Chapter 67: The Awakening
**Thelma Zane’s POV**
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
Kara’s worried voice reached me as I stared at my pale, drawn reflection in the mirror. My hands gripped the sink’s edges, trying to steady myself against the growing waves of nausea that had been plaguing me all morning.
I wanted to respond to tell Kara I was fine, that there was nothing to worry about–but the words refused to come. Deep down, I knew they’d be a lie.
I wasn’t fine. I wasn’t even close to fine.
Was Aldrich to blame for this turmoil? Should I hold him accountable for hiding the truth
from me?
this
As my thoughts raced, the answer felt both obvious and contradictory. On one hand, I was girlfriend; secrets between us should not exist. On the other hand, I carried a deception far greater than his.
Because I wasn’t just Thelma Zane, future Queen of the Lycan Pack. Before that, I was someone else entirely. I was *Selma*, a mere shadow of my former life, a false identity created out of necessity.
The real liar wasn’t Aldrich–it was me. From the beginning, I had concealed my true self. I had won his love while hiding behind a mask, and even now, I couldn’t openly claim our love
in front of others.
A fresh wave of nausea rolled through me, so strong that I doubled over the sink, retching violently. But all that came up was bitter bile.
“Thelma,” Kara’s voice broke through again, more urgent this time, “please open the door. If you don’t, I’ll have to use the spare key. Forgive me, but I’m worried.”
I splashed cold water on my face, forcing a weak smile onto my lips before opening the bathroom door. “It’s nothing, Kara. I’m just a little nauseous. Maybe I’ve overexerted myself during training.”
But Kara wasn’t convinced. Her sharp eyes studied me, noting the dark circles under my eyes and the hollowness in my expression. For the first time, she defied my authority. Ignoring my protests, she rushed off to fetch my parents and Tracy, the royal physician.
When my mother arrived, she immediately pulled me into a tight embrace. Her eyes were red, brimming with unshed tears. This powerful woman, who could face down the Council of Elders with unflinching resolve, was now trembling as she held me. Her strength melted away
Choppéro ?. The Awakening
whenever I was involved, her worry carving deep lines into her otherwise composed face.
And then there was my father, the King. The man who ruled with wisdom and steadiness now looked as though his world had tilted off its axis. His usual calm demeanor cracked, replaced. by anxiety that mirrored my mother’s..
Seeing their concern only deepened my self–loathing. I hated the lies that had woven themselves into every corner of my life, hurting the people I loved most. Whether it was my family or Aldrich, my deceptions had left scars everywhere.
I gently extricated myself from my mother’s arms and sank onto the bed, my head resting against the plush goose feather pillow. “Please don’t worry,” I said softly, forcing a laugh that sounded hollow even to my ears. “I’m just tired from training. Kara is being overly cautious.”
My words didn’t ease their concern. They exchanged uneasy glances, their hands gripping mine as if I might disappear at any moment.
Tracy wasted no time, conducting a thorough examination. She checked my vitals, asked a flurry of questions, and finally used a test strip to analyze my blood. When she finished, her expression was grim.
“Your Highness,” she said carefully, “it seems that your body is experiencing significant hormonal changes. I believe your wolf is preparing to awaken ahead of schedule.”
My mother gasped, her voice trembling. “Will this early awakening harm her?“.
Tracy shook her head but didn’t offer much reassurance. “This is a rare occurrence, so we don’t have enough data to draw definitive conclusions. There are potential benefits and risks. In the best–case scenario, the awakening proceeds smoothly, and Princess Thelma is unharmed. However, in the worst–case scenario. her wolf may fail to awaken fully and enter an eternal slumber.”
The room fell into a heavy silence. Even my father, usually so composed, reacted with uncharacteristic urgency. “Tracy,” he said, his voice firm, “you have the highest authorization from this moment forward. Use any resources necessary to ensure my daughter’s safety. Spare no expense or effort.”
Tracy nodded, already forming a plan. She left quickly to begin preparations, while my parents stayed by my side, their worried eyes never leaving me.
As the hours passed, my nausea worsened. A strange, overpowering sensation began to take hold, as though something or someone–was stirring deep within me. My vision blurred my body trembling uncontrollably. It felt as if I were losing control of myself, piece by piece.
Amid the chaos, voices swirled around me–familiar, comforting voices. My mother. My father, Kara. And even Aldrich…
Then, oddly enough, other voices joined the chorus. My adoptive parents, Rhode and Benard.
Chaudry The Awakening.
Why could I hear them? And were the girls from the palace staff calling out to me as well?
For a fleeting moment, I wondered if this was some sort of bizarre public gathering. The absurdity of the thought almost made me laugh. But the laughter quickly gave way to a sense
of calm.
It was a peculiar calm, warm and enveloping, as though I had been transported back to the safety of my mother’s womb. I felt connected to someone–someone whose presence was unlike anything I had ever experienced.
An invisible thread tied us together, pulsating with life and familiarity. Though I couldn’t see or touch her, I knew instinctively that she was a part of me. My closest companion. My other
half.
Driven by an overwhelming need, I struggled to open my eyes. I wanted to see her, this being who felt both alien and deeply familiar. My body resisted, weighed down by exhaustion and confusion, but I refused to give up.
Bit by bit, I forced my eyelids to lift, and then I saw her.
A pair of dark, piercing eyes met mine. She was there, unmistakably real, her presence -radiating strength and unity.
She smiled slightly and said, “You are me, and I am you. Hello, Thelma. I’m Maxine.”
Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!
Claim
Chorg 18–Mount
