The Guardian: Full Moon

Chapter 4

Leon paced in front of the Alpha's office. His father was on the phone with some of the other Southern Territory Alphas. He thought back to the conversation he had had with his father the night before, after his visit with the Hunters. He had run, still in his wolf form, straight back to the FireHeart territory, confusion rampant in his mind. “Alpha! They called 'her' Alpha! Did they mean Miss Drago? I thought they were under a forced familiar contract. How can they talk?” It was the middle of the night when he reached the Pack House and mind linked with his father. “My Alpha!” “No need to shout my son.” His father had replied tiredly, as Leon had woken him up. “What’s wrong Leon?” “I think we might have made a mistake!” Leon said anxiously. “Regarding what Leon?” His father asked, now more awake. “Miss Enya Drago!” Leon had nearly shouted out loud. “Meet me in my office, and explain everything.” His father commanded.

Leon spent the next few hours explaining in detail everything that had occurred with the wolves. His father had seemed just as confused as Leon about the situation, and had contacted as many of the other Alphas as he could first thing the next morning. Some of the younger Alphas were still in the neutral zone monitoring Enya. “You're going to wear a hole in the floor out there if you keep pacing like that.” Leon's father chastised him through the mind link. “Sorry father.” Leon apologized. He rubbed the back of his neck and sat down on the floor, leaning against the wall opposite the office door.

Leon's father stepped out of the office a few hours later, a troubled look on his face. “What did the other Alphas say?” Leon asked, jumping up from his spot on the floor. “Get ready Leon. We're going to get the Hunter Elders and the wolves.” He said resolutely. “We might have made a mistake.” Leon felt like a rock had dropped in his stomach as he ran out of the Pack House, shifting as soon as he was out the door. His father not far behind him. They ran as fast as they could, and were soon outside the Hunter base, where Elders Odin and Athena were waiting for them.

A Hunter had seen Leon and his father coming and had sent for the Elders. Leon shifted into human form as soon as they were close, not caring that he had no clothes. “You need to come with us right now!” He exclaimed breathlessly. “We think Miss Drago might have been telling the truth.” “What do you mean?” Elder Odin asked confused. “We don’t have time to explain right now. My father is getting the wolves.” Leon shifted back as soon as he had finished talking and went to meet his father. Elder Odin and Elder Athena exchanged exasperated looks, and called for a Hunter to drive them. Soon they were all heading out, with Leon leading the way at a dead run. Worry and guilt forming a lump in his throat that was making it harder to breathe. He hoped that at least one of the other Alphas had made it before the ones on guard started torturing Enya.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. All of the older Alphas, along with Leon’s group arrived just in time to see Enya being whipped by one of the young Alphas guarding her. Her screams and the sound of the whip connecting with her flesh was enough to make the blood in your veins run cold. The Hunters all visibly paled at the sight, and the wolves howled in rage. Time seemed to move in slow motion as Leon and the wolves ran to her. Leon was the first to reach her, jumping and shifting in mid air. He stumbled somewhat as he landed and moved to stand in front of her. Effectively shielding her with his body. Leon clenched his eyes shut and gritted his teeth as the whip made contact with his bare skin. A hush fell over the group, everyone momentarily too shocked to say anything. The pain in Leon’s back lasted for only a moment before his wolf healed him. He breathed out a small sigh and opened his eyes. Only to have his breathe immediately catch in his throat as he found himself staring into a pair of the most beautiful emerald green eyes he had ever seen.

Enya's P.O.V

The Alphas guarding me had woken me up earlier than usual. Apparently one of them hadn’t returned the night before, and they decided that it was my fault. It was still dark out as they led me to the tree that had become the designated spot to tie me up when they felt like using me as a punching bag. They tied my hands together and secured them to one of the branches within arm's reach. Though instead of beating me like usual, they pulled out a multi-tailed whip with animal claws at the end of each tail. Every strike ripped into my skin like a hot knife through butter. The sound of the whip and my own agonized screams had rendered me numb and deaf to pretty much everything else around me. So I initially didn’t even notice the man who had jumped in front of me, taking the next strike in my place.

My breathing was shaky and labored, and my skin stung as the wind blew on my open wounds. I took in an unsteady breath as the man in front of me breathed out a sigh. I opened my eyes a c***k to see a broad and toned chest in front of me. Curious as to who this man could be, I chanced a look up at his face. What I saw took my breath away. It was one of the young Alphas that was helping guard me. In fact I think it was the same one that hadn’t returned last night. Before I could get over the shock of this realization, he opened his eyes and I had my breath stolen yet again. His eyes were a beautiful hazel color, and were filled with as much shock as I’m sure my own held.

Leon was so mesmerized by her eyes that, for a moment, he couldn’t move. His eyes flickered down to her lips, and for an instant he was tempted to kiss her. “Perhaps it would be a good idea to put some clothes on before you embarrass yourself.” His wolf Thorin spoke in his mind. This snapped him back to reality and he stood up straight. He backed away from Enya and walked over to where he had left his bag of extra clothes the night before. He quickly pulled on a pair of shorts and walked back to stand by his father. By the time he got to where his father and the Hunters stood, the wolves had formed a protective circle around Enya.

“It would be best if one of the Hunters tried to approach them right now.” Leon’s father said to Elder Odin and Elder Athena. “I don’t think they’ll let any of us approach until they've calmed down.” Elder Odin and Elder Athena both nodded in agreement and sent a female Hunter to heal and untie Enya. The wolves let her pass with only minimal hesitation, though they still kept an eye on her. Enya sighed in relief as the Hunter healed her fresh wounds, but there was nothing she could do about the scars that now riddled Enya’s once unmarked body from head to toe.

“Thank you for your help.” Enya said to the Hunter, and then turned to Leon. “I suppose I owe you a small semblance of gratitude as well.” She said indignantly. “So, I thank you for this one moment. Though it shouldn’t surprise you that I can’t muster much respect for you, or the other Alphas in charge of guarding me.” “What is this all about?” The Alpha that had been whipping Enya asked impatient and annoyed. “I have reason to believe that Miss Drago really has been telling us the truth.” Leon said stepping forward. “And what is your evidence?” One of the older Alphas asked. Leon looked around at everyone assembled before answering. “The wolves have free thought, and they respect her as their Alpha.”

The Alphas were all silent for a moment as they processed what Leon had said. Then chaos erupted. Some Alphas were calling Leon a liar, most demanded an explanation. As the Alphas argued amongst themselves, Enya stood by petting the wolves. She found the Alphas’ current behavior amusing, but also annoying. They were getting so loud it was starting to get hard to think. Then Enya decided she had had enough of the nonsense. “Enough!” Enya yelled stomping her foot against the ground. As her foot made contact with the ground, a geyser of water shot out, drenching the unsuspecting Alphas and Hunters.

Now dripping wet, everyone turned to Enya, speechless. Shock and disbelief were present on all of their faces. “Well, now that I have your attention, I'll be glad to explain everything.” Enya said crossing her arms and smirking. “To start with, if you all had taken a moment to actually 'think' two months ago, you would have realized that you could have shifted and spoken to the wolves. That would have been the easiest way to tell if I had forced contracts on them.” “If you knew that, why didn’t you say anything?” Elder Athena asked confused. “Because I knew the Alphas were too stubborn to listen to me.” She said glaring at the Alphas. “In their minds, I was guilty. The only way to prove otherwise, was for them to figure it out on their own.”

The Alphas wanted to protest, to tell Enya that she was wrong, but they knew she was right. They had been blinded by their pride, and wouldn’t accept being told that they were wrong. She had called them out, and now each Alpha was getting a similar mental lecture from their wolves. Now utterly embarrassed the Alphas took turns undressing and shifting behind some bushes. One by one they spoke with the wolves that stood loyally by her side. After confirming what Leon had discovered about the wolves, the Alphas now turned their attention back to Enya, curious to learn how she had called forth a geyser of water.

Enya could see the questioning looks on the Alphas’ faces as she watched them return after shifting back. She knew what they were going to ask next, so she raised a hand to stop them. “No need to ask, I was already going to explain.” She crossed her arms again and waited for them to quiet down before she began explaining. “As you know, ever since I was young I've been faster and stronger than normal humans. But what you don’t know is that I had also been able to hold my breath underwater for longer periods of time too. I was perplexed by it for years, until two years ago when I turned 15.” She paused for a moment before continuing.

“My parents and siblings were saved during a storm, by a sea nereid named Adrian 17 years ago. Coincidentally it was also the day that Kai and I were born. He would occasionally write to my parents, asking about us, and we would visit him during the summer. It was the same two years ago. Everyone else was on the beach, playing and having a good time, while I was out diving. While I was diving I accidentally bumped into a female sea nereid, and without even thinking I apologized. She had said it was fine and swam off, while I floated in place dumbfounded. I had spoken underwater, and not only that, but I was breathing underwater. As you can imagine, I was confused. I swam up to the surface as fast as I could and looked for my parents. I spotted them on the shore and was about to swim to them, when Mister Adrian pulled them away from everyone else. I followed them while still in the water, and hid behind a rock when they stopped to talk. It was then that I learned that I was actually adopted by my parents, and that Mister Adrian is actually my real father.”

Enya paused again as the memories of that day flooded her mind. One of the wolves nuzzled her hand, and Enya smiled as she pet him. The Hunters and Alphas all stood by, quietly pondering this new information Enya presented them. “So, you’re a sea nereid?” Elder Athena asked slowly and hesitantly. “Half sea nereid.” Enya corrected. “I still have no idea who my mother is.” An array of emotions could be seen on the faces of Enya’s audience. Sympathy, pity, guilt, and what seemed like a look of admiration from Leon.

Leon was, in fact, genuinely stricken by Enya’s story. He pitied her plight, and felt guilt that he added to her pain. But more than anything, he admired her. He admired her strength; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Not many could have gone through what she had and still be able to smile like she does. Before he knew it, he had started moving. He walked up to her, looked into her eyes for a moment, and knelt down before her. Lowering his eyes and bowing his head, he spoke. “Miss Drago, I realize that my fellow Alphas and I cannot possibly make up for the pain we have caused you. But if you were inclined to, would you consider accepting an apology?”

For a moment, no one spoke or moved. Then the rest of the Alphas moved all at once, following Leon’s lead and kneeling before Enya with their heads bowed. “Please, Miss Drago.” Leon said, lowering his head more and closing his eyes. “Please forgive us.” “Please forgive us!” The rest of the Alphas echoed Leon’s words. Enya gawked at the sight before her, completely taken aback. She took a moment to take a deep breath and get her bearings. Then she knelt down and gently grabbed Leon’s chin. Guiding his head up so that she could look him in the eyes.

“I can forgive you for your mistakes, and for the pain you caused me.” She said and Leon gave her a small smile. “However, I will never be able to forget the pain or humiliation of the past two months. The scars left on my body will be constant reminders.” Leon’s smile faded and he once again lowered his eyes. “Look at me.” Enya said placing both hands on the sides of Leon’s face. Leon looked up at her and she gave him a gentle smile. “An Alpha shouldn’t bow so easily to someone of lower status.” She said chuckling. She released his face and extended a hand to him while standing up. “Come on, stand up. You made a mistake, that’s all.” Leon smiled shyly and took Enya’s hand as he stood. “Thank you, Miss Drago.” He said quietly. Enya released his hand and turned to the Hunters. “Let’s all go home.”