Chapter 9: Song

[Ocean]

“Aria, remember when you told me about mate? What do you mean by it?”

We both lay in my bed, this girl by my side has decided to spend the night with me. And since I don’t have the pleasure of leaving my room, they visited me from time to time just to make sure I won’t bore myself.

“Oh! It’s about time to tell you all about it!” She squealed and rolled on her stomach, her elbows propped up on the mattress and her chin resting on her palms.

Every time we talk about mates, she always gets excited.

“As I was saying, the last time. In our tradition, the moon turns crimson once a year, which we call krvavi mjesec.”

Kraaav-what? My tongue got stuck at the term, but it slipped out perfectly in Aria’s mouth. I prefer the term “blood moon” then. I didn’t interfere with her enthusiasm in narrating their tradition, and this topic makes her awfully giddy.

“The vuk, or the wolf, well, you’ve seen how we can transform into one. Finds her or his mate at that time. Mate is the other half of your soul, your life partner. Others have rumored that if a mate had been rejected, the wolf might have gone rogue.”

Rouge? Like Quillian? Did his mate reject him? Is that why he’s so grumpy? What a pity, and I kind of understand why his mate left him.

“How will they know they’re their mate?” She began by tapping her chin and humming.

“I’m not sure, I still need to turn eighteen before my wolf can sense our mate.” She sighed as she realized she’d have to wait another four years to find her mate.

Haven’t Arzhel found his mate?

“Did Arzhel have one?” The mere mention of his name causes the heat to rise up my neck. Dread settled in my gut as I imagined him having someone else.

Aria grinned brightly before turning to face me.

“Oh, Arzhel? No, he doesn’t have one, but I’m sure he’ll find one this year.” She gives me a wink. I’m not sure why, but that dread lifted when she said he didn’t have a mate.

“I have a feeling you’ll be his mate, Ocean. The way he looks at you and how much he cares about you.” I couldn’t help but smile at what she just said. If my fate is to be with Arzhel, I’m willing to give up on finding my memories and live in this place happily.

Will it be possible? Will Quillian agree to it?

“I don’t think Quillian will allow it, Aria.” I frown. Why does that man have to be this hard?

“Oh, he can’t do anything when you’re mated to Arzhel. It’s an absolute rule that everyone in the pack must follow.” What she said gives me hope. That only means he doesn’t have to threaten to kill me everytime our path crosses, right?

“How about Quillian? Did his mate reject him? Is that why he’s rouge?” I blurted out of curiosity and Aria burst out laughing.

Okay, did I say something funny?

“Silly. My uncle had not gone rogue, and he did not yet have a mate. I doubt he’ll be able to find one.” She wipes her happy tears away from the corners of her eyes.

“By the way, what is a rogue?” Her face turns serious at my question. Now I kind of see how Quillian and this girl are related. Their moods shift quickly even before I realize what is going on.

“Those men we met at the edge of the cliff. Those are the rogues. They do not abide by any laws. Those were the people who were exiled for committing heinous crimes. They feed on hatred, and their wolves have gone mad.” She said in forlorn.

That must be why she was terrified when the four of them appeared. Rogues were extremely dangerous creatures.

“What does the village do during krvavi mjesec?” I shifted the topic, we survived that incident and we don’t need to relive it.

“You had a terrible accent.” She snorted at my failed attempt to pronounce their term. I just shrugged in response.

“During the krvavi mjesec, we will hold a ceremony. The pack will gather around a huge bonfire, offering flowers. The mated males will then beat the drums when the moon reaches its full phase. The unmated males will transform into their wolf and hide, while the unmated females will dance around the fire. Naked.” The last thing she said made me gape.

Naked? Around everyone? Aren’t some of the people here too young to be witnessing such intense activity?

“... and no. The festival is not open to young wolves under the age of eighteen. That includes me.” She must have noticed the look on my face.

“When will that be?”

“In a month.”

“Will I be naked as well?”

“I’m not sure. You can ask Baba about it.” Okay, that doesn’t sound very reassuring.

I’ve only seen Arzhel, Aria, and Quillian naked. I don’t think I’ll be able to handle the sight of everyone doing it.

Sure, their bodies were toned and defined, and they had every right to flaunt them. And I’m just skin and bones in comparison to them.

My self-esteem has just plummeted. Aria, too, has curves in her body that makes me want to cry.

Will I really be mated to Arzhel? Will his wolf choose me?

I remember the time when we were at the cliff and when he kissed my head. The way my heart flutters at the sight of him, is that enough to be his mate? He clearly cares about me, but does he feel the same way about me?

“You know what, Ocean? If a wolf doesn’t find his mate at the age of sixty, their heart will break as well as their soul and will die in vain.” Aria’s somber voice yanks me from my mental monologue. Is that really how potent for them to have their mate?

“I think that’s enough information for now. It’s getting late.” I yanked the blanket from the mattress and dragged it over to Aria.

“Goodnight, Ocean.”

“Goodnight, Aria.”

She scooted closer to me as I hugged her body, not long before my consciousness drifted away from me.

*****

I heard it. My eyes peeled open at the sound but I wasn’t seeing anything.

Something beautiful is beckoning me.

I felt my body had slipped out of bed. My feet dragged me to the door, which I twisted the knob open.

I’m not sure why no one has noticed this beautiful rhythm and why I was the only one who hears it.

My body followed it unconsciously until I was outside. As I cross the path, a small rock digs into my bare feet but the pain doesn’t concern me.

My gaze fixed ahead, trailing the unseen cord that was pulling me. The sound is like a hundred whales singing in perfect harmony with the waves and wind’s beautiful melodies.

It was mesmerizing.

It’s a combination of serene, angelic vocal song that makes me feel at ease and free of all my worries and problems. It makes me feel whole. Whispering promises into my life. All I want to do is sing the song over and over again, with no lyrics to tell those who are captivated by it.

The wind feels cold against my skin and flutters the thin layer of fabric I’m wearing.

Then I feel it.

My throat started to vibrate as it began to thrum. My mouth opens, responding to the call. Thousands of melodies poured forth from my lips.

My voice had created a song that was an amalgamation of multiple sounds made by various oceanic lifeforms synchronized with the howls of the winds and waves.

I didn’t know how long I was walking, my body didn’t feel tired.

My feet come to a halt at the cliff’s very edge, staring blankly into the vast ocean. The enormous moon shone brightly in the night sky.

My voice became more resonant as I sang along with the call. Underneath me, the waves smashed violently.

And the song tells me to jump, to be with the waters.

My arms spread wide and I lurched forward.

Just then everything stopped, the call faded, my song ended before my feet left the ground, like I had been awakened from a dream and yanked harshly back to reality.

A firm grip lock on the back of my neck kept me from falling down completely, sparks traveling from the touch.

Panic overtakes me as I realize I’m dangerously leaning at the edge, hovering to the rocky shore below.

I scrambled back when someone pulled me far away from the edge.

My eyes were wide and my throat was sore.

“What just happened?” My voice was sketchy, and my vision was distorted. What am I doing outside?

I turn to face the person who pulled me. A pair of bright green eyes stared back at me.

“You were singing.” His voice was calm without any hint of anger, and he was staring intently at me. His face was blank but his eyes were intense.

Then what he said hit me.

I was singing?

The realization dawned on me like a bucket of ice.

Blasted! We’re alone outside.

Is he going to kill me?