Chapter 37

Lexi

Today is my first meeting with the Elders of the Riverclaw pack to get my training started. Turns out I should have been training since my early teens. Since things didn’t work out that way we are going to work on the basics before my birthday and everything else after. Whatever that is. Noone knows for sure what powers I will get after I mate and gain my wolf. Or how many for that matter. So we will all be learning when that happens. I’m nervous and excited to see what I get.

I have decided I’m not going to fight against this prophecy stuff. I’m still not a hundred percent sure it is me they are talking about. I do admit several of the things they have told me add up. We have arrived at the packhouse and Luther is leading me to the library. Luther kept his arm around my shoulder as we walked past people. Everyone stops and stares at us. I hear whispers wondering who I am. Luther told me to expect that but they would be told soon enough. I didn’t need to worry about it right now. So I didn’t let it bother me.

When we get to the library all six Elders are waiting for me as well as the Alpha and Luna and Nevel. Christina hugs me quickly. “ It is good to see you again dear. Are you ready for this?” she asks. “ As I’ll ever be.” I told her. I give the Elders a quick bow. “ I know you are wanting to jump right in so we have worked up a few things for you to start with.” Evan said. Nevel said “ I’m here to help in any way I can. And I get to spend time with you.” I laughed at him. He seems so giddy when he sees me. Like a teenager meeting a celebrity.

“ Lexi, I will be teaching you our history and customs.” Elder Maize said. “ I will be helping you learn techniques to control your emotions.” Elder Ross said. “ I will be working on your fighting skills. And your strength and endurance.” Elder Zander said. “ I will be helping with your glow. We are going to work on controlling it and together we are going to learn what it can do.” Elder Picard said. “ I will be preparing you for your first shift. I will show you how to do it and what to expect.” Elder Xavier said. “ With Nevel’s help we will teach you everything we know about the prophecy.” Elder Morris said.

Evan told me “ I will be helping Luther in his Alpha training and I will be assisting you in knowing about our pack.” “ And I will teach you about mating and what to expect. I will help you understand what being a Luna means and what is going to be expected of you. And to tell you embarrassing stories about when Luther was young.” Christina giggled. I couldn’t help laughing when Luther whined “ Mom.”

“ Hush now. It is my right as your mother.” Christina said. She placed her hand on my shoulder “ Lexi, we know you have school and we do our best not to interfere with it. Sometimes it may not be helped. We also don’t want to overload you. So we are going to break up your training. On non school days we figure we could work with you on the more physical parts. Your short school days we can work on the more academic part if you will.” she continued.

“ That sounds good to me.” I said. I look around at everyone in the room. These kind people accepted me with open arms. They didn’t care that I don’t smell like a wolf yet. They treat me like I am one of the family already and they have only met me twice. “ Thank you. All of you. For accepting me like you have done. And for taking the time out of what I’m sure are busy days to help me. And teach me what my parents weren’t able to. And to help me grow I guess.”

I didn’t realize I was crying until Christina wiped away a tear from my cheek. “ You are family now Lexi. We are going to help you in every way possible. Even accepting your other mate and his pack when he comes along. Because they will be family too. That’s just what family does. I know you have been without family for a while now. And I can’t imagine what that must be like. But you have us now. For anything you need. Even if it is just to talk or complain.” she said.

“ And Lexi, it is an honor to be part of the great things you are going to accomplish. And I get to brag that my daughter and son did it.” Evan laughed. “ So where do we start?” I asked. “ I would like to start with properly introducing you to your guardians.” Evean says. I see his eyes glaze over for a minute before he smiles and says “ They will be here in a minute.” “ Evan that was the mind link thing, right. When your eyes looked distant.” I asked.

“ Yes, it was. And when you get your wolf and join the pack you will be able to do it as well.” Evan said. “ Cool, better than a cell phone.” I giggled. There was a knock on the library door then it opened. In walked the three friends I met when Luther came to the dinner. “ Lexi, I understand you have met them before but let me introduce them as your official guardians. They will be training with you.” Evan said. He started with the girl of the group. “ This is Freya. She is one of our future Gammas.” Freya bows, “ It will be an honor to protect you.” she said. “ Thank you.” I said. “ This is Dean, another Gamma.” Evan said. He bows as well and says “ It is an honor, Lexi.” “ It is nice to see you again.” I said. “ And this is our future Beta, Scott.” Evan said. Scott bows, “ It is an honor to serve along side you and Luther.”

“ Thank all three of you. I know you have been chosen by the Goddess to do this. But I don’t want you to be here if you don’t want to. I don’t want you to feel like you don’t have a choice.” I told them. I understand being chosen by the Goddess was a big deal for them and I’m sure once I understood more it would be for me too but I also believed in free will. Scott shakes his head “ I meant what I said. I’m honored to serve with you and by your side. I will work with your other guardians.” Freya said “ the Elders explained that our world is new to you and you don’t understand it all. But being chosen by the Goddess is one of the coolest things ever. And to work along side a child of hers is awesome.”

“ Lexi, it is our job to protect our Luna. It is what we train for when we become Gammas. We know what we are getting into when we make this choice. Being given this duty by the Goddess, it is an honor to be chosen. We want to be here. Rest assured.” Dean said. “ Then I am honored to have you by our side.” I told them. “ So where do we start today?” I asked. Elder Maize says “ We start with history and customs. Just the basics. I will give a few books to go over and I will give you the short winded version.”

Luther wraps his arm around my waist and kisses my head. “ I’m going to go with dad. I’ll come back when you are done.” he said. I gave him a quick hug and kissed his cheek. “ Will you stay with me tonight?” I whispered as quietly as I could. “ Just try and stop me.” Luther says before he leaves the room. Everyone but Maize leaves too with promises to check on us later. Maize leads me over to a large leather chair. On the coffee table in front of it are four books. They look so old I’m afraid if I touch them they will fall apart.

Maize sits in the chair opposite me and hands me a book. “ Lexi, this one covers the history of this pack.” He slides another one over “ This is the history of shifters. Our origin story if you will.” He points to another one “ This one explains pack politics for lack of a better term.” Maize smiles as he slides the last book forward. “ And this one is all about you. It tells the prophecy in great detail. It also tells what Luther’s great grandfather experienced when he was sent to the last child. It details all the things you were created to accomplish.”

Wow, this is a lot. “ Don’t worry. I will just give you the highlights. But if you ever want to come and read any of it on your own you will know where to find them.” Maize said. We spent the next hour going over each book. I learned that the Goddess created shifters to protect humans from the evils of the world. Those who didn’t think humans had the right to exist. Or that they were the lowest forms of life. I learned there are more types of shifts out there. Bears, foxes, many varieties of cats such as cougars. Even dragons though they are rare.

And the supernatural world is huge. There are fairies, vampires, nymphs, to name a few. Maize was very patient with me. He answered all my questions and helped me take notes that I could study at home. We stopped when Christina came in and said we needed a break. I didn’t know how I was going to remember all of this but Maize assured me that I would get it in know time. And there was plenty of people to ask if something came up I didn’t understand.