Chapter 36

*Hazel*

 We had spent two days searching for them relentlessly, both day and night. It was getting exhausting and deeply disappointing. We were starting to run out of water, nearly finishing the little we had brought with us. Orion kept persuading me to go back so we could make another plan on how to rescue them, but I was adamant — I would not leave without them.

 We continued the search into the night. I kept calling out as we moved, but I was starting to grow weak. My face darkened temporarily from exhaustion, my lips dried from thirst and hunger, and my hair became dirty and untidy.

 They had both shifted back, their wolves weakened from lack of food and rest. I had also temporarily lost access to Ayla — she was completely exhausted.

 “We should go back tomorrow. If we continue like this, we may lose our wolves and possibly ourselves too… We need to be healthy to find them,” Orion said, holding me in his arms.

 I could see the exhaustion in Beta Shane’s eyes even though he said nothing.

 “Okay… we will go back tomorrow,” I finally agreed, tears filling my eyes again.

 “One last search,” Orion said, helping me to my feet while Beta Shane also stood.

 We poured the last of our strength into that search, shouting their names at the top of our voices, walking even deeper into the desert. But we found nothing. It was late again when we finally turned back toward the shelter to rest for the night and return to the pack the next morning.

 All my hope shattered. My heart felt like it had broken into pieces. I couldn’t even cry anymore — my tears were completely dried up. I had survived all these days only because I believed I would save them. I never imagined things would turn out this way.

 Suddenly, my foot struck something hard. I bent down and pulled it from the sand.

 It was a bone.

 I screamed, my voice echoing across the desert.

 Orion quickly took it from me. “Calm down, Hazel… it could be—”

 I slapped him hard, stopping him from finishing.

 “Are you blind? Are you mocking me? This is a human bone — probably my parents’ bone!” I yelled, collapsing into the sand and crying at the top of my lungs.

 “Hazel…”

 I thought it was Orion’s voice until I heard it again.

 “Hazel?”

 It was a woman’s voice.

 My mother’s voice.

 I stood up instantly and turned around — and there she was.

 The face I had been dying to see. The face I searched for every second of my life. I thought I was hallucinating. I thought exhaustion had finally broken my mind.

 I walked toward her slowly, touching her, then pinching myself twice.

 It was real.

 Before I could move again, she pulled me into a bone‑crushing hug.

 “Thank you for surviving,” she sobbed, and that alone confirmed everything.

 “Mother?” I whispered, unable to believe my eyes.

 “Yes… I am here,” she cried, refusing to let go.

 I pulled back just to look at her, touching her face, staring into her tear‑filled eyes.

 “Mother!” I screamed, hugging her tightly, wailing without restraint.

 It took us a long time to calm down. When we finally did, we walked together toward the shelter. I wiped my tears completely, holding her close, terrified that someone might take her away from me again.