Born Of Fire: The Moonstone Guardian's Mate

Blue Flames And A Baby

One Thousand Years After the Prophecy:

Sunlight cascades through the cracks in the forest’s canopy, warming the dampened ground below, as small animals scurry through the bushes. Birds are joyfully singing their beautiful songs as they flock to the skies, dodging and diving through the tree branches. A narrow, worn walking trail winds its way gently around trees and rocks, inspiring many werewolves to take a leisurely stroll through the gorgeous woods of the Moonstone Guardian pack lands. The pack members have always said these woods feel like magic if you only take the time to walk through them with an open heart.

On this particularly sunny day, the current Alpha of the Moonstone Guardians, Alpha Callan Warren, strolls with his mate Luna Elizabeth, and their two year-old son, Phoenix. The day was perfect for a family outing and the Alpha had tasked his second in command, Beta Edmond and his mate, to manage the pack for the day so he could take his family for a stroll. The Beta couple had no children, even though they had been trying for many years, so they threw themselves into their work for the pack. Glad for the distraction, Edmond had gratefully agreed to the Alpha’s request.

As the Alpha family strolled together leisurely, harmony seemed to surround them on all sides. They began pointing out different birds and small creatures to their son, enjoying the peaceful sounds of nature, and teaching him about the different colors of flowers in the area. Smiles adorned all of their faces.

That was until they overheard the screechy wail of an infant in the middle of the uninhabited woods. Alpha Callan and his mate stiffened, their wolves both going crazy over how to get to the infant and protect it and how to protect the pack from any danger.

The Alpha’s wolf, Darius, was on edge, ‘This could be a trap.’ He said in Callan’s mind.

‘I know it could be, but what if it’s not and there is really a pup in need of help? We have to take a chance. I’ll send our mate with our pup to the edge of the woods, and we will inspect it ourselves,' Callan told Darius, who agreed.

'Beta, I heard a strange sound in the woods, and I'm going to inspect it. It appears to be a pup crying. But I'm sending the Luna and Phoenix to the edge of the woods to wait. Will you meet them with a small group for back up if needed?' Callan used his mind-linking ability to reach out to his Beta.

'Of course Alpha! Naomi and I will be there as soon as possible,' the Beta answered back.

“Elizabeth, my love, I need you to take Phoenix to the edge of the forest and wait there for me. If you hear or see anything suspicious, you are to go back to the pack house immediately. Understand my love?” Callan told his wife.

“Only if you promise to be safe and mind link Edmond so he’s prepared with backup if needed.” She stood her ground.

“Of course, my dear. I’ve already linked him to let him know we heard something suspicious. He and Naomi will meet you at the edge of the forest. Now please go," he begged his wife. She turned and lifted their son in her arms and, with a swift kiss on his lips, began walking quickly through the woods in the direction they’d come from.

Alpha Callan was aware he’d have better chances of finding the source of the sound if he allowed Darius to take over. He quickly removed his clothes and began shifting into his massive wolf form. Darius was a huge wolf. As a direct descendant of the original wolves, he towered over other wolves. His jet-black fur making him seem all the more menacing. The Alpha stalked into the trees, using his enhanced hearing ability, pacing carefully toward the crying just ahead .

Soon, he could smell something in the air. It was an infant! The smells of milk and powder wafted across the air near him. But something about this pup was strange. It had no familiar smell, so it couldn’t have been one of his pack member's pups, nor did it smell of any other pack he was familiar with.

A short distance ahead, the Alpha noticed a clearing coming into view. He’d seen this clearing before. It was beautiful, with a spring fed creek that crossed one side. Old pack tales had said that this clearing is where the first werewolves were created. There were even the ruins of a small building with a fireplace on one end from a time long forgotten. Callan had come here a few times before when he was struggling and seeking direction from the Moon Goddess on tough decisions he needed to make for his pack. So far, he’d not felt as though he left unheard or with prayers unanswered in some way. His pack was still thriving after all, and the Goddess' moonstone gift was still safe with their pack. The Alpha often hoped the way he led his pack was pleasing to the Moon Goddess and tried to follow her wishes as best as he could.

Alpha Callan was known as a strong but caring Alpha through many of the other packs. His pack loved and adored him. Each member of their pack knew without a doubt if they had an issue they would be able to ask for advice or help from their Alpha, and he would do his absolute best to help however he could. Even outside packs knew him to be kind but firm. They regarded him so highly. It was no surprise that when any pack needed help they would come to Callan first. He was a great alpha, husband, and especially a father. Many knew this. He was also a skilled hunter and warrior, never one to let his pack members fight without him, which made it less likely the other packs would cross him.

So he had to wonder. Who crossed into their pack lands from somewhere outside the borders, and why is their pup crying? The Alpha had his nose in the air, deeply breathing in the scent of the pup trying to locate it and its parent as the crying had suddenly calmed to small, occasional coos. He padded further from the treeline and was astounded at the sight before him, at the top of a small hill to the right of the crumbled, old fireplace was a huge circle of unusual blue flames! That’s when Callan noticed the pup, probably about a year old, sitting alone in the middle of the fire playing with grass. From where he stood, all he could see was that the pup had creamy white skin and fiery red hair. But he couldn’t afford to take more time to look it over, as surely the flames were going to catch on the grass near it at any moment.

The Alpha bolted as quickly as he could toward the child, his large wolf leaping into the air easily clearing the flames that tried to lick at his belly. Skidding to a stop as his claws dug into the soft ground, he stared at the child. He wasn't sure how he’d get it out of here, but he knew he had to. There was really only one way. He couldn’t carry the baby in his wolf form, it simply had on a cloth diaper and that was all.

He lowered himself to his belly and began to slowly crawl towards the small being so as not to scare it and cause it to cry again. Who knew who else was out there searching for the pup? Callan could tell now that the pup was a girl, and her fiery red hair glowed copper in the sun’s rays. Her thick little arms and legs had the cutest little chubby rolls on them, showing she was a healthy, well-fed baby. He was sure his wolf would scare her, but she simply looked at him and giggled, extending out her chubby hands to take hold of his silky fur.

It was at this moment when Callan noticed that the flames which were still burning weren’t moving at all, they weren’t even scorching the earth underneath them. How could this be? The baby started crying again suddenly, and it snapped Callan from his thoughts. He immediately shifted back to his human form and picked the child up with care. She stopped fussing as he cradled her to his warm bare chest. Gazing down at her, he noticed that her eyes were a beautiful hazel. Being green around the outside and a flower of gold flames bursting out around the dark pupils. They were stunning! Suddenly, with a gust of air swirling around him, the blue flames all extinguished, leaving no trace of their existence behind. Callan had known this child was special, but he was certain of that now. He would be sure she was taken care of and well-loved.