28. Evolet

I started running as soon as I managed to get up. My wounds were still bleeding, and my sprained ankle was getting worse.

'Ivy, why are we not healing? Is everything ok?' I ask worriedly.

'I'm not sure, Amaya! I've been trying to do this, but I can't. Whatever the substance that Cora injected us was, it makes me weak. I'm afraid that soon I will need a long rest.'

'Hold on, Ivy! Let me get to Evolet first.'

She didn't say anything, but I knew she would do her best to support me.

I was running for a few hours before I got to the Fire Kingdom. I managed to sneak into their lands without any guard to notice me.

Suddenly my breath caught in my throat, and I fell to the forest floor.

'Ivy?!' I ask desperately. I didn't want anything to happen to her. She was part of me now, part of my soul.

She didn't answer, so I pushed myself up but to no avail. I didn't have enough strength for this vast body. So I did the only thing that came into my mind. I shift.

My bones start to readjust, and I muffle a scream when the unbearable pain makes me almost faint.

'Hold on there, for me, Ivy! We will be alright! I promise!' I said even if I knew, she probably wouldn't hear me.

I looked down at my body to check my injuries, but I froze in shock for a moment when I noticed that I didn't completely shift. I was looking like a monster, a half-human half-wolf. My hands were human but way hairy with claws as same as my legs. I touched my face only to realise that it was my human face, but with wolf ears and canines. I knew my eyes should still be gold. I could feel it.

I look at my torso and see that all my lower body was covered in thick black fur.

At least I won't be naked in front of my friends.

Taking a step, I fell back on the ground.

"Great!" I shout sarcastically, trying to get up again.

I managed to walk for another fifteen minutes before I heard what seemed to be a party. I couldn't just get there for everyone to see me like this, so I decided to wait.

Two hours later, I was still waiting, looking from afar, at the blurred faces. I could not make out who was there. Even with my wolf hearing and vision, I was too weak.

When finally, the music started to fade, and just a few people left, I concluded that I needed a distraction to make most of them go.

So I sneak into the palace and try to find Evolet's room. But as soon as I step, I hear it. The most beautiful voice. The one that made my heart stop beating and my body melt.

Oren's sweet and deep voice.

But he wasn't alone. He was with Titus and two kids.

'Are they his?' I thought, and a tear fell down my cheek.

I hide in the first room I find and wait for them to leave. Maybe it was a mistake to come here. But then again, I need their help. It's been five years, after all—five years since I left.

The voices faded away, and I knew it was time to act. I need to find Evolet before I lose consciousness.

I get out of the room and head to a balcony, looking around so that no one will see me.

But I stop at this specific window when I see two little kids. They were around four or five; a girl and a boy- both with black curly hair.

I froze for a second when their little eyes locked with mine. They were looking at me in confusion and fear, and I wanted so much to tell them that I am not going to hurt them, but their screams made me jump off the balcony and run into the forest.

I stop near a big tree, trying to decide what I should do now; should I stay and ask them to help me or go. If I stay, Oren's presence will be hard to ignore, but then again, if I go there, I have nowhere to go. And I promise to Leon and Anna that I will go back for them and my father.

I step on a dried branch making a loud noise, and start looking around frantically to see if anyone heard. To my luck, everyone was now running towards the palace. It must be the kids' screams that made them check what was wrong.

When I sigh in relief, Evolet stops in her tracks and turns to face the forest. Like she could feel I was here, she came straight to the place I was hiding in.

I took a step back, but when I saw her warm eyes, I forgot that I wanted to go.

"Help me, please!" I said to her, My voice came out distorted, and I expected her to be afraid. But she wasn't. She was clearly surprised to see me here but not afraid.

"Amaya?" She asks and steps forward to hug me.

I nod my head and open my arms for her to come. Without wasting another second, she runs towards me and hugs me.

"Oh, Amaya! I have been so worried about you! We all were! Especially Oren."

I pulled back and looked at her.

"Oren? But he… I saw the kids and…." I couldn't stop my sentence as another agonising pain made me fall to the ground.

"Amaya! Amaya, what's wrong?" She asks worriedly.

Blood came out of my mouth, and I started coughing violently, feeling that I would choke on my blood.

"Oh my God! Amaya, hold on! I will bring the boys to help you up. We need to take you to the infirmary."

"No! I mean… Do not let Oren see me like this. I remember the look in his eyes when I shifted for the first time. He was afraid of me. He must hate me now."

"But, Amaya, he is your Alter."

"Evolet! Evolet, where are you?"

Blaze and Oren shout at the same time.