The Guardian: Full Moon

Chapter 12

The rumors of a green eyed enchantress quickly made its way to the rest of the Western packs, one of those packs being the CrimsonSky pack. The young Alpha, Raiden Arrats, had turned 21 earlier that year and had officially taken over after his father passed the role of Alpha to him. He sat at his desk in the Alpha’s office, massaging his temples after one of the wolves patrolling the border mind linked his report. He thanked the wolf and leaned back in his chair as he gazed out the window. “What are you thinking about?” His wolf, Koen, asked. Raiden scoffed slightly, then smiled. “As if you don’t know.” He retorted. “The rumored green eyed woman?” Koen asked, though it sounded more like a statement. “Yeah.” Raiden said, becoming lost in thought. What did she look like? What did she sound like? What shade of green were her eyes? His fingers twitched with his desire to paint what he imagined she looked like.

Raiden’s P.O.V

I got up out of my chair and strode out of the Alpha’s office. I walked down the hall to one of the spare rooms that I had turned into my art studio. I opened up the window a bit to let in the fresh air, and then I sat down in front of an easel with an empty canvas. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the image that had imbedded itself in my mind ever since I first heard the rumor. A young woman, in a flowing white dress, surrounded by the dark expanse of the sea. Small bioluminescent fish swam through her brown tresses as it floated around her head, accentuating her strong and elegant features. Her eyes shone through the darkness of the cold water, almost as if she was peering into my very soul. “Raiden!”

My eyes bolted open as Koen called my name, breaking me out of the trance I seemed to be in. I put my head in my hands and focused on my breathing. “Raiden, are you alright?” Koen asked concerned. “I’m fine Koen.” I said as I closed my eyes again. “What happened?” “I don’t know.” Koen replied. “But take a look at your easel.” I took one final deep breath before letting it out slowly. I lifted my head up and nearly fell off of my stool. There on the canvas, was the woman I envisioned. She seemed even more ethereal as the small fish swimming around her lit up her whole body. One of her hands was stretched out, as if she were trying to reach out of the painting. Her eyes were beautiful, yet they also held danger. I felt like I could drown gazing at her.

“I don’t remember painting.” I thought, reaching out to caress the canvas. “You painted this while you were out.” Koen said worriedly. “I think you might have had a vision.” “What do you think it means?” I asked still transfixed on the painting. “I’m not sure,” Koen replied. “but we should be careful.” “Right.” I said, pulling my eyes away from the painting to look out the window. The winter sky was heavy with clouds, signaling the approach of another snowfall. Just who is the woman in my painting, and is she really an enchantress as the rumors claim? Is she a danger to us, or is there some other reason I feel drawn to her. I turned my attention back to the painting, its haunting beauty sending chills down my spine. “Who are you?” I wondered aloud.

Meanwhile, the same rumors had just as rapidly circulated throughout the Southern packs. The only person that didn’t seem interested in them, was Leon. Leon couldn’t bother to care about some idle gossip from another pack. He was too busy training, determined to make himself stronger. He was obsessed with wanting to be able to protect Enya when she came back. Every hour of the day, his mind was filled with thoughts of her. Even his dreams were consumed by his lust for her presence. The soft touch of her skin, the feeling of her heart racing in tandem with his own, and her hot breath on his neck were so realistic that he often found himself waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. The phantom sensations exciting him even further, urging him to relieve himself. Leon didn’t care if Enya wasn’t his destined mate. He loved her, and he would do anything to get her back and keep her safe.

Leon’s P.O.V.

“Putting yourself through the wringer again today?” The pack Beta asked walking towards me. I put up the weights I had been lifting and walked over to a punching bag to do some kick boxing. “Don’t know what you mean.” I replied as I took my stance. “Yes, you do.” He said taking up position behind the punching bag to hold it. “I’ve helped train you since you were a pup.” He said as I started to punch and kick. “By now I can tell when something is bothering you, and you’ve been really worked up lately.” I continued punching and kicking, ignoring him. “C’mon Leon, talk to me.” He urged again. I punched the bag harder, effectively ripping a hole in it. “Nothing to talk about.” I said stalking outside to the training grounds. I heard him sigh behind me, but thankfully he didn’t follow me.

As I was walking, I passed a group of four young males wrestling in the snow. “Have you guys heard the rumor yet?” One boy asked as he and one of the other boys circled each other. “You mean the enchantress?” Another replied, still short of breath from his own match. “Yeah.” The first boy replied, grunting as he tussled with his opponent. “What about it?” The fourth boy asked as he and the third boy sat down to watch the other two. For a few minutes neither of the boys spoke as they waited for the match to finish. The first boy who had brought up the topic was soon effectively pinned by his opponent. He took a few minutes to catch his breath before speaking again. “I think we should go look for her.” He said gleefully as he pulled the boy he was previously wrestling down into the snow.

“I’d rethink that if I were you.” Leon said gruffly from behind them. The four boys jumped up in surprise and began spouting out apologies. “Enough.” Leon said sternly, annoyed by their antics. “Go home.” The four boys said one last apology before running off scared. “You were a bit harsh on them.” Thorin chided, though there was no bite behind his words. “Whatever.” Leon replied as he began doing his exercises. It troubled Thorin that Leon’s bright and playful demeanor had been all but snuffed out after Enya disappeared. Leon had even begun carrying her wolfsbane knife everywhere he went in an attempt to keep her close. The only peace Thorin could provide Leon was the ever constant fantasies of Enya. “Where could you have gone Little Gem?” Thorin wondered to himself.

Leon started walking to nowhere in particular, just needed to be moving. Before long, heavy wet snow began to fall. Leon was quickly drenched as he stopped to stare up at the sky. “Hey, Thorin?” Leon said quietly. “Yes Leon?” Thorin replied. “Can you take over for a while?” Leon asked, his sadness evident. “I just don’t want to think right now.” “Why don’t we put Enya’s knife away first?” Thorin suggested gently. Leon’s hand shot to the pocket that held Enya’s knife. “Right.” He said slowly as he dropped his gaze from the clouds. His hand remained in his pocket as he slowly began walking back to the Pack House. His grip unrelenting until he was back in his own room. He locked the door and hid Enya’s knife in his bedside table. Then stripping off most of his clothes, he opened up the window and swiftly jumped down. Shifting just as they reached the ground, Leon completely surrendered his consciousness as Thorin took off running.

Thorin’s P.O.V

The snow clung to my fur as I ran. There wasn’t anywhere in particular I was running to, just trying to run out the pain that Leon and I were feeling. Not even the moon could bring us comfort as it was hidden by the snow filled clouds. At some point I ended up running out of the pack territory and into the human territory. I followed my instincts and eventually found myself at the southern most point of the land, where a steep cliff met the dark waters of the cold sea below. I sat at the edge and gazed down at the waves as they washed up against the rocks below. The constant rhythm becoming almost soothing to our aching heart.

I stayed like that until the snow had stopped falling and the first signs of dawn began to peak over the horizon. I stood up and shook the snow from my fur before slowly making the trip back to the FireHeart territory. I returned to the territory around early morning and made my way to the Pack House. I roused Leon from his mental rest in order for us to shift back and get through his bedroom window. But as soon as we were back in his room, he shifted with me again. I decided it was best to leave him be as I laid down by his bed. Closing our eyes to get the sleep and physical rest that we both desperately needed. “Good night Leon.” I said, even though I knew he wouldn’t respond. “And good night Little Gem, wherever you are.”

The following morning, Thorin was woken up by Alpha Sterling banging on the bedroom door, calling for Leon as he did. Thorin ignored the disturbance and laid back down, pinning his ears back against his head. “LEON!! OPEN THIS DOOR NOW!!” The Alpha Command rang in Thorin’s mind making him sit up and growl loudly. At his growl, Alpha Sterling stopped banging on the door and stormed off down the hall. Thorin listened as Alpha Sterling’s steps faded. When he no longer heard him, Thorin tried to rouse Leon. “Leon?” “What Thorin?” Leon responded, groggy and annoyed. “I think it’s about time we shifted back. Your father seemed worried.” Thorin said softly. “Fine, whatever.” Leon said as he shifted back. Leon got dressed, retrieved Enya’s knife from the bedside table, and opened up his bedroom door with a heavy sigh. “Another long day.” He thought as he existed his room, closing the door behind himself.

While Leon was dreading the day, Enya was excited. She had decided to take a break from training, at Arima’s insistence, to play with the wolves. As she finished lacing up her boots, the wolves were pacing around excitedly. “Calm down, I’m almost ready.” Enya said smiling and laughing. “You do realize it’s pointless to tell wolves to calm down, right?” Arima asked in a sarcastic and joking tone. “Yes, I’m aware.” Enya replied as she stood up, her tone just as sassy. The two shared a quiet chuckle as Enya followed the wolves down the tunnel to the den. Enya laughed aloud as she watched the wolves race out of the den into the waiting piles of snow. It didn’t take long for Enya to run out and dive into the snow herself, laughing as she did.

The wolves happily yipped and barked as they chased each other through the snow. “Thanks Arima.” Enya thought as she watched a pair of wolves wrestle. “I needed this.” “I know.” Arima replied gently, not willing to admit that she needed it just as much as Enya. The rest of the day passed by peacefully as Enya spent most of the time playing with the pack, only resting in order to eat. Unfortunately, however, that peace wouldn’t last long. In the realm of shadows where the Pheonyxians dwelled, trouble was beginning to stir.