Chapter Thirty-two: The Calling

I look at my reflection in the mirror in shock. Can a wolf go into shock? If they could, then I’d be the best example.

“We’re beautiful.” Athena says to me, and I can’t help but agree. We look like snow with little sapphires for eyes.

“I can’t say for certain, but I don’t think we’re just some wolf.” I say to Athena.

“I think we’ve always known we’re different. But this is drastic.” Athena says, rightfully so.

Athena takes a look towards the crowd and a lot of them have started speaking to each other. From what we can hear, they’re unsure, interested, confused, shocked and some of them ecstatic.

Athena shakes off the thoughts of the crowd and we sniff the air. We can smell so much more in this form. We can also see more clearly. Since the Druida community, my stamina, sense of smell, taste and sight has been much better in our human form, but this is superior.

Lukas finally comes up to us with a grin on his face after getting over his initial shock.

“You’re beautiful Athena. Nice to finally meet you.” He says to us with a smile, and Athena bows her head slightly, showing the Alpha respect.

Lukas turns to the Elders and tries to whisper his thoughts. “Is this normal? Have we ever recorded a white wolf before?”

Both Elder Irish and Elder Wright look to Elder Wyatt, who’s just keeping his eyes on me. He takes notice that they’re looking to him after a few moments and mouths one word.

“No.”

Silence fell after his words for a few moments before he spoke again.

“I think we’ll be keeping our eyes on Aliana and Athena for the next short while. We look forward to seeing what she brings to our pack.” He says with a small smile.

Before Lukas can get another word in, we see Melinda and Markus push themselves up to the podium.

“Well Elders, this is new.” Markus says without hesitation.

“Yes Markus. I believe this is new to us all. Our Moon Goddess has graced us with a wolf as white as her Moon.” Elder Wright says.

Melinda started asking the Elder a question but Athena is looking at the Alpha. He’s caught on and is looking back at us.

We suddenly hear his voice in my head. “I wish we could go for a run. Ares is dying to meet you.”

We were a bit confused, as we hadn’t seen his mouth move. His eyes have turned black, as if he just mind-linked me.

He stands for a moment, possible noticing our reaction to his thoughts.

“Did you hear me?” He says very quietly.

Athena nods her head slightly.

“Can you hear us?” We say in unison.

Lukas is taken aback for a moment until a big smile comes on his face.

“Well, that’s new.” He says as a whisper out loud, but it was loud enough for the Elders to hear and interrupt their conversation with Lukas’ parents.

They all stand a bit confused until Lukas turns to them. “She can mind-link me.”

Alpha Wyatt places his hand under his chin in a thinking position.

“I think this may be a gift. It seems our White wolf is blessed by our Moon Goddess.” He says.

Blessed? Moon Goddess? Athena and I are confused for a second.

“Are we not able to mind-link you anyway, seeing as how we’re a werewolf also?” We ask Lukas.

He looks at us and chuckles. “No, you can’t mind-link anyone in the pack unless you officially join the pack, by blood oath.”

Athena and I remain confused, but before we could think on it more, Lukas turns to the Elders.

“If you don’t mind Elders, Mum, Dad, I would like to go for a run with Athena. Ares is dying to get out. We will come back here within a few hours”

The Elders nod their head in approval, but keep their eyes on me, full of wonder. Lukas instantly starts to shift into his huge black wolf Ares. When he finishes the black wolf came up and nuzzled against Athena, no shame that there was a crowd watching.

“Hello my love. It’s nice to finally meet you and talk to you.” Says a voice similar to Lukas’, but was a bit distorted, and deeper. We could both tell it was Ares speaking to us through the mind-link.

“Hello handsome. Let’s go, shall we?” Athena says, and we, along with Ares start running towards the forest on the other side of the cliff.

I take a back seat, and let them both run wild together, going wherever they want within the packs borders.

It must have been about two hours before they started to calm down, and head back towards the cliff where the ceremony of the new Moon was still ongoing. Both Athena and Ares looked towards the Moon and howled, like I’d expect them to do. I smile internally.

We start to strut to the top of the cliff, and I take the opportunity to speak to Athena.

“So, you have fun then?” I say in a cheeky tone.

“Yes, it’s exactly what I needed. Just to run free. Thank you for letting me have this time.”

“We’re in this together, and I want to respect the time you spend with Ares. It’s obvious you’re made for each other. I promise we’ll try and do this more often so you both can have fun.”

I can tell she’s smiling, so I leave her to walk the rest of the way up the cliff with Ares by her side, in close proximity.

We get to the top where there’s less people then what there was when we left, and we can tell the ceremony is coming to an end. It seems all the ranked members, along with some others are left standing speaking with the Elders.

Ares licks Athena’s face and she nibbles his ear in return. Ares then heads towards the biggest tree on the top of the cliff and goes behind it.

A few moments later, Lukas comes round the corner wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

“Hopefully we can shift back that easily.” I say, not wanting to think about shifting back quite yet.

“Don’t worry, we’ll do it together.” She says and I relax a bit in her mind, trying not to ruin anything for her by overthinking.

Athena turns back to the Elders who are greeting Lukas.

“Hello Alpha. We hope you both enjoyed your run?” Elder Irish asks, stealing a glance over at me.

“Yes, it was great for us to get a run out together thank you Elder.” Lukas stops for a moment regaining his composure. “Anything important I missed?”

“Apart from your Mother asking the poor Elders every question under the Sun? Nope, nothing.” Markus says, rolling his eyes but an amused smirk across his face.

Melinda throws up her arms. “I was curious! I’m sure everyone is, it’s not every day we see a white wolf!”

Lukas chuckles. “Oh yeah Mum. I bet you’re wanting to spread the gossip to your buddies.”

Melinda scoffs and rolls her eyes, knowing full well her son was right. Lukas and Markus smile, along with Mandy and Loretta who laugh along.

Elder Wyatt moves over to me, which gains the attention of the others around us.

“Did anything else happen whilst you were on your run little wolf?” He asks gently.

Athena and I feel a bit unsure what he’s meaning, but we think about our run and apart from being able to keep up with the Alpha, nothing we can think of.

We shake our head in response, and he smiles. “I’m sure there’ll be more. It will be a case of just finding out as we go. Our Moon Goddess wouldn’t choose just anyone, so I’m sure there’s more in store for us here at Crescent Moon.”

I think about this for a moment. More in store? The fact that I am white is more than enough for me, in fact I didn’t even know I was a werewolf until a few days ago. This is all crazy and I’m unsure if I’ll ever be able to catch up.

Elder Wyatt walks back over to the other Elders who give him a funny look, but he shrugs it off. Just as Athena and I were assessing him, we heard something.

Athena instantly shoots her head towards the lake.

“What was that?”

Athena moves closer to the edge of the cliff. Lukas notices but he’s in a deep conversation with Elder Wright so made nothing of it.

“Alianaaaaaaaaaaaaa.”
There is definitely someone calling us from the lake, but where? We can see very well and we’re unable to see anything on the surface or around the edge of the lake close to us…..the call sounded like it was coming from the depths beneath the surface.

Both Athena and I panic a bit, unsure what is going on.

Athena turns her head back towards the group behind us next to the podium. Can no one else hear this?

Lukas picks up on our panic and looks at us, putting his hand up slightly to Elder Wright.

“What’s wrong?” He asks through our mind-link, in a slightly worried tone.

“Can you not hear that?”

“Hear what?” He says, this time out loud.

The group stop their conversations and silence overcomes the group, listening to this sound that Athena and I heard.

“Alianaa” It whispers again.

“That. Did you hear that? Something is calling Aliana’s name….Sounds like it’s coming from the lake” We tell Lukas.

He looks to the Elders. “Something is calling her…..from the lake.” He says, a bit unsure.

The Elders look between themselves, seeming a bit unsure, even Elder Wyatt who’s been very forward with his thoughts this evening.

“Athenaaaaa” We hear it again, more vividly. Athena looks back towards the lake and we both think on a crazy idea that will be outright rejected if we were to ask the Alpha and Elders.

“Let’s go.” I say to Athena, knowing she also wants to find the source.

Whilst the group are trying to listen for this sound, it’s evident to us it’s for only Athena and I to hear. Athena starts to move a bit further away from the cliff.

I think about what she’s about to do, and for once I’m not nervous. I love swimming, water is my freedom, and I’m glad Athena sounds the same.

Lukas suddenly realises what we’re doing as we’re a few meters away from the cliff edge, but before he can stop us and as he shouts out our names, Athena takes a full pelt run up to the edge, and performs a massive leap, right over the edge.