Chapter Fifty-seven: Warnings

I smile. I’ve had my suspicions that Loretta and Elijah were mates but did not want to say anything. She was always asking where I had been and that I smelled different every time I came back from seeing Elijah. When she asked me if she could come that near enough sealed the deal for me, and I think she knew it too.

I walk into the room and she hesitates, so I grab her hand and tug her in slightly. I hear a gasp from Elijah as I do, and I know he knows. I look towards him, who has a slightly surprised look on his face as he takes Loretta in. I look between them both and decide to clear my throat, taking them both out of their staring trance.

“Elijah, this is Loretta, Lukas’ youngest sister. Loretta, this is Elijah, my dear friend from one of the elven communities I once lived at for several months.”

They both continue to just stare at each other, so I assume this will probably go on for a while. I decide to click my fingers in Elijahs’ face which snaps him out of it…slightly.

“You’re being discharged today, Elijah. Lukas has sent some stuff to a cottage on the edge of the pack. We’d like you to stay as long as you like.” I look between him and Loretta. “I suspect it may be a while.” I say with a smirk and he rolls his eyes and gives me a sarcastic look.

“I’ve got some other things to chat with you about, but we can catch up later. Loretta, can you help Elijah and then take him to the cottage?”

She seems to lose her trance. “M..me? Yeah sure, I’d be happy to!” She says, shyly then looking back to her mate.

I smile at them both and go to leave the room, turning round and giving them both a sly wink before I exit and head down the stairs. I feel really happy that my best friend has finally found his mate after searching for years….well I suppose it would be many more years for Elijah than Loretta, but none the less, I’m happy for them.

I decide to mind-link Lukas and see if he’s free for some us time. I’ve spent a lot of time with Elijah making sure he’s regaining his strength that I worry that I’ve been neglecting us.

“Hey Lukas, are you free?”

“Hey little one, I will be in five minutes. What’s up?”

“Would you like to go for a run?” I feel Athena get excited at this instantly and I smile internally.

“Yes, would love to. Ares is going insane in my mind at the suggestion! I’ll meet you in front of the Dome?”

“It’s a done deal. See you soon.”

I head towards the Dome and see Lukas already there, waiting for me. He looks up as soon as he senses my presence and I see him light up instantly with his brilliant smile. I feel my knees go weak as I continue to step towards him. As soon as I reach him, he grabs me by the waist and lifts me with a twirl, ending with a sweet kiss which gives me delightful shivers.

“I love you little one.”

“I love you too.”

He takes my hand and we head towards the forest. When we arrive at the tree line we go to one of the large trees not too far inside. We both strip, and we both shift to our wolves.

“I’m going to let Athena take over Lukas. She’s been excited to get out. I’ll see you later.” I mind-link him.

I can see his large black wolf bow slightly as if acknowledging what I said, and I then take a mental step back and allow Athena to take over. They start to run through the forest playfully nipping at each other and end up rolling around in the dirt. I smile internally and take a step back to go to sleep from watching through her eyes so she can enjoy being in control.

I find myself waking in darkness. I look around but I can’t see anything. I try to bring my hand up in front of me but cannot feel or see it. I try and reach out to Athena.

“Athena?”

Nothing.

“Lukas? Anyone?”

No response.

I start to panic slightly before I hear what seems to be a whisper.

“Pathetic.”

I stop panicking and instead try to even out my breathing and listen out to where it came from. After a minute I still hear and see nothing.

“Who’s there?”

“You are the child of two Gods yet you don’t even know your full potential.”

I hear the voice now, loud and clear. An extremely deep voice threatening to burst your ear drum if you try and strain to listen hard enough. It drips venom at every word said, not afraid to show their hatred.

“Who are you?” I respond, trying not to show any fear.

“Why, I’m the one that took out your puny elven community. They were pathetic by the way.”

I feel a wave of sadness wash over me, followed by fear. It’s Fedori, the dark elf. But where am I, how has he got to me….has he taken the pack out?

“Why. Why did you do it?” I ask, not caring to say his name out loud.

His laugh booms around me, and I’m still unable to tell where he is. “Because for some reason, your Goddess Mother decided to unlock your power here, meaning that you could draw power from that place. So it had to be destroyed. Destroying everyone within was just an extra. Plus, I got what I needed to reach out to you.”

Anger fills me as his words reach my ear. I feel a sense of power wash over me, and a surge that comes with it. I open my eyes, not realising they were closed before, and I see him. I see a fairly skinny man, similar to an elf standing a few meters in front of me. He has shoulder length black hair, and his eyes are black. He doesn’t make a move but I can see he is a bit taken aback that I can see him.

“Perhaps you’re not so useless after all. Maybe you understand you have more power than you let on. This will not be the last time we meet, and when we do eventually meet in the real world, I’ll be coming for the powers that are rightfully mine.”

Before I get a chance to retaliate or say anything in response, he claps his hands that causes a large force and I feel myself being knocked out from wherever I was.

I feel someone trying to reach out, and I make it out to be Athena.

“Ali? Ali are you ok?”

I feel her relax slightly. I set myself up to see through her eyes and I can see Ares looking at us with concern.

“What happened?”

“I felt you disconnect. I felt you go to sleep and then leave….as if you left our mind.”

I feel a bit disorientated and notice it’s not dark outside.

“Athena he took me somewhere. To a dark place where I couldn’t feel, see or hear anything but him.”

“Who? What are you on about? I didn’t’ see or hear anyone.”

“Fedori. He must have pulled me somewhere. I don’t know how he did it. I…I saw him. I opened my eyes when he admitted to killing them all Athena. He also kept talking about how I’m not using my powers properly….it was kind of creepy.”

She takes a few moments and then she speaks. “I see it in your memories. I don’t understand how you were pulled out. I couldn’t feel you at all. I think Ares noticed too.”

We look towards Ares and we decide it’s best to shift back into our human form. We head back towards the base of the tree we left our clothes at and shift back to change.

“What happened?” Lukas says worriedly as soon as we shift.

I go through the seemingly short encounter with Lukas, who responds with a deep growl. He pulls his t-shirt over his head and I feel slightly disappointed that Athena didn’t get more time with Ares.

“Don’t worry, we had plenty of time together.” She says playfully and I internally roll my eyes. I look to Lukas who is looking back at me full of worry.

“I’m fine, I promise. I don’t think he could hurt me wherever we were. I’m just surprised he could do that and had not done it before.”

I ponder on that for a few moments whilst I zip my dress up. How could he do that? Where did he take me? I wish I had asked him more when we spoke and the information he gave to me was slim.

As I frown, I feel Lukas taking my hand and I look up to him. He pulls me close and takes a deep breath with his nose in my hair.

“You’re mine. No one is going to take you. I will not let you go.”

“I know.” Is all I respond with, pulling away slightly and tip-toeing up to give him a kiss on his lips.

“Let’s go home.” Is all he says to me, seductively, and I welcome it, butterflies stirring in my stomach.