In The Beginning, Chapter 21
It took us less than ten minutes to arrive at the high school, for some reason Daniel had a reserved space there too, so we didn’t have to search for a spot. Daniel turned off the ignition, and took a deep breath before turning to me.
“Ready?” He asked, a slightly nervous look on his face.
“As I’ll ever be.” I replied, but still the once fluttering of butterflies in my stomach morphed into something more violent. He raised my hand to his lips, and kissed my knuckles gently, before he exited the vehicle. We walked in silence, around the school, the snow had been cleared, thankfully, but the cold air still bit at any exposed skin. The football field was at the end of a stone pathway, it was enormous, big enough for 2000 people easily. It had stands on all sides, leaving space at the corners for people to enter, the stands on the longer sides of the field had a space between them too. The grass was neatly trimmed, and all six stands were well cared for, it looked like a thousand people were already seated, filling three of the stands. A small podium with a mic was on the 30 yard line, behind it was an empty stand and the field goal posts. Daniel strode towards it, without a glance to the stands, his arm around me, and as we stepped onto the field, Maria and Ben fell into step on either side of us. I climbed the few steps up to the stage with weak knees, my anxiety rising with all eyes on us, and the whispers became a hissing din. Daniel stood at the mic, his arm around me, but it wasn’t enough to keep me from trembling in the icy night air.
“Applewood Pack!” Daniel bellowed, and an eerie silence fell over the field, only the slight whistle of the wind, and the rustling of branches could be heard. “A lot has happened, and I know you all have questions, I will reveal what we know, tonight.” He took a breath, and looked down at me, I tried to give him an encouraging smile, but I was shivering so much, it might have been a grimace. “Firstly, I have marked my mate, Charlie, and she will be our Luna, anyone who disagrees with that is free to challenge me, or leave the pack. Her Luna ceremony will be delayed a little however, as we are preparing for war with the vampires.” The silence was shattered by scared chatter, Daniel paused, allowing them a moment, before silencing them once again. “200 of our warriors will be sent to Sycamore Pack, and Oaktree Pack, while we will host the same number from those packs, they will arrive Monday. Our warriors will need to learn to fight as an army. 150 Etas, will be sent, and 50 Zetas, those selected to go will be permitted to take their mates and pups, however we will aim to send mostly unmated warriors. And who knows, some of you may find your mates.” Daniel added with a smile to me. “We will also be accepting some new pack members, as myself and Alpha Kasa have taken over Harvest Moon Pack, the warriors will be arriving tomorrow. We will also be hosting the Queen of the Witches, who has joined us to fight this war. Some of you are aware that Owen Summer, former Epsilon was arrested. I can now tell you, he plotted with the vampires, and rogues to take over this pack, and for his treason, he shall be executed on Sunday morning.” Again, Daniel allowed them to react, before silencing them with a raised hand. “We may also receive other visitors, creatures that wish to join us against the vampires, whose goal is to take over the planet. Hyacinth, the Queen of the Witches, had a vision of what happens if we lose, which is how we came to know of the vampires’ plans.” Daniel paused momentarily, as the flood lights flickered. Then the whole field was plunged into darkness, even the moon was hidden behind a dense blanket of clouds. I heard a few cries of fear, and the rumble of voices became deafening. Just as suddenly the lights illuminated the field, violet sparks shimmered, and a strikingly beautiful woman was stood a few feet in front of the stage, her back to us, and her hair billowing upwards. It was gorgeous, with every colour and hue, from white blonde, to the deepest darkest brown. The pack appeared almost mesmerised by her, and were stunned into silence, I felt Daniel tense beside me. The woman slowly turned, and a pearly white smile spread across her face when she saw me. In an instant, she was next to me, looking at me lovingly.
“Charlie, my sweet girl, I have missed you.” She said as she embraced me, and I found myself laughing. She cupped my face in her hands, and pressed her forehead to mine. Her skin was like warm, despite her only wearing a chiffon dress, or jumpsuit, that seemed to be made of hundreds of different coloured scarves. Her arms moved through the gaps leaving her milk chocolate skin bare to the elements.
“Aunty?” I asked, the whole thing felt surreal.
“Call me Theia.” She said with a smile. “Alpha.” She nodded to Daniel, who seemed to have lost his voice as he stared at her mutely. The entire pack seemed dumbfounded by the ethereal being before them. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, when she opened her striking violet eyes, I felt a wave of calm rush over me, and the atmosphere changed. “Applewood pack, I come in peace, to help ready my niece for the battles ahead, and to share with you blessings, from my sister, your moon goddess.” Theia announced, and I heard the collective gasp of astonishment from the crowd. “I have been led to understand none of you remember the events after Charlie received her powers, and I am here to tell you, there is nothing to fear. Your human sides were momentarily... rendered unconscious, while your wolves received the power shared by your Alpha. We didn’t expect that, I must admit, but one of our kind has never mated with a Lycan before. You will be stronger, faster, smarter than other packs, you have been given a taste of a primal energy. The first, the power that created this universe, and countless others, through her.” Theia looked at me with pride, while I felt like a rabbit in the headlights, I could almost hear every head snap from her to me. “My sisters may be joining us to help Charlie train, I hope that’s not an inconvenience?” She asked Daniel, who actually squeaked before clearing his throat and nodding. “I know your father wanted to be here, but doing so could endanger you. I’ve had to use a protective spell to keep my youngest sibling from seeing me here with you. Your father’s power is too great to be masked by such measures.” She said with a sad smile. “You look a little like him.” She chuckled.
“Won’t he be able to tell where you are from the protection spell?” I asked suddenly worried, and looking up at the sky for signs of a barrier, like at Hyacinth’s. Her laughter was like music, melodic and pure.
“That’s why I had it cover all of North America!” She said cupping my face again, like I was adorable, and I felt my cheeks flush. “Are you finished Alpha? I wish to talk to my niece in private before we begin our lessons tomorrow.” Theia asked respectfully.
“One more thing.” A dazed Daniel hoarsely grunted into the mic, before clearing his throat and trying again. “I am appointing Robert Holt as our new Epsilon, dismissed.” He rushed and turned off the mic.
“Excellent, I have to check something. I shall meet you at the pack house?” She asked, Daniel must have nodded, because with a soft smile, she shimmered away, and all hell broke loose. The moment Theia disappeared, the stands erupted in voices, laughter, and chatter echoed into the night as the pack regained their ability to speak. Maria rushed towards me.
“Who was that exactly?” She asked in hushed tones.
“My aunt Theia, or Hera, as you may know her... pretty sure.” I replied, and she let out a peel of hysterical laughter, before walking off the stage, abandoning her husband, Daniel and me, all the while shaking her head like she couldn’t quite understand it. Ben shot me an apologetic look before chasing after her. As if a spell had been broken, Daniel grabbed my hand and started marching off the podium, towards the parking lot. Seeing their Alpha purposefully moving across the field, the rest of the pack started rising from their seats, and filing out of the stands, avoiding the exit Daniel was dragging me towards.
Theia materialised by a small one-story home on the pack lands, she could sense a magic here, but it was old, and felt borrowed, it made her uneasy. The source was no longer present, so she proceeded to the other spot she had been draw to. This time she appeared by a large tree, she could see the pack house down the hill, and looking up at the tree that drew her to its location, she saw a perch about halfway up. She used her magic to send her to the spot, and could see much more of the house from this position. Sending out a call to any magic that didn’t belong she felt a pull towards the pack house. Feeling the same mixture of energies, she had felt at the house, she transformed herself into a cuckoo, and took flight. Unable to locate the source, she landed in front of the house, and returned to her true form. She spread her energy out, searching for anything nearby. When she once again came up with nothing, she allowed a tear to flow over her cheek, the moment it hit the ground a plant started growing. Breaking through the fresh snow, in the middle of the lawn, grew a hellebores bush. She waved her hand over it, and the flowers bloomed beautifully, leaning in to one of them she drew in their sweet scent.
“Protect the girl that lives here, and I will grant you a wish, be safe little one.” She whispered, and anyone watching would have been forgiven for thinking the plant actually shivered in response.
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