Howls of Apollo

Novem

She took a few deep breaths to grasp what Apollo just dropped on her.

“I wasn’t aware. Things are different back home. I don’t know what my duties are.” She rambled.

“You’ve been doing a fine job so far. You’ve managed to go find your way around some parts being Luna covers.” Apollo said, praising her efforts.

“Like what?” She asked, despite the blush painting her cheeks.

“The clinic is entirely the Luna’s domain. It’s under your charge, one which you’ve found your way into all on your own. You’ve also taken on the mother of the pack role unconsciously and based on the way the pack members are responding to you, I can say you’ve gotten their favor.” Skaia blinked back her surprise, she didn’t even know that was part of her role. She just went with her instincts.

“Lastly, the warriors are entirely under my charge as alpha, however, my commanders have taken a liking to you, so I will be taking your input into consideration.” Apollo said truthfully, and her heart swelled at that.

Her eyes softened considerably and a smile graced her face. Apollo felt his breath hitch at the sight of happiness on his mate’s face. He can feel his wolf look on proudly at the feat they made.

“I’m thankful for that Apollo really, but since I am Luna now, that means I am your partner in leading this pack right?” She clarified.

“Yes” Apollo answered.

“Then I need to ask why Alistair is so set on getting to you, he’s targeting me.” She asked bravely.

Apollo’s eyes hardened at her question, his jaw was clenched and his posture went rigid.

Skaia immediately tried to remedy the situation. “You don’t have to give me the whole story, just tell me something that will make sense of what has happened.” She said almost pleadingly.

His cousin’s words from earlier replayed in his mind, but Apollo was still hesitant, he couldn’t bring that kind of heavy information on her now. He’s not ready to see how she’d take it, not after they were just starting on getting to know one another.

On that note, he decided to just tell her the gist.

“He’s a warlock who wants to see the fall of my pack. Something happened a few years ago and he’s been after the alphas of Forti Polaris since then.” He said, not meeting her eyes.

Skaia looked at her mate skeptically. “So he holds a grudge on your family?” She clarified.

“Yes” He answered simply with no intent to elaborate.

“How long ago exactly?” She probed.

“A couple hundred years.” Apollo answered.

Skaia looked at him in disbelief. Werewolves could live to about a hundred years and if that’s the case then Alistair has had it out for the alpha of this pack since Apollo’s predecessors were sat as leaders. She can’t help but wonder what spurned such zest for revenge, her curiosity was burning.  

“I have a few questions of my own.” Apollo interrupted her train of thought.

“Go ahead.” She said to him. She’ll let it slide now, she doesn’t want to push too far.

“The night we met, you were holding my nephew.” Skaia nodded. “How close are you to my sister’s family?” He asked.

“I was there the night Lyra gave birth.” She answered right away. “It was odd, the baby wouldn’t come out. She was in labor the whole day but Lyra told me the baby got eager to come out when I walked into the room.” She said, smiling.

“Lyra then asked me if I could help out around when I can, which turned out to be all the time since she didn’t trust anyone with the baby aside from Atlas and myself. So, based on all that, I could say very close.” She finished.

“Since the time you arrived at Clara Solis, you’ve been focusing on training to be a pack doctor?” He continued asking.

“Actually no,” Her eyes lowered when she answered. “I was training to be one of the pack warriors.” She said.

Apollo wasn’t surprised at that. She had the skills and the decision making to match. She would have been a decorated warrior as well.

“Then something happened one day. My friend was badly hurt during one of our hunts. He took a bite to the neck from a rogue who almost chewed his head off. He was bleeding out quickly so I couldn’t move him. I had to act fast and my instincts just took over.” Skaia had a faraway look in her eyes, like she was reliving the memory all over again.

“That was the start. I partially turned my back on fighting and focused on training at the clinic, much to my father’s glee, and the rest is history.” She said, the smile back on her face.

They basked in comfortable silence after that, sitting back and gazing at each other on opposite sides. Apollo could never deny the fact that talking to his mate like this, getting to know her was something he’d wouldn’t mind doing for a long, long time. Skaia in turn felt a sense of accomplishment at doing what she planned to do earlier that day after all. She thinks they took a mighty step in their bond that night and that things might be changing for the better for them.

A chime suddenly broke through the quiet and both their gazes snapped to the gigantic grandfather clock on the wall. It was midnight already. Looks like their conversation lasted longer than they both thought.

“Well, I guess we should both get to bed. We have a pack to run tomorrow. Or today I guess.” Skaia said chuckling lightly.

Apollo’s lips twitched to form a smile but not enough to grace his face. He nodded at Skaia’s words and rose from the chair.

“I’ll walk you.” He said to her.

Skaia’s eyes softened once more and she gave him a warm smile. “Alright” She said.

They walked side by side on the way to her room. The charge still there. Isolated to both of them now rather than the whole room. Skaia can smell her mate’s musky scent and all she wants is to bury her face in his sweater clad chest and bask in it.

They stopped in front of her door and she turned to face him. “Which one’s yours?” She had to ask. She’ll be completely dismayed if he opted to sleep elsewhere other than the same roof as her.

Apollo turned his head to the room right in front of hers. “That one.”

Skaia’s eyes immediately lit up. The fact that they were closer to each other than she thought sent her insides haywire.

“I hope we could do this as often as we can.” She said to him. “I really don’t want a relationship where were only effective as good leaders yet we’re completely aloof to each other as mates Apollo.” She steadied her gaze with his as she spoke.

“Call me sentimental but I want a relationship where you’re my world and I’m yours. Where being apart from each other makes it hard to breathe. After all, we’re werewolves. Mates are everything to us.” She said to him honestly. Throwing caution to the wind and letting it out.

Apollo’s chest warmed at his mate’s words. That moment, he can’t believe he even thought of fighting the bond. He was an i***t. This was what the alphas before him were missing out on? Having somebody afraid to lose you and wanting to be with you. There are a lot of secrets he needs to tell her and he will, but as of the moment, he wants to allow himself a little pleasure in soaking up the bond with the person destined to be with him.

So, he took a step forward and leaned in. He let his lips fall onto her forehead and placed a lingering kiss there.

“Good night, my mate.” He whispered to her, before pulling back and making his way to his room as well.

Both of them slept so well that night with the knowledge that their relationship had taken on a new leap but completely unaware of the surprise the next days would bring.

There’s a conference that’s held every year between all northern packs. Each year, the location will circulate throughout the packs until all packs have catered to such an important gathering between leaders. It serves as an unspoken renewal of alliances as every in the region are required to be of attendance and call to light issues that need to be addressed or improvements that need to be overseen.

In the ten years that Apollo has sat as alpha of Forti Polaris, he’s never attended in person. Only a representative has gone in his place. Sometimes it’d be one of his commanders and sometimes it’d be Krii for more pressing matters.

However, as he stares at the locale intended for this year’s conference flashing on the screen of his computer via the email he received this morning, he can’t help but think that this might be the year he’d attend himself.

He thought of how his mate would feel if they go since this year’s conference will be held in Clara Solis. Since the night he walked her to her room, they couldn’t even be apart for so long, spending each day handling pack business together. Skaia still kept to her usual activities, being the clinic and training, but she’d spend a few hours in his office with him too. He was very surprised to witness the tactical brilliance she exhibited when they made adjustments and improvements to the warriors’ training. The business plans he’s been working on have been enhanced as well by his seemingly well rounded mate.

Even Achilles, who visited once more another time, was more than impressed with her he went as far as threatening to take her back to his pack. That alone almost earned him a close encounter with Apollo’s wolf.

The bond that’s growing between them has been near impossible to ignore. It even came to his surprise when Skaia asked if they could start sleeping in the same bedroom. He said yes in a heartbeat. It’s been absolute bliss, but there’s lingering guilt in the back of his mind. They can’t complete the mating process until he tells her the most important thing about him, about being with him. Other than that, he can sense his mate has a few skeletons on her closet too, some of which he knows she’s dreading to tell him.

Those factors alone have driven a wedge between the blossoming bond that should have normally been completed days after they met, but they are no ordinary couple and with that, they must wait.

As his thoughts concluded, his wolf suddenly perked up when his ears caught the familiar soft foot falls of his mate. A soft knock sounded on the door, her comforting scent wafted through despite the door between them. He said a gruff ‘come in’ and the door opened to his darling mate.

Skaia had a soft look on her face as she made eye contact with him. With, dare he say it, fondness in her eyes. She crossed the room to take a seat right in front of him, the desk still between them. The whole way, not once did they break eye contact.

There was a hum of electric charge only they could feel and his chest swelled when he saw how flushed his mate was, a clear indication of the effect it has on her. Little does she know, it has the same effect on him too, it’s just taking every ounce of strength he has not to let it show.