Chapter 28
I opened my eyes and sighed. Luckily, the sheets were thrown off or I would need to wash the sheets again. My body was drenched in sweat and I groaned. Rolling off the bed, I quickly jumped in the shower, washing off my stomach specifically. I don't know how many times I had released but it was more than once. The cold shower felt good but sadly, it woke me up as well.
The clock reminded me it was 3:15 a.m. but I wasn't going back to sleep. Not now. My stomach did growl and I realized that even after three bowls of soup and cake, that my body had decided that it was out of starvation mode. Throwing on some sweats, I decided it should be okay without a shirt at least in the pack house. Opening the door, I checked the hallway but everyone seemed to be asleep still. Walking down the hall and into the kitchen, I dug around for some leftovers in the refrigerator.
There was a container of lasagna and I threw it into the microwave before grabbing a fork. I took a bite and gagged. Leaning over the sink, I spit out the food, coughing and trying to not throw up. It still tasted like ash. I thought the kick to the face fixed it. I know I didn't imagine eating three bowls of soup earlier. I didn't imaging nearly crying again over a piece of cake.
I threw out the leftovers and grabbed a hoodie. Throwing it on, I started a run into the forest. No one would be up and around this early. I knew where the patrols would be and I could avoid them easily. I headed east and then worked my way north.
Faris wanted to run but I needed to run out the feeling of Vale on my skin. Every time I thought of him, Faris purred but I growled, pushing myself harder. Sweat poured from my body soon as I pushed myself harder.
It was still dark outside and my eyes caught a light in the forest. I knew I was up north pretty far but I hadn't hit the edge of our territory yet. Curving my path, I headed towards the light but I realized it was moving, bouncing around as it floated through the forest. I stopped when I saw multiple bodies, lights gathering in the darkness. Ducking behind a tree, I peaked around to take stock of what I was seeing.
There were at least four fey, human looking but towering in height. Around them were upwards of twenty or so lights and smaller fairies floating around. It was the smallest body that caught my eye. The shock of white hair and golden eyes that reflected in the darkness made me realize it was Auri. Outside of the laughter of bells of the smaller fey around, there wasn't a single sound coming from the group.
'Ezekiel, you can come out. We've known you were in the area already.'
My eyes widened and I stepped out from behind the tree. The two of the four fey turned to look at me but Auri and the other two didn't move. Shoving my hands in the pocket of the sweatshirt I was wearing, my head bowed as I was not exactly in presentable attire for this group. Auri was wearing a beautiful dress and it looked like water flowing as the lights from the fairies reflected off of it. The other fey were dressed up even more extravagantly. I stayed a bit back, watching them as they turned back to converse.
I realized that one of them had clasped arms with her, most likely able to converse with her even with her inability to speak. It was ten minutes until Auri stepped back, bowing low to the four fey. They, in turn, bowed their heads to her. That shocked me. Fey didn't bow for many. They wouldn't even bow to the High Council. I bowed my head as they turned to leave, still wanting to be respectful even though I wasn't part of the conversation. Disappearing further into the forest, some of the fairies stayed, flying around.
'Couldn't sleep?'
I jumped this time. Thinking that it was one of the fey that reached out to me, not Auri. I looked at her and she was smiling, now sitting at the foot of a tree on some of its roots.
'I...I didn't...'
'Speak out loud. So you don't get used to mind linking me only. No one else can hear you. I taught my children to do it and my pack already knows.' Her hand waved me forward and I walked up to her, plopping down at the base of a tree opposite of her.
"How can you speak to me?"
A smirk came to her face. 'There could be a couple explanations for the reason. The one I will go with currently is that you are an Alpha. I have a specific...connection...with Alphas and therefore can mind link you.' Shaking her head, she shrugged. 'I will be honest, I didn't try earlier because I didn't think it would work.'
I hummed. The way she spoke made it sound like she had more secrets than she could keep straight. It was now just a guessing game for her. Faris didn't seem put off or have an issue with her though. There was at least that.
'So, what's on your mind Ezekiel? Considering you're out here running before the sun has risen.'
I blushed slightly. "A lot of my mind. Just trying to...straighten it all out."
Auri chuckled. 'As Alpha, I'm sure you have a lot in your plate. Darkry being one of them.'
Nodding, I sighed and leaned my back against the tree. "You guys being here, now knowing who you are, has lifted an immeasurable weight off my shoulders."
'I'm glad we could help. I'll be honest we had our eye on this pack long before they started harassing yours. Now, we had a valid excuse to seek them out.'
My eyes narrowed. "Why?"
She smiled and leaned back. 'You're very secluded here.' There was a long pause from her. 'I would say it's as much a blessing as it is a curse.' "I don't know about it being a curse..."
Her arm came up and I watched her pick up an acorn. Tossing it into the air once, she let it go a second time and hit me in the shoulder. Wincing, I rubbed the spot it hit.
"Ow...what the hell..."
'You don't even know what's going on outside your own pack. While I appreciate the customs and the history your pack uphold, it blinds you. You know nothing about what has been going on in the world outside the rumor or legend that weaves it way into this territory.'
I nodded. “We were taught as kids that the outside world was cruel and unkind and unjust. That the pack is the only family you could ever want or need. Our traditions were above all else and as a Silver, our blood was the blood of the first. Blessed and chosen.” It was a rhetoric I knew well. Something that, as a child of the Silver family was beat into us, not just as an Alpha.
'Yet no king and no white wolf has ever come from your line.' Auri snorted and her grey eyes found mine. 'It's because you cling so dearly to them that the world has passed you by without you even knowing what has happened. One day, war could overtake this place and you would have never seen it coming.'
"Is war coming?"
Her face gave me a solemn feeling. 'It's already here, sweetheart. Darkry is just the tip of the iceberg.'Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.
My eyes fell and I rubbed my palms on my pant leg. If Darkry was only the tip, I hated to think what was below the surface. What Auri and her pack were already dealing with. What Vale was already dealing with as the Alpha King.
Suddenly, me choosing him seemed silly. I was the one who was unprepared. I had no knowledge of what was going on in the world; of what was happening outside of my own territory? I lived in this bubble and I was content with it until going to the High Council. Hell, it had been decades since one of our own people went on a plane. I'm sure people who left the pack might have but no one who was still part of the pack ever left outside of the human city down the mountain.
I jumped as I felt Auri place her finger on my forehead. 'I can see the steam coming out of your head.'
"It's just...a lot."
'It is a lot. But the best thing about it, is that you aren't alone trying to take that on. It might feel like it, but it is never the case.'
A quiet filled the space between us and I watched her, seeing such a similarity between her and my mate. My eyes narrowed and unconsciously, I reached forward and brushed her hair. As soon as I touched it's softness, my eyes widened when I realized what I did.
"I...I'm sorry...I don't know...what came over me...."
She chuckled though. 'You miss him a lot?'
"Who?"
'Vale, you silly boy. Who else would I mean?'
I coughed and shook my head. "I don't know...I don't know what you're talking about."
Her laughter filled my head as well as hearing her slight chuckle out loud. 'Oh, Ezekiel. I know exactly who you are and who your mate is. Honestly, I didn't think my son's mate would be so dense.'
My eyes widened. Suddenly, what Vale said to me clicked. He knew his mother was coming. He knew she was here. Swallowing hard, my brain connected the dots. The current Alpha King was the son of the previous Alpha King and the Luna Queen, who happened to be The Huntress. I felt so dumb not seeing the similarities in the both of them.
"So the white hair..."
Laughing again, she nods. 'It's natural. I am a white wolf and so is Vale. Our hair is the same color as our wolf form.'
"Can you...shift? Without your wolf?"
She nodded. 'I fight better on two legs than I do on four but I'm not too shabby. It's just hard, sometimes. Shifting makes me feel alone. I haven't shifted in over a decade.' There was a sad smile that graced her face as well as a wistful look in her grey eyes.
"Can I only eat your food?"
She shrugged. 'I only know much of what my own experience is. It might just be proximity to me, since Vale is my blood. You feel more at ease with me because I'm the older, female, sexier version of your mate.' Auri winked and I laughed.
"You must hate me though...I'm sure Vale told you about me. Especially after the High Council ordeal."
'Oh, he did. But I've lived long enough, through enough heartache, to know that it's never what it seems. If you took everything at face value, you would miss so much more that lurked between the surface. Vale ran home after that encounter. We had some good training and talks. If anything, I think he was worried for you more.'
"He asked me to reject him but I told him...that I would choose him. I want to choose him. I want to learn, Auri. I want to be an Alpha who can stand by his side. I want to grow. I was going to ask you if I could come with you. After the situation with Darkry is over."
'You don't have to ask, dear. There will always be a place for you in the pack. We are, after all, Vale's pack.'
Shocked, I cocked my head to the side. "Vale's?"
'Vale didn't take over Harvest Moon, his older brother did. Vale never wanted to deny his brother the pack and so he decided to go to the High Council to learn. From there, I decided I would help build him a pack. One that he could trust and make sure that they would help him as he ruled. We, the Golden Moon Pack, are Alpha King Vale's pack. When he is ready, I will pass my title of Alpha to him.'
My mouth fell open. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Rose was right, I should have done my research. There was a rustle and I stood, my arm protectively out in front of Auri. She, however, chuckled.
"Princess, I'm not ready to accept my Grandson's mate just yet."
The vampire I had seen sitting in the car was walking towards us. He was wearing jeans and a button-up shirt but it looked dirty as though he had been rolling around in the forest. Auri behind me, hummed.
'You'll need to. They've accepted one another. He's a little dense but I think he will be good for Vale. Plus, I've wanted a son-in-law that didn't try to fight me every time I walked into the room.'
Morgan Russo snickered and my eyebrows furrowed. "You can understand her mind link?"
"I'm part of the pack, my dear grandson."
My face flushed red and I bit my lip. He laughed and shook his head.
'Tell me you have good news.'
"I've got good news, okay news, bad news, and bad news."