The Seer and The Alpha

Borrowed time

Lyra Ariti

One second I’m in the forest about to accept my fate, and the next I’m back at camp staring at Tanith.

“What just happened?” I asked confused.

“I sent Eirian after you when you didn’t return from your sight seeing, as more time passed I began to worry, so I had you summoned back here.” Tanith says as she shrugs her shoulders.

I begin laughing, in disbelief about the events that just transpired. Eirian looks at me with concern in her stormy grey eyes.

“What’s so funny?” Tanith inquired with a puzzled look on her face.

“Well.. it would appear that Lyra has a mate. She stumbled upon him in the woods today.” Eirian tells Tanith while I continue to laugh, tears coming to my eyes.

“It seems that the moon goddess has a sick sense of humor, my mother escaped from the pack that abused her just to give birth to a seer with an alpha for a mate” I tell her, as I attempt to catch my breath from laughing so hard and I wipe the tears from my eyes.

“You are mated to an alpha? There is only two wolf packs in Alaska, The Frost Fang Pack to the North, and The Blood Moon Pack to the south. The Yukon river divides the two territories. Which Alpha is your mate?” Tanith asks.

I can tell she is trying to stay calm but I can still see the fear she is trying to hide. I know that the coven gave a vow to protect me, but it is a small peaceful coven, and they won’t be able to stop my mate from taking me.

After a few minutes pass in silence Eirian decides to answer for me, “He is the alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, Elio Barone.”

Not that it matters much, I think to myself, a wolf is a wolf. I’m sure both alphas are equally cruel. I refuse to be used as a pawn, I’m as good as dead. Tanith shakes me to pull me out of my thoughts.

“Focus Lyra, does he know what you are?” Tanith inquires.

“No.. He thinks that I’m a witch” I mumble, I can see some relief in Taniths face.

“Listen closely Lyra, he is going to come for you, and you will have no choice but to go with him.” She still has her hands clasped on my shoulders as she tells me the last thing I want to hear.

“No! I wont be used as some tool, my mother fought to free me from the same fate as her and I wont disappoint her.” I rip myself out of her grasp, my breathing starts to become heavy as panic starts to set in my lungs.

“You need to calm down Lyra, he believes that you are a witch, all you have to do is pretend to be a witch, never let anyone catch you using your gifts” Tanith consoled me.

I look at her like that is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. “Except that I’m not a witch and unable to use magic” I remind her in case she forgot that minor detail.

“I’ll go with you” Eirian remarked as she steps toward me and embraces me in a hug,

“I wont let anything happen to you, when needed I’ll use my magic in the background and we can pretend that it’s yours, we can fool the mutts.” She pulls back and smiles at me. I dont know what I did to deserve this family of mine, but I am glad that I have them.

“That might just work,” Tanith says with her hands on her hips “But are you sure Eirian? You will be leaving the coven, and you won’t be able to come back.”

“I’m sure, I’ve been with lyra all my life and I’m not about to leave her now.” Eirian replies.

I cant stop the tears that fall down my cheeks. “Thank you” I pull her back into a hug and squeeze as tight as I can.

“Alright girls, we don’t know how much time we have before your mate comes for you. I suggest you pack your bags and get your affairs in order” Tanith advised us.

Tanith is right, Elio could come to collect me at any moment. I grab taniths hands and squeeze, conveying how much I appreciate her. I take a moment to stare at her knowing this might be the last time I ever see her. I let go of her hands and head back to my tent. Once I’m alone inside of my tent I allow my muscles to relax. I’ve been so incredibly tense since this morning. I grab my suit case and zip it open. Being a nomad I live a pretty minimalistic lifestyle. I put the few outfits I own into the suitcase, as well as my hair brush and a few beauty products that Tanith taught me how to make years ago. My most prized possession is a necklace that was my mothers. It’s a white gold chain with a pendent in the shape of a crescent moon, hanging from the top point is a charm in the shape of an eye. I’m not sure where she got it from, hell I dont even know who my father is, but when she was dying she gave the necklace to Tanith and asked her to keep it safe until I was old enough.

I’m pulled out of my thoughts by the noise outside, My mate must be here. I zip up my suitcase and take one last look around before finding the courage to walk outside. Our eyes lock almost immediately, I feel a weird pull towards him. I dont know much about mate bonds, considering the fact I never thought I would have one, but I assume that must be the reason I am feeling this way.

“It’s nice to see you again little witch” he beamed, flashing me a gorgeous smile.

“I suppose I should formally introduce myself, I am lyra Ariti” I hold my hand out for him to shake.

He wastes no time taking my hand in his and sparks travel across my hand from the contact. “I previously introduced myself, but just in case my name is Elio Barone and I am the alpha of the Blood moon pack” he offers before kissing the top of my hand.