Chapter 27 Elder Minerva Allen

*Elder Minerva Allen*

"Follow the missing Alpha, Minerva. He will lead you to the young she-wolf who bears the lotus symbol. Make haste, the Blood Moon comes. It's shadow will awaken my spirit which lives in her."

I woke up shaken in my bedroom, alone and in the dark. I assumed it to be early morning as I peered through my bedroom window and see the sky still dark. I sit upright on the side of my bed and turn on the lamp on my nightstand. I pick up my eyeglasses and look at the clock, it read 5:56 AM. I heaved a sigh. I had so much to do and I didn't know where to start.

The Moon Goddess had taken the opportunity to commune with me in my sleep. She had told me she lived among us, a part of herself in a young woman with the lotus flower on her arm. To find this particular young woman, the Moon Goddess had told me to follow the missing Alpha. Through him, I will find the special young woman before her abilities unlock during the Blood Moon.

There was only one missing Alpha I knew of and that was Alpha Lucas Lockwood. I knew Lucas; he was one of my students at St. Ailbe of Emly Academy way back when I was still a teacher for those insufferable "blue bloods" from wolf packs around the country and abroad. He was long gone from school though when I became Headmistress of the academy and when I retired to join the Council as an Elder, he went missing.

It was rumored Elder Eric Lockwood had banished his son for having sexual relations with a human woman which led to a half-breed offspring. Two decades ago, it was forbidden among Alphas to have such relations with a human and Eric, who was gunning for a position in the Council, knew it would severely damage his chances of ever rising to the position. Since there was no evidence linking him to the disappearance of his own son and granddaughter, the Council did not see any reason for him not to secure the position. Money was a force for the other elders and Eric Lockwood had much of it.

Follow the missing Alpha? I knew Alpha Chase was not someone I should speak to regarding his elder brother. He had much to gain from the absence of his brother and judging from his late night parties, gambling, drinking and whoring, it proved he did not care much about his pack. It also definitely meant he did not care to find his brother. There was only one person left I could speak to. The youngest of the Lockwoods,  Athena.

I pick up my phone to call my assistant. It was very early in the morning and I knew she would be still asleep, warm in her bed. However, time was of essence, and I needed to find the young woman so I could guide her through her quest.

"Elder Allen, it's six in the morning. It must be very important. How can I assist you?" My assistant was polite in her greeting, but I could hear her irritation for having to wake her so early in the morning.

"I need you to get me through to Athena Lockwood. There is a need for secrecy. Eric Lockwood should not hear I had contacted his daughter."

"Yes, Elder Allen. Do you want me to call her now?" Her voice suddenly perked up in anticipation.

"Yes. She's a businesswoman so she'll probably be already awake. Call her. Tell her it is about the Blood Moon of the full moon of the Winter Solstice. She will know." I hurriedly instructed my assistant. "Give her my number and tell her when she calls me, make sure she is alone."

"Very well, Elder. I will call back when I have done what you have asked me to do." My assistant suddenly was awake and very interested.

"Another thing, free my schedule. I might be travelling out of the state for business. Give my apologies to whomever has made an appointment."

"Yes, Elder Allen. I will free your schedule. Let me contact Athena Lockwood for you now." She hangs up and I remained seated on my bed, hoping my assistant can get through to Athena Lockwood.

I was one of the few remaining priestesses among the wolves. I was old, much older than most of the elders in the council. Over the years, my power has waned and communing with the Moon Goddess was nearly impossible for my old self to do. It took much of my energy and I would be sick for days so I had stopped doing magic, conserving my energy for something that may arise which was worth dying for.

And now that time has come. I was excited and anxious at the same time. The Moon Goddess has chosen me...ME! An old lady with a walking stick. I just couldn't believe it.

My phone suddenly rings and I pick it up, hoping it was my assistant with good news. However, the call was coming from an unknown number.

"Hello?" I tentatively say, not knowing who was at the other side of this conversation.

"Headmistress, sorry, Elder Minerva Allen, this is Athena Lockwood. Your assistant gave me your number. How can I be of assistance to you?" I let out a sigh of relief. It was the very person I wanted to speak to. When Athena was a student at St. Ailbe's, I was Headmistress.

"Good morning, Athena. I know you will find this strange, however I was asked by the Moon Goddess herself to look for a young woman who will come of age on the full moon of the Winter Solstice. The Moon Goddess explicitly told me to follow your brother, the missing Alpha Lockwood." I prayed silently hoping she would help me.

"Yes, Elder, you are looking for my niece. She is to come of age on the full moon of the Winter Solstice." Her niece! She must be the half-breed offspring of Lucas. This has now become very interesting.

"Her abilities will be unlocked during the Blood Moon. I was tasked to help her by the Moon Goddess herself. Do not worry. Your father knows nothing. This is of utter secrecy. Do you know where I can find your brother and his daughter? This is of utmost importance." I hear her pause for a moment, then I heard some footsteps and a door closing. She must be finding a secure place to talk.

"Elder Allen, I know which state, but not the exact location. I need to meet with someone first," she whispers. "Elder, if you don't mind, I would like to join you. Let us meet in Boston. From there, we will travel to where they are."

"I would love that. I am an old woman and having you with me will be better. I will make the necessary arrangements. I will see you in Boston." My luck! She's even going to physically help me so I could find her brother.

"Elder Allen, this is my burner phone. I suggest you get one, too. So we will not be traced. Send me your number once you have one. When I arrive in Boston, I will call you through this number. Do not save this number on the phone you are using now. Write it down then delete it. The lives of my brother and my niece depend on it."

"I will do what you have instructed. I will get that burner phone now. Athena, thank you." There was more to this than I originally thought.

"I shall see you in Boston. Make sure you have a disguise and are not followed. Keep safe." She hangs up. I use the intercom to call for my butler who was ex-military. While I waited for him, I took a sheet of paper and copied Athena's number and deleted it from my phone. I roll the piece of paper and place it inside a locket. I was putting the locket on when I hear footsteps coming towards my bedroom.

"Madam? You need my assistance?" My Butler, Jonathan, pokes his head into my bedroom surprised to see me awake so early in the morning.

"Yes, Jonathan. I need a new phone with a prepaid number." I pick up my walking stick and head to my closet. I start picking out clothes to bring with me when I remember Athena told me to be in disguise. I needed new clothes. Something that wasn't me. "And I need new clothes as well," I tell him.

"Madam, let me get this straight. You need a burner phone and new clothes. As a disguise?" I could never hide anything from him. Jonathan was as young as Athena and when he arrived on my doorstep, banished from his pack for disobeying his Alpha, I knew I could make good use of him. He has been my butler for over 8 years now.

"Correct. There is something very important I have to do. The Moon Goddess spoke in my dreams. I have to follow her instructions before it is too late. In utmost secrecy."

"Madam, I sense your excitement, but you are too old to do this alone. When you took me in, I pledged my life to you. I will come with you, no questions asked. I have friends who can help us out, ex-military. Do we have to leave New York?"

"Yes, we head to Boston. I am meeting someone there. Then we drive to an undisclosed location." He nods his head and takes out his phone. I walk towards my window. In my excitement, I did not notice the sun was coming out, casting a grey hue over the city.

I listened to Jonathan ask a friend of his for an encrypted burner phone and if it was possible to hitch a ride to Boston via private plane or helicopter. I did not know what his friend said, but I saw the huge grin on Jonathan's face as he thanked his friend.

"Madam, it is all set. I just need to give my friend your measurements for the new clothes requested. I assume you want to blend in not stick out. Regular trousers or maybe denim jeans, a coat maybe in gray or brown, some white blouses and of course, a track suit with sneakers."

"Yes, I will not be wearing my usual black suit. And I need to hide my hair." I tell him.

"A bonnet and scarf will be provided. And as for your walking stick?" The walking stick is actually a family heirloom. I put it down on the bed.

"I'm not bringing it. I can walk fine. I just sometimes need it for balance. And what about you?" I look at him and his uniform.

"That is not a problem, Madam, I have casual clothing in my closet as well as the elixir which can hide our scent." I raised my eyebrows at him. That was forbidden by the Association of Wolves. Many wolves as well as humans had died by rogues who were able to mask their scent by an elixir made by certain dark mages. The Association of Wolves had to crack down on the mages who produced the elixir. We were able to catch all but one who went deep underground. Apparently, my Butler knew the underground world as well.

"Madam, if we don't want to get caught, we need to protect our identity. You yourself know that even if we do not tell anyone, someone will know we are wolf. We aren't going to use it to do something bad. We are only using it to protect ourselves," Jonathan reasoned with me. He was right. Athena herself was taking a risk flying to Boston without much protection except for a disguise.

"You're right. I will use it then. Do you have enough for a small group of wolves?" He nodded his head.

"Alright then, so let's have some breakfast first before we go to Boston." Jonathan bows low and exits my room to prepare breakfast.

I look around my room, memorizing it. This may be the last time I ever see it. I touch my four poster bed lovingly, a bed that has been in my family for generations, as if to say goodbye. I let out a sorrowful sigh.

Moon Goddess, please make sure we don't encounter any problems and keep Athena safe.