Howls of Apollo

Quinque

Four people, a spacious suburban, a whole lot of silence.

Apollo was sat in the back with Skaia while his Beta was up front along with one of his guards who’s the designated driver. They were currently on the road to Forti Polaris. It was a day’s travel and the night has long passed yet not a single word has been uttered since they passed the border of Clara Solis.

Each was lost in their own thoughts, particularly the newly reunited somewhat newly found mates. One was lost in the matter of what comes next or what might be as a new role is to be taken up soon. While one was lost in the thoughts of the things of the past that have recently come back to haunt the present.

Apollo was a fair man. He wants to see every angle of a situation before he comes to a decision and with the recent kidnapping of his mate, the only decision he could come up with to give her a fair chance of standing up to, and possibly even winning against warlocks, is training. He refuses to think about how helpless his mate looked when he first arrived at the tower they kept her in. Training would give her a fair chance at a fight should the need arise, although he hopes it’ll never come that, but nevertheless, she’ll have a fighting chance.

“Skaia,” He called, breaking the silence. Everyone inside the car immediately became alert despite only one of them was called to attention.

Her head turned quickly at the sound of her name.

“Yes?” She asked softly, curiosity shining in her eyes.

“When we arrive at Forti Polaris, you will need to start training.” He said as simple and straight to the point as he could.

While Skaia felt like she had just been stung by a bee with a stinger as large and sharp as a kitchen knife, and she almost recoiled at how the pain felt too real. She didn’t respond right away. She looked her mate in the eye, hoping she could read something, anything.

However, as she gazes into the blankness of her mate’s face, she realized then that he had built his person so perfectly detached that he can treat anyone with indifference and reach a decision with such passiveness of the gravity it might bring so long as the end result is good and beneficial. He might be the perfect Alpha, but he’ll never be close to a perfect mate if she can’t tell what he’s thinking. So, unless he tells her exactly what’s going on in that head of his, she’ll have to make do with the scraps his walls let through and put two and two as best as she can.

“When will I start?” She asked, her voice monotone and lifeless.

The surprise was clear on Apollo’s eyes, and she almost missed it had she not already been looking him in the eye. Though it was gone as soon as it was there.

 “You will start the next day. You will be trained under my commanders. No special treatments.” Apollo answered, not taking his eyes of her face, watching her closely.  

“I understand. I had undergone training before Apollo. Hierarchy is earned in our world.” She retorted.

Apollo felt eyes on them as soon as the words left her mouth. Dark eyes shining with amusement and respect looked back at them from the rearview mirror. It seemed his mate impressed his equally as elusive Beta.

As the subject was dropped, Skaia was once again lost in thought as her mind took her back to the day she regained consciousness. She had just awoken from a three day induced coma when she was met with the news that they, Apollo along with her, need to leave for Forti Polaris as soon as possible. And that seeing as she is in a better state now, they could go on their way that very evening.

Too stunned by his words, Skaia couldn’t even form a response much less stop him from walking out of the room. He made her feel like anything less than just another would-be pack member. An obligation he couldn’t run from. The thought pricked at her heart and her spirit dropped considerably.

“Lyra will help you out. I need to meet my men to inform them of the trip back to the pack.” Was all he said before he walked out of the room, leaving her dumbfounded and reeling from his lack of warmth. The subject of training only added fuel to her already disheartened impression of her mate as he modestly underestimated her by bringing it up. He didn’t even ask, he stated she undergo training. So, with silent indignation, she implacably agreed, fully determined to make him eat crow.  

Apollo can’t shake the feeling that something big was about to happen. He has no doubt he would be playing a role in it as he always has whenever his family is concerned. Remembering the warlock’s last words about Skaia, it made him all the more determined to see to it she won’t be as helpless as she was when they took her.

Forti Polaris is not only known for the flourishing pack system, but also for the strength of his warriors. He’d establish the system himself, having five commanders leading five different categories of warriors. The training is relentless but no one comes out a lesser man than they were before. They’ve been built up mentally and physically with the end goal of protecting and defending the pack if need be.

Although, he may be a descendant of a figure of which legends are made, the prestige of his lineage has nothing to do with pack standing. In fact, Forti Polaris is only second in rank in terms of the most prosperous pack in all facets of what it takes to make a great pack.

Even so, the pack’s training is already as intimidating as it is. However, the idea of training doesn’t seem to scare his mate at all judging by the cool expression on her face when she responded to the subject. Instead, the determination and glint of challenge in her eyes almost makes him think she’s actually excited.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the border of the pack. Apollo even felt it the moment they entered pack lands. That sense of home. They passed through the gates and another vast amount of land before the main land came into view. The line of cars passed through the first pack house that’s now an event hall to house every meeting and event, before they split from them as they proceeded to Apollo’s private home.

Apollo’s home screamed so much of Apollo’s personality it left Skaia speechless. This is no doubt his home. From the color, to the stance and the overall aura of the place. How she can tell, she has no idea.

Apollo turned to her the minute they got out of the car.

“I have a meeting with one of my commanders so Krii will show you to your room.” He said, nodding towards his beta.

“Alright.” Skaia replied, with a nod of her own.  

Apollo walked ahead into the house and went straight for his office where Rush, one of his commanders, was waiting.

“Alpha” He greeted with a small bow.

“Rush” Apollo greeted back.

Apollo made his way across the room. He rounded his desk and stood behind it, looking at his commander in the eye to convey the seriousness of what he was about to say.

“I’ve found my mate.” He started. The commander felt his wolf stir but he schooled his features and awaited the alpha’s next words.

“She was taken a few days ago by warlocks.” The commander’s eyes narrowed but didn’t dare interrupt. Instead, he listened more intently. “She needs training, so she’ll be joining you and the rest tomorrow.” Apollo stated.

The commander was stunned at the prospect of their future Luna needing training as rigid as the alpha was proposing, and he felt a sliver of reluctance towards the woman who would one day stand beside their alpha to lead them. He can’t help but think of a meek and timid woman standing by his alpha. Quiet and subdued. The image of such softness within the power ranks of Forti Polaris steered him to apprehension.

Nevertheless, he nodded in understanding. “Under who’s command alpha?” He asked instead.

Apollo held his gaze. “All of you.” He answered. 

The commander’s eyes visibly widened.

Apollo continued. “She’ll have to be trained harder than anybody. Understood?” Apollo asked strongly, looking his commander in the eye who nodded despite the hesitation in his eyes.  

A knock sounded from his door before it opened to reveal his Beta with Skaia in tow.

The sound of breath hitching reached Apollo’s ears and he turned his attention back to Rush where the direction of the sound came from. He looked at his beta in both a mixture of curiosity and caution. His wolf did not like the commander’s reaction to Skaia.

“Skaia, this is Rush, one of my commanders.” He introduced, forcing out the words as he kept his eyes on the scene in front of him.

Skaia gave the commander a small nod to which the commander unexpectedly returned with a bow.

“Luna” he greeted to Apollo and Krii’s surprise as the voice wasn’t his own. Rather it was deep and almost animalistic. Then the commander’s eyes flashed a ring of gold around the irises, an indication that his wolf has come through.

Skaia looked back at Apollo in confusion at his commander’s greeting.

Rush quickly recovered and uttered a small apology through gritted teeth, almost as if what just happened was against his will. “I’m sorry alpha, my wolf immediately identified her as his Luna and I couldn’t stop it.” He said with a hint of disdain.

The tone of his voice didn’t escape Apollo’s ears and for a fraction of a second, he wondered if it reached Skaia’s as well.

By the narrowed eyes cast the commander’s way, clearly it did. She chose not to comment on it though as she a calm expression took over her face.

“Wat time will the training start tomorrow commander?” Skaia asked to break the tension.

Rush straightened a bit and answered gruffly, “At the break of dawn Luna.”

Skaia gave the commander a meaningful look, her eyes calculating and sharp, before she nodded at his reply.

For the first time, Apollo wondered what she might be thinking.  

“Alright, I’ll be early.” She said then set her eyes on Apollo, “I’ll see myself out.” She said, turning around and walking out before he had a chance to reply.

Apollo fell into silence as he thought about what tomorrow would bring. Training was a necessary evil for his mate. She needs it and it’ll do everyone good, was what his mind was telling him.

At Apollo’s silence, Krii quietly dismissed the commander until it was only him and the alpha left in the room.

“Alpha” Krii called out.

Apollo’s eyes shifted to his Beta. “The night Skaia and I met, did that happen to all of you too?” He asked.

Krii nodded slowly. “It wasn’t as open as the commander’s but I felt my wolf’s pride come through as soon as it sunk in that you’d found the Luna.” He answered.

Apollo can sense Krii had something else to say so he urged his beta to spit them out.

“Alpha, the Luna is strong. My wolf can feel it. The training will help yes, but If I may say, all the training in the world would never compare to the security a trusted confidant can bring, especially if it’s your mate.” He said pointedly.

Apollo completely understood his words but he won’t always be by her side. He needs to get to him before he gets to her and the last thing Apollo wants is his mate within his reach.