The Guardian: Full Moon

Chapter 9

The following morning the Drago family was startled awake by Akia. “MOM!! DAD!!” Akia called from the dining room. The whole family rushed into the dining room to find Akia standing by the table, holding a piece of paper. “Akia, what is it? What’s wrong?” Mrs.Drago asked rushing towards her eldest daughter. Akia plopped down into one of the chairs and shakily held up the paper to her mother. The rest of the family gathered around as Mrs.Drago read the note out loud.

Dear mom, dad, Ensio, Akia, Messina, Shiro, and Kai,

I’m sorry to do this to you all, but I need to leave for a while. I need time to discover who and what I am. I’ve known for years now that Mister Adrian is actually my biological father. I found out the same time that he told mom and dad. You can imagine how shocked I was, but I never thought less of you. You brought me into your family and loved me like I was your own, and I love you for that. You will always be my family, and I will always love you. Please trust that I’ll be fine, and I will be back some day.

P.S. If Leon Sterling asks about me, just tell him that I’m going on a trip and that I’m fine. And please don’t blame Leon for anything. He hasn’t done anything wrong, and he’s a really nice guy. And Kai, I left something special for you in your room.

As soon as Mrs.Drago finished reading the note, Kai ran back up the stairs to his room. He looked around for a moment before finding the parcel and note on his desk. He grabbed them and ran back down to the dining room, setting them down on the table and sitting down. He reached out to them, but hesitated. He looked up at his dad, who nodded to him encouragingly. “Go ahead son, open them up.” Kai nodded back and reached for the parcel first. He unwrapped it and found an old book that bore the Drago family crest. Awestruck, he quickly reached for the note. He unfolded it with unsteady hands and read it out loud.

Dear Kai,

I found this in an old library and immediately thought of you. I just know that you’ll be able to unlock whatever secrets it holds.

Kai placed the note down and reached for the book. He unlocked the clasp and opened the cover. On the front page was an inscription that read, ‘This book can only be read by a descendant of the Drago line who was born under a True Blood Moon.’ Kai was stunned as he slowly thumbed through the pages, glancing at the stories, pictures, drawings, and spells contained within. From over his shoulder, the rest of the family looked on in confusion. “It’s... blank.” Ensio finally spoke up, voicing the thoughts of the rest of the family. “But it isn’t.” Kai said still in awe. He turned back to the first page and placed his hand on the yellowed paper. “There’s an inscription here that says only a Drago born under a True Blood Moon can read the book.” He said excitedly turning to look at his family. “That means me! I’m the only one that can read this book!” The shadow that had passed over the Drago house had left almost as quickly as it had fallen. Miles away, in the FireHeart territory, the Sterling family had a shadow of their own being lifted.

Leon’s P.O.V

I woke up sore and with a splitting headache. I opened my eyes slowly and looked around, recognizing the infirmary at the Pack House. I closed my eyes and sat up with a groan. “Are you alright Leon?” Thorin asked concerned. “Yeah, just sore.” I said rubbing the back of my neck. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, and slowly stood up. I rolled my shoulders and stretched, popping some of my joints as I did. “I’m not surprised. You’ve been unconscious for about 15 hours.” Thorin replied calmly. Just then the infirmary door opened, and my father stepped in.

My father stared at me for a brief moment before running towards me and pulling me into a firm hug. “Dad, I’m still sore.” I said with a groan. “Sorry.” My father said with a relieved sigh. “I’m just glad you’re alright.” He said smiling at me and gripping my shoulders. “I’m fine dad. Enya and I-” I stopped short as the realization hit me. “Wait, Enya! What happened to Enya? Is she alright?” I asked, desperately grabbing hold of my father’s upper arms. My father heaved a deep sigh before reaching up and pulling my hands off of his arms, and then crossing them. A look crossed over his face that made my stomach drop. I was about to protest again, but the stern look on his face quickly silenced the words on my tongue.

A tension hung in the air as my father and I just stared at each other. A good five minutes passed like that before he spoke again. “I told Enya that I never wanted to see her near you again.” He said, his voice serious, solemn. My jaw dropped slightly as I stared wide eyed at my father, not quite sure that what I was hearing was true. “What?” I asked quietly, trying to find my voice again. My father took a deep breath and sighed before speaking again. “If you hadn’t have gone out with her, you wouldn’t have run into those Rogues in the first place. I told her to get out of the territory, and that I never wanted to see her near you again.” He reiterated, looking me square in the face. I barely even remember what happened next as Thorin howled out in rage, forcing the shift in order for him to take control.

Thorin growled angrily at Alpha Sterling, his fur standing on end as he crouched, ready to attack if needed. Alpha Sterling returned Thorin’s growl, warning him to stand down. Thorin glanced past Alpha Sterling at the still open infirmary door, and decided to take a chance. He snapped his teeth at Alpha Sterling, startling him for just a moment. In that brief moment, Thorin leapt past Alpha Sterling and ran out the door. “LEON!!” Alpha Sterling bellowed from behind him. Thorin had barely made it outside the Pack House before he was tackled from behind. Throwing off his attacker he turned around growling. Alpha Sterling had shifted into his wolf and now stood in front of him. The members of the FireHeart pack that were in the vicinity quickly gathered around, worry and curiosity running rampant amongst them as they watched their current Alpha and future Alpha stand off against each other.

Alpha Sterling crouched down, calculating eyes never leaving his son as they circled each other. He could tell that Leon wasn’t completely in control at the moment as he took in the feral look in his son’s eyes. He tried reaching out through their mind link, but was shut out by Leon’s mental walls. He could sense the agitation rising off of his pack members as they watched the father and son growl, snarl, and snap at each other. Thankfully, however, Leon made no indication that he wanted to fight. He merely seemed to want to leave the territory, most likely to see Enya Drago. He didn’t actually want to fight Leon, not after what he had gone through the day before. So he decided to do the only thing that he could think of, he howled.

His howl shook the windows of the Pack House, as well as the very souls of his pack members. As he howled, he put everything he had into an Alpha Command directed at Leon. “STAND DOWN LEON!!” He yelled through the mind link. He could feel Leon’s mental walls shake. It wasn’t enough to break them down, but it was enough to momentarily paralyze Leon. Giving Alpha Sterling the chance to tackle and pin Leon on his back. Alpha Sterling wasted no time clamping his jaws around his son’s throat, not to hurt him, but to merely force him to submit. He thrashed for a few moments, forcing Alpha Sterling to tighten his hold. Thankfully, the tighter hold did just as Alpha Sterling hoped and Leon was back in control.

Leon shifted back into his human form as Alpha Sterling released his hold on his throat. To Alpha Sterling’s relief, the females that were amongst the crowd averted their eyes, turning away to give Leon some privacy as he shifted back. Alpha Sterling got off of Leon, and shifted back himself, his eyes never leaving his son. Leon rolled over onto his side with a groan. “Can you stand?” Alpha Sterling asked, reaching a hand down to Leon. Leon side-glanced up at his father, scowling slightly before reaching up to take his father’s hand. Leon stood up with the assistance of his father, groaning as he did. “Let’s talk inside.” Alpha Sterling said, gently but firmly grabbing his son’s arm. “No father.” Leon said defiantly, pulling his arm roughly away from his father. “Leon-” Alpha Sterling began, but Leon interrupted him.

Leon’s P.O.V

“No!” I shouted, cutting off whatever my father was going to say. “What happened yesterday was not Enya’s fault!” I yelled, clenching my fists. “Enya and I were attacked by Rogues! So what?! I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Enya!” I yelled, getting in my father’s face and shoving him slightly in the chest. “I am going to see her and make sure she’s alright; whether you like it or not!” I shouted, staring my father straight in the face. A hush fell over the pack members that had gathered around us. They were all tense, too afraid to say anything that might anger my father more than I probably had. But I honestly couldn’t care what my father thought at this point. I wasn’t going to stand around listening to him make false assumptions against Enya.

“Alright.” My father said, breathing out a heavy sigh and shaking his head slightly. “Lets get dressed, and we’ll go together.” He said placing his hands on his hips. My jaw dropped in shock at what I had just heard. “What? Wait? Seriously?!” I asked, growing excited with each question I rattled off. “Yes, Leon.” My father said defeated. “If you’re going to be that adamant about seeing her, then I’ll go too.” He said, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “I suppose I was a bit harsh on her.” “Thank you!” I said excitedly before running inside the Pack House. “Show’s over! Back to your duties!” My father called out to the assembled pack members before following me into the Pack House.

A few minutes later I was dressed and pacing outside of the Pack House, waiting for my father so we could go see Enya. I was about to call my father through the mind link when he came rushing out of the Pack House, a look of mild concern etched on his face. “What’s wrong?” I asked, meeting my father. “I just got a report from the border patrol. The Dragos are here.” He said, quirking an eyebrow at me. Upon hearing that the Dragos were at the border I took off running, my father not far behind me.

I wasn’t sure why, but something in my instincts told me that something wasn’t right. It wasn’t long before my father and I reached the border. As we drew closer to the border, the bad feeling I had only grew stronger. Because I could see all of the Dragos, except for Enya. “Where’s Enya?” I asked, panting slightly as I stopped in front of the Dragos. The solemn looks on their faces made my heart sink. Then Mrs.Drago spoke, and I thought my heart had stopped completely. “We don’t know.” She said.

“What?” I asked in disbelief. “She left a note.” Mr.Drago chimed in. “She asked us to not blame you for her leaving, Leon.” He sighed before continuing. “In fact she wanted us to tell you that she just went on a trip. But because she seemed to think that you were a nice guy, we decided that it would be better if we told you the truth.” My voice caught in my throat as I tried to string together a complete thought. “E-Enya thought that- that I was a nice guy?” I asked, looking down at the ground. I could feel myself getting emotional, and Thorin had begun whining. “She did.” Akia said, unfolding a piece of paper and handing it to me. There in black and white, I read, ‘Please don’t blame Leon for anything. He hasn’t done anything wrong, and he’s a really nice guy.’

The paper crumpled in my hand as I clenched my fists. Thorin whined again, and I could feel tears begin to form in my eyes. I barely registered Mr.Drago speaking again. This time directly to my father. “We were hoping that you might be able to provide an explanation.” He said. Everything seemed to stop as I heard my father reply. “Yes, I have an explanation. Enya and Leon were attacked by Rogues yesterday. Leon got hurt, and I blamed Enya. I told her that I didn’t want to see her near Leon again.” The Drago family’s exclamation of ‘You said what?!’ was punctuated by my fist striking my father in the face.

My father looked at me from where he was lying on the ground, holding his jaw. “This is your fault.” I growled out, hot tears streaming down my face. I threw the crumpled paper at him and took off running. I didn’t know where I was heading, didn’t really care. I just wanted to be alone. In my mind I could hear Thorin whimpering and howling, emulating the emotional pain that I was feeling. I’d fallen in love with Enya, whether she was my mate or not, and now it seems as though I’ve lost her.