 “Both of you should go back,” I said firmly, wiping my own tears. “I am not going back without my parents.”