Her Freezing Heart

"Princess! Why are you crying?" Ryder said with a little panic in his voice. "Is it hurting anywhere?"

His question puzzled me a little. Why would I be hurting anywhere? I pulled away from him and wiped my eyes.

"I thought you are mad at me too." I whispered.

"I am not mad at you princess. It's just I don't seeing you like this. You look so sad and sick. I know the reason behind it but I can't do anything about it. I feel so helpless that I can't even take care of my sister. How am I supposed to lead a pack? Well that is for later. First let me take you to Papa. He is waiting for you." Ryder said apprehensively.

I climbed on his back and he dashed off towards the cabin. He knows about my condition too? Why is everyone hiding it from me? Is it that bad? Well I will find out tomorrow I guess. Papa is more important at the moment.

I got off his back as we reached the cabin. I saw Papa sitting outside the cabin, his head resting on his front paws. He looked as magnificent as ever but his form looked a little blurred. It looked like he was fading a little. His head lifted off his paws as soon as we arrived. He looked at me with happiness dancing in his eyes then it soon turned to anger. He growled so loudly that I felt the forest floor and trees shudder. I felt my knees buckle under the force of his growl. I saw Ryder bow his head from the corner of my eye. Why is he mad?

"I WILL KILL THAT BASTARD." He snarled.

He was about to dash in the direction where the shifters lived but Ryder stopped him.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY." He ordered.

"Alpha. Calm down." I have never seen Ryder call papa alpha. "You can't do this at the moment. Think before you take any step. Think about Amara."

Papa's head snapped towards me when Ryder said my name. His eyes softened and he looked confused a little.

"Why are you on your knees?" he asked me.

"Your growl knocked me off my feet." I joked in hope to break the tension.

He tilted his head to the side and came towards me. The only thing I wanted to do at the moment is to hug him tightly.

"Get up." He more like ordered which I complied. "Do not and I mean never ever bow in front of anyone." His words took me by shock. "You are a daughter of an Alpha. Never in your life are you to get on your knees in front of anyone. NEVER. My children won't bow in front of anyone. I brought you up to be stronger than that." His eyes suddenly had a sad look. "I know I can't be with you forever. Even after I am gone, you will remember this. Whatever is to come in front of you, fight it head on. There are hard times ahead of you. It has already began. Even if I won't be visible to you, I will still be with you. Keep fighting. I know you will swim safely through these hard waters. I love you so much princess. You are stronger than anyone of us and I believe in you."

He looked so broken. My Papa. The strong Alpha wolf, looks so sad. I flung myself at him. His head pressed against my back, engulfing my small frame and a warmth filled inside me. The warmth I didn't knew I was longing for all these past months. I felt at home. I didn't knew I was crying until I felt the wetness on my cheeks. The prospect of papa leaving Ryder and me forever crashed hard in my chest. I don't want him to leave. I don't want him to leave us ever.

"I love you so much Papa." I wanted to say so much more but I just couldn't get the words out.

An owl hooted in the distance. The woods were silent apart from that. I moved away from papa and plopped on the ground in front of him. He and Ryder sat down as well, cocooning me in between them. Then it happened. The ache in my chest came back. It started low at first but slowly started to intensify. I bit my lip to stop myself from making any sound from the pain. This time it felt more painful than before. I don' want to add on to Papa and Ryder's problem.

The metallic taste of my blood entered my mouth. Not here please. I don't want them to see me like this. The world swirled around me and I leaned on Ryder. More like fell backwards.

"Amy?" Ryder asked. I can tell he was panicking. "What is it? Are you alright?"

I opened my mouth to tell him it's nothing but I gasped loudly in pain.

"Princess?" I heard Papa's deep voice from in front of me.

When did I close my eyes? I involuntarily clutched my chest in hopes that it will make the pain go away. But that didn't happen. The pain intensified even more. It felt like someone is stabbing me repeatedly with a dagger. A scream left my mouth before I could stop it and the screams went on as I writhed on the forest floor in agony with papa and Ryder looking at me in fear and pain in their eyes. What is happening to me?☐☐☐