The Guardian: Full Moon

Chapter 20

The two males woke up to Alpha Sterling busting open Raiden’s bedroom door, Raiden’s injured Beta in tow. “Sorry Alpha, he…” Was all he was able to stumble out before being shocked into silence along with Alpha Sterling. Neither man was prepared to find Leon and Raiden snuggled together, and naked in the same bed. Alpha Sterling was quick to recover though, and his shock was soon replaced with anger. “So this is what you’ve been doing?!” He bellowed as Leon stumbled out of bed. “w*****g yourself out to another Alpha?!” “Dad, stop! It’s not like that!” Leon exclaimed, as Raiden got up to stand behind him. “Shut your mouth!” Alpha Sterling shouted as he slapped Leon across the face.

The whole house shook as Raiden roared out his rage. “Don’t touch him!” He shouted, protectively bringing Leon to his side. “You stay out of this Arrats!” Alpha Sterling yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at Raiden. “You turned my son into your own whorish toy!” “Dad, I love him!” Leon shouted, stepping up to his father. The shock on Alpha Sterling’s face only lasted for a second before it was replaced with absolute rage. “LEON, WE’RE GOING HOME NOW!” Alpha Sterling roared out the Alpha Command. Leon, as he was still under his father’s command, could only hang his head and obey; no matter how much he wanted to fight it. He quickly slipped on a pair of shorts as he walked out of Raiden’s room, and followed his father out of the Pack House.

Raiden followed close behind, like a shadow escorting Leon and his father out of the territory. Any time Alpha Sterling would try to strike or shove Leon, Raiden would let out an angry growl in warning. Every step towards the CrimsonSky border broke Leon’s heart, and pushed Raiden that much closer to a rage induced killing spree. Leon took one last glance over his shoulder before taking the final step out onto neutral ground. “Stop looking at him, you b***h!” Alpha Sterling yelled, kicking Leon in the back. “Sterling!” Raiden yelled, clenching his fists. “I swear by the Goddess, if you strike him one more time in my presence, I will paint the ground with your blood!” He shouted, venom dripping from every word.

“How I handle my w***e of a son is none of your concern.” Alpha Sterling said coldly. “But if it’s a fight you want, I’ll gladly oblige.” He said darkly. “Tomorrow, at dawn, in the wolfsbane fields. If you win, you can keep my disgrace of a son, and he’ll be banished from my pack.” “And if I lose?” Raiden ground out, visibly shaking with anger at every insult Alpha Sterling said about Leon. “Then he’ll be confined to the FireHeart territory and you’ll never see each other again.” He said smugly. “Fine.” Raiden ground out between clenched teeth. He silently watched them leave for a moment before throwing his head back and screaming out his frustration, Koen’s voice mixing in with his own. Their anguish blowing over the territory like a winter storm.

It was all Leon could do to hold himself back from crying out his own anguished pain as Thorin howled in his mind. He had been devastated when Enya left, and now he was practically destroyed as he felt like he was losing Raiden too. For the first time in his life, Leon felt weak and cold, like a part of himself was actually dying. He wrapped his arms around himself in an effort to hold himself together, silent tears brimming at his eyes. He knew in his heart that if he lost Raiden tomorrow, it really would be the death of him.

Enya’s P.O.V

I screamed as I clutched at my chest. The intense tingles from the night before was now replaced with a wrenching pain that I thought might tear my heart out. Arima provided no amount of comfort as she howled out her own pain in my mind. Tears streamed down my face as I curled in on myself. My whole body burned as choked sobs spilled out of me. My fevered mind strayed to thoughts of Raiden and Leon. I silently prayed that they were alright as I waited for the intense pain to subside. Though my instincts told me that something was very wrong.

Leon’s P.O.V

The moment we had returned to the FireHeart territory, my father had me thrown into a cell under the Pack House. He said he would let me out in the morning before the fight, but I didn’t care. I huddled on the floor in a corner, wrapping my arms around my legs. I buried my face into my arms, and was momentarily startled when I breathed in. It was faint, but Raiden’s scent still clung to my body. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, focusing on the smell of cedar, pine, and oak. I was so transfixed by it, that I didn’t even notice when two other werewolves entered the prison.

The rapping of knuckles against the cell bars startled me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see my father’s Beta and a pack Elder standing in front of me. “What do you want?” I asked, annoyed that they bothered me. “Why are you down here, young Alpha?” The Elder asked, seeming to be genuinely curious. “You really want to know?” I asked with a scoff. “Yes.” She replied simply, her mood never changing. I studied her face for a moment before sighing and looking down at the dirty floor. “I fell in love with Raiden, and now dad thinks he somehow corrupted me, and wants to fight him.” I replied deadpan, looking up at them.

The Beta looked stunned, but the Elder just looked thoughtful. “So you fell in love with another Alpha?” The Elder asked, though it sounded more like a statement. “No.” I replied, standing up angrily. “I fell in love with the man who’s touch ignites my skin, and who’s scent was able to comfort me after my father chased away the girl I love!” I shouted, walking up to the bars and glaring the Elder in the eyes. I could see the Beta tensing up out of the corner of my eye, but the Elder just smiled and quirked an eyebrow at me. “So you can feel sparks and smell his scent?” The Elder asked, her curiosity nearly palpable. “Faintly.” I hesitantly and quietly admitted, glancing down at my hands. “But yeah, I can.” I said, closing my hands into fists and looking back up. “Why?” I asked, somewhat curious myself.

The Elder just shook her head and smiled at Leon. “It’s nothing to be concerned about.” The Elder said gently. “Try to get some rest.” She said before walking away with the Beta. “What do you think it means?” The Beta asked quietly once they were out of earshot. The Elder hummed thoughtfully before smiling and answering in an equally quiet tone. “I believe our young Alpha is about to be part of something amazing, something unprecedented in our history.” The Beta quirked a confused eyebrow at the Elder, but the Elder offered no further explanation as they made their way out of the Pack House.

Raiden’s P.O.V

I paced around the training ground furiously. Broken punching bags and other equipment littering the floor. I had wanted to blow off some steam after my argument with Alpha Sterling, but I just couldn’t calm down. My blood was flowing like hot lava through my veins. I shouted angrily as I kicked a rack of weights next to me, then turned on my heel and stormed off to my room. I shoved the door open, and then slammed it shut, shaking the Pack House walls as I did. I flopped onto my back with a frustrated groan. I grabbed one of my pillows to smother a scream into, but as soon as I brought the pillow to my face, I was sitting up wide eyed.

I brought the pillow up to my nose and inhaled deeply. Though it was faint, I could still make out the unmistakable scent of rain and wet leaves. I laid back on my bed, curling up onto my side as I breathed in Leon’s scent. All of the tension in my muscles melted away like butter, and I could feel myself starting to fall asleep. As my eyes started to close of their own accord, I made a silent promise to Koen, Thorin, Leon, Enya, and myself that I would prevail tomorrow. Holding that oath in my heart, I drifted off to a light slumber, clutching the pillow to my chest.