Shattered and Saved (Ashen Wolves #2)

2

____________________

A V R I L

The rising moon painted the sky in purples and blues as the members of Azure Smoke gathered around the Banyan tree. I stood beneath it, facing the other shifters, the urn pressed close to my chest. My team was in formation - my beta and gamma at my sides, and my delta, Rhea, right behind me. She had been the one to prepare everything for the ritual in such short notice while Theo, Elijah, and I restored our energy.

Now, we were ready to begin.

“Members of Azure Smoke Pack,” I started, and the wolves around me immediately fell silent, devoting their attention to me. “After a long and exhausting mission, I have returned with the sacred relic that was stolen from us centuries ago. This urn contains the ashes of the original Banyan that granted our kind its powers.”

Cheers erupted from the crowd. I let them celebrate our long-awaited victory, bursting with pride as it sunk in that I had been the one to conquer it. A moment later, Theo raised one hand, and the wolves quieted down again for me to continue.

“For ages, we have survived with only a percentage of our true power. Tonight, it will finally be restored, and the Ashen Wolves will rise from the shadows we have been hiding in!”

A choir of howls filled the night, excitement and anticipation taking over. To that sweet melody, I stepped forward, away from the shade of the tree. Everyone watched attentively as I carefully removed the lid of the urn, lifting the relic above my head. I allowed it to absorb the moonlight for an entire minute before lowering it again.

Crouching by the water, I observed the ashes inside the container. They glittered with light, a sign of the Moon Goddess’ blessing. With that final confirmation, I recited my kind’s ancient vow as I slowly poured the ashes into the stream, which flowed swiftly around the Banyan and across our territory.

The very next second, the clear waters began to glow with a luminous shade of electric blue. I quickly rose to my feet, stepping cautiously away from the riverbank. Little by little, every form of life fed by the stream gradually acquired the same luminescence - from the grass to the orchids, and finally, the Banyan tree.

Impressed murmurs echoed through the crowd as we all witnessed the packlands burst with magic right before our eyes. I felt like I was in a dream. It was hard to believe that our kind’s essence was being restored - not only because of how fantastical the whole process was, but also because, at times, it had seemed like an impossible feat. I wanted to savor every second of it.

However, something else pulled my focus, disrupting the spectacle. A strange sensation stirred within me. Heat bloomed in my stomach, spreading like a slow-burning fire through my veins, reaching every nerve ending and igniting them. But instead of hurting me, it energized me, making me feel more alive than ever - more powerful than ever.

The mark on my arm began to itch, and when I looked down, it was glowing just like the rivers, the flowers, and the tree. Electric blue pulsed through the black lines branded on my skin. Gasps rippled through the crowd, and I realized the same transformation was happening to the rest of my pack. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the light faded.

But the power coursing through me didn’t.

“This belongs to us, Avril,” Kea remarked. I couldn’t help but notice a change in her, too. “And no one will ever take it from us again.”

A wave of emotions crashed over me at her words - fierceness, ambition, protectiveness. I felt like I could conquer the world, yet at the same time, I held a precious treasure I had to protect. The weight of responsibility settled on me, blending with a new fury that burned within. I would defend my family and our gift until my dying breath.

Inhaling deeply to soothe my burning lungs, I faced the wolves before me and raised my voice. “Ashen Wolves!” I called, capturing their attention. “Our spirit is no longer suppressed - no one can silence us anymore!”

As the crowd erupted in cheers, I glanced back at my friends. Their eyes sparkled with a fierce energy, reflecting the same excitement surging within me. Theo and Elijah clenched their fists, knuckles white with anticipation, while Rhea’s smile broke wide, filled with the wild thrill of the moment. I could feel the barely contained power radiating from them, their bodies tense, ready to leap into action.

Turning back to my pack, I invited them with a smile. "Let’s run together and feel what it truly means to be unbound!"

With cries of approval, the shifters around me began to transform, their animal sides surging forward. Kea stirred beneath my skin, eager to stretch her legs and pound the earth beneath her paws. I didn’t hesitate, letting her take over. We led our people, a pack unchained, across our lands that now bloomed with magic.

Together, we welcomed a new dawn for our kind.

After the run with my pack, I celebrated not only the rebirth of our power but also our reunion. In wolf form, we leaped into the stream, soaking in its revitalized energy, then lounged in the grass, moonbathing. It was past midnight when I returned to the main square, feeling utterly renewed. Though I wasn’t tired - still electrified by the power coursing through my veins - I wanted to rest and allow my body to adjust to our evolution. Just as I was about to enter the packhouse, someone stopped me.

“Heading in so soon?” A male voice I hadn’t heard in a while echoed from behind me, earning my attention. I turned around to find Waylon, one of the strongest warriors of my pack, a grin etched on his face. “The night is young.”

Waylon was almost as tall as my beta and just as muscular. His obsidian eyes contrasted with his rich, dark brown hair, which was twisted into dreadlocks and now styled in a lazy bun. Most of his umber skin, covered in tattoos, was exposed, as he wore only a pair of shorts - not that I didn’t already know what he looked like beneath them as well.

It was the first time that I was seeing him since leaving Whispering Hills, and it brought back memories. We had a friends-with-benefits arrangement, though I never let our relationship turn into anything else. There was no room in my heart for love. Or at least, there used to not be. But looking at Waylon and remembering what we used to do also made me think of the last time I’d had sex.

Just like that, Koen flooded my mind again.

Before I had the chance to organize my thoughts, Waylon stepped closer. “I’ve missed you, Avril,” he cooed, making me stiffen. “Why don’t we go out and catch up?”

While I was still frozen, he reached for my hand, his fingers brushing against mine. That seemed to jolt me out of my stillness. I instinctively drew my hand back, distancing myself from him. My heart skipped a beat as unease sunk in.

I wasn’t Koen’s mate anymore - I hadn’t been for a long time. Our broken bond had never stopped me from being intimate with other men before, not that I did it often. Yet, now, the idea of getting involved with Waylon made my stomach turn. It almost felt like cheating.

Noticing the confusion in Waylon’s expression, I quickly recomposed myself and tried to brush it off. “It’s late, Waylon. I’m heading off to bed,” I asserted, readying myself to continue on my way. “Besides, I don’t do dates.”

“Got it. Will you let me join you then?” he insisted, following after me. Once he managed to rush in front of me, I halted. His face was way too close to mine as he whispered, “I’d love to spend the night with you.”

His proposal made me frown, a pinch of anger surfacing as I told him, “I don’t do that either. You know that,” I half-growled. Whenever we were together before, it was for pleasure only. There was no cuddling afterward.

Ignoring my rising irritation, he suggested, “Well, yeah, but I was hoping you would’ve missed me enough to change your mind.” When he inched closer, I backed away, reestablishing a safe distance between us. With a groan, he pushed, “Come on, Avril. What’s up with you?”

“I think she’s made herself clear,” a third voice joined our conversation. From the shadows came Rhea with arms crossed. “You’re just being an annoying ass right now. Not your best look,” she teased.

It was Waylon’s turn to frown. He glared at the Delta for a few more seconds before sighing, raising his palms in defeat. “Fine.” Directing one last look at me, he whispered, his voice too husky for my liking, “Goodnight, Alpha.”

I watched him disappear through the door in silence. When he was gone, Rhea approached me. “I honestly don’t know what you saw in him. I mean, aside from the hot exterior,” she joked, lightening the mood. “But I’m kinda glad you’re not interested anymore.”

I hesitated at her remark. In a low voice, I mused, “You’re not gonna ask why?”

She shook her head. “Not my business. I’m sure you have your reasons, and it’s not my place to question them,” she promptly replied, taking me by surprise.

I hadn’t told Rhea about what happened between me and Koen. We hadn’t had much time to talk since I came back, but I was also reluctant to share the truth with her. Despite her loyalty, I feared she would think me stupid for letting in the mate who had rejected me. Like me, she was all about duty - finding her mate was not high on her priority list. Luckily for me, it seemed she was too reserved to care about my affairs.

As she walked past me on her way to her room, we shared glances. “Sleep well, Alpha. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Rhea,” I replied, taking a moment before heading off to the alpha suite.