Chapter 15: Roses

Adelie

A vision of the underground filled my mind, distant voices echoing in the backdrop.

Roots, shrouded in a white mist, danced and intertwined, forming something grand. As they moved, leaves sprouted from them.

Alpha and Jasmin halted, stepping back to observe the spectacle.

I wasn’t certain of my actions, but I was guided by instinct.

A tingling sensation spread through my feet, followed by a surge of power. I lifted my right leg and slammed it down, the earth shattering behind me.

Gasps echoed around me. I glanced at Alpha, his mouth agape, his gaze shifting between me and the spectacle behind me. Jasmin, on the other hand, was grinning broadly.

I turned around slowly, my heart pounding. A creature, alive and moving, stood before me. It was a human-sized figure made of roots and green vines, with hollow eye sockets and an open mouth.

I had created that. I imagined it raising its arm and it obeyed, mirroring my thoughts. It was an extension of my mind, a physical manifestation of my thoughts. I made it take a few steps.

Then, I imagined it returning to the earth, and it slowly sank back into the ground.

I turned back to Alpha and Jasmin.

“That was...” Alpha began, but Jasmin finished his sentence, a proud smile on her face. “Exactly what I wanted you to do.”

For a moment, my gaze met Alpha’s. He didn’t look angry or pleased. He looked concerned, perhaps realizing the energy it took, or maybe he was worried about my newfound ability.

Beta approached me, addressing the crowd that had gathered.

“There’s nothing to see here, go back to what you were doing.” At first, they hesitated, but a stern glare from Beta sent them scurrying back.

“Now, tell me how did you do that?” Jasmin walked to the spot where the creature had disappeared, examining the grass, but there was no trace of the creature.

I felt drained, as if all my energy had been transferred to the creature. The pain from my healing intensified. “I...I...had...a vision,” I managed to say, my head spinning.

“Ahh. A vision. I think this has something to do with telekinesis. I want you to try again, this same thing. Try to imagine it, try to recreate the same feeling you had while it was happening,” she instructed, stepping back to observe.

I nodded, summoning all my strength to stay upright. I wasn’t a quitter. If she wanted me to do it, I would.

“Adelie, are you okay?” Alpha’s voice came from behind me. I raised my hand, signaling him to stay back.

I closed my eyes, trying to recall the vision. It was hazy, but I could see the roots intertwining. Thousands of tiny vines merging, pulsating with life. It was an extension of me, its heartbeat mirroring mine.

It moved beneath the surface, but it felt like my heart stopped for a moment. I collapsed, conscious but completely drained. I could smell Alpha’s scent as soon as I hit the ground.

He cradled my face in his hands. “Adelie. Adelie, breathe. Stay awake,” he urged, his voice soothing.

“What can I do?” He asked Jasmin, who had joined us.

“She’s a nymph. Take her to her element, the grass here won’t be enough, she needs strong tree roots,” she advised, pointing towards the forest.

The forest. It was calling me, every fiber of my being yearning to be there.

Without wasting a moment, Alpha scooped me up in his arms, my head resting against his chest, his heartbeat erratic.

“We need to go somewhere where there are old trees, that’s where the most energy is,” Jasmin suggested, but Alpha turned to her.

“I am going with her alone, you stay here,” he warned, effectively silencing her. I didn’t hear her follow us.

We entered the woods, Alpha carrying me deeper into the forest.

I could sense the energy pulsating around me. “Here,” I managed to whisper, my voice filled with anticipation.

Alpha set me down with a gentleness that was characteristic of him. I closed my eyes, gripping his hand to keep him close.

I didn’t have to do much. The energy seemed to know where to go. The pain began to ebb away, replaced by a feeling of rejuvenation. I felt new. I felt young.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the treetops reaching for the sun, its rays filtering through to warm my face.

I felt Alpha’s hand in mine and turned to look at him. He was avoiding my gaze.

He had carried me all this way, despite his own injuries. I reached up to touch his wounded shoulder. “Let me,” I pleaded.

I wanted to heal him. I could feel his pain in my own body. Silver was lethal to a werewolf. I wanted to take away his suffering.

Alpha gently removed my hand from his shoulder, pressing it to his lips. His kiss was as light as a feather. “I’m sorry for hurting you,” he murmured. But something held me back from forgiving him.

Nymphs are known for their forgiving nature, but my heart felt no sympathy for his remorse. I loved him, but he had hurt me more than anyone else ever had.

I pulled my hand away and stood up. I turned to face him again. “Let me heal you,” I insisted, but he shook his head.

“We need to go back. You’ve had enough training for today. Even healing won’t help you now.” He started to walk away, but I grabbed his arm. He didn’t pull away, just looked at me.

“You’re in pain, and healing is what I do,” I said. “What’s the point of my powers if I can’t alleviate pain? Why won’t you let me help?”

“If it wouldn’t hurt you, I would.”

“Don’t you understand? I’m meant to do this. It won’t hurt me as much as it’s hurting you. I’m used to pain.”

“And don’t you understand the guilt I feel for causing you so much pain? I can’t bear to hurt you anymore,” he said, pulling away from me. “Let’s go back.” I followed him, like I always did.

We returned to the training grounds. Alpha walked over to Jasmin. “Ready to continue?” she asked me, but Alpha answered for me.

“That’s enough for today,” he said, taking my hand and leading me back to the house. He was walking too fast. I pulled away from him, anger flaring. “I’m not going to run away,” I told him, now standing in front of him.

I was about to go inside when I stopped, looking at the barren space in front of the house. “Alpha,” I said, catching his attention. But he was already watching me.

“Kairos,” he corrected. “Call me Kairos, not Alpha. We’re equals.” I had never called him Kairos before.

I cleared my throat. “Kairos, I think this place would look better with some plants. Maybe roses. It would make it less gloomy.”

Kairos nodded. “I’ll have the omegas take care of it. Would you like to help them?” he asked.

I smiled at him. “I would like that.”

“I’ll arrange it,” he said, and walked off towards the pack house.

I went to my room to change out of my training clothes. I chose a creamy silk A-line dress, something more comfortable and flowing.

A few hours later, Beta called me outside to help with the planting. I didn’t hesitate, practically running out the door.

Beta Raphael and Maeve were waiting for me. “Luna, Maeve will assist you. If you need anything, just call me,” Raphael said.

“Thank you, Raphael,” I replied, smiling broadly. He left, and Maeve and I began to plant the small flowers in the prepared holes in front of the grey wall.

“You began without me?” I asked, noticing her slight recoil.

“I’m sorry Luna, did you want them arranged differently?” Maeve responded, her face etched with a hint of anger.

“No, I just wanted to lend a hand. Seems like you’ve got it all under control,” I replied, reaching for the remaining plants in the box.

Maeve didn’t respond, so I decided to fill the silence. “How’s Maya doing?” I asked.

“Good. She’s content there,” she replied, a bitter edge to her voice as she tended to the plants.

“And you? Are you content here?” I asked. Maeve exhaled sharply, clearly irritated.

“With all due respect Luna, my happiness is none of your business,” she retorted, standing up. “These will take a while to grow,” she added. But before she could leave, I placed my hand near a plant, close enough to sense its roots.

I closed my eyes, picturing roses blooming under a hot sun. I felt a rush of energy, like time speeding up. When I opened my eyes, a large rose bush with white flowers had sprung up next to me.

Maeve stared in awe. After a moment, she found her voice. “Do you know what happened two years ago?” she asked, seemingly out of the blue.

I nodded. “Jasmin told me.”

Maeve’s gaze dropped to the ground. “Everyone in the pack is talking about you and your powers,” she said. I wasn’t upset by this; I just hoped they could accept me. “Good things,” she added quickly, looking at me. She licked her lips and ran a hand through her hair.

“My mate was killed by Mia,” she said, her voice wavering despite her attempt at confidence. I knew that losing a mate was said to be like dying yourself. I couldn’t fully understand her pain, but I could imagine.

“He was stabbed in the throat. If you had been there, could you have saved him?” she asked, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and hope.

I moved closer to Maeve, not wanting to lie to her. “My mother once had me try to heal a woman who’d been bitten by a venomous snake.

“She was a regular human, oblivious to our world. She was only twenty-eight. I tried to save her, but I couldn’t. When my father arrived, he said it was her time.

“Her fate was to die from that snake bite. I can’t always heal everyone. I wish I could, but fate has a cruel sense of humor,” I explained. “I don’t know if I could have saved your mate, Maeve. But if I wasn’t there, maybe it was just fate’s cruel joke.”

Maeve looked down at her feet. “Where is he now? What happens after death? Is it heaven and hell like we all think?”

“I don’t know. Death never told me. He says it’s the one thing people can never be sure of. Even when someone thinks they have all the answers, what comes after death is something they can only imagine. The ultimate unknown.”

Maeve’s eyes welled up, but she quickly blinked away the tears and looked at me. “When you met my mother…” she began, but I understood what she was asking without her having to finish.

“She lived a long life. Nothing lasts forever, not even the warmth of a loved one’s touch. Even memories fade over time,” I said. “Don’t cling to the painful memories. Let them go. When you’re alone late at night, you’ll remember all the beautiful moments that once were. But not every day. Live in the present, with the wonders you have now.”

Maeve rushed over and hugged me tightly. I felt tears prick my own eyes.

Because we’re all a little broken inside.