The Human, Angel, and Wolf

Meditation

The next morning, I again wake up without Haze. I glance at his alarm clock and realize that it's past 10 a.m. As I'm getting up, I see a note on my bedside table.

Sunshine, if we don't see you at breakfast Alex and I will see you at lunch. You are precious to us. 

He's so sweet. I do what I need to in the bathroom and then make my way to the kitchen for a little food. Marian comes in soon after me, "How do you feel this morning, Young One?"

"Still tired, but no worse for wear." I'm still waking up so I close my eyes for a minute and take a deep breath. 

"I think we should work on meditation this morning." She looked over to me, wanting confirmation.

"Sounds good to me. Do you have a place in mind?"

"There is a small river that runs though the woods, it's close to the pack house but away from people who may want your attention." 

I laughed and went to go get dressed. Marian then came in to do my makeup and brush my hair out. Then she led the way to river. It only took us twenty minutes to get there. 

We sat down and Marian began explaining what to do. "Okay, I want you to close your eyes and focus on what's around you." 

I listened to the water lazily flow downstream, the birds having conversation above us in the trees, and small animals scurrying around. I felt the grass under me and the small breeze hitting my face. The sun was obstructed by trees, but I felt some of the rays on my. Finally I focused on Marian, I began to feel her presence become stronger. I felt surprise, but it wasn't my emotion. It was hers. It occurred to me that I had never seen her with her wings. In the middle of my thoughts, Marian stopped me.

"Young One, open your eyes." I did and looked over to see her standing and looking at me like I grew horns on my head or something.

"Um, since you're obviously surprised I'm going with you didn't know that was going to happen." Well, this is strange.

"The connection wasn't strong, but you definitely connected with me. And on top of that you tried to make my wings come forward! Only high lever angels should be able to make me bring my wings out! I'll bet after your birthday, you'll be able fully connect with me and you will have the authority to make my wings come forward." She just stared at me for a minute. "You are really something special. We will need to be really careful with you." 

She paces around mumbling to herself. I go back to meditating since she doesn't seem to need me right now. Instead of focusing on what's around me, I focus on myself and evening out my breathing. After a few minutes, I'm completely calm. I let the sounds of the water and birds come into my focus and just then Marian interrupts me. I scowl up at her and she ignores it. 

"We will have to be careful, Young One. I think that after your birthday, your aura is going to change, grow. It will become more authoritative. I think you're going to be able to make angels and demons submit to you. I don't know about high levels, but everyone on both sides are going to feel threatened. We need to keep your abilities a secret for as long as we can."

I begin to understand the gravity of what is at stake. I'm already seen as a threat to the demons, but if the angels also begin to think me a threat...well let's just hope that doesn't happen.

"What about telling Haze?"

We look at each other, it's almost impossible for mates to lie to each other. 

"I think it would be best if he didn't know all of the details, that they stay between us for now."

I nodded, "I'll keep quiet. If he asks I'll get him to understand it needs to be kept a secret for now."

"Alright, we better get back for lunch before a search party is sent out."

I nod and we start walking back. "Stretches and stuff later?" I'm really dreading this part.

With her mischievous glint she says, "Yes."

Great.

I didn't see anyone from our regular group so we grabbed our food and sat. We weren't waiting long when everyone shows up. I'm so excited to see Haze that when I saw him I ran to him and jumped in his arms. 

He chuckled, "I missed you too."

I smiled into his neck, but didn't let go or move back. 

"Did you have a good morning?"

"Mhm." I continue to snuggle into him since he hasn't put me down yet. I'm pretty sure everyone is staring, but I don't care. I missed him. 

He chuckles again and tries to let me down, but I don't oblige. He gives up and gets his food with me hugging him. He gets me settled back at my seat and I see I was right, everyone was staring. I feel myself blush, but I just smile at everyone and continue eating.

"Helen, I was thinking about getting a message this afternoon. Would you like to join me?" Suzanne asked.

"That sounds nice, after lunch I'm going to work on some training with Marian. Having a massage afterwards might be really nice." 

"Yes, it will! Marian you're welcome to join us?"

"No, you to girls spend some time bonding. I'll see you both tonight. I have some research I want to do?" I glanced at her, she didn't mentioned research to me.

"Research about Helen?" He pulls me closer into him and looks at Marian. Crap, I know he feels my heartbeat quicken. 

"I just want to study her condition a little more." I look down at my food and roll my eyes. Yes, that's technically the truth but it's misleading. Secrets are stupid. 

Everyone, but Haze changes discussion topics. He looks at me and raises his eyebrows. He knows that isn't the whole truth. 

I lean closer and whisper, "I'll explain later. Okay?"

He doesn't look convinced, but nods slowly. I reach up and kiss his cheek as a thank you. 

Unfortunately, lunch was over soon and we all went our separate ways. Suzanne says to look for her at the hospital when I'm done. 

We go back to the same area next to the river and Marian has me start with lunges, then we move on to my arms. It actually isn't quite as difficult as I thought it might be. Even Marian was surprised. We continued since I was doing so well. Some pushups and jumping jacks and we called it a day. 

I took a quick shower before going to the hospital to find Suzanne. Doc Sam saw me first and made a B line to come to me. I held up my hand, "Before you ask how I am, I'm here for Suzanne."

He smirked, "Yeah, I know. She told you were coming and what you were doing before coming here. Tell me, how did it go?"

"Actually pretty good, I'm hurting and tired but I'm still on my feet. We're getting massages so maybe that'll help with the hurting."

"I agree, but rest for the remainder of the day." 

I agree and he goes to get Suzanne. We walk down to where Sallie's is, I didn't notice before but there is a spa house included in the businesses. We go in and they take care of us right away. It was lovely, I definitely am doing more of these in the future. I thank my new friend over and over throughout our appointment, she just laughs and says I don't need to thank her. 

When we leave I decide to go sit in the garden for a little while. Suzanne had some work she was helping Jacob with. I sit on the ground with my back to the fountain bottom, looking over the fields of pack property. 

I see a group of people training in one of the fields, I couldn't hear anything but they were obviously an advanced class. After a few minutes, they paired up and started to spar. I was so engrossed in what I was watching I didn't hear anyone come up to me.

"Luna?" 

I was startled and jumped a little. It's Leo, just Leo. 

"Sorry, Luna. I thought you heard me coming." 

"I was so busy watching that group train that I didn't hear you. How are you, Leo?" I reached over and helped him sit with my. He leaned against me so I wrapped an arm around him. 

He was quiet, watching the group. "They are some of our pack warriors. That class is the most advanced. My father used to train with them."

"Honey, do you feel like telling me what happened? It's okay if you don't want to talk about it." I kept my eyes on the warriors, but pulled Leo a little closer.

"I can tell you what I remember. Dad was on patrol, it was near the end of his shift. I had snuck away to go see him. He always smiled and gave me hug before sending me back home. I'm not old enough to be on patrol so I wasn't supposed to be near the border. Just like always, he gave my my hug and was about to send me home when he yelled for me to run. Before I could, rogues ambushed us. They killed my dad and the leader hurt my leg, he decided to let me live. He said I would never walk right again and laughed. It wasn't long before other warriors came and killed all of them but the leader. Several died and they all blamed dad. Said he was in on it. It's not true though, Dad would never put this pack in danger."

Leo was so strong when telling me what happened. A few tears were streaming down his face by the time he was done. I wiped them away with my fingers and kissed his head. What a horrible thing to happen to this child. If I can help it, this pack won't keep treating Leo and Marigold like traitors.

"Leo, what can you tell me about the leader? What did he look like?"

"His wolf was brown, but not a pretty brown. The human had dirty brown greasy hair. He was pretty tall, but looked like he had lost a lot of weight. He almost looked sick. He had a strange accent though."

"Okay, thank you. Tell me, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

I looked down at him and his face transformed to happiness. "I want to be a chef. Mom teaches me when she's not on laundry duty, but that's not very often."

"Well what about Chef Jerry? I bet he would teach you?"

He looked at me a bit dejectedly. "I don't think so, you're the only one in the pack that treats us nice."

"I'll speak with him."

After a while we get up and start walking towards the pack house. "See you later, Luna!" He gives me a hurried hug goodbye and walks away.

I stare after him. "You shouldn't get to comfortable with that family, Luna." 

It's the man from yesterday. Calm, think of the water and birds. 

"And why not?"

"They're traitors! It wouldn't look so good if you were seen as sympathetic towards them."

Calm, I reach out for Marian and hope she can feel me trying to make the connection. I'm sure any minute, Haze will feel my anger. I'm afraid of what I might do to this wolf if he isn't careful. I haven't mastered how to redirect my anger.

"And what exactly is your proof that the family is in fact traitors?" I'm staring him down and he took a step backwards.