Chapter 2 The Awakening

“Wake up, my child,” a soothing voice called out to her, but it felt so distant. “It's time to wake up child,” The voice called out again, and this time it echoed loudly in Nora's ears that she slowly opened her eyes. She looked around to see the face behind the voice but found none. This was totally different from the voice that had always sounded in her head. “I must be dreaming,” she thought to herself, but her eyes soon widened in horror when the voice replied to her inner thoughts. “You are not dreaming,” the voice replied. Convinced that it was a dream, since there was no way an ordinary voice would hear her inner thoughts, Nora decided to go back to sleep. But a luminous figure appeared before her. The illumination that came from the direction of the voice, pierced her eyes like a thousand needles, and sent a shooting pain through her skull— it was like staring directly at the heart of the moon. “Who are you? And Where am I?” Nora's curiosity piqued, avoiding a direct gaze with the mysterious luminous figure that stood before her. “This is the spirit world, and you're here because of your plea to the moon goddess, shortly before your death,” The voice is gentle, yet firm. “Shortly before my death? Am I dead?” a pang of sadness washed through her as she remembered that she was hit by a vehicle on her way home, “But who are you? And how come you have so much information about spirits? Are you also a spirit? And why are…” “Child, I am not here to play the game of question and answer with you, I am here to grant your last wish,” the luminous figure interrupted her abruptly. “The last wish I had was for the moon goddess to save me, but here I am, already dead, so what wish could you possibly want to grant?” Nora responded wryly. “I could give you another chance at life,” she said, her voice ethereal. Nora's heart skipped a beat. "How can you do that? desperation clawing at her. "I can make you live for one hundred and eighty days, But there's a condition— you must uncover a hidden memory from your past life," the luminous figure replied. "A hidden memory from my past life?" Nora's mind reeled "for just one hundred and eighty days?" frustration creeping in her voice. "If you find the hidden memory within the timeframe, it holds the key to your redemption, which will allow you to live beyond one hundred and eighty days." The mysterious figure assured her. Elated by the hope of living beyond the initial 180 days this mysterious woman mentioned, Nora nodded and accepted. "Okay, I accept," She could imagine the woman's gaze piercing her soul, as there was a brief moment of silence. "Are you sure? Many have made this promise before, only to get distracted once they return to life.” With unwavering determination Nora responded. "I won't be like that. I promise." Instantly, Nora fell into a deep, restorative sleep. And then her eyes fluttered open again, the bright lights above her pierced through her eyes like thousands of needles, and she quickly shielded her eyes with her arm. She felt disoriented as she looked around, trying to figure out where she was. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her head, forcing her back to bed. She didn't know where she was, the smell of antiseptics and machines beeping filled her head— A hospital room. But how did she get here? She was just talking to the mysterious woman about a certain condition she must meet within a timeframe, and now she wakes up in a hospital bed. Nora gazed down at her body, and noticed the IV tube inserted into her wrist and the hospital gown she had on. She tried to talk but her voice was not audible enough, so she cleared her throat and tried again. “Where am I?’’ she asked as fear and confusion gripped her soul, but she got no response. “Where am I? Damn it!’’ she barked, with a surge of desperation. She had used all the strength she had left to say that, and it worked, because the door busted open, and a nurse hurried in, concern etched on her face. The nurse quickly checked the beeping machines, and checked Nora's vitals as well. She checked her eyes and examined her pupils to confirm that she was okay, but Nora's impatience grew, her frustration simmering just below the surface. “Can you please tell me where I am? I don't seem to remember how I got here,” Nora's voice firm, yet dripping in frustration. The nurse's explanation only deepened Nora's confusion. "You were brought here two days ago, after you slipped and fell on the staircase, where you hit your head hard," the nurse explained gently. "You… you must be mistaken, I'm sure that I didn't fall down any stairs," Nora shook her head in disapproval of the nurse's explanation. Nora's mind reeled as she struggled to process the nurse's explanation. The last thing she remembered was being hit by a speeding vehicle, and the encounter with the mysterious woman— which she still believed was a dream. "You suffered a heavy blow to the head when you fell, so I think that's why you can't remember," the nurse placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure with time you'll remember." This nurse had just added to Nora's confusion, by saying she fell down the stairs, Nora's thoughts reeled, she didn't know what was real anymore, she feels like she's losing her grip on reality. Millions of thoughts ran through her mind, leaving her disconcerted. But a man soon walked in, and jolted her out of her thoughts. Nora froze at the sight of Alpha King Derek, the shivers that went through her spine felt like ice, she blinked rapidly to ensure that she could see properly, she pinched herself again to confirm that she was not dreaming, the pain she felt from the pinch caused her to confirm that it was not a dream. “What could he possibly be doing at the hospital?” Nora's gaze fixed on him. He stands tall, around 6ft , with a strong, athletic build, His black hair is perfectly brushed, with subtle waves that add to his effortless charm. His eyes are a deep, azure blue that seem to see right through her, yet sparkle with warmth and kindness. He exudes an aura of quiet confidence, as if he's aware of his stunning good looks but doesn't feel the need to flaunt them. But his presence at the hospital seemed like a puzzle piece that didn't fit. But his presence was not as shocking as the name he called Nora. “Daphne,” he paused, and heaved a sigh of relief, “all thanks to the moon goddess for reviving you. You've been unconscious for the past two days,” Derek's voice is gentle, yet firm. Nora's gaze drifted, she knew Alpha King Derek, who is married to the first daughter of Lord Damon (Her foster father, and the biological father of Daphne, Mira, and Marock). But why would Derek address her as Daphne? “Because you are Daphne of course,” Nora heard a voice in her head, low yet daring, responding to her thoughts. “Who are you? What are you? How can you hear my thoughts? Are you the mysterious woman from my dream?” Nora asked the voice in her head, without saying the words out. “Permit me to introduce myself, I am Kaira, your wolf.” the beast growled. “Does this mean that I am no longer wolfless?” Nora’s brow furrowed in surprise. “Is she okay? ‘Cause she doesn't look like the picture of health,” Derek asked the nurse, who was about to leave the room. But the nurse assured Derek that she'd get better with time. “I am no longer wolfless,” a smile plastered across Nora's face, as her thoughts remain inward.