Chapter 18: New Beginning
773words
My eyes slowly opened, consciousness gradually returning. Through blurry vision, I saw Scott sitting beside the bed, holding a book.
"Scott?" my voice was hoarse and weak.
Scott suddenly looked up, his eyes full of joy, "Val! You're awake!" He immediately pressed the call button.
A few minutes later, the room was crowded with people—doctors, nurses, Scott, Stiles, Lydia, Derek standing in the corner, his expression hard to read.
"What happened?" I asked, trying to sit up, but a wave of dizziness made me abandon the attempt.
"You don't remember?" Scott asked cautiously.
I frowned, trying to recall. Fragments of memory flashed—Blood Moon, Erebus, a silver light, then darkness. "I remember the ritual, but after that..."
"You succeeded," Stiles said, "you sealed Erebus, permanently. But you've been in a coma for a month."
"A month?" I asked in shock, trying to feel the energy within me, but finding nothing. "My abilities..."
"Gone," Deaton walked into the room, "at least temporarily. You consumed almost all your energy in the ritual."
"Harris and Kira?"
"Harris disappeared," Scott answered, "Kira is fine, but lost most of her memories, returned to her family."
I nodded, then noticed someone missing in the room, "Where's Ethan?"
"He comes to see you every day," Scott said, "but this morning he got a call from Aiden, went to meet him."
After the doctor examined my condition, everyone was asked to leave. Only Derek stayed behind, standing by the window.
"You don't have to stay," I said softly.
Derek walked to the bedside, "You will never be ordinary, Valerie McCall. With or without abilities, you are the most extraordinary person I've ever met."
Just then, the door opened, and Ethan stood in the doorway, holding wildflowers. Seeing Derek and me in an intimate posture, he froze.
"Sorry," he said, "I didn't know you had company."
The tension between the two Alphas was almost tangible.
"Both of you stay," I said, "we need to talk."
The two men looked at me in surprise, then each found a place to sit.
"Thank you both, for everything," I began, "you both saved my life, multiple times."
I paused, organizing my thoughts.
"I know you both have feelings for me, and I have feelings for both of you. But right now, I need to find myself again. I've lost my abilities, lost part of my identity. I need to rediscover who I am."
Ethan nodded, "The connection between us... does it still exist?"
I closed my eyes, feeling only a faint echo, "Almost gone."
"Does that change anything?" Derek asked.
"I need to know my feelings are real, not influenced by supernatural connections. I need time."
Two months later, I stood at Beacon Hills High School's graduation ceremony, wearing a black graduation gown. My life gradually returned to normal—I reintegrated into school, built deeper friendships with Scott and his friends, even learned combat skills from the Argent family.
My abilities hadn't fully returned, but occasionally, on full moon nights, I could feel faint silver light flickering at my fingertips.
After graduation, I came to the Nemeton stump. I knelt before the stump, my palm gently touching the rough surface.
"I know you're still there," I said softly, "but you can't hurt anyone anymore."
I felt a faint response, but it was firmly sealed.
"I'll always be watching you," I promised, "it's my responsibility."
Standing up, I took a deep breath. I didn't know what the future held, whether my abilities would fully return, whether I would face supernatural threats again. I didn't know how my relationship with Derek and Ethan would develop.
But one thing I was certain of—I was no longer that lost girl, no longer that lonely soul searching for identity. Whatever happened, I had the strength to face it. Not because I was the Shadow Heart, but because I was Valerie McCall.
My phone vibrated. It was a text from Derek: "Want coffee before the party?"
A few seconds later, another text came in, from Ethan: "Heard you graduated today. Congratulations. Want to celebrate?"
I smiled looking at the two messages. I would reply to them, but not now. Now, I wanted to enjoy this moment of freedom and possibility.
I looked up at the sky, the sunlight warming me. Whatever the future brought, I was ready. Because in darkness, I had found my light.
Under the sunshine of Beacon Hills, a new legend was beginning.
And this time, I, Valerie McCall, would write my own story.
