Chapter 5: The Last Goodbye

My question hung in the cold air.

"If I never come back... will any of you miss me?"

For a brief moment, silence surrounded us.

Then my father frowned impatiently.

"Harper, stop saying such unlucky things. You're only testing a ritual, not walking to your execution."

My mother forced a smile.

"Exactly. Once everything is over, we'll all celebrate together."

"You'll finally understand that everything we've done was for Ivy's sake."

Ryker stepped closer and gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face.

It was the first gentle touch he had given me in years.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered.

"As soon as the ritual is complete, I'll take you to Moon Goddess Lake."

"We'll watch the auroras together like I promised."

I looked into his familiar blue eyes.

There was concern there...

But not love.

Only guilt.

I forced a small smile.

"You don't have to keep that promise anymore."

Without waiting for anyone to answer, I turned around and stepped into the ancient cellar.

The massive stone door slammed shut behind me.

Darkness swallowed everything.

The ancient witch, Morwen, stood beside a glowing stone altar.

"Lie down," she ordered.

"The ritual will begin immediately."

I quietly obeyed.

Heavy silver chains locked around my wrists and ankles.

Ancient runes across the floor began glowing crimson.

The first wave of spiritual energy entered my body.

Agony unlike anything I had ever experienced exploded through every bone and nerve.

It felt as though thousands of claws were tearing my wolf spirit apart from the inside.

I screamed until my voice became hoarse.

Morwen never looked at me.

She simply continued chanting spell after spell.

One day passed.

Then another.

The pain never stopped.

No one came to visit me.

No one asked whether I was alive.

Outside the cellar, my parents were busy preparing Ivy for the day she would inherit everything.

Ryker spent his time comforting her, believing I would survive.

On the eighteenth day, my body finally reached its limit.

I felt my wolf let out one final mournful howl inside my soul.

"Thank you..." I whispered weakly.

"You stayed with me until the end."

The wolf spirit that had protected me since birth slowly dissolved into countless silver lights.

My heartbeat weakened.

Then stopped completely.

The pain disappeared.

For the first time in many years...

I felt peaceful.

When Morwen returned hours later to continue the ritual, she frowned at my motionless body.

"Harper?"

She nudged my shoulder.

There was no response.

Her expression changed instantly.

She hurried forward and checked my pulse.

Nothing.

She pressed trembling fingers against my neck.

Still nothing.

"Impossible..." she whispered.

"She's dead."

Morwen immediately called the number Ryker had left for emergencies.

When he answered, she said urgently,

"Alpha Ryker... Harper is dead."