Chapter 43: The Awakening Tides.
**Thelma Zane’s POV**
Damn these confidentiality regulations! When I become Queen, the first thing I’ll do is abolish this ancient, outdated rule. The thought bubbled in my mind as sleep claimed me, right there in the bathtub.
By the time I woke up, the morning sun was streaming through the curtains, casting a warm glow over my room. Blinking groggily, I realized two figures were standing by my bed–Kara, my ever–attentive servant, and Tracy, the royal physician. To my surprise, my mother was seated by my side, her face lined with worry.
As soon as she saw my eyes flutter open, relief swept over her features. “Thank the Moon Goddess. You’re finally awake, baby.”
Still hazy, I sat up, trying to make sense of her concern. “What happened?”
“You’ve been asleep for nearly fifteen hours, Your Highness,” Kara informed me. “It’s already noon.”
“What?” I bolted upright, panic rushing through me. “Does that mean I’m late? Oh no, my end -of–term summary is going to have multiple ‘truant‘ stamps!”
Kara stifled a laugh. “You don’t need to worry about that. Today is Saturday. The school is off.”
I froze for a moment, then heaved a sigh of relief “Saturday? Right, it’s Saturday… Thank goodness.”
Still, guilt nagged at me for sleeping in so late. While the day itself was technically free, I silently vowed not to skip my evening training, even if my dear instructor boyfriend was
away.
My mother, however, had other concerns. She gently pulled me into her arms, cradling me like I was still her little girl. “Baby, have you been feeling unwell recently? Chest tightness? Shortness of breath? Dizziness or weakness?”
I basked in the warmth of her embrace, shaking my head lazily. “No, Mom. I feel fine. In fact, I ran seventy–four laps last night! I broke my personal record!!
“My little princess, I’m so proud of you.” She smiled, planting a kiss on my cheek. “But I still want to be sure. You’re approaching a critical age, and I just need to know everything is going well ”
Her repeated questioning wasn’t surprising. As a daughter she had lost and found again, I knew her overprotectiveness came from a place of love. And though I adapted well to her nurturing, something felt different today.
AN
An unusual irritation simmered just beneath the surface. It was the same prickly feeling I had toward Aldrich last night–a sense of restlessness that I couldn’t quite shake.
“Actually…” I began hesitantly, “I’ve been feeling a little off emotionally. It’s like I’ve been in a bad mood for no apparent reason.”
Immediately, my mother’s concern deepened. “Did something happen at school? A fight with friends? Has someone upset you?”
“No, nothing like that,” I assured her. “That’s what makes it strange. Nothing happened, yet I feel this irritation, like something is out of place.
She turned to Tracy, silently pleading for an explanation. The physician remained calm, which helped soothe everyone in the room.
“It’s perfectly normal,” Tracy said, her tone measured. “A werewolf nearing their first shift often experiences heightened emotions and fatigue. Your body is preparing for a significant transformation, and it requires more energy, which explains the extended sleep. The irritability stems from the awakening of your wolf instincts. This process may seem subtle, but it has profound effects.”
“So,” I clarified, “this moodiness and sleepiness are just signs that my wolf is waking up? Tracy nodded reassuringly. “Exactly. While it might feel intense, there’s nothing to worry about. Everything is progressing as it should.”
Hearing this, my mother visibly relaxed. The tension in her shoulders melted away, and a smile returned to her lips.
It was only then I realized something or rather, someone–was missing. “Where’s Father? Is he still busy? Maybe we can have lunch together once he’s done with his work?”
Her smile turned apologetic. “If your father knew about your symptoms, he would have sprouted wings and flown to your side. But he’s dealing with the aftermath of last night’s events. As Alpha, he needs to be there to reassure the people himself.”
I nodded in understanding. Relations between werewolves and witches had always been fraught. Even if open hostilities were rare, the attack at Sivir Academy was a severe breach. It didn’t take much imagination to picture the council of elders seizing the opportunity to undermine my father’s leadership.
“Well, in that case,” I said with a mischievous grin, “how about a candlelight lunch today? You’re always having romantic meals with Father, but you’ve never done it with me. That’s. hardly fair!”
My mother laughed, her voice light and melodic. “Who taught you this cheekiness? Tell me now, so I can banish that glib–tongued bad influence from the pack!”
Aldrich’s face flashed in my mind, and guilt pricked at me momentarily. But I quickly doubled
down on my antics, throwing myself onto her lap and pouting until she laughed even harder.
Lunch turned out to be exactly what I needed. The food was delicious, the company comforting, and for a little while, the storm of emotions inside me seemed to calm.
Afterward, though, drowsiness crept over me orice more. My mother insisted I skip training for the next few days, wanting to ensure nothing disrupted my transition.
“You’re overreacting, Mom,” I mumbled, half–asleep. “This is just a small bump in the road. Tracy said there’s no issue, right?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” she murmured, stroking my hair gently. “Everything will be fine. We promise.”
With her soothing words lulling me, I drifted back to sleep, the promise of my awakening wolf both thrilling and daunting. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a much larger
journey.
