I felt a wave of panic wash over me, the reality of the situation hitting me like a ton of bricks.

Was this the fate that awaited me? To fade away, little by little, until there was nothing left of me but a grave?

"What can we do?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.

Selene placed a hand on my shoulder, offering me a reassuring squeeze. "There might be a way to restore your wolf," she said. "But it will require a great sacrifice and a willingness to embrace your true nature."

I looked at her, feeling a mix of hope and caution. What did she mean by a sacrifice? And could I really embrace my wolf side after so many years of denying it?

"It won't be easy," Selene continued. "But together, we can find a way to save your life and restore your strength."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. "What do we need to do?" I asked.

"We need to find a way to reconnect you with your wolf," Selene explained.

I nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. "And what about the sacrifice?" I asked, wanting to know the full extent of what I was getting into.

Selene's expression turned solemn. "To restore your wolf, you will need to undergo a ritual that requires a sacrifice of equal value," she said. "It won't be easy, but it's the only way to save your life. That part will come later. We need to start small, and we need to start now."

I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. I didn't want to die, and I wasn't ready to give up on my life.

"I'll do whatever it takes," I said firmly. "What do I do?" I asked her, feeling the desperation starting to form a pit into my stomach.

I had the feeling that without Selene's contact with my body, and without the energy she was forcing through my skin, I'd be feeling a lot more panicked than I currently was.

"We need to find your wolf," Selene said, her tone serious and unwavering.

"How?" I asked, feeling a sense of frustration creeping into my voice. I had been searching for my wolf for so long, but she seemed to have vanished without a trace.

"You need to remove the blocks you've set up," Selene replied, her eyes never leaving mine. "You think she's abandoned you, but that's not the case."

I shook my head, feeling a wave of bitterness rising within me. "She did leave me," I said, my voice tinged with resentment.

Selene placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, her touch gentle yet firm. "No, Gemini," she said. "You left her. You locked her away, buried deep within your mind."

I stared at her, feeling a glimmer of recognition stirring within me. Had I really been blocking my own wolf all this time? And if so, why?

"You're wrong," I protested weakly, my voice wavering with uncertainty. "I couldn't have done something like that to myself."

Selene smiled at me, her expression full of understanding. "You did it to protect yourself," she said softly. "But now, you need to find her."

"How?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice. I was willing to do whatever it took to find my wolf, but the thought of unlocking my own mind was daunting.

"It won't be easy," Selene warned me. "But we can do it together. We need to start by breaking down the blocks you've built up, one by one."

"Even if you were right," I sighed, and she raised her eyebrow as if she was surprised I was still doubting her. "I don't know how to clear them."

Selene's eyes bore into mine, her expression unwavering. "It's not going to be easy," she said, her voice low and serious. "Removing those blocks will require facing some uncomfortable truths. You will have to confront the pain, the trauma, the guilt."

I felt my heart sink at her words. Confronting those emotions was the last thing I wanted to do. It was easier to push them down and pretend they didn't exist. But I knew that Selene was right. If I wanted to heal and wake my wolf, I had to face those painful memories and emotions. Or what other option was I left with? I didn't want to die. I wanted to live.

"Okay," I said, steeling myself for the journey ahead. "What do I have to do?"

"We will start with meditation," Selene said, placing her hands back on my arms. "Close your eyes and take a deep breath."

I did as she said, inhaling deeply and feeling the air fill my lungs. As I exhaled, I felt Selene's energy flowing into me, calming my nerves and easing my anxiety. We sat there, in the peaceful garden, for what felt like hours, meditating and focusing on my breathing.

Finally, Selene spoke. "Now, visualize a door," she said. "It's a door to your mind."

I pictured a large wooden door in my mind, with intricate carvings and a brass handle. It appeared at the edge of my consciousness, almost like it had always been there.

"Now," Selene continued, "imagine that behind that door is your wolf."

I hesitated for a moment, my mind rebelling against the idea. But then I saw a flash of her, a glimpse of her familiar face, and I knew that Selene was right. I needed to do this.

"Open the door," Selene instructed.

I reached out and grasped the handle of the door, feeling it's cool metal against my hand.

With a deep breath, I pulled it open. What I saw inside my mind was a mess. Memories and emotions swirled around in a chaotic whirlwind, creating a storm of pain and confusion. But in the center of it all, I saw her. My wolf. She was huddled in a corner, her white fur matted and her eyes filled with fear.

I took a step forward, trying to approach her. But as I did, the whirlwind grew stronger, and I felt myself being pulled back. I lost sight of my wolf, and the door altogether. I opened my eyes, expecting Selene to be staring at me with her disappointment clear in her eyes. I wasn't strong enough to do this.

"This is the first step," Selene said, her voice gentle. "You've opened the door. You know it's there. It will take time, my child. It will take time, and it will take pain, tears and sweat. But you need to do this."

"It's hard," I told her, shaking my head. The picture of my wolf looking so desperate flashed through my mind again. I didn't want to see her like that. I didn't want to believe that clearly, my wolf was doing just as bad as I was.

Selene placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I know it's hard," she said. "But the fact that you were able to open that door, even for just a moment, shows that you have the strength to face what's inside."

"I don't know if I can do it," I admitted, feeling a lump forming in my throat.

"You can," Selene assured me. "You have a powerful spirit, Gemini. You just need to believe in yourself."

I let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. But then, a thought occurred to me. "Can you help me?" I asked Selene.

As Selene nodded, her silver hair cascaded down her back, shimmering in the light. Her voice was calm and soothing as she spoke, "I can guide you, but ultimately, the journey is yours to take. To truly face your demons, you need to confront your pain, loss, and grief."

My head snapped up towards Selene, drawn in by her calm and soothing voice. But despite the tranquil tone, I could sense the gravity behind her words. She emphasized certain words, and I knew they held great importance.

As she spoke, her eyes bore into mine, and she repeated the specific words she wanted me to understand. "Pain. Loss. Grief," she said, her voice soft yet firm.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been trying to ignore these feelings for too long, but now they were being brought to the forefront. As Selene peered at me with her piercing violet eyes, I felt a wave of unease wash over me. I had already revealed too much to her, but I couldn't help but wonder if she knew even more.

"You know?" I asked her, my voice barely above a whisper. I stared into her eyes, searching for any hint of recognition.

"Know what, my child?" Selene asked, her tone even and measured. I couldn't tell if she was leading me into a trap, but I knew I had to be careful with my words.

"You know who I am," I said, despite the voice in my head telling me to keep quiet.

Selene didn't answer at first. Instead, she continued to stare at me, her eyes narrowed as if she was trying to read my thoughts.

For a moment, the air was silent except for the soft rustling of the leaves. I held my breath, waiting for her response.

Finally, Selene spoke, her voice calm. "Yes, I know who you are, Gemini Belane," she said, her words cutting through the stillness like a knife. "But it's not my place to reveal what I know."

I felt a knot form in my stomach as her words sunk in. She knew about my past, about the tragedies that had taken my pack. But how much did she know? And could I trust her to keep my secrets?

"I know who you are, Gemini Belane," she said again in a strong voice, her body unmoving as she stared at me. Her use of my last name struck me like a sword through my heart. If she knew my last name, she knew who my father was. If she knew who my father was, then she knew what happened to my pack.

I bit my tongue, trying to decide how to deal with this revelation of hers. I was frozen, stricken with fear of Emeric also knowing what I had been through. And what I had done.

"I know who you are," Selene repeated her words. "But I don't think you do."