The Royal Wolves

Blessing & Curse

* * * Florence’s POV * * *

“Wait…” Chad calls as King Edward approaches my cell and begins unlocking each lock.

“I said wait. Leave her alone,” he says as he rushes to the bars between us. “She’s pregnant. You can’t hurt her,” Chad frets.

“Quiet, Wolf. She came willingly and claims to have information I need to know,” King Edward snarls as he slams the palm of his hand against the metal bars.

My cell door opens, and before I can utter a single word, he roughly grabs my arm and begins to drag me from the cell.

“NOOOO,” Chad shouts angrily and in the blink of an eye he shifts into a copper coloured wolf.

‘His fur,’ Kate sighs in wonder as we watch his enormous copper frame slam against the bars laced in Wolfsbane.

“Use the sedatives, I don’t have time for this…” King Edward commands. “I’ll be back for you in a little while,” he says to me as he lets go of my arm, pushes me back into the cell and storms away.

‘He’s rattled,’ Kate whispers, as four sedation darts pierce the flesh of Chad’s wolf.

‘Why are you whispering when our conversations can’t be heard? And what could possible have him rattled?’ I ask her.

‘I don’t know. I believe it’s the wolf, Chad.’

‘Why would Chad have the werebears King rattled?’

‘It stems from hundreds of years ago. You dreamed of it one night. The history between the werebears and werewolves. The influence of the gods’ and the witches. Do you remember?’

‘If I remembered, I wouldn’t ask why he was rattled. Please get to the point,’ even internally, my voice is exasperated.

‘Sit back, it’s easier if I show you,’ Kate smirks at me. In my mind she’s flashing me a cocky toothy grin.

As I lay back, my mind spins as Kate takes control. A deep green forest edge appears and in hurtling towards the tree line. The sound of paws is heavy, stampeding through the underbrush, breaking foliage as they pass. ‘Faster, we have to get away,’ a voice I don’t recognise speaks within my mind.

‘We’re right with you Alpha. We’ve gotten away,’ another voice calls.

‘They won’t stop hunting us. We must run until dawn. We make for our ancestral grounds,’ the voice commands.

‘Yes, Alpha,’ numerous voices sound.

The vision speeds up, the wolf I’m currently inhabiting looks around as it runs and I see that I’m running as a pack of 15 wolves. Is this a pack? They said they were being hunted, is this all that is left of them?

The vision slows as we ascend a mountain range, heaving panting is almost louder than the sound of our paws. As we reach the peak, I see the ancient runes in the valley below. Talks pillars of stone, their carved ruins illegible to me, even as we get closer.

‘We made it. I want a tight boundary while we take turns in resting. Then we must decide where we go from here,’ the Alpha tells us and heads towards a wooded area across the clearing.

The group of wolves drink from the lake and continuously scan the area until the Alpha returns dragging the body of a large bear. The pack laugh in disbelief, ‘really? We’re hunted by the werebears and you choose for our meal to be bear?’ One wolf says.

‘It was the first animal I came across, although, the irony isn’t lost on me. Eat up,’ the Alpha orders and stands aside to allow his pack to eat first. Each wolf eats just enough to benefit, but also leave enough for their pack mates.

A series of ‘thank you, Alpha,’ sound as each wolf eats their fill. There is a sense of pain, heartache and worry present in each wolf. Surely this isn’t just because they’ve been hunted.

‘We’re going to rest and guard in two hour rotations. They should have lost our scent at the river, add our speed advantage. We have at least ten hours. So we rest for eight. I want eyes everywhere. And for you to think. Really think. The way I see it, we have two options. We relocate to another country and start anew, or we f**k it all and we fight. Who’s taking first guard with me?’

My wolf steps forward, as do a handful of others. We circle those that lay to rest. It’s an uneventful two hours, and despite knowing whatever happens has already happened, my eyes still scout the area for any threats that may harm these wolves. ‘Crescent Moon, it is time to rotate,’ the Alpha calls gently through the link to those sleeping. He allows them a few moments to get the bearings before the rotation happens.

My wolf body lays down, fully trusting his pack to protect him. His eyes quickly close and all is black, until the face of a red haired woman fills his mind, and I feel his heart break as he mourns the loss of her. This is what he has lost. Love, heart and hope for a future full of possibilities. Now he has to face whatever time he has on the earth without her. The grief is crushing him like a hundred foot wave.

‘We have company, take formation,’ a voice calls.

My wolf is on his feet and taking his place by his pack as they face whatever is coming. ‘Looks like humans?’ Questions one wolf.

‘They’re definitely far to slight to be werebears,’ my wolf comments as we watch the figures approaching.

“We come in peace,” a man calls out and his group stop walking. “We won’t come any closer until you tell us it is okay. We don’t want a fight,” he tries to reassure us.

‘I’ll shift,’ the Alpha says.

‘No!’ My wolf speaks quickly. ‘It could be a trap. As your Beta, let me pretend to be Alpha. That way if I fall, you can still lead us.’

‘Chadwick, if it is a trap, you could be killed,’ the Alpha frets.

‘Look, I’m of Alpha bloodline. Our size is the same. They may well buy it, and as it is right now, my heart doesn’t want to live without her. If this is to be a sacrifice, please let me do it for the pack, Peter.’

‘Don’t Peter me as though we are fifteen years old again. This is my pack and sacrifice or not, it is mine to take. Stand down,’ Alpha Peter commands and then shifts into his human form.

“You may approach,” he tells the visitors and awaits them to reach him.

“My name is Francesco, you may call me Frank. We are here to help.”

“How can you help us, Frank?”

“We were hunted once as you are now. Myself and those with me are all that are left of our individual covens. We were almost annihilated by the werebears in their search for power and dominance.”

“Your magic failed you?” Alpha Peter questions.

“They had watched us for some time. They attacked us when we were alone. Magic can only do so much against a group of bears. Those here found each other in our moment of need, to remain safe we have never been alone since. However we don’t have fangs or claws to fight with, and that is our weakness. Bears aren’t as susceptible to magic aa humans and wolves are,” Frank explains.

“We are sorry for your loss. As you can see, we understand it and are equally pained by the loss of our brothers and sisters. How did you know where to find us? If you found us, so will they, and we need to move.”

“Rest easy. Your location was give to use through magic. Through the power of sight. We were praying to our god, to all of the gods’ when a vision came to us. It showed us where and when our alliance would be formed and what needed to be done to stop the werebears from taking us all to our graves,” Frank speaks with confidence.

“How do the gods’ propose we beat them. We lost most of our pack and they still severely outnumber us. There is no victory to be had,” Alpha Peter sighs, afraid to hope.

“To avenge our people we must use sacrificial magic. And that is where our problem lies. We cannot ask for you to sacrifice. Life must willingly be given,” Frank sighs and bows his head.

“How many are to be sacrificed and what is the gain for us?” Alpha Peter asks, I can feel a firing of hope well inside of him.

“The sacrificial magic will require the sacrifice of life from an elder of magic and a wolf Alpha. With the sacrifices and an enchantment of power, the gods’ will grant the enchantment. The wolf will be altered to have an advantage against the bears, and the elders powers will be transferred to the chosen wizard. The gods’ will choose which wizard and wolf will bear the blessing that is also a curse,” Frank looks to us all.

“So I must die?” Alpha Peter sighs.

A jolt of pain rushes through me as my wolf shifts to human form, “no. I won’t allow it. What remains of this pack, needs its Alpha. Please, Peter. I have Alpha blood. Let me make the sacrifice for you. You still have your daughter to raise,” Chadwick argues.

“I would be honoured to have you raise my daughter, if my sacrifice is what saves her.”

“Stop being pigheaded. She’d rather have her Daddy. Don’t break her heart. You promised her you would come home. Let me do this for us,” Chadwick pleads.

“May we have a moment? Which of you is the elder?” Peter asks.

“Myself, Joseph and Charles are elders. However, I have pulled the age card and it is to be me. I have lives three life times, known the love of a good woman, raised my children. All of which these are still to achieve. It is only right, they have that opportunity. Besides, it’s becoming hard work to work the magic to delay aging. I’m ready for this, and if it helps the people of magic and the wolves, then it has been worth it,” Frank smiles. I can tell by his eyes that he is being truthful, he has li ed a good and long life and does not see this as a loss.

After a heartfelt goodbye with Peter, Chadwick takes his place alongside Frank inside a peculiar shape on the ground made by the wizards. Candles are lit and the wizards chant in a language that it foreign to me. My pack have tears in their eyes as with magic, the wizards slice mine and Frank’s throat. We lay bleeding out in the markings as the ritual continues. I feel myself leave my body, and find myself amongst the stars, by my side is Frank.

“This is it? We’re dead. It’s not so bad,” I comment.

“Not so bad at all. I don’t know why I put it off,” laughs Frank.

“You would sacrifice yourselves to save others?” A soft voice sounds.

“Absolutely!!” I reply firmly and turn towards the sound, to find my jaw going slack in the face of ethereal beauty. A silver glow to her complexion and long raven hair, I know who stands before me. “Forgive me, mighty Selene. This is a blessing to meet you at my end. Thank you for the wonderful gift of being a wolf and for Hal. You paired us perfectly,” I offer my thanks to the creator of wolves.

“You are most welcome, my child,” she smiles and strokes the hair or my bowed head.

“Oh heavens. Azuth. While I received your vision. I did not expect to meet you. I am honoured, even in death,” I hear Frank say and realise that he too has met his god.

“Well I wouldn’t well visit you alive would I? Well I wouldn’t even in death under normal circumstances. Welcome to the forgotten realm. We have come to accept your sacrifice,” Azuth responds to Frank. I cannot believe his god is…. Well…. Rude…

“Do not fret. Azuth has what we call dry wit. He means well, I promise,” Selene reassures me. “We must ask you both, are you sure that you are willing to make the sacrifice of life to help others?”

“Yes,” Frank and I answer together.

“Then you shall also be the ones to receive the gift that will help your species in the war against the bears,” Selene smiles.

“But, I thought… I thought we were to die?” Frank questions, mirroring my own thoughts.

“Only one worthy of this gift would be willing to dies,” Selene says softly.

“But it is also a curse,” Azuth warns.

“What is the curse and what is the gift?” I ask.

“You will be granted power over the werebears. Chadwick, your wolf Hal will have claws of copper. As you know copper is fatal to werebears. Your fur will glow copper as a warning to those who would harm you…. Frank, you will harness a power far greater than you have ever known. Then power to take down multiple werebears if you have to. Your power will be gifted from Azuth and will the werebears will be affected,” Selene explains.

“And the curse?” I ask.

“You will live eternally as servants of the gods’. You must travel and bring peace to areas of conflict and war. With this responsibility you will bear the burden of watching those you have loved, pass away from old age that will not affect you. Go now and return to your bodies,” Azuth says and flicks his wrist to dismiss us. The movement sends us hurtling back to our bodies on the ground.

As I approach my body, I see my fur glowing copper. Like fire. Frank is surrounded by what appears to be blue lights, everyone around looks confused.

I bolt from my cot bed, gasping for air. ‘He’s the immortal copper crescent wolf!!’ I exclaim to Kate.

‘He is a thing of legend, and I’m not sure of the werebear King is truly aware of what he has had brought into his camp. Either way, at least if he doesn’t listen to your vision, we know that he will be taken care of,’ Kate finishes with a snarl.

‘I’d like to prevent bloodshed.’

‘Then let’s hope he talks to us soon then.’