THE TERMINAL STONE

CHAPTER 26: THE TERMINAL STONE
~ Gabriel’s POV ~

After training I got cleaned up and called a meeting with Kai and Tanner. Kai was back home from being out of town visiting family. Kelly let me know this morning that my office is finally finished. It’s on the first floor down the same hallway as my fathers near the dining hall.

Sitting at my desk, I developed an outline of things that needed to be covered in this meeting today. I wasn’t waiting long before a firm knock sounded on my door.
“Come on in.” I said. Tanner walked in first followed by Kai who shut the door behind him.
“Wow, this is nice. You are spoiling yourself a little bit aren’t you Mr. Alpha of the Harmony Moon Pack. By the way, when will my office be completed?” Tanner said with a smirk.
“What the hell do you even need an office for Tanner?” I raised my eyebrows at him.
“I’m an important beta. I need an important space.” He said jokingly. He was trying to put a serious look on his face without laughing.

Kai was still standing, just staring at Tanner and I with an amused look.
“Sit down Tanner, we have to get to it. Kai, you don’t have to wait for me to tell you to sit, just go ahead. You guys are my best friends, start acting like it. You don’t have to have my permission to do simple things like sitting down in a chair.”
“Yes, Alpha.” They both said at the same time as if trying to irritate me even more. They don’t usually call me alpha unless talking to someone else about me. Formalities will be used with everyone else, but the ones closest to me can refer to me as Gabriel or Gabe, or in Harper’s case baby, or daddy or... ok I am getting carried away.
“Kai, it’s good to have you back. I hope you enjoyed the time you had with your family. You need to be updated on all the happenings since you've been gone. Tanner, do you have any new information about the rogue attack late last night?” I asked. My expression became serious.

My friends and I joke with each other, but we take our responsibilities seriously. Tanner cleared his throat.
“We know that they breached the east side border wall. There were approximately fifteen rogue’s total. Our team was able to take some out easily before the others escaped. It seems that they didn’t come for anything other than to gather information.”
“Well, they got what they came for.” I said. “The wolf of authority over the Foul Moon Pack hired this pack of rogues to find out where his chosen mate is.” I said this as if it was poison on my lips. Kai nodded and Tanner had a confused look on his face.
“What did Harper have to do with it then if he just wanted intel on the whereabouts of his mate?”
Tanner leaned back in his chair, waiting for my response to his question. It’s not my place to tell others about Harper’s past unless I had to, or Harper wanted them to know. Unfortunately, now knowing that Thane plans to take her back, it is important that my beta and gamma know what is going on. I hate talking about Harper as if she belongs to Thane.

My expression molded into that of anger and frustration.
“Because Thane has claimed her as his mate, even though they are not fated. I don’t know why he wants her exactly, but I have my suspicions. We won’t know more until her eighteenth birthday I’m afraid.” Tanner spoke next.
“I know about her birthday being on the same day as the solar eclipse and summer solstice. We have all heard the stories. Are you really thinking it could be true?”

Tanner leaned into me with curiosity on his face.
“We can’t be sure yet, but there is a strong likelihood. It is a strange coincidence that the validity of two folklore’s are in question at the same time. We have believed for so long that it was all just a tall tale. I mean, a shifter who receives an unimaginable amount of power on the day of their 18th birthday is hard to believe. Then the birthday just so happens to fall on the same day of the solar eclipse and summer solstice which is a very rare thing to happen. It’s going to be a special event for werewolves all over the world.” I said.
“You think Thane wants Harper because of the power that she may get?” Kai asks.
“Yes, and not only that, but the fact that the rumored mate will also obtain such power once mated to her. I am not sure if it has to be a fated mate or not. That part of the story is unclear.”

Realization covered both Kai’s and Tanner's faces.
“You mentioned two folklores.” Kai said, squeezing his eyebrows together waiting for me to clarify.
“Yes. I don’t know if you two have heard about the terminal stone, but recently this folklore has also surfaced. My father just told me about it. He said that he received information that the stone may be what Thane has been searching for. The strength of the stone is unknown, but it is said that a wolf that connects with the stone can wield the power of the dragon. It is said that this power could bring destruction all over the world. Life as we know it would be changed forever.” Tanner had a look of shock on his face.
“I haven’t heard of this terminal stone before.” I nodded.

Kai shifted forward, placing his elbows on his knees. The atmosphere in the room turned to dread when he was the next one to speak.
“He may have already found it.” Turning his head down toward the floor.
“What do you mean he may have already found it? How would you know?” Tanner asks Kai.
“If you know something Kai, I would like to hear it.” I said. Kai sat back in his chair and cleared his throat.
“While I was away visiting my family in a neighboring pack, the beta of that pack brought a little girl expected to be around the age of 11 to the packhouse doctors. It looked like she had been out on her own for a few days. She was dirty, hungry, and dehydrated. She became frantic talking about her entire village and pack being decimated. The beheading of her mother and the murder of her father. It was like she was a record player playing over and over. She spoke of a stone and how someone stole it and how the legends are real. The packhouse doctors said she was just delirious due to dehydration and stuff. When I left, they had placed her in a drug induced coma. They said she needed rest and fluids. We all believed that she was just delirious like the doctors said, but now it makes sense.” Kai said.

Kai slouched down and let his head fall back to rest on the top of the chair he was sitting in. I nodded my head understanding what he was telling me. It looks like Thane has acquired the stone. If that is the case, I hope the Gods are on our side as we most likely have one tough fight on our hands. I know one thing; I will walk through hell and back before I let Thane anywhere near Harper again.
“Thank you, Kai, for telling us what you know. I’ll relay this information to my father. He will most likely want to call a meeting with the leaders of our ally packs. If Thane has the stone, it will be a lot easier for him to get to Harper. I’m not letting that happen. Both your assignments today are to do research on both the terminal stone and the stories about the wolf born on the day of the solar eclipse and summer solstice. If you uncover any new information, I need to hear it as soon as possible.”