My Warrior Luna

Chapter 2 ( Strange Excitement )

Who is she?" The corner of my lips turned up and my eyes sparkled.

Strange, Sawyer had been without his real couple for three years. Had he finally found the one? I hope she's a girl of strong character, because it takes a lot of strength to control such a crazy wolf. The most important thing though is that he has finally found someone who has his heart. It took him four years to find his true side. His wolf has probably been mad all this time. We understood, not all werewolves found their true love in the first year, Issac was lucky. You could call it a huge success for his werewolf to be from the same pack. However, I think there is much more behind all this, anyways the most important thing is that he is happy now.

"This is Ava, one of the contenders for the tournament. She's only recently arrived at this college, but she's already surprising everyone with her abilities and strength." The corner of Sawyer's lips turned up as he looked in my direction.

"Is that the same girl with the fine chocolate curls and dark skin?" Quin's eyebrow rose as his gaze drifted toward Sawyer.

"Yeah, that's my Ava." A white-toothed grin flashed across Sawyer's face.

"Congratulations, brother." Issac shortened the distance from the table to his brother a few steps, by placing a hand on his shoulder, his sign of affection.

"Thank you, brother. I’m sure she will be delighted to see you and your lovely half.” Sawyer slid the empty glass onto the table.

"Well, then I'm off to take care of the strongest werewolves." Quin pushed herself up from the couch, her dark eyes scanning everyone around her.

" Well, I'll see you the day of the tournament then. Looks like I've got a hell of a lot of work ahead of me." Lucian sighed, following Quin's lead.

"Come on, sweetheart, it's time for us to go to Brook's." Issac put his hand on my waist as he turned towards the office exit.

I nodded my head, and my lips remained firmly pressed together. Who is this mysterious Ava? Will the tournament run smoothly? The questions kept rolling around in my head as the bright school corridor crept pass and less before my eyes. The sounds of my high heels clacking through the silent building bringing my attention back to Issac. Walking beside me, his expressions gave away his thoughts. Although the tension eased some once Lorenzo disappeared, curiosity then troubling questions took the place of each other. I wouldn't call it troubles, but the queries of how they would accommodate so many supernatural beings under one roof and guarantee a level playing field and to keep the peace was no small challenge. The stairs were leading down to the first floor of the building and somewhere in the back I could hear the quiet voices of Lucian and Quin. In whispers, discussing the participants, the competitions, the races and other small things.

The college is currently empty, all the werewolves are training in the woods with slightly inferior teachers. How will they choose one single werewolf to represent the whole college? What method will they use or will there be a vote? I am sure that many will want to take part, but a magic ball will select the one and only this one will have this great honour. Time will tell, but for now we can only wait. I know one hundred percent that it will not be me, because I am not virgin to this sort of experience. None of the participants could match my strength. The other races would consider it cheating if they all found out who I really was. My only duty is to be by Issac's side and to help resolve any misunderstandings that I think could arise during the tournament. Although I could be wrong. Each college principal will ensure that students of his race will not cheat and will fight amicably against each other. Even still, I can only imagine what goes on in the minds of those young people who want to appear the strongest, the best, the toughest and the coolest.

My own age is not very different from that of the participants, but in a year's time I have matured mentally much more than I could have thought. So much has happened in one year that now, when I look back, a big smile cracks on my face. I remember my first stupid reaction when I saw a werewolf or when I met my first witch. Time flies so fast, I can't believe that a year has already passed before my eyes. Well, in just a few week and the cold winds of August autumn will be blowing outside the window.

My thoughts keep turning to the tournament, unable to calm down and giving me no peace. Who'll be the participants? What will they look like? Their possibilities? Strengths? Minds? Characters? Although, nothing seems to surprise me anymore. I am sure this tournament will bring a breath of fresh air into our lives. After a long summer holiday we will go back to training and prepare even more strongly for the future.

Issac opened its doors wide and the warm autumn wind blew in our faces making his light brown strands dance around his face. A few more steps and a narrow path stretched towards the car park, which was getting shorter by the minute. Our arms swinging together in the air, back and forth, our small smiles shining on our faces.

"What are you going to do while I'm at Brook's?" My gaze went to Issac's face, who seemed deep in thought.

"I have a few things to do. I'll pick you up in exactly one hour." Issac's sky-blue eyes rested on my face.

"You look worried, are you all right?" A few lines etched into my forehead, showing concern.

I am well aware that there are probably a million things going on in Issac's head at the moment. I can see that this is not only due to the tournament which is just a few days away. In the almost one year that I have been with Issac, I know him very well. His body language, his facial expressions, even his silence, which is sometimes pleasant and sometimes tense. It is strange how, when you are with someone every day, you can see right through him. I am not the kind of person from whom it is easy to hide things. I can see the excitement and concern on his face. It is just difficult to understand the real reason until he tells me himself.

"Ava." The word left Issac's lips, and his hand lightly opened the car door, showing his gentlemanly manners.

"Do you know her?" I got down on the seat, and then with a light movement I fastened my seatbelt.

Issac nodded and then slammed the door for a few seconds, leaving me alone. I followed his footsteps around the car, towards the driver's side. The cause for concern is Ava, but why is Issac worried? Have they met before? Or is he just looking out for his brother's other half? The inner wolf in me growled, but it wasn't anger. Something strange I've never felt in my chest before. Maybe it's a feeling, or maybe it's anxiety?

“How?” One word left my lips as the car door opened.

Issac took a deep breath, and with the jingle of the keys in his hands, the car roared to life. I sighed, my gaze drifting to the streets of the city. I'm not going to push Issac, he doesn't want to talk. He'll speak when he's ready, he just needs time. There are a lot of little things weighing on his shoulders at the moment, I'm not going to push him until he gets an answer. Space is a magical thing that works much better than constant questioning.

"Quin mentioned that Ava will be one of the people interested in the tournament. My gut tells me that it's going to be a really tough tournament, anything can happen. I don't want Sawyer to lose his girlfriend." Issac's dark blue gaze lingered on my face for a moment.

"It's a friendly tournament, I don't think anyone will fight to the death. We're all intelligent and sober individuals. Besides, each of the participants will be able to withdraw from the task at any time." I ran my hand through my hair and sighed.

Issac is wrong on this one. We are all adults and will have to weigh up the risks in our heads. This is a friendly tournament where tasks will be carried out to show the best of the race. Yes, it is a competition between peers, but there will be special rules to prohibit killing and serious injury. We want to unite and declare peace between the races not to divide them even more. If we follow it with cold and common sense, everything will be fine.

" Yes, maybe it's just a silly voice in my head. This upcoming tournament is driving me crazy. I'm happy for Sawyer, but I hope that after all this time he's finally happy." Issac's hand found mine, and then he gently held our fingers together.

"Is Ava, Sawyer's first mate?" My gaze traveled over the people who, little by little, stepped through the streets of the town.

"Yeah, that's why I'm a little worried. Are they really going to be all right? Is Ava right for him? Could she give up on their relationship? A million questions are keeping me on my toes." Issac sighed, turning the steering wheel slightly to the left.

"Everything will be fine. I'm sure they're damn in love with each other. But why hasn't Sawyer had his other half for so long?" Curiosity shone in my eyes at the look on Issac's face.

"We stuck together for a while after my father died. After I took over as Alpha, Sawyer was my right-hand man the whole time. My brother hasn't shown much inclination to move away from me. I am sure the loss of his father was much more painful for him than for me. They coddled Sawyer more than me all the time. I'm not sure that this bond was due to the age difference or the positions they had to fill after their deaths. I think Sawyer, who has been afraid for some time that he would have to leave me and go in search of her other half, could lose me too. Although we were always close, we grew apart over time. Now, things are back on track, we've grown up and are building our own lives. At the same time, we still do not let each other out of our sight, as if afraid of something. I can't say, but it's a strange feeling in my chest." Issac pressed harder on the accelerator.

I will probably never understand that feeling in my chest and the worry about my brother or sister. I've never had one to care for. Although I have Lorenzo, he is nothing like the brother I worry about. All I feel for him is hatred, which burns in my chest more and more each day.

I know that Issac's death of his father and his brother's past is a painful subject for him, so I often avoid the subject. I do not want to interrogate him or make him feel uncomfortable talking about these topics. It is just good to know that, more and more, he is opening up to me and revealing his own past. That is the most important part of a relationship - trust. I want to know Issac's past so that I can understand how to communicate and behave with him in the future. Not because I am judgmental, but because I don't want to hurt his feelings and see the sadness shining in his eyes.

"It's all right, you both have your own families now. You found me and Sawyer found Ava. You're his big brother. I think whatever happens, or whatever issue comes up, he'll go straight to you first. No matter what losses, events, or actions have connected you in the past, at the end of the day, you are the only person Issac can trust one hundred and ten percent." I clicked Issac's hand hard as I looked at him with my dark eyes.

The corner of Issac's lips lifted and the body in front of my eyes just relaxed. Yes, sometimes thoughts that are disturbing needed to be let go. A sign flew past the car window announcing that we were leaving the city limits. Lucian and Brook bought a small house in the woods. They think it's dangerous to raise a baby within the town limits where a tournament is about to take place. Well, that's their decision, they probably wanted space, woods and peace like every werewolf. The car soon turned right, heading along the path towards its final destination.

Trees flew past the car window and my lips quivered at the memory of those long summer retreats through the huge flowering meadows. Broken bones when looking at the moon are not as painful as they were in those early months, it is bearable now. The feeling of the wind ruffling your fur and the tree branches crunching underfoot is as fresh, new and wonderful each time. To be able to smell the wonderful scents and hear even the quietest bird songs is like being refreshed with each generation. The she-wolf inside me wagged her tail as if in approval, the perks of being a werewolf.

My gaze went to the sky, and in my mind's eye I heard of two people I had not heard of in a long time. Although they told me not to worry about their welfare, I think I know where they are. Gabriel and Shamuel have probably returned to my old home and are spending their days there in peace, or perhaps they are travelling the world exploring and enjoying the peace? I can only speculate, but my heart in my chest tells me that they are fine. Strangely enough, my inner voice never seems to waver, I should listen and trust it more. Even though the inner voice has a tail and two ears, I have got used to sometimes feeling very sharp emotions that the average person would not understand.

"Do we have all the candidates for the tournament?" My curious gaze went to Issac's relaxed face.

"It is Quin's task to select the strongest contestants for the tournament and the strongest werewolves for the task. She hasn't let me worry about these aspects, she told me to take a nap." Issac shrugged.

"Aren't you the headmaster?" I raised my eyebrows, and the tone of my voice was.

" Yes, but I'm sure there will be enough tension and stress during the tournament. I can't refuse the help that my friends offer me." Issac slowed the car down.

The dark brown roof rose to the treetops and a small bungalow met my eyes. A pathway of large stones invited me inside towards a large wooden door. A few windows shone in our direction, but the rest opened out onto meadow and woods. Two large grey chairs rested on the terrace and a small glass table shone in the middle.

A little to my left, my eyes caught sight of a dark blue Brook car, and Issac soon pulled up alongside it. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I opened the door of the car, and carefully placed my high heels on the ground. With a quiet slam of the door, Issac took the seat next to me.

"Ready?" Issac's eyebrow rose and a small smile played on her lips.

"Always." I smiled broadly as I slowly made my way up the terrace steps.

" Aren't you afraid?" Issac winked.

" It's not the first time, Issac." I rolled my eyes as I put one foot in front of the other on the step.

"It's still a little screaming baby." Issac rolled his eyes.

Then the front door of the house opened softly and Brook was standing in the doorway. Tangled yellow hair draped in all directions, dark purple bags under her eyes announcing sleepless nights. Coffee cup in hand and a dark comfortable dress covering her knees. Yes, babies do change people. It is strange to see Brook without high heels, bright make-up and not standing still. On the other hand, though, her eyes were shining, even though from the outside she looked tired and exhausted.

"Hello, good to see you. Come on in." Brook's face was full of a wide white smile.

"Looks like a hundred years." I hugged Brook, trying not to disturb the coffee cup.

"Shh, don't wake that little bastard." Brook put a finger to her lips, telling me to tone down my voice.

"Well, I'll be on my way then." Issac rewarded my lips with a short kiss.

"So soon?" Brook raised an eyebrow, her voice betraying the ironic note.

"So many things to do." Issac shrugged, then turned on his heel and strode down the path.

I stepped silently through the creeping hallway into the spacious and bright living room. Two leather sofas stood in the middle and a TV set hung on the left wall. A soft carpet greeted my feet and my gaze drifted to the best spot in the house, the mini-bar, that separates the kitchen from the living room. More specifically, an aquarium with coloured fish from the ground to the table. This is not the first time I have been in this house, so I feel at ease. A little to the left is a narrow spiral staircase leading to the second floor and bedrooms. Beyond that, large glass doors lead to a small courtyard and beyond that, as far as the eye can see, there are only trees and trees. In the far right-hand corner there is a fireplace and next to it a sofa with two small armchairs.

"How is your little princess?" I kicked off my high heels, leaving them by the door.

"She's growing, not by days but by hours. Coffee or tea?" Brook flopped down on the sofa, glancing in my direction.

"Go get ready, I'm sure you have a lot to do. I think you'll look out of place meeting Lucian like this. I can take care of the coffee myself." I blinked, a wide smile shining on my face.

"You are the best." Brook rose from the couch, her feet moving at a brisk pace towards the staircase leading to the second floor.

I didn't want to sit on the couch yet, so I decided to make myself a hot cup of coffee. The kettle worked quietly, taking care of the water, while I filled the cup with black coffee and sugar. It was so quiet that I could hear Brook taking a shower on the second floor. Little Sheila seemed to be still asleep. I think a baby's day consists of a very normal routine - sleep, bathing and food. She is lucky enough to be able to talk, but it is mostly a monologue with herself.

The steaming cup of coffee rested in my hand and then I took my jacket off my shoulders. Brook's house is really hot, probably keeping the temperature of the house the same. The jacket ended up on the corner of the sofa and I made myself comfortable by sitting on the soft sofa. After the first sip, caffeine slid down my throat. Mmmm, there's probably no more delicious thing in this world than hot and steaming coffee. After the third sip, a soft doorbell rang in my sensitive ears. I put the cup on the small table and my feet were already carrying me towards the door. Is Brook waiting for a guest? Whatever it is, I don't want to wake Sheila. I turned the handle, and then a slingshot came towards me.

My gaze drifted towards - nothing. Did I miss it? But after only a second, my gaze focused on a strange phenomenon. Slowly the snowflakes fell down in a slowly rotating circle. A cold wind blew through the open door, making my skin crawl. Where did this snow come from? Now it's August, where is this party from? But my minds came up with an answer in just a second. The only clue - magic.