Chapter Seventeen!
The forest air was heavy as Calla sat at the edge of a secluded grove. Her heart raced, not from fear of the dangers that lurked beyond the trees, but from the decision she had made. She traced her hand over her abdomen, a pang of guilt shooting through her.
She had sought out the old healer, a wolf who lived far from the pack, shrouded in whispers of forgotten rituals and ancient remedies. If anyone could help her, it was the woman known as Elder Mirva.>>
Kael had followed her to the grove, his eyes filled with concern. “Calla, are you sure about this?” he asked, his voice low but firm.
“I have to be,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “This… this child will only complicate everything. Rowan’s rage is already out of control, and I can’t let this be another reason for him to destroy everything in his path.“>
Kael took a step closer, his presence a steady comfort she didn’t feel she deserved. “You don’t have to make this decision alone,” he said. “Whatever you choose, I’ll stand by you.”
The sincerity in his voice made her chest ache. She looked at him, her resolve wavering. “I’m not doing this because I doubt you, Kael,” she whispered. “But you know as well as I do that Rowan will neer let this go. He’ll use this child to control me, to keep me tied to him forever.”
Kael clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “And what about you? What do you want, Calla?“}
For a moment, she couldn’t answer. Her mind was a whirlwind of memories–Rowan’s betrayal, Kael’s quiet strength, and the life growing inside her.
“I just want freedom,” she finally said. “From all of it.”
Elder Mirva’s hut was nestled deep within the forest, surrounded by protective wards that shimmered faintly in the moonlight. The old wolf opened the door before Calla could knock, her milky eyes scanning the young woman.”
“I know why you’ve come,” Mirva said, her voice gravelly. “But this is not a choice to be taken lightly.”>
“I’ve already decided,” Calla replied, her voice trembling despite her resolve.
The healer studied her for a long moment before stepping aside to let her in. The interior of the hut was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of dried herbs and burning incense. Kael stayed outside, leaning against a tree, his face shadowed with grief.”
Back in the Tent, Rowan paced furiously. The spy he’d planted among the scouts had brought back information that made his blood run cold.
“She went to Mirva’s hut,” the spy had reported. “They say she’s going to… end the pregnancy.”
Rowan’s wolf roared to the surface, clawing at him with rage and desperation. “No,” he growled. “She wouldn’t.”
But the bond told him otherwise. He could feel her turmoil, the sharp edges of her pain. She was serious.
“I won’t let this happen,” he muttered, storming out of the hall.
Inside Mirva’s hut, the ritual had begun. Calla sat in the center of a circle of runes, her heart pounding. The old healer chanted softly, her hands hovering over Calla’s abdomen.
“This will sever the bond,” Mirva said. “Not just with the child, but with anyone who might claim it.”@
Calla closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. She had told herself this was for the best, but the ache in her chest told a different story.
The door burst open with a crash, and Rowan stood there, his silver eyes glowing with raw emotion.”
“Stop!” he bellowed, his voice reverberating through the small hut.
Mirva froze, her chant trailing off. Calla’s eyes flew open, shock and anger flashing across her face.
“You have no right to be here,” she hissed, standing to face him.§
“I have every right,” Rowan countered, his voice cracking. “That child is mine, Calla. Ours. You can’t just erase that!“}
Her anger flared. “You think this is about you? This is about me taking back control of my life, Rowan. Something you never let me have!”
Rowan stepped closer, his voice softening. “I know I’ve made mistakes–more than I can ever count. But don’t punish the child for my failures.”
Calla’s lip trembled, her resolve faltering. “You’re only saying this now because you think it’ll fix everything. But it won’t, Rowan. It’s too late.”
“Please,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I’ll do anything. Just don’t go through with this.“>
Kael appeared in the doorway, his presence immediately drawing Rowan’s attention.
“You don’t get to guilt her into anything,” Kael said coldly, stepping between them. “She’s making this decision for herself, not for you.”
Rowan’s wolf bristled, his fists clenching. “And who are you to speak for her?“>
“I’m the one who actually respects her choices,” Kael shot back.
The tension crackled like a storm about to break, and Calla felt the weight of their stares. She stepped back into the circle, her voice barely a whisper.}]
“Both of you need to leave,” she said.
Neither man moved.”
“Now!” she shouted, her voice shaking with authority she didn’t realize she had.
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The air thickened, the bond between her and Rowan pulsating with a painful intensity. She watched as he took a step back, his eyes filled with a mixture of heartbreak and fury.
“This isn’t over,” Rowan said, his voice low but firm. “I’ll fight for you, Calla. Even if it means fighting against you.”
He stormed out, leaving Kael and Calla in stunned silence.
As the door swung shut behind Rowan, Mirva turned to Calla, her expression grim.
“Child,” the old healer murmured, “your choice will shape not just your fate, but the fate of this unnamed pack and his.”
Calla clutched her stomach, the weight of the decision settling over her like a suffocating fog.”
Seventee
