Chapter 218 The prayer Pt 2

Chapter 218: Chapter 218 The prayer Pt 2

Talia’s POV

We sat in silence for a moment, and I felt the weight of Piper’s words settle in my chest.

"Thank you, Piper," I said. "For everything."

She smiled. "Always.”

When we were finished, Piper stood up. "I should go get some rest."

I nodded. "I will see you in the morning."

She hugged me tight.

I buried my face in her shoulder, and I let myself feel the love of my best friend. She was my sister, my family, and I could not imagine doing this without her.

And I felt the warmth of her embrace. "We are going to do this," she said. "Together."

I nodded. "Together."

She left, and I decided to go to the garden to get some fresh air. I walked through the quiet paths, and I thought about everything that lay ahead.

I walked slowly, letting my feet carry me along the familiar paths.

The garden was quiet and peaceful, and I tried to let the stillness calm my racing mind.

The Ashen Lands, Malachai, and my mother who had been waiting for me for fifteen years.

The evening came, and I returned to my room. I took a shower, and the warm water washed away the last traces of the day.

I stood under the spray for a long time, letting the heat soak into my muscles and soothe the ache in my bones. It was a small comfort, but I welcomed it.

When I came out, dinner was waiting for me on the desk.

I sat down and ate, but I could only manage a few bites.

I pushed the food around my plate, but I could not bring myself to eat more. The thought of what lay ahead made my stomach churn, and I did not have the appetite to force it down.

My stomach was full of worry and unease, and the food tasted like nothing.

I could feel the bread crumbling between my fingers as I pushed it across the plate, and I watched the pieces fall onto the wooden surface.

Each crumb was a reminder of how little control I had over what was coming, and how all the planning, and preparing in the world, could not guarantee that I would see my mother’s face again, or that I might ever taste food prepared in this kitchen after tonight.

I pushed the tray aside and tried to lie down. But I could not sleep.

I lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling, and I felt the weight of everything pressing down on me. The journey, the danger, and the hope that my mother was still alive.

But my mind would not stop racing, and I was not comfortable. So, I decided to take a walk through the pack house.

I needed to move, to do something to quiet the chaos in my mind. So I climbed out of bed and pulled on my robe, and I walked out in to the silent hallways.

The hallways were quiet, and the torches flickered low. I walked without thinking, letting my feet carry me wherever they wanted to go. I passed the library, the kitchen, and the training ground.

Then I found a door I had never noticed before.

It was small and unassuming, tucked away at the end of a narrow corridor.

I had walked these halls so many times, and I thought I knew every corner. But this door was hidden, and tucked away like a secret waiting to be discovered. I reached out and pushed it open.

I found myself on the pack house roof.

The night air was cool and crisp, and the sky was clear. The moon was full, casting silver light across the valley below.

The light was soft and ethereal, and it made everything look like it was coated in a layer of magic. It was beautiful, and it made my heart ache with longing.

The mountains stood dark against the horizon, and everything was still.

I walked to the edge of the roof and looked up at the moon. I had never prayed before.

I had always believed in the Moon Goddess, but I had never spoken to her directly. I had never asked her for anything, not really. But tonight, I needed to try.

I closed my eyes and spoke to the Moon Goddess.

My voice was barely a whisper at first, trembling and uncertain, but as I spoke the words grew stronger, and more sure.

Because I was not just asking for myself anymore, I was asking for every wolf who had believed in me, every friend who had risked everything to stand by my side, and for the mother who might have spent fifteen years praying to the same moon, hoping that somewhere out there, her daughter was still alive, and fighting to find her.

I asked for strength, for guidance, and for the courage to face whatever lay ahead. I asked for protection for my pack, for Kaelen, for Piper, and for everyone who had chosen to stand beside me.

I asked for my mother. I asked that she was still alive, and that I would be able to bring her home.

When I opened my eyes, I felt a sense of peace settle over me.

It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and like the darkness that had been pressing down on me had finally receded. I felt lighter, freer, and more hopeful than I had in days.

I did not know if the Moon Goddess had heard me, but I felt lighter.

I stayed on the roof for a long time, watching the moon, and letting the silence wash over me.

I was ready, I was not afraid, and I would bring my mother home.