Chapter 60 Vulnerable

*Ethan*

I held Diana by my side as everyone took turns congratulating us on our engagement. Diana's hands had started to feel cold and clammy which was unusual. I glanced at her face. She was blinking rapidly, her forehead in a frown, like she had a headache. Her usual pink cheeks had suddenly gone pale and beads of perspiration lined the top of her lips. Diana was starting to feel sick. This soon? It usually happens about thirty minutes before the shifting begins.

"Diana, are you feeling okay?" Alpha Connor noticed the beads of sweat that had started to roll down the sides of her face. Lucas, who was on his phone, turned to look at Diana.

"I'm sorry, High Lord Wolf Vanderbilt. Something has come up. I will call you once again before we proceed to New York. Thank you for all your help." Lucas hangs up and stuffs his phone in his pocket. He walks towards us and feels her forehead. "You're burning up. Michael, what's the status of the eclipse?"

Michael takes out his phone and starts clicking on it. "Lucas, the lunar eclipse is about to commence. Earth should be approaching it's ideal location in an hour or so. The moon now has only to travel into the shadow of the earth. The total lunar eclipse will happen in the evening."

"Let's get you inside, my love." I swung Diana up in my arms, carried her inside the mansion to the living room and put her gently on the sofa. There was a blanket on an armchair. I took it and placed it around her. She was shivering.

"Ethan, can you ask Andrew if he has a tent? I need to camp outside before I shift," Diana said.

"Sure." I gestured to Wyatt who had followed us inside knowing his future Luna needed his help. He nodded his head and went to ask Andrew.

"Is there anything you need, Diana? This usually happens thirty minutes before the first shift. I'm surprised it's happening to you now."

"Onyx warned me about this. I will experience g-great suffering be-before I shift. I-I was never sick much when I was young. I-i g-guess this i-is e-eighteen years worth of being s-sick." Her teeth were chattering. She felt really cold.

"It's starting." I heard the familiar voice of the Elder behind me. "The one who carries the black wolf will be left vulnerable to her enemies. This is a test to see who is loyal to you. This is the time when one can take a dagger and slit her throat." Her laugh was vile. I wanted to take her wrinkled neck into my hands and strangle her.

"YOU TOUCH HER AND I WILL HANG YOU ON YOUR VIEW DECK!" I growled so loud Lucas, Micheal and Alpha Connor came rushing into the living room.

"If I were you Alpha Ethan, do not let anyone you don't trust near your mate. All great gods and goddesses suffer at one point in their lifetime. It is the same for the one who carries the black wolf. Weaknesses become strengths as Diana here will soon find out." Colt, who had been looking for Elder Allen, runs his hand in his hair in frustration, knowing she was at her old antics again. He was about to yank her out of the living room when Alpha Connor raised a finger to stop him.

"So basically, what you are trying to say, you old hag, that this is the perfect time to kill Diana? When she's on the brink of her first shift?" Alpha Connor asks.

"Yes, you mongrel." Alpha Connor smiled at the Elder's name-calling and clapped loudly to get everyone's attention.

"Men and women, I know it's supposed to be a happy day, but we need to double security. Colt, take that old hag's phone and all her devices she can use to make a call or an email. Same goes for Andrew and the kitchen staff. Ethan, I need some of your men to keep watch at the kitchen. Andrew and the old hag gets chained up until Diana makes her first shift. Everyone, I need to confiscate your phones, laptops and tablets." Alpha Connor takes a wicker basket from the coffee table and places his phone inside it then goes around collecting everyone's gadgets. "And no one uses the Smart TV's. Matt, unhook those landlines and find where the wi-fi router is in this mansion then pull the plug. No one is going to make a phone call or an email. That goes for everyone of us. I don't want anyone finding out about this. We are clearly outnumbered if something were to happen."

I sit down beside Diana and hug her to give her some warmth. Wyatt comes back with a folded tent and some poles in his hands.

"What is that for?" Michael asked.

"Luna Diana asked for a tent to camp outside. This is a small tent, but it was all Andrew had," Wyatt answered.

"Diana, this living room is big enough. Why not shift here where it is warm?" Lucas asked his daughter.

"I-i d-don't t-think O-onyx will fit through the d-doors." They all nod in understanding.

"Pitch the tent up near the trees for cover and get a fire started outside," Alpha Connor instructs Wyatt. "By the way, everyone will be staying here where we can keep an eye on everyone. Even the old hag and the mage. Keep them chained to the chairs. If you guys get bored, read a book, play poker, chess or scrabble. Think old school. Athena get some blankets. Diana is cold." Athena nods her head and scurries upstairs to get blankets.

A phone suddenly starts ringing and we all look at Matt, Alpha Connor's Beta, who was busy taking out the landlines. He pulls the phone out of his pocket and looks at it. He walks towards Alpha Connor.

"Alpha, we have a problem. It's One. He's calling the she-wolf's phone."

"H-have A-andrew a-answer i-it, A-alpha C-connor. H-have A-andrew say h-his shipment is on the w-way," Diana said.

_____________________

*Alpha Connor *

Damn, what perfect timing. One knew this place. If he sniffed something was wrong, he might send some of his rogues to come check this place out. I walked to Andrew who was seated at the dining table beside the old bat, Allen.

"Tell him his shipment is on the way. You just had a delay with bottling everything up because your boss arrived. You say something that hints you're in trouble and I will personally make sure  you are skinned alive." Andrew nodded his head in agreement. "I'm placing this on speakerphone." I gesture to the people to zip their lips. "Everyone shut up! Matt, cover the Elder's mouth." Matt takes a table napkin and covers the old bat's mouth with it. I answer the call and place it on speakerphone. I nod at Andrew so he could start talking.

"One, it is I, Andrew. Your shipment is being placed in the truck as we speak. The she-wolf is busy placing the boxes in the trailer." Good boy.

"Why the hell was their a delay in the shipment? I was expecting it this morning," One growled his displeasure.

"I unfortunately had to deal with unforeseen circumstances. The Elder, she arrived. I have to make sure she is comfortable, lest she would suspect," Andrew answered without a second thought.

"That old hag is always in the way of my supply. I heard she's up for High Councilman. E.L. is working on getting a spot. He flew to the Midwest to seal a business deal for the High Lord Wolf. If he becomes High Councilman, we will never have a problem with shipment. So should I expect the shipment by tonight?" One asked. Eric Lockwood wants to become High Councilman? The Council of Wolves was such a joke.

"Yes, the shipment will be arriving tonight," Andrew answered.

"Good. Anyway, I have a tracker on that truck. I know it's there. I'm going to keep an eye on it until it moves. Get me my shipment, Mage, or there will be no money."

"I assure you, it will arrive as promised. Good day." I hung up and Matt lets go of the Elder.

"Matt, have one of the men look for that tracker. Then throw it on a bus headed to New York. That will buy us some time. After Diana shifts, we all leave." My Beta nods his head and gestures to one of our men to find the tracker on the truck.

I clap my hands again to get everyone's attention. "Everyone start packing. After Diana shifts, we leave. The rogues know this place. When they don't get their shipment at the specified time, this place will be crawling with them. Men, I need you to sniff the perimeter. Make sure there aren't any spies." My men nod their heads and head outside to secure the estate.

I look up at the ceiling and silently pray to the Moon Goddess. Please keep us safe from harm.

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*Diana*

I felt awful. I was burning up, but my insides were freezing cold.

Now we were all in danger. I knew I had to undergo great suffering, but I didn't expect I would become vulnerable to anyone who would want to kill me.

While Alpha Connor was dealing with the rogues, my dad and Uncle Mike put up a fire in the fireplace to keep me warm. Aunt Athena brought some extra blankets and buried me in them. I felt a bit better, but my head was throbbing. I rested my head on Ethan's shoulder, praying the pain in my head would just disappear even for a moment. He hugged me, rubbing my arms to keep me from shivering.

Alpha Connor ordered everyone to pack. He was a wise Alpha. I watched him pick up Harley, playfully tickling him and escorted Didi upstairs. It would be nice if those two paired up. Of course, it wasn't up to me, but they seemed good for each other.

"Diana, Ethan, we need to pack too. I'll get your things ready, pumpkin. What about you Ethan?" My dad asked him.

"My things are already packed, Lucas. I'll just have Colt bring down my bags. I'll keep an eye on Diana while all of you get your things ready," Ethan said.

"How about me?!" A screeching voice came from the dining area. Of course, Elder Allen had to pack.

"Elder, when everyone is finished, I will help you and Andrew pack," Uncle Mike said.

"Me too?" Andrew asked.

"Yes. You are coming with us unless you want to die when the rogues get here. You don't have powers anymore, so you'll be left defenseless," my dad explained. "Let us finish first. Anyway, it won't take long. Ethan, keep an eye on them too." My dad pointed at Elder Allen and Andrew. Ethan nodded his head.

It felt good being in Ethan's arms, just sitting there quietly. I focused my thoughts on the sound of his breathing and his steady heartbeat and closed my eyes. Focusing on something else helped dull the pain.

All of sudden, I felt a piercing pain shoot through my body. It was like a jolt of lightning had struck me. I was paralyzed where I sat.

"The earth starts to move in between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow upon the moon. Soon the Blood Moon rises, making us one..." Onyx's voice drifts off. Another piercing pain radiates throughout my body again. "Diana, open your eyes," Onyx whispers. I open my eyes. I find myself falling into what seemed like an abyss.

I actually welcomed my free fall from space versus the physical pain I was going through. I didn't care if I would hit land and ultimately die. I just wanted the pain to go away.

I saw a small circle of light at the bottom and it was becoming bigger and brighter as I fell towards it. I braced myself and watched closely below me to where I would fall. It looked blue from afar and as I get closer, I saw it moving. I was going to fall into water.

I steadied my breathing as I inched closer. When I was close enough, I inhaled deeply before impact, made sure my feet went in first and wrapped my arms around me. I plunged deeply into the blue water. I swam up to the surface and looked around to see where I was. I saw shore just several meters from where I was. I swam towards it hurriedly, wanting to get ashore.

After what seemed like an eternity, I finally reached the shore. I crawled on the sand, catching my breath. I looked down at myself. I was wearing a white sheer dress. I squeezed out the water hoping my dress would dry out quickly. I gazed up at the dark sky. The moon was huge and the stars seemed so bright, sparkling like gems. I try to reach out to the moon. I extend my arm further...I just needed to stretch my hand just a little bit more and I could almost touch the...

"Hello Diana." A woman's husky voice startled me. I instantly brought down my hand and faced the source of the voice. Infront of me stood a beautiful woman with ebony skin. She had clear blue eyes, long thick flowing white hair and her lips were red like red roses. Her hour glass figure was scantily clad in a sheer dress just like mine. She had no sandals nor slippers on her perfectly pedicured feet. Even in the dark, she glowed.

I stood up shyly. I brushed the wet strands of hair from my face and tried to make myself look presentable. She was so beautiful. I felt ashamed I looked like a train wreck.

"Uh, hello," I squeaked. I coughed, clearing my throat. "Sorry about that. Hello." She smiled at me, amused.

"Ah, you feel ashamed you are wet from the water." She waved her hand infront of me. "How about that?" I touched my hair, it was dry. I looked down at myself and my white dress was now dry, my skirt flowing with the breeze.

"Thank you." I smile at her. She nods her head.

"Water symbolizes birth, purification, protection, and healing. It is a profound symbol of redemption from suffering. A symbol of life itself. Tonight, the Blood Moon rises and you, Diana, will be reborn as the black wolf."

"Your human form will endure great suffering before the moment you become the black wolf. I can not take that suffering away as it is the only way for you to understand the great suffering many wolves have endured. I hear their cries in the night, praying to be saved. I even heard your mother cry out when she prayed to the moon that night, her blood staining the pavement where she lay. That was the night the moon kissed you, Diana, and I, the Moon Goddess, placed a little part of my soul in you, to carry out the cleansing among the wolves." My eyes widened when she said she was the Moon Goddess. Oh my gosh, she's actually in front of me!

"With the gift of a part of my soul, you are also blessed with the black wolf of legend. She is a descendant of great wolves of past. She will be instrumental to you for she herself is a deity in her own right."

"You have both human and wolf in you. Thus, you will be fair to both. Do not despair, Diana. Look to the moon and the lotus flower on your arm. Rest assured, my young she-wolf, I am watching."

"The eclipse commences. I have taken you from your pain to alleviate your suffering. However, the moment calls for your rebirth. With suffering comes joy. Be blessed, Diana." A blinding flash of light emanates from the Moon Goddess. I close my eyes and raise my arm in front of my face to shield me from her radiance.

Then, darkness came.