XALIA'S TRAGEDY

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

Trouble loomed and she had to do what she could to ensure a future for her pups. She couldn’t let anyone attack them. She didn’t want a repeat of Xavier and Extra. She couldn’t bear to undergo that pain again.

Skin fell from Xalia as her body tried to get itself up. She stumbled as she tried to disguise her cubs’ scent with her urine. Spraying around about her, she hoped the werewolves would not detect fresh cub smell otherwise that would be the end of her babies, particularly if the Lycan King got involved. Orla was no longer the number one threat. Xalia didn’t want to go too far from her babies, and in pleas for them to hush up, she felt exasperated as they whispered all the more. Just as the howls came nearer, suddenly a light enveloped Xalia.

She was encapsulated in shards of thick shining, as Selene, the moon goddess approached; dark and lovely-looking; fur bristling in the soft breeze.

Xalia looked up with her bewildered eyes, frightened for the moment, then upon the reflection that it was her heroine, she gave an overwhelmed yelp. It was finally the answer she had been needing when she was at her most desperate, most hurting, and most needy.

“I’ve been watching you, Xalia”, the moon goddess touched her shoulder. “I’ve been listening to you. I was always there. I was your guide. I sheltered you. I lead the wolf packs away. I inspired you. I assisted you to go on. I was there.”

Xalia began shaking with immense sorrow. “I’ve been so lost”, she declared, in heart-wrenching grief. “I didn’t know where to turn. I have to look after my babies.”

“Shhh”, Selene touched the tip of Xalia’s tongue and immediately, Xalia felt as if she had swallowed a whole fountain of water. Her tongue, instead of being tissue paper dry but now moistened and nourished. She felt strength coming into her body.

“I’m going to set things right, but you’re going to have to follow my plan”, stated Selene who touched the cubs on the forehead individually with a paw.

“Anything”, declared Xalia adamantly. “Anything? It will be risky”, Selene warned. “I’ve been at risk from day one”, Xalia said firmly. “Now, tell me. What do I need to do?”

“I’m going to change you and your cubs”, dictated Selene. “But you will have no choice but to be back in your pack with Orla and the Lycan King. There is no escaping this. You are to disown your identity as Xalia to protect both yourself and your newborn. From now on you will be Hannah, a new werewolf with her litter. But you are not to give yourself away. You do this and your destiny is at stake and your cubs will be at the mercy of the Lycan King.”

Xalia was at attention. “Okay”, she said, “Change me. Change my litter. Hurry. They’re coming.”

Selene nuzzled her nose against Xalia’s, the cubs, and then disappeared into the moonlight.

Am I changed? Xalia panicked as the sounds of running footsteps came closer. She realized she was stronger both internally and externally. She looked at her cubs. They were different all right; instead of dark silver thick fur, they displayed fawn brown colorings. They appeared older and fluffier. Their appearance was imminently different. Xalia looked at paws with dark brown where there had previously been metal gray fur. Selene had been true to her word.The approaching pack stopped and suspiciously sniffed her and her cubs. Xalia cowered as she recognized Orla and Lycan King.

“Who are you and what is your business here?” puffed out the Lycan King’s chest as he snarled at the new brood, which Xalia tucked under her for safety.

“I am Xa… Hannah”, Xalia quickly caught herself for fear she had given herself away. She knew there would be peril and distress if the Lycan King knew who she was.

“I have come in search of a pack to help raise my litter. We come from-“ Xalia paused, seeking a suitable lie, “A distant village where I have a mate.” This would stop them from trying to claim her, she thought. “Who is leading the pack? They are hunting and they shall join us if you prove yourself to be good to our litter.”

The Lycan King was watching her with those eyes sniveling and ferocious. Did he know? Could he tell she was making things up? Pondered Xalia, trying not to reveal her fear.

The Lycan King had been looking territorially at Xalia, now Hannah to protect her identity. He looked at her cubs, who appeared at any age, close to one year old. How old she looked, thought Hannah as she looked away from the Lycan King’s piercing gaze. Did she look conformably altered? Did the Lycan King accept her story?

“Yes”, he stated, as if to confirm her thoughts.

Hannah breathed a sigh of utmost fear unpenetrated. She was going to be okay, as long as they could keep up with this charade, she was going to be fine. Selene did help me, she considered.